Bagged pics without a C Notch? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

53 292 · 04-19-2018, 11:38 PM

Anyone have a bagged truck with the stock bed floor height and no c notch? I'd like to see how things would sit if I were to bag mine and if it's even worth it. Wheel size isn't too important right now but I'd be running either 17's or 18's

**mr48chev** · 04-19-2018, 11:54 PM

You just flat can't get that low without some sort of notch no matter if you use springs, bags or coils. You can slide under the truck and measure the distance between the axle and the frame rail and between the center section of the axle and the bed and then go out and measure what the max drop would be bottomed out. Mines isn't that low but it bottomed out on the left rail so much it cracked the rail over the axle.

I'm actually looking at some sort of auxiliary bag setup on the rear that will serve to maintain ride height when I either have stuff in the back for a trip or tow a tear drop trailer. That probably won't happen unless I find I need it though. I've had several Cadillacs with the load leveler setup on the back and it is pretty nice to have it level it's self no matter what the load.

zenchal26 · 04-20-2018, 12:24 AM

6" drop in back had to notch

MiraclePieCo · 04-20-2018, 03:04 AM

It's surprising how little rear axle clearance you can get away with. I had a Model A with just 1-3/4 between rear axles and frame and it only touched the snubbers once in five years. On my 51 panel I temporarily had under two inches differential-crossmember clearance before I modified the crossmember; I bounced the rear with all my might and never could make it touch - and that was with no shock absorbers.

Heck, run it low without the C-notch and see what happens.

**gigamanx** · 04-20-2018, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

It's surprising how little rear axle clearance you can get away with. I had a Model A with just 1-3/4 between rear axles and frame and it only touched the snubbers once in five years. On my 51 panel I temporarily had under two inches differential-crossmember clearance before I modified the crossmember; I bounced the rear with all my might and never could make it touch - and that was with no shock absorbers.

Heck, run it low without the C-notch and see what happens.

I'm in a similar boat as I consider my rear end setup. I have the RideTech 3 link for my S10 frame and don't want to notch. So I've setup the bed of the truck so I think I lost about an inch of depth. I guess if it doesn't work, I can always notch it later like the above picture with a mini notch. It's not like I plan on riding low over speed bumps at speed. It'll just be for cruising the parking lots and then I'll air up for longer drives or towing.

e015475 · 04-20-2018, 09:53 AM

Mine has no notch in the frame. Here it is with no air in the bags sitting on the bump stops and it has about three inches to the bottom of the running boards. It is running on eighteens and has a tire diameter around twenty seven inches. No modifications to the bed floor either, but the IRS diff bolts that hold it in are right up against the wood on the bed

The issue here is 'running down the road' or 'sitting'. At ride height, the running boards are about a beer can's height off the ground. The bag setup on mine is for ride comfort and adjustability, not to see how low it will go running down the road.

If you want to run down the road at three or four inches off the ground I think you are going to need a frame notch. An IRS instead of a live axle might let you side step raising the bed.

Just my two cents

53 292 · 04-20-2018, 08:48 PM

Thanks guys that's the info I was looking for. I don't really plan on having it that low while driving, I mostly just want to to lay out a little lower while parked at shows and such. Since the truck is "done" I was hoping to avoid notching and/or raising the bed floor. 3-4 inches off the ground would be plenty low for me

04-19-2018, 11:38 PM	#1
53 292 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Salinas Ca Posts: 104	Bagged pics without a C Notch? Anyone have a bagged truck with the stock bed floor height and no c notch? I'd like to see how things would sit if I were to bag mine and if it's even worth it. Wheel size isn't too important right now but I'd be running either 17's or 18's

04-19-2018, 11:54 PM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,705	Re: Bagged pics without a C Notch? You just flat can't get that low without some sort of notch no matter if you use springs, bags or coils. You can slide under the truck and measure the distance between the axle and the frame rail and between the center section of the axle and the bed and then go out and measure what the max drop would be bottomed out. Mines isn't that low but it bottomed out on the left rail so much it cracked the rail over the axle. I'm actually looking at some sort of auxiliary bag setup on the rear that will serve to maintain ride height when I either have stuff in the back for a trip or tow a tear drop trailer. That probably won't happen unless I find I need it though. I've had several Cadillacs with the load leveler setup on the back and it is pretty nice to have it level it's self no matter what the load. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

04-20-2018, 12:24 AM	#3
zenchal26 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: maine Posts: 152	Re: Bagged pics without a C Notch? 6" drop in back had to notch Attached Images __________________ build thread zenchal26 project 57

04-20-2018, 03:04 AM	#4
MiraclePieCo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: USA Posts: 2,249	Re: Bagged pics without a C Notch? It's surprising how little rear axle clearance you can get away with. I had a Model A with just 1-3/4 between rear axles and frame and it only touched the snubbers once in five years. On my 51 panel I temporarily had under two inches differential-crossmember clearance before I modified the crossmember; I bounced the rear with all my might and never could make it touch - and that was with no shock absorbers. Heck, run it low without the C-notch and see what happens.

04-20-2018, 09:53 AM	#6
e015475 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Show Low, Arizona Posts: 778	Re: Bagged pics without a C Notch? Mine has no notch in the frame. Here it is with no air in the bags sitting on the bump stops and it has about three inches to the bottom of the running boards. It is running on eighteens and has a tire diameter around twenty seven inches. No modifications to the bed floor either, but the IRS diff bolts that hold it in are right up against the wood on the bed The issue here is 'running down the road' or 'sitting'. At ride height, the running boards are about a beer can's height off the ground. The bag setup on mine is for ride comfort and adjustability, not to see how low it will go running down the road. If you want to run down the road at three or four inches off the ground I think you are going to need a frame notch. An IRS instead of a live axle might let you side step raising the bed. Just my two cents

04-20-2018, 08:48 PM	#7
53 292 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Salinas Ca Posts: 104	Re: Bagged pics without a C Notch? Thanks guys that's the info I was looking for. I don't really plan on having it that low while driving, I mostly just want to to lay out a little lower while parked at shows and such. Since the truck is "done" I was hoping to avoid notching and/or raising the bed floor. 3-4 inches off the ground would be plenty low for me



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