Do I have to c-notch when doing a rear flip kit?

[slam59]

I have a 74 c10 and was told by a friend that i might have to do a c-notch if i do a flip kit. I see on here that so many have done a flip kit on the rear and never mention that they had to do a notch. Some say they remove their rubber stops. Is he correct? I want to for the time being do 3" drop coils in front and a flip kit in the rear.

[bigblock73]

It depends on what type of springs you have and their condition. I did a flip on my 77 with HD springs, and only had to remove the factory bumpstops and brackets. No issues.

[J Knight]

I have a flip in mine, no c-notch, but I did remove the bumpstop mount off of the frame. I looked at a pic of your truck and it looks like you have enough arch in your leafs to do a flip with no c-notch.
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[moneyeater]

I have a flipkit without c notch on longbed truck!
I had the Bumpstops left in and no Problems!
When the bed is packed they lay on the axle but the ride is absolutly ok!

[Twisted78SS]

I did a flip on mine as well, No notch. And I am using a set of Cal Tracs. I removed all but 3 leafs including the overload along with the factory bump stops, substituting them with shorter ones. I have touched the bump stops on occasion, (hard launches and heavy loads) but never the frame.

[Pro Performance]

I had a flip on my old C10, with no c-notch and it was no problem. Just remove the bumpstop.

[J Knight]

This is how much room you should typicaly have after a flip with the bumpstops removed.

[N2TRUX]

As you can see, its not required to do although I would anyway. If you don't at least remove the bumpstop and it mounting pad then add a small button stop on the frame.

BTW- I would avoid 3" drop springs. I suggest save your money and buy lowering spindles instead. You will not be happy with the ride from 3" drop springs.

[Swed-Chevy]

Hi,i bought a this GMC truck a month ago and it has a flipkit in rear.not a c notch.But i will replace the oem rubber stops to much thinner.

Have shock extensions and was thinking to replace the shocks for new.
Gas or max air from Monroe.

Old thread but,J.Knight,your shock extensions look like heavy duty,homemade
maybe ??



Some work on the car but almost rust free,was imported to Sweden 2006.

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by Swed-Chevy

Hi,i bought a this GMC truck a month ago and it has a flipkit in rear.not a c notch.But i will replace the oem rubber stops to much thinner.

Have shock extensions and was thinking to replace the shocks for new.
Gas or max air from Monroe.

Old thread but,J.Knight,your shock extensions look like heavy duty,homemade
maybe ??



Some work on the car but almost rust free,was imported to Sweden 2006.

My shock extenders are DJM brand, Belltech makes a better set.

[joe14]

do yall keep the stock shackles when doing a flip kit...because my brother also bought the djm flip kit on summit racing and it always hits frame and rides rough and he only has three leaf springs. I dont know if its necessary to have all leaf springs can someone please help me out

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by joe14

do yall keep the stock shackles when doing a flip kit...because my brother also bought the djm flip kit on summit racing and it always hits frame and rides rough and he only has three leaf springs. I dont know if its necessary to have all leaf springs can someone please help me out

A flip kit doesnt come with drop shackles and will give you about a 5in drop. If the leafs have not been altered and you remove the bumpstop mount you shouldnt hit the frame. If you add the 2in drop shackles you will have a 7in drop wich will require a c-notch in the frame for clearance.

I would assume your brothers has some leafs removed wich will drop it 1-2in or the bumpstops have not been removed. If thats the case, you will need to either remove the bumpstops, add a c-notch, or add a leaf. Do you have any pics of the rear suspension?

[papsoldblue72]

Ok I look at my truck and it just doesn't look like it has enough room for the axel to sit on top of the springs .... I want to do a flip to lower mine.... Do the kits come with spring shackles or something to lower the spring off the frame??? Or do I need a C-notch???

[Custom.Chevy]

Originally Posted by papsoldblue72

Ok I look at my truck and it just doesn't look like it has enough room for the axel to sit on top of the springs .... I want to do a flip to lower mine.... Do the kits come with spring shackles or something to lower the spring off the frame??? Or do I need a C-notch???

you definitely need a c notch if you dont think you will have room. The only spring hanger being made are technically for off road guys but would absolutely work if you needed to/wanted to. But that would just lift the truck back up. Your truck must already be lowered in some way for the axle to be that close to the frame. Or you just need to remove the bump stop and bump stop mount that is riveted to the frame. Pictures would help.

[SkinnyG]

I notched the frame on my '77, but totally did NOT have to. In fact, I wish I hadn't notched it.

The pumpkin will hit the box floor if you notch, and so prevent that, you will have to add bumpstops to where the frame used to be anyway. So don't notch it.

[Shugalou]

Great info in here, I'm about to tackle my rear 6" drop this weekend hopefully. I got the front done and this info will help me with the back.

Thanks guys

[Jstock85]

how close will the rear diff be to the bed without the c notch? just curious..

[SkinnyG]

Ok, following a similar discussion on another forum, I crawled underneath my truck to see exactly what clearance I had, just to confirm what I thought.

I have since put bumpstops in the notch on my truck, because I actually USE it as a truck and haul stuff, and I was very uncomfortable with the loaded bed resting on the pumpkin.

I had previously measured the distance from the pumpkin to the bed, and the distance from the bottom of the notch to the axle tube, found the difference, and added about 3/4" to pick a bumpstop length.

As it sits, the end of the bumpstop is about 3/4" to 1" above the bottom of the frame rail, so for ~maximum~ suspension travel, you can only really get about 1" more by notching.

In which case, instead of notching the frame 50% as I did, I would only notch an inch off the bottom and use a shallow bumpstop - this would maintain as much frame strength as I can. Alternatively, I deeper notch (like I did - 50%) and a longer bumpstop will produce a gentler bottoming.

At 900lbs of payload, the suspension is bottomed with the heavy leaf pack (8 leaves?).

Oh, also, way before I had installed the bumpstops, I had to beat part of the cab floor and a crossmember to clear the drivewhaft at full load. Not the original drivewhaft though.

[bbbc10]

if you do not use your truck to tow or haul things you can do a 6" drop in the rear an be fine...

[1990_burb]

Originally Posted by J Knight

This is how much room you should typicaly have after a flip with the bumpstops removed.

I saw a guy who installed this same flip kit but said that the legs wouldn’t seat flat into the plate on the axle so it rocked back and forth on the axle tube. Did you have this problem? I bought this same kit for my ‘78 C10 and I haven’t had a chance to throw it on yet.
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[Nick_R_23]

Originally Posted by 1990_burb

I saw a guy who installed this same flip kit but said that the legs wouldn’t seat flat into the plate on the axle so it rocked back and forth on the axle tube. Did you have this problem? I bought this same kit for my ‘78 C10 and I haven’t had a chance to throw it on yet.
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Likely due to a poor quality kit. The "C' channel style of bracket is really not safe to use and not recommended, as that piece is the only thing that keeps the axle from wrapping on the springs. You need to find a kit that uses the braced axle brackets like these, or even better, weld on new perches.

[Custom.Chevy]

whats nice about those flip kits is that if you are willing to take the time of installing the brackets multiple times and have access to a welder and a grinder you can correct your pinion angle at the same time. when i did my first axle flip kit i also had the rear hangers and between having both of those set ups it jacks up youre pinion angle. ruined the universal joint in about a year and had vibrations at highway speeds. i know now how to fix it but since then i did a full back half.