Dropmember in a 69 C10

[PBFAB.COM]

Here's some installation pics of a Dropmember in a 69 C10. Don't worry, the final hardware will all be grade 8!

[camaro__thunder]

Definately different, NICE WELDS

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by camaro__thunder

Definately different, NICE WELDS

Different is good!... isn't that what Arby's said?

[BigTruckDriver]

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

Different is good!... isn't that what Arby's said?

Are these photos with a stock rear suspension and a regular c-notch??? I like the stance and also did not want to cut into the bed. Do you have a pic at ride height.

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by BigTruckDriver

Are these photos with a stock rear suspension and a regular c-notch??? I like the stance and also did not want to cut into the bed. Do you have a pic at ride height.

Big Truck-

I am assuming you are referring to the 63 Panel? It has factory trailing arms and a home-made C-notch out of tube or pipe (I didn't do the work on the rear). The floor has not been modified. As for pics at ride-height... I don't think I have any . For some reason I don't sem to take too many pics at ride height... probably oughta change that! I can se if I can get some in the next short while.

[PBFAB.COM]

Thanks for all the compliments guys. I take extreme pride in all my work, and do my best on every piece I touch.

[fastbagged68]

I Like IT! I want to see more pics of that blazer and panel!!!! Any info on the crossmember???

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by fastbagged68

I Like IT! I want to see more pics of that blazer and panel!!!! Any info on the crossmember???

The panel is already on the board in 60-66 trucks (under 63 panle), and the blazer is under 67-72 blazers (under low72).

I didn't get everything done today I wanted to, but I do have more pics. The rack is in, the control arms and spindles are mounted up, and the motor/trans is mocked up and ready for mounts. I will not make much more progress on this one until next week.

Oh, it lays frame on a 29 inch tall tire (with a 3 inch drop-spindle)

[PBFAB.COM]

One more good one. The cab mounts are not installed yet, that's why the rocker is also touching the ground.

[7deuce]

THATS WHAT I SOULD HAVE DONE! Looks SIIIIIICK. My front looks like an abortion compared to that. Keep em commin.

[N2TRUX]

Did I miss something? What's a Dropmember? Is that something you built, or someone else is building. The welds are awesome, and the end result looks good. I'm just wondering what it is....

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Did I miss something? What's a Dropmember? Is that something you built, or someone else is building.

Thats what I was wondering also???

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Did I miss something? What's a Dropmember? Is that something you built, or someone else is building. The welds are awesome, and the end result looks good. I'm just wondering what it is....

This is a "Dropmember". It is made to bolt into 63-87 Chevrolet Trucks, 2wd and those who are tired of their 4wd sitting too high. It uses a rack and pinion, designed to be used with tubular arms (Air Ride Tech.) but can be used with stock arms (slight modification to lower arm is needed), it allows the frame to set on the ground with a drop spindle and a 29 inch tall tire. Porterbuilt Street Rods is the manufacturer and they sell for a whopping $1200.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Did I miss something? What's a Dropmember?

Heh, I felt the same way. It was presented as if we were supposed to know what it was already...

What about motor mounts? Pricing?

[Rydn2L0w]

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

This is a "Dropmember". It is made to bolt into 63-87 Chevrolet Trucks, 2wd and those who are tired of their 4wd sitting too high. It uses a rack and pinion, designed to be used with tubular arms (Air Ride Tech.) but can be used with stock arms (slight modification to lower arm is needed), it allows the frame to set on the ground with a drop spindle and a 29 inch tall tire. Porterbuilt Street Rods is the manufacturer and they sell for a whopping $1200.

Sectioning the original crossmember definitely seems like the cheaper route as long as you have the capability of doing so. Thats a lot of dough! yikes! Do you have to cut a hole in your frame for the rack and pininion??

[PBFAB.COM]

You do have to notch the framerails for the tie-rod clearance. The kit comes with a plate that bolts in.

Sectioning the crossmember may be a "less expensive" route for those with the capability.

For what it cost me to design, proto-type, build, plus the equipment to produce it, and cost of machined pieces... $1200 is a pretty good deal. It's a bargain to some and a lot to others!

[gostranger]

ok now i am going to ask how much is it!! and do you make one the will work with out a rack? looks like some awesome work!!

[N2TRUX]

porterbuilt- Thank you for becoming a supporting vendor. It looks like you have an awesome product that will be what many of these guys are looking for.

[PBFAB.COM]

I had a duplicate thread going in the 67-72 forum as well, so we went ahead and merged them together here. Some questions that were previously asked may have already been answered... go back and re-read the thread, if the question has not been answered please ask it again.

[lvscott]

i've been talking with nathen porter for the past couple of weeks since i saw the dropmember metioned on the low 72 thread. nathen is a really cool guy and is very helpful. i will be ordering my dropmember next week. thanks for all the great pics and all your help nathen.

[smbrouss70]

Is there another bracket that isn't in yet, to hold the top of the bags? Also did you move the mounts for the arms inward any, to give a little more clearance? It looks like you might have.

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by smbrouss70

Is there another bracket that isn't in yet, to hold the top of the bags? Also did you move the mounts for the arms inward any, to give a little more clearance? It looks like you might have.

This truck will be running shockwaves, and the mounts are not finished yet. It is narrowed up a bit... four inches over all. Go to the 60-66 board and look at the 63 panel I posted and you will see some pics of the bracket for the bags. I would post some right now, but I am on my wife's laptop and all my pics are on mine.

[smbrouss70]

Would you be able to run "normal" bags with another type of bracket?

*** EDIT*** Nevermind I went and looked at the pics on the panel and aswered my own question.

[onehot69stepside]

is that a typical ford rack and pinion (24" inner balljoint centers) or is it a modified one for extended travel, or does the drop-member require the use of impala spindles? what im getting at is how the turning radius is with that rack. I'm building a full chassis front to back on a table and I think I've got it figured out how to build my ifs from scratch using a rack with the same amount of bumpsteer as stock but I have to figure a way to get my turning radius tighter.

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by onehot69stepside

is that a typical ford rack and pinion (24" inner balljoint centers) or is it a modified one for extended travel, or does the drop-member require the use of impala spindles? what im getting at is how the turning radius is with that rack. I'm building a full chassis front to back on a table and I think I've got it figured out how to build my ifs from scratch using a rack with the same amount of bumpsteer as stock but I have to figure a way to get my turning radius tighter.

Suspension geometry can be a complicated thing! When building a custom chassis or one-off piece things can become less complicated than when building a production piece like the dropmember. Sounds wierd, but true. Production pieces have to be cost effective... a custom rack would change that real quick. In all suspension and steering design/geometry there has to be certain trade-offs that take place. The stock rack does take away slightly from the turning radius, its turning radius is still average or slightly above, but I would be lying if I said it was the same or better. To increase the steering radius I could have had a custom rack produced or decided to use different spindles with a shorter steering arm, (this might be what you need to do for your custom application) , but it would have defeated the purpose of building this crossmember. My original objective was to build a kit that was a quality piece, both in design and manufacturing, and most importantly cost effective for the consumer. It is an exceptional design, the quality of the piece is incredible, the suspension geometry is an improvement from stock, all obstacles that are inherent with putting these trucks on the ground have been addressed, and the price is reasonable. Sorry for soapboxing and giving you more info than you probably wanted or needed, but I hope I was able to help answer your questions.