01 tahoe chassis under AD gmc short box

[mknittle]

Where can you widen it? You are going to have to be creative on the front. But Thats the fun part!

[lazerstrouts]

Originally Posted by mknittle

Where can you widen it? You are going to have to be creative on the front. But Thats the fun part!

I think the only spot that would work is to cut the fender length wise and add 3+ inches about 2-3 inches from the mount flange and between the headlight and grille shell. But if I need that much added and the wheel opening needs enlarged would it just be better to get a big truck front clip since they have taller, longer fenders with a larger opening and tend to be cheaper then a half ton. But that means I need a whole different front clip due to the hood and maybe grille shell being different.
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[GCncsuHD]

Interesting build. Have you considered having the wheels rehooped to the correct offset, narrowing the rear axle some, and building shorter tubular control arms up front? I've seen quite a few late model guys build shorter front control arms in order to reduce the track width and tuck the big wheels in the fenders. Would be a good bit of work, but not considerably more than stretching the fenders.

[lazerstrouts]

The issue with shorter control arms gets to be that this tahoe chassis is 4wd. I would need to get both half shafts shortened and they would bind up sooner when I lower it. The rear I'm not worried about, the wheels only move up and down and if its a foot wider in the rear it still looks fine. I want a truck that is cheap, reliable, easy to fix and looks like I just pulled it out of grandpas trees in the back 40 last week. Currently have less then $2k in everything for it and less then 100 man hrs. I will just find other wheels or weld up the holes in the 17s before I. Decide to try my hand at major suspension mods.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by lazerstrouts

The issue ... this tahoe chassis is 4wd. I would need to get both half shafts shortened and they would bind up sooner when I lower it.

Why lower a 4 wheel drive vehicle; or conversely, why have a 4 wheel drive lowered vehicle? I don't get it.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Why lower a 4 wheel drive vehicle; or conversely, why have a 4 wheel drive lowered vehicle? I don't get it.

The bigger question is why not?! The original poster resides in Nebraska, where snow is likely a big issue in the winter, you don't need some huge lifted truck to get through it but awd or 4wd can be very beneficial. Sure it won't be an offroad machine, but it won't get stuck in damp grass, it will handle wet and icy weather better, and is just ready for the unexpected. Just think of the multitude of AWD cars out there, and small AWD SUVs, heck the Silverado SS AWD and Sierra Denali AWD for that matter. Not to mention I know of a couple pretty crazy performance builds that started with 99-06 regular cab shortbed 4x4 Silverados that are sitting really low and built for handling.

Besides, if the original poster had cheap access to this 4wd frame, and wants to be different, go ahead!

[lazerstrouts]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Why lower a 4 wheel drive vehicle; or conversely, why have a 4 wheel drive lowered vehicle? I don't get it.

it really comes down to money. in my area 4wds are easy to find wrecked. my whole tahoe cost me less then the same motor and a 2wd tranny at the salvage yard. now i could pull the front axles, driveshaft, front diff, etc but that causes wheel bearing issues. besides push button 4wd is the best of both words, big smokey burn outs and drifting, or push the button and drive down that muddy road and pull the boat out of the lake.
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[mknittle]

Originally Posted by lazerstrouts

I think the only spot that would work is to cut the fender length wise and add 3+ inches about 2-3 inches from the mount flange and between the headlight and grille shell. But if I need that much added and the wheel opening needs enlarged would it just be better to get a big truck front clip since they have taller, longer fenders with a larger opening and tend to be cheaper then a half ton. But that means I need a whole different front clip due to the hood and maybe grille shell being different.
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yeah i would think the big truck fenders would be the way to go