1978 GMC Sierra C35 "Project Second Life"

[tc4x4]

One more question, for future thought of raising the bed floor, how is the bed floor attached and what is the easiest was of raising it as a whole like I have seen?

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

OK I will be starting the drop on the front end real shortly, I'm posting for help. Can all you who have done this post up some advice and safety tips. I'm putting on drop spindles and cutting the springs. Also remind me about how much spring cut is equal to how much drop?

Also with this amount of drop, can I get the tires properly aligned again?

Thirdly, this truck needs a name. I'm open for suggestions...

Yeah you should be able to still align it but might have a ton of shims on the uca. I picked up an extra set of lca's and am going to try sectioning them 3/4'' so I dont have as many shims and narrow my track with.

[tc4x4]

I'm thinking th400 with the gear vender overdrive....

[cochino12]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

I'm thinking th400 with the gear vender overdrive....

Gear vendors are expensive but nice, I've found better pricing on 4l80e and controllers.
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[tc4x4]

I need to bro talk................lol............Anyways, I'm having second guesses and cold feet. The one ton was original when it came into my hands. I started off with little changes but now am to the point where major changes are happening. I know that in the long run at this point I could reverse all that I have done.

Older guys at my shop I take my DD's to are totally against doing anything to this truck. Ive said it before there is a huge lifted truck 4x4 scene around here in norther Michigan, but hardly any lowered trucks at all.

I guess i need opinions, guidance, or maybe just a good slap to the face.

What say ye?

[cochino12]

1 coil is about 2", i always run a chain through the coil when pulling them so they pop out and take my head off.

[79 blue monster]

on mine(3/4 ton 454) i cut 1.5 coils out and used 2.5in drop spindles. mine dropprd about 8 in. and my lca are 2in off the ground and im sitting on my bump stops. with your truck being a one ton, you have more leafs in the back giving you more drop. so in the front you have to go lower then that so you might have to notch your crossmember otherwise you'll have the rear lower than the back. someone correct me if im wrong.


safty stuff: i used a hoist, so i put blocks under my lower control arms, and lowered the truck down onto the blocks (compressing the lower control arms) and unbloted the spindle. then slowly lifted the hoist till the coils werent compressed.

[tc4x4]

My rear dropped 9 inches.

[79 blue monster]

ok, well you should be fine then. just make sure you cut enough coils out the first time, because it sucks having to do it twice..lol

[tc4x4]

Ok what tranny should i put into this beast when I put the 572 into it? Im thinking about going with an automatic, what say ye?

[JRANGER]

i say...dayum 572 damnit man thats beastly

[Conundrum]

Do what you want with it, it's your truck after all. Most of the people around here are into the lifted 4wds as well cause they like to play in the mud and what not. I have a few friends that are in the lowered truck scene but it's not many. I really like where your truck is headed and i'd like to see you finish personally, but ultimately it's up to you and what you want.
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[tc4x4]

Don't get me wrong, I want to finish it, but do you think it was to original to start modifying.

[Conundrum]

No, and the reason I say that is they are all over the place. I know they are pretty rare up in Michigan in that good of shape, but i'm sure you could find another to leave or fix up as original if you want to.
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[tc4x4]

Good point...

[JRANGER]

This is what you want to remember...Its your truck! Its your baby! Its your vision and what you want!!! Do what you want bro not what others want you to do!!

[82ccshorty]

Did you weld those rear end plates in already? I had to take mine back out because i had to machine them because my rear sat lower then the front because those plates where to thick. so if you already welded them you will need to drop your front like an extra half an inch to make it sit level.

[79 blue monster]

keep going on it, its all in how YOU want it to look. you'll get people that cant stand to look at it and then you'll get people that love it more than anything. i myself am looking forward to seeing it get done because i am doing the same thing. your truck and mine are the only 8lug single cab trucks that i've seen lowered in our area, so that means its really unique! keep going on it, and keep up the good work!

[tc4x4]

Are you talking about the spring saddles? If so yes they are welded in.

[tc4x4]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WST-13600/


OK, so here is where I'm at. These spindles will get me 3'' lower. My front started and still is at 34 3/4 inches at the lip of the fender above axle. It never changed when I lowered the rear. The rear was two inches higher before I lowered it. 36 3/4 inches measured the same way. Now it is at 27 3/4 inches high. So it appears to have been lowered a total of nine inches.

So my question is how much to lower the front. If I lower it 7'' then the truck should be level. Right? But I think I want the truck slightly lower in the front. I forget what that is called. So how do I go about getting it that low? Isn't cutting a whole coil get me 2''? If so I could cut 2 coils out getting me 4'' and with the 3 '' i get with the spindle that would make 7''.

How am I looking so far? How would I get a little more than 7''? Do you guys see any problems with this? Am I cutting to many coils out?

[cochino12]

Cutting 2 coils is probably too much. Id try cutting one coil adding the spindles and adding a shorter shackle to bring the rear up a bit. 7" drop and tires as tall as yours will require you to remove your inner fenders too.

[tc4x4]

Ive never asked but what is involved in removing your inner fenders? Does removing them take away from structural support? any bracing needed? What negative affects are there from cutting out two coils?

[SCOTI]

Agreed... Do the spindles & cut 1 coil max. Adjust the rear from there if necessary. Anything taller than a 28" front tire & you'll be removing the inner fender wells or building newer/taller ones (or buying aftermarket units).

[tc4x4]

Just to educate me, Can I simply remove the fenders and not have to worry about the strength of the structure of the truck?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

Just to educate me, Can I simply remove the fenders and not have to worry about the strength of the structure of the truck?

Yes, they can be removed.
Yes, there will be less structural support but not to the point of other things failing.

If anything, the fenders have the opportunity to vibrate more w/nothing securing them @ certain points. The bigger deal is it can/will/does create an ugly engine compartment anytime you track through water that's been sitting on the roadway collecting dirt.