how low can i go?

[dec010974]

thanks tinydb84. will the aftermarket frame cross member make a difference? the cab brace will be cut/clearance 1.5 inches b4 I have to modify the cab floor.

[dec010974]

check this out

[hellbent72]

I would use a two peice shaft. A lot less fab work.

[dec010974]

We'll hellbent. It seems like everything I do, lately, to the suspension, as far as the air ride suspension is work. Wether I use a 2 piece drive shaft, modification or cut the cab brace, framed cross member mods will be made. For sure, I repeat, for sure , I will either buy the full kit, porterbuilt, or stay with the static drop crowd. This air ride suspension crap is for the birds. The lower go, the more mods need to made. Trust me, YouTube, with with air ride c10 vids, will neve be looked at again.

[hellbent72]

Are you not happy with the air susp on the rear of your truck?
On my truck I kept my factory crossmember that my trailing arms attach to and modifyed it, rather than buying a new one.
I cut the bottom of the crossmember flush with the bottom of thr frame and platted it in to get the strength back, I run a two peice drive shaft and flipped my carrier bearing 180 degrees to get a better pinion angle.

Those youtube vids make it look real easy if you have never messed with air suspension.

[tinydb84]

It's not that much more work compared to what you already have done. I would look at what other people have down and see which way looks easier to you.

[dec010974]

Hey guys. What should have done is more homework. Cutting any car/truck frame is a major modification. I guess the rule is you pay for what you don't know. Maybe the truck should've went to a professional. Pay them to get it right. I'm in Miami, Florida. one of the best fabricators wanted around $4500.00 To buy and do all the work. And he's using most vendors $1400.00 kit. Most of us know what's in that kit. And that's for the bags to be mounted on the trailing arms. I thought he was crazy. That's how I ended up where I am today. Freakin YouTube. Lol.

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by dec010974

Hey guys. What should have done is more homework. Cutting any car/truck frame is a major modification. I guess the rule is you pay for what you don't know. Maybe the truck should've went to a professional. Pay them to get it right. I'm in Miami, Florida. one of the best fabricators wanted around $4500.00 To buy and do all the work. And he's using most vendors $1400.00 kit. Most of us know what's in that kit. And that's for the bags to be mounted on the trailing arms. I thought he was crazy. That's how I ended up where I am today. Freakin YouTube. Lol.

Go to a different shop. Find a local car club and see who they use. Email Porterbuilt and AVS and ask for shop recommendations.

That is what I did. I found a shop that is going to do my Z for $500 (engine is out) and install the four link for $300 more if I do it all at once. I have to buy the parts (~$900). So front and rear will be done for about 2K.

I am having them raise my bed floor and trans tunnel for an additional 1k.

[dec010974]

Thanks. Tinydb84. You're always there, at every turn with very good advice.

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by dec010974

Thanks. Tinydb84. You're always there, at every turn with very good advice.

No worries. We are get discouraged. Just dont give up. Your ride as a bad ass truck. Remember it doesnt have to be perfect right away or layout right away. Enjoy the truck and process.

My truck has sat in the same place for the last month and a half because I got frustrated so I decided to take a break. I am going to get the wheels back on and drop it off at the shop to have them do some of the major suspension work that way I can feel like the project is really moving again.

[dec010974]

shor'dee jr is back. shor'dee jr is home, safely in the garage. thanks to Hellbent72 and tinydb84 for encouraging me to keep it moving. with the support from 67-72chevytrucks team anything is possible. i also wanna give a shot out lolife99 and my Phil, the guy who welded my bag brackets and track bar. I know, I know, this reads like the urban radio stations. I'm happy. time to get wrenchin'. here are the pics. and yes everything will cleaned up. and yes, I do my own wiring. and yes she runs. I went from a lq4/th400 with aftermarket camshaft, push rods, springs, & head port work to the the fuel ejection set up, with a mail order tune from lt1swap.com. she runs much better. when I complete the wiring and air bags, I'll call a tuner to dial in the fuel injection.

[dec010974]

and a few more.

[tinydb84]

Glad you stuck with it!

(One suggestion for later, get a longer panhard bar to keep that rearend from shifting too much when you air up and down)

[dec010974]

does anyone use shocks with air ride suspension? if so, I gotta work some more magic.

[tinydb84]

Yeah you need to run shocks. Make sure you get ones that have enough travel

[dec010974]

just more pics. my suspension setup is on hold due to me rewiring my truck. 40 year old wiring harness might not cut the mustard to fully power my
lq4/th400 and my air bag suspension. January 2014 will be great.

[dec010974]

Hello to all. Can I have a few tips on disassembly of the bed. I think the tires are scrubbing against the wheel well. I guess it's time to modify the bed. My fellow baggers, I'm all ears.

[tinydb84]

The wheel wells should just unbolt. You can take them out and lengthen them or buy wheel tubs.

[hellbent72]

glad you stuck with it you will thank yourself.
Man that thing looks sweet. I always go back to checkin out your motor.dang that thing looks bad azz and fast as hell. WOW!!!!!!

[Bagged1972]

Is there any difference in the drop when it's aired out when the bags are mounted on top of the rear end compared to when they are mounted on the trailing arms or is it just for lift when mounted to the trailing arm?

[wraprail]

You should start by throwing that 300 pound florida bling bling step bumper in the landfill. I know, I know.....they can't be beat for throwing sparks on cruise night and women just love them. Truth is dude, they went out in the 80s. At least here on the west coast.
Other than the bumper you truck is Killer. Just don't paint it!!!

[dec010974]

Bagged1972, I went for the Bag on Axle due to i want my ride as low as i can get it. The trailing arms limited the air ride travel.
wraprail, thanks for the compliment. i hate that bumber with a passion. trust me when i say the bumper will be replaced after i buy other parts such as drop spindles, front shocks, and shock relocators.

[Bagged1972]

It's a badass trucki hope to get mine looking like that before to long

[sduckworth13]

ECE or Porterbuilt Fabrications makes a drop center crossmember that has a bigger opening for the driveshaft and it also allows you to run your exhaust through the crossmember so it doesn't hang below the frame rails. I like the Porterbuilt crossmember I'm using on my build because it also allows me adjust to trailing arms if needed.

[dec010974]

sduckworth13, trust me, if I could do it all to do over again, the porterbuilt front and rear drop members would have been my choice. I got caught up in the moment, watching all those YouTube vids with air ride c10s. this is my first air ride build. trust me, it has been an adventure. I learned a lot with this build. this isn't my last truck, so the next time around I will pull the porterbuilt trigger. I wish I could call them to bail me out, but I don't have that kind of cash. you pay double when someone has to clean up your air ride mess.