front drop ideas and pics if you got them

[made2drag]

i want to hear creative your ideas for dropping the front.

has anyone tried leaving just 2 leafs and then adding shackles?

has anyone relocated the leaf spring perchs up an inch?

has anyone done air over leaf in the front?

i know drops axles and spindles are the way to go, but i want to see
if anyone had any luck another way.

i do have a 73-87 crossmember and parts and im looking into the 78 camaro or monte carlo clips.

not that my truck is even close to being on the road

really just curious on seeing other ways people got their trucks low

[mr48chev]

Ah, you must be working on the 56.

I've posted this photo a few times before and it's on my truck with two or three leaves removed from the springs and then the truck having been driven for several years.
This is what happens after you remove leaves from the springs. It's not if they will sag like this but when.


The simple and correct drop would be sending your axle off to Sids and having him drop it along with maybe buying a pair of custom front springs.

The crossmembers you have won't fit the wider (much wider) 56 frame. The task force frames are several inches wider than the AD truck frames or the 60 and up frames.
If you already have a good Camaro Subframe and don't want to spend the money for an aftermarket like some of our in house vendors offer that would probably be the least expensive way to get it low and get it to handle well.

Lux Blue over on the HAMB started this thread showing how he installs a Camaro subframe on a Task Force truck. It's become one of the definitive sets of instructions for doing that operation on the net and a lot of people have used it on their trucks.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=148978 There are also some build threads on here by guys who have done the swap and how they did it.
The big issue is getting the front sheet metal to fit after you do the subframe swap.

[Coach529]

About the only way is a drop axle, or IFS.

There is not enough room IMO for a bagged leaf spring front.

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Ah, you must be working on the 56.

I've posted this photo a few times before and it's on my truck with two or three leaves removed from the springs and then the truck having been driven for several years.
This is what happens after you remove leaves from the springs. It's not if they will sag like this but when.


The simple and correct drop would be sending your axle off to Sids and having him drop it along with maybe buying a pair of custom front springs.

The crossmembers you have won't fit the wider (much wider) 56 frame. The task force frames are several inches wider than the AD truck frames or the 60 and up frames.
If you already have a good Camaro Subframe and don't want to spend the money for an aftermarket like some of our in house vendors offer that would probably be the least expensive way to get it low and get it to handle well.

Lux Blue over on the HAMB started this thread showing how he installs a Camaro subframe on a Task Force truck. It's become one of the definitive sets of instructions for doing that operation on the net and a lot of people have used it on their trucks.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=148978 There are also some build threads on here by guys who have done the swap and how they did it.
The big issue is getting the front sheet metal to fit after you do the subframe swap.

thanks for all the info and the pic! ive seen several camaro subframe threads and im thinking that or a monte carlo is the way im going. im antsy to do something with the suspension and maybe come up with a temp fix for my yard art....lol....but change it when i get the subframe, motor and trans which will be atleast 2 years. my wife is still not too excited that i have 4 chevy projects and a 95 civic so it will definitely be awhile to do anything that requires money. labor is all i can work with right now

[made2drag]

i love the new porterbuilt crossmember (i dont believe they sell it yet) that delmo is using for these trucks....that would be the best route, if i could afford it.

[made2drag]

anyone do a z... then a drop axle or drop spindle with coilovers?

im just curious

[made2drag]

a flip with a c-notch? bet that would knock the geometry out and cause steering alignment probrems. but just curious

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by made2drag

a flip with a c-notch? bet that would knock the geometry out and cause steering alignment probrems. but just curious

flip will not work with the AD trucks because of the oil pan.

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by Coach529

flip will not work with the AD trucks because of the oil pan.

ok, thanks

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by made2drag

anyone do a z... then a drop axle or drop spindle with coilovers?

im just curious

you could z the frame, but that would raise the motor and the rear spring hanger into the cab floor

[meter swinger]

A neighbor of mine once had a 56 with the axle on top of the leafs in the front. I suspect the reason he never drove it was due to the axle smacking the frame or oil pan.
Some of the traditional lowrider guys run bag over leaf on the front, but they probably don't drive them very hard.
I think Michigan Metal Works advertises that they will make custom drop spindles, but i would surmise that would be cost prohibitive and it would still ride like an I beam suspension
Ditto with what everyone else says, drop axle or one of the ifs that work on these trucks.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by meter swinger

A neighbor of mine once had a 56 with the axle on top of the leafs in the front. I suspect the reason he never drove it was due to the axle smacking the frame or oil pan.
Some of the traditional lowrider guys run bag over leaf on the front, but they probably don't drive them very hard.
I think Michigan Metal Works advertises that they will make custom drop spindles, but i would surmise that would be cost prohibitive and it would still ride like an I beam suspension
Ditto with what everyone else says, drop axle or one of the ifs that work on these trucks.
Posted via Mobile Device

That is possible on the 55-59, but not on the 47-54's. Just not enough room on em.

[Chevette]

They make 2" drop spindle for those axles.

[made2drag]

thanks guys...i guess i should have mentioned it was for a 55-59. i keep forgetting the ad and tf trucks are in the same forum. i figured i would find a drop that looks cool while the truck is yard art and since im swapping front clips later... anything done on the stock frame would go to my scrap pile anyway. ive got a set of airshocks i may put on it in the front to air the front up so i can put jacks or jackstands on it when i need clearance to work on anything underneath. just getting ideas for when spring gets here and i have more free time. unless i find a lost wallet with 1000 bucks in it first.

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

you could z the frame, but that would raise the motor and the rear spring hanger into the cab floor

i have to do floors anyway. just joking

[made2drag]

i think they said on the fast and loud show, the 59 apache was flipped in the front and rear. ive got it recorded so i didnt see all of the build they did on it, just some of the recap. anyone on here with a flipped front axle?