Just installed a drop kit on my '72 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

LuckyScott · 01-08-2014, 05:21 PM

Finally bit the bullet and did it right. Years ago I put some lowered coils on and it rode bad but looked cool. Of course, over the years the ride got worse. Finally, I had to do it right. I contacted the guys at Early Classic and ordered a drop kit. While I was at it I had Currie Enterprises in Corona rebuild the rear, and they did a great job. They powder coated the housing, and replaced all the wear parts including the gear set. They commented that they were surprised how good of condition the rear was in for a truck with 230 thousand miles on it.
Then I had Inland Empire Driveline rebuild the driveshaft and replace the center bearing. I am using one of the slider shafts for lowered trucks, but it had been in there for a few years so I wanted it fresh.

I bought the drop kit with the lowered spindles and the shock mount relocator kit. Also came with a new panhard bar.
Everything went in the way it was supposed to.
I had it towed to my tire shop and had the truck aligned. However, we hit a snag. The steel rallye rims were too wide in the front. It was never an issue before, but now it would hit the fender lip.
So I got a new pair of rims for the front only, same backspace but one inch narrower. I got the 15 by 7 instead of 15 by 8 on the front now.

The truck rides great, better than it has ever rode. Feels like a brand new truck. Looks nice and low and drives perfect. I highly recommend all the companies I used.

I dont work for any of them, and I am not getting a kickback, but I did want to spread the word about parts that worked good and good companies.

Rust hole · 01-08-2014, 05:39 PM

Congrats! How bout a pic?

LuckyScott · 01-08-2014, 05:49 PM

Not sure how to put a photo up, I know it involves some kind of web photo hosting site. Here is a link to my facebook.....

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php...=browse_search

Number98 · 01-09-2014, 11:30 AM

Here ya go, sweet looking Burb!

LuckyScott · 01-09-2014, 12:14 PM

Thanks for posting those!

68chvy · 01-09-2014, 09:52 PM

What drop kit did you get? how much did you spend if you don't mind me asking.. looks great..

**lolife99** · 01-09-2014, 09:58 PM

Cool burb!

LuckyScott · 01-10-2014, 07:39 PM

"What drop kit did you get? how much did you spend if you don't mind me asking.. looks great.."

Thanks. I got the kit from Early Classic. It cost about $750
It is a 4/6 drop kit. The front was drop coil springs and dropped spindles for a 4 inch drop and the rear was a 6 inch drop with coils. However, they said with the weight of the sub body they would give me a 5 inch coil in the back and it would be a 6 inch drop. The kit worked great, just removing the stock upper shock mounts being the only problem.

halfadeuce · 01-13-2014, 01:36 PM

Do you have any issues with bottoming out in the rear? I have 4 inch drop hd coils and when I have the family in the burb I will occasionally bottom out. I was thinking about a c-notch and some lowering blocks to go a little lower. What shocks are you using?

Lanman1972 · 01-13-2014, 01:58 PM

That's the kit I have been looking at. Mark at ECE told me the same about the rear. He said a 5" drop would net 5 1/2" for the Long Bed. Glad to hear it all went well. Do you have factory disc on the front? Nice Burb.

LuckyScott · 01-14-2014, 01:06 AM

I am using the shocks that came in the kit, I think they are KYB's.
The front has the stock disc brakes.

It has rubbed just a little in the back when I when over a dip/bump in the road one time. I was going about 45 and didnt see it. I heard a little rub in the back, that's all. Otherwise, it seems to not rub or bottom out.

CG · 01-14-2014, 01:47 AM

Looks good. I have 8 inch wheels for the front of my panel with fairly large tires. I'm afraid it may rub when I get it together. I did pick the same tire wheel combo a board member had on his pick up though and I have the modular drop spindles that are supposed to give a little more room. In the end I may have to do like you though.

Really like the stance and overall look of your burb!

LuckyScott · 01-14-2014, 11:40 AM

Thanks for the complement. My front wheels were 15 x 8 vintiques rallye wheels. They had the 4 inch backspace, and that was fine, so I went with a 7 x 15 with the same backspace. Worked out fine. Gave me enough clearance and still fills the wheelwell.

halfadeuce · 01-14-2014, 11:47 AM

How would you rate the ride quality? Was it a big difference before and after?

Rust hole · 01-14-2014, 04:31 PM

Your suburban looks great! This thread answers a lot of questions I had.
Thanks

LuckyScott · 01-14-2014, 06:41 PM

I think it rides much, much better. I believe part of that is the dropped spindles versus a lowered coil spring only setup. Plus, I like the new shock mounts. They have relocated the shock perches so they still work in a lowered vehicle.
I am very happy with the ride.

LuckyScott · 01-14-2014, 06:45 PM

"Your suburban looks great!"

Thank You! I have owned it for over 20 years. I bought it for $1800 with 80,000 miles on it so that I could haul my kids around and tow a boat or a racecar. I thought it would make the perfect kid hauler. It now has 230,000 miles with the original motor in it. I did do a valve job and a timing chain, but have never pulled the motor.
A few years ago I got in a head on collision with a Porsche. The porsche was ruined and the driver went to the hospital, but I drove the suburban home. It took a new bumper, fender and grill but it was still driveable. Gotta love a suburban like that.

01-08-2014, 05:21 PM	#1
LuckyScott Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Anaheim, Calif. Posts: 361	Just installed a drop kit on my '72 Finally bit the bullet and did it right. Years ago I put some lowered coils on and it rode bad but looked cool. Of course, over the years the ride got worse. Finally, I had to do it right. I contacted the guys at Early Classic and ordered a drop kit. While I was at it I had Currie Enterprises in Corona rebuild the rear, and they did a great job. They powder coated the housing, and replaced all the wear parts including the gear set. They commented that they were surprised how good of condition the rear was in for a truck with 230 thousand miles on it. Then I had Inland Empire Driveline rebuild the driveshaft and replace the center bearing. I am using one of the slider shafts for lowered trucks, but it had been in there for a few years so I wanted it fresh. I bought the drop kit with the lowered spindles and the shock mount relocator kit. Also came with a new panhard bar. Everything went in the way it was supposed to. I had it towed to my tire shop and had the truck aligned. However, we hit a snag. The steel rallye rims were too wide in the front. It was never an issue before, but now it would hit the fender lip. So I got a new pair of rims for the front only, same backspace but one inch narrower. I got the 15 by 7 instead of 15 by 8 on the front now. The truck rides great, better than it has ever rode. Feels like a brand new truck. Looks nice and low and drives perfect. I highly recommend all the companies I used. I dont work for any of them, and I am not getting a kickback, but I did want to spread the word about parts that worked good and good companies.

01-08-2014, 05:39 PM	#2
Rust hole Registered User Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: St. Augustine, Fl Posts: 59	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 Congrats! How bout a pic?

01-08-2014, 05:49 PM	#3
LuckyScott Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Anaheim, Calif. Posts: 361	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 Not sure how to put a photo up, I know it involves some kind of web photo hosting site. Here is a link to my facebook..... https://www.facebook.com/profile.php...=browse_search

01-09-2014, 11:30 AM	#4
Number98 Prestige Worldwide Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Worldwide Posts: 2,552	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 Here ya go, sweet looking Burb! Attached Images

01-09-2014, 12:14 PM	#5
LuckyScott Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Anaheim, Calif. Posts: 361	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 Thanks for posting those!

01-09-2014, 09:52 PM	#6
68chvy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dallas Posts: 115	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 What drop kit did you get? how much did you spend if you don't mind me asking.. looks great..

01-09-2014, 09:58 PM	#7
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,700	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 Cool burb! __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

01-10-2014, 07:39 PM	#8
LuckyScott Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Anaheim, Calif. Posts: 361	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 "What drop kit did you get? how much did you spend if you don't mind me asking.. looks great.." Thanks. I got the kit from Early Classic. It cost about $750 It is a 4/6 drop kit. The front was drop coil springs and dropped spindles for a 4 inch drop and the rear was a 6 inch drop with coils. However, they said with the weight of the sub body they would give me a 5 inch coil in the back and it would be a 6 inch drop. The kit worked great, just removing the stock upper shock mounts being the only problem.

01-13-2014, 01:36 PM	#9
halfadeuce Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: montebello, ca Posts: 54	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 Do you have any issues with bottoming out in the rear? I have 4 inch drop hd coils and when I have the family in the burb I will occasionally bottom out. I was thinking about a c-notch and some lowering blocks to go a little lower. What shocks are you using?

01-13-2014, 01:58 PM	#10
Lanman1972 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Omaha NE Posts: 620	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 That's the kit I have been looking at. Mark at ECE told me the same about the rear. He said a 5" drop would net 5 1/2" for the Long Bed. Glad to hear it all went well. Do you have factory disc on the front? Nice Burb.

01-14-2014, 01:06 AM	#11
LuckyScott Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Anaheim, Calif. Posts: 361	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 I am using the shocks that came in the kit, I think they are KYB's. The front has the stock disc brakes. It has rubbed just a little in the back when I when over a dip/bump in the road one time. I was going about 45 and didnt see it. I heard a little rub in the back, that's all. Otherwise, it seems to not rub or bottom out.

01-14-2014, 01:47 AM	#12
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,019	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 Looks good. I have 8 inch wheels for the front of my panel with fairly large tires. I'm afraid it may rub when I get it together. I did pick the same tire wheel combo a board member had on his pick up though and I have the modular drop spindles that are supposed to give a little more room. In the end I may have to do like you though. Really like the stance and overall look of your burb! __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …

01-14-2014, 11:40 AM	#13
LuckyScott Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Anaheim, Calif. Posts: 361	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 Thanks for the complement. My front wheels were 15 x 8 vintiques rallye wheels. They had the 4 inch backspace, and that was fine, so I went with a 7 x 15 with the same backspace. Worked out fine. Gave me enough clearance and still fills the wheelwell.

01-14-2014, 11:47 AM	#14
halfadeuce Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: montebello, ca Posts: 54	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 How would you rate the ride quality? Was it a big difference before and after?

01-14-2014, 04:31 PM	#15
Rust hole Registered User Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: St. Augustine, Fl Posts: 59	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 Your suburban looks great! This thread answers a lot of questions I had. Thanks



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01-14-2014, 06:41 PM	#16
LuckyScott Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Anaheim, Calif. Posts: 361	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 I think it rides much, much better. I believe part of that is the dropped spindles versus a lowered coil spring only setup. Plus, I like the new shock mounts. They have relocated the shock perches so they still work in a lowered vehicle. I am very happy with the ride.

01-14-2014, 06:45 PM	#17
LuckyScott Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Anaheim, Calif. Posts: 361	Re: Just installed a drop kit on my '72 "Your suburban looks great!" Thank You! I have owned it for over 20 years. I bought it for $1800 with 80,000 miles on it so that I could haul my kids around and tow a boat or a racecar. I thought it would make the perfect kid hauler. It now has 230,000 miles with the original motor in it. I did do a valve job and a timing chain, but have never pulled the motor. A few years ago I got in a head on collision with a Porsche. The porsche was ruined and the driver went to the hospital, but I drove the suburban home. It took a new bumper, fender and grill but it was still driveable. Gotta love a suburban like that.

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