I Finally Z'd my frame!! - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

meathead95 · 04-20-2004, 10:22 AM

I have a question also. I was just wondering, when I saw the pics with the body lowered and the crossmember raised, will you have clearance issues with the hood/engine?

loweredd · 04-20-2004, 01:16 PM

No problems there.....I have an LT1 to go in. Othersise, I think there MIGHT have been a problem.

bagged81 · 04-20-2004, 02:27 PM

How much did you Z it, 3"?

The only reason that I dont want to Z mine is cause I just did my interior and I dont want to go back and have to mess with that tranny hump.

loweredd · 04-20-2004, 03:33 PM

I moved it 4" up......the tranny hump will have to be redone with this drastic of a Z job.

crazy longhorn · 04-22-2004, 04:40 PM

Dayam! Slamit! That is some nice lookin work there

Keep those pics rollin......good luck,crazyL

shimp · 04-23-2004, 02:00 AM

Where are those new pics? When you expect to be done putting the engine and all that back in?

Not trying to rush you but I have an extra frame for my truck that I am thinking about doing the exact same thing to and want to see how it turns out.

And Crossmember drop I would think is more work/time than just Z'ing the frame. Difference is you don't have to change all the steering, and you maintain your factory geometry on the control arms.

Crossmember drop is like 2.5". He Z'ed his frame 4"! that means he has a 1.5" advantage over a crossmember drop and doesn't have to buy a rack and pinion steering assembly.

Less expensive, less work, lower. I think that's a winner.
And a regular "stock floor bodydrop" they do cut from the top of the frame rather than the bottom (more work). And still have to raise the tranny hump on most.

loweredd · 04-23-2004, 11:34 AM

Sorry about no new pictures. I have been feeling like total crap lately. (Bad cold) I was working on the transmission tunnel for the last couple days. I ran out of MIG wire the night before last at 11:00, so I got a whole lot of nothing accomplished that night. I was out in the garage till 2 last night. I got the whole drivers side tacked in. I have 1 or 2 pieces to fit and tack on the passenger side and I can weld it all in.

The engine is still in the shipping crate, but I have a bare block bolted to the 700R4 so I can get everything "roughed" in.

LOL, by all means shimp, rush me!! I need to get this thing done. I want to be driving it be the 20th. It still needs paint and panels on it.

loweredd · 04-23-2004, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shimp
And Crossmember drop I would think is more work/time than just Z'ing the frame. Difference is you don't have to change all the steering, and you maintain your factory geometry on the control arms.

Crossmember drop is like 2.5". He Z'ed his frame 4"! that means he has a 1.5" advantage over a crossmember drop and doesn't have to buy a rack and pinion steering assembly.

Less expensive, less work, lower. I think that's a winner.
And a regular "stock floor bodydrop" they do cut from the top of the frame rather than the bottom (more work). And still have to raise the tranny hump on most.

I think work time on both would be about the same. Maybe. I dont know for sure. The only steering I have to change is the steering shaft. It will get a few u-joints and a heim or two. (it needed that anyway)

Capt told me no more than 1.5 on the crossmember without haveing to go through A BUNCH of work. I have a whole frame section with the crossmember bolted to it I torched out of a Suburban to do a crossmember drop till he told me 1.5 only.

I think we had a heated discussion on the "stock floor" definition before too. LOL. I'm calling it stock floor body drop. Whoever owns Silver Star Customs in SC I got parts from called the same thing a stock floor, that's where I got the idea of "whacking" off the bottom of the frame like I did. It might not be a conventional stock floor body drop, but I'm gonna call it that.

Izzy · 04-23-2004, 11:51 PM

Looks great no matter what the hell you call it.

loweredd · 04-26-2004, 11:26 AM

OK, here are new pictures of the tranny tunnel. I have it all tacked in, just need to finish welding it solid.

I was gonna put in the engine and tranny last night, BUT Alias was on.... (Jennifer Garner....... Booooiiiiiiinnnnggggg) LOL.

loweredd · 04-26-2004, 11:30 AM

Another one. It is now 12 inches wide, and SHOULD fit under the stock bench.

loweredd · 04-26-2004, 11:31 AM

Here is the last one. Hope you like these shimp.

bagged81 · 04-26-2004, 01:01 PM

How much do you think that you had to raise the hump for this 4" Z?

loweredd · 04-26-2004, 01:34 PM

I think about 2-3 inches. It is less than a manual tranny hump, I think.

loweredd · 04-27-2004, 12:38 PM

LT1 is in. Check out some pictures. I hope they arent too big.

loweredd · 04-27-2004, 12:40 PM

One more. The picture after this in the money shot.

loweredd · 04-27-2004, 12:44 PM

Finally! The rockers are on the floor. Just where they belong.

loweredd · 04-29-2004, 08:38 PM

Here is a pic from last night. I got the tranny tunnel totally welded in, and the new tires put on. Im wiring tonight, and I dont know what else for sure. Front down looks good!

Booga1 · 04-30-2004, 09:23 AM

HOLY CRAP THAT'S SWEET!!!! You've got to have some big marbles to try doing that to your truck. Just the thought of cutting my frame like that makes my butt pucker. Awesome job!!!!

B

loweredd · 04-30-2004, 10:25 AM

LOL. Thanks Booga! I bought it for $900 cause it supposedly needed a flywheel. If I mess it up, I'm not out much. Plus a long bed frame would be a cheap score in a junkyard.

bagged81 · 04-30-2004, 02:44 PM

Thats going to be awesome!!

Izzy · 05-01-2004, 09:36 PM

Badazz. I'm thinking this might be a better way for me than reworking the body mounts.

Just to make sure from the pictures it looks like you didn't touch the steering shaft, is that correct?

loweredd · 05-02-2004, 12:27 PM

Good lookin site 5-8. The "the 83" link doesnt work for me though. Still designing?

Anywho....the engine is turning over under it's own power now! I have a few wires to wire for the computer, and mount the computer, and I'm going to be working on the fuel cell and fuel pump today. I need to order in LT1 header gaskets, since we dont stock them at work.

Don't know why. I need to hurry and get this thing out to the exhaust shop, then body shop.

bagged81 · 05-03-2004, 07:56 AM

Crap, the photos aren't working now. Have you got them somewhere so I can see what you did around the steering pump?

Also, does the lt1 bolt righ up to the motor mounts?

Do you think that moving the motor forward about 2" would free up enough room at the tranny hump so to not have to cut it for a 4" Z'ed frame?

loweredd · 05-03-2004, 10:48 AM

Dang it pictures!! Will they eventually work?

LT1 uses stock mounts. You might be able to move it forward 2". I think the clearance would be close, right under the firewall.

I have some pics on my site. Maybe I will put them all on the site and go back to the old posts and put them in off my site.

04-20-2004, 10:22 AM	#26
meathead95 computer illiterate Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 6,440	I have a question also. I was just wondering, when I saw the pics with the body lowered and the crossmember raised, will you have clearance issues with the hood/engine? __________________ 72 2wd blazer 72 swb 4x4

04-20-2004, 02:27 PM	#28
bagged81 Signals in the bumper. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 856	How much did you Z it, 3"? The only reason that I dont want to Z mine is cause I just did my interior and I dont want to go back and have to mess with that tranny hump. __________________ Jeff C. 1981 Chevrolet Silverado - Under major construction...again. link 1962 Chevrolet Impala 4D Sedan moredoorclassics.com 1936 Ford Pickup - Frame-off in progress link 1979 Chevrolet Camper Special Flatbed link

04-22-2004, 04:40 PM	#30
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	Dayam! Slamit! That is some nice lookin work there Keep those pics rollin......good luck,crazyL __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....

04-23-2004, 02:00 AM	#31
shimp Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Waller, TX Posts: 57	Where are those new pics? When you expect to be done putting the engine and all that back in? Not trying to rush you but I have an extra frame for my truck that I am thinking about doing the exact same thing to and want to see how it turns out. And Crossmember drop I would think is more work/time than just Z'ing the frame. Difference is you don't have to change all the steering, and you maintain your factory geometry on the control arms. Crossmember drop is like 2.5". He Z'ed his frame 4"! that means he has a 1.5" advantage over a crossmember drop and doesn't have to buy a rack and pinion steering assembly. Less expensive, less work, lower. I think that's a winner. And a regular "stock floor bodydrop" they do cut from the top of the frame rather than the bottom (more work). And still have to raise the tranny hump on most. __________________ 2004 Chevy Silverado 1500 RCSB 4.8v8 5 speed 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 RCSB 4.8v8 auto (wifes truck) 1986 Chevy Caprice 5.0 auto (like driving a couch down the road) 1982 Chevy C30 Crew Cab 2wd LWB - Beater Truck (I have more!) Too many to list!

04-26-2004, 11:26 AM	#35
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	OK, here are new pictures of the tranny tunnel. I have it all tacked in, just need to finish welding it solid. I was gonna put in the engine and tranny last night, BUT Alias was on.... (Jennifer Garner....... Booooiiiiiiinnnnggggg) LOL. Attached Images Last edited by loweredd; 05-04-2004 at 08:47 PM.

04-20-2004, 01:16 PM	#27
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	No problems there.....I have an LT1 to go in. Othersise, I think there MIGHT have been a problem.

04-20-2004, 03:33 PM	#29
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	I moved it 4" up......the tranny hump will have to be redone with this drastic of a Z job.

04-23-2004, 11:34 AM	#32
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	Sorry about no new pictures. I have been feeling like total crap lately. (Bad cold) I was working on the transmission tunnel for the last couple days. I ran out of MIG wire the night before last at 11:00, so I got a whole lot of nothing accomplished that night. I was out in the garage till 2 last night. I got the whole drivers side tacked in. I have 1 or 2 pieces to fit and tack on the passenger side and I can weld it all in. The engine is still in the shipping crate, but I have a bare block bolted to the 700R4 so I can get everything "roughed" in. LOL, by all means shimp, rush me!! I need to get this thing done. I want to be driving it be the 20th. It still needs paint and panels on it.

04-23-2004, 11:51 PM	#34
Izzy Trucker. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,364	Looks great no matter what the hell you call it.

04-26-2004, 11:30 AM	#36
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	Another one. It is now 12 inches wide, and SHOULD fit under the stock bench. Attached Images Last edited by loweredd; 05-04-2004 at 08:48 PM.

04-26-2004, 11:31 AM	#37
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	Here is the last one. Hope you like these shimp. Attached Images Last edited by loweredd; 05-04-2004 at 08:50 PM.

04-26-2004, 01:01 PM	#38
bagged81 Signals in the bumper. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 856	How much do you think that you had to raise the hump for this 4" Z? __________________ Jeff C. 1981 Chevrolet Silverado - Under major construction...again. link 1962 Chevrolet Impala 4D Sedan moredoorclassics.com 1936 Ford Pickup - Frame-off in progress link 1979 Chevrolet Camper Special Flatbed link

04-26-2004, 01:34 PM	#39
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	I think about 2-3 inches. It is less than a manual tranny hump, I think.

04-27-2004, 12:38 PM	#40
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	LT1 is in. Check out some pictures. I hope they arent too big.

04-27-2004, 12:40 PM	#41
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	One more. The picture after this in the money shot.



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04-27-2004, 12:44 PM	#42
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	Finally! The rockers are on the floor. Just where they belong.

04-29-2004, 08:38 PM	#43
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	Here is a pic from last night. I got the tranny tunnel totally welded in, and the new tires put on. Im wiring tonight, and I dont know what else for sure. Front down looks good!

04-30-2004, 09:23 AM	#44
Booga1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cincinnati, Oh Posts: 86	HOLY CRAP THAT'S SWEET!!!! You've got to have some big marbles to try doing that to your truck. Just the thought of cutting my frame like that makes my butt pucker. Awesome job!!!! B

04-30-2004, 10:25 AM	#45
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	LOL. Thanks Booga! I bought it for $900 cause it supposedly needed a flywheel. If I mess it up, I'm not out much. Plus a long bed frame would be a cheap score in a junkyard.

04-30-2004, 02:44 PM	#46
bagged81 Signals in the bumper. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 856	Thats going to be awesome!! __________________ Jeff C. 1981 Chevrolet Silverado - Under major construction...again. link 1962 Chevrolet Impala 4D Sedan moredoorclassics.com 1936 Ford Pickup - Frame-off in progress link 1979 Chevrolet Camper Special Flatbed link

05-01-2004, 09:36 PM	#47
Izzy Trucker. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,364	Badazz. I'm thinking this might be a better way for me than reworking the body mounts. Just to make sure from the pictures it looks like you didn't touch the steering shaft, is that correct?

05-02-2004, 12:27 PM	#48
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	Good lookin site 5-8. The "the 83" link doesnt work for me though. Still designing? Anywho....the engine is turning over under it's own power now! I have a few wires to wire for the computer, and mount the computer, and I'm going to be working on the fuel cell and fuel pump today. I need to order in LT1 header gaskets, since we dont stock them at work. Don't know why. I need to hurry and get this thing out to the exhaust shop, then body shop.

05-03-2004, 07:56 AM	#49
bagged81 Signals in the bumper. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 856	Crap, the photos aren't working now. Have you got them somewhere so I can see what you did around the steering pump? Also, does the lt1 bolt righ up to the motor mounts? Do you think that moving the motor forward about 2" would free up enough room at the tranny hump so to not have to cut it for a 4" Z'ed frame? __________________ Jeff C. 1981 Chevrolet Silverado - Under major construction...again. link 1962 Chevrolet Impala 4D Sedan moredoorclassics.com 1936 Ford Pickup - Frame-off in progress link 1979 Chevrolet Camper Special Flatbed link

05-03-2004, 10:48 AM	#50
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	Dang it pictures!! Will they eventually work? LT1 uses stock mounts. You might be able to move it forward 2". I think the clearance would be close, right under the firewall. I have some pics on my site. Maybe I will put them all on the site and go back to the old posts and put them in off my site.

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