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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Ok so, I wanna get my altitude problem solved. I dont want to slam it, but I want it noticably lower but id love to spend very little money. I can weld and my lieutenant at work runs a metal-fab shop on the side if i need any pro help.
so here’s my issue.... Im worried a flip kit will get me too low for my particular truck and I think that shackles alone won’t get me low enough. I have 1” lowering springs from BrothersTrucks on the front currently and removed the coil helpers from the back with plain shocks in their place. I think im going to try to cut the original springs in the front first and get the front how I’m envisioning first then work on getting the back evened out. I “think” i want a 2”/4” drop overall. But im not sure, really I’ll just know it when i see it. P.s. this truck will never haul any real weight. So whatta y’all think? Shackles and modified hangers? Anybody ever lengthened factory shackles? Will i need drop shocks? I’ve heard of using front shocks in the back or vice-versa but i cant remember the details. But shoot me some opinions and ideas either way, just looking for some input. Trying to get pics up for reference... |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
First- the day i bought the truck
Second- my origional photoshopped vision from 8 years ago.. Third- the trucks current state Last edited by Root_Drum_Co; 08-18-2019 at 12:26 AM. Reason: Needed to add images and info |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 7,717
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
The flip on my 69 resulted in 7 1/4” drop in the rear. I did an ECE disc conversion in the front with drop spindles and 2” springs for 4 1/2” total.
I love the way my truck looks and rides. If you want something in the middle, buying new springs is the answer IMO.
__________________
44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Thanks for your reply!
Yea “something in the middle” is the best way to put it for sure. My only problem with buying new springs is the money part. I want a “middle ground” lowering job at little to no cost. I know being cheap isn’t always encouraged but i see it like a challenge to do it as right as possible for the least money |
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#5 |
Post Whore
![]() ![]() Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alabama
Posts: 14,639
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
you could always cut a coil off each spring on front..and pull a leaf on the rear...cant get much cheaper
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Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Ok yea, I like this idea! Im not gonna haul any serious weight, but i still wonder about the softness in the back tho. Have you done this? Its not too soft and squishy in the back?
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Anybody have pics of a 2/4 drop on a stepside? Theyre kinda hard to find, everyone does the 3/5 drops mostly.
Or pics of 1 coil cut in the front and 1 leaf out in the back? |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 7,717
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
My truck had the HD rear 4 leaf springs. I think the standard leaf setup is 3? Not sure if I would want to pull 33% of the leaves on the back.
I removed the overload on mine because it was hitting the CalTrac bars after the flip. Removing the overload gets you 1/2”-3/4” lower if you keep the axle spring over. Combine that with the shackles in their lowest hole and you are getting closet to 4” drop.
__________________
44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Westminster, Co
Posts: 22
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
I started with the 2/4 drop, but in the end went to a 3/5 on my step side. Coil spring at all corners though.
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Yea MikeC, you make a good point. I do have the springs youre talking about, its three springs and an overload. Id hate for it too be too soft and squirely in the back. I put some pics of my current rear set-up
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Southern Iowa
Posts: 308
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Here's mine. Lowering leafs and shackles rear, drop spindles and cut springs front.
__________________
1972 C30 Grain Hauler, 350/400 1967 1500 GMC Stepside SWB, In Transformation Process 1967 RS/SS Camaro 350/TKO600 |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 7,717
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Pull the overload, and after it’s all back together, re-evaluate where you are at. Don’t spend a lot of time trying to adjust ride height with a partially assembled truck.
__________________
44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
I hear ya mike. Im gonna try the overload first. The truck is assembled actually, just put those old pics up for reference for yall to see what im working with. This is its current state...
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 7,717
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
For inspiration, my truck with its 4 1/2" disc converted front drop and 7 1/4" flip drop in the rear.
__________________
44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Southern Iowa
Posts: 308
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
3 and 5.
__________________
1972 C30 Grain Hauler, 350/400 1967 1500 GMC Stepside SWB, In Transformation Process 1967 RS/SS Camaro 350/TKO600 |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Here’s my current ride height, front is pic #1, back is pic #2.
I think im going to shoot for 3” all around. Do a little at a time and drive around on it. Yall think I will have any rubbing issues or need to notch the frame? Will i need lowering shocks? |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Southern Iowa
Posts: 308
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
You won't need to notch in back unless you do the flip kit. I've done the max without flipping, and haven't had any issues bottoming out on frame.
How did you get to your 3" in the front? Still have the bump stop in place? Have enough shock travel?
__________________
1972 C30 Grain Hauler, 350/400 1967 1500 GMC Stepside SWB, In Transformation Process 1967 RS/SS Camaro 350/TKO600 |
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#20 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Quote:
The only think ive done is back in 2011 i put Brothertrucks 1” lowering springs in the front and removed the coil helpers in the back, those pics are my current “before” pics i guess you could say. So as far as i can tell i am getting good shock travel and yes bump stops are in place. Im trying to figure out the kinks somewhat before i start taking stuff apart. I want 3” lower than the pics i posted all around i think. Or maybe if i get to 2” lower ill stop there if i like it. I just want to get it lower withou having to notch, drop spindles, modify this, modify that, buy this/that, etc etc So at most 3” all four corners. If i cut the front coils, pull the overload and get drop-shackles do yall think i will need anything extra or any other things i should take into account? Last edited by Root_Drum_Co; 08-21-2019 at 02:01 PM. |
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#21 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Southern Iowa
Posts: 308
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Quote:
__________________
1972 C30 Grain Hauler, 350/400 1967 1500 GMC Stepside SWB, In Transformation Process 1967 RS/SS Camaro 350/TKO600 |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Yea, i guess so. I haven’t really thought about it like the total lowering from stock height. So if i have 1” lowering springs, how much could i accomplish by cutting coils? I also have the factory spring still... might cut those off instead of cutting the ones i bought
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#23 |
Account Suspended
![]() Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 6,873
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
You can have the springs de-arched if you have a spring shop in town. Taking springs out of the pack and putting them back in to adjust the ride is easy once you get them torn down.
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#24 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Southern Iowa
Posts: 308
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Quote:
__________________
1972 C30 Grain Hauler, 350/400 1967 1500 GMC Stepside SWB, In Transformation Process 1967 RS/SS Camaro 350/TKO600 |
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winder, Georgia
Posts: 74
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Re: Lowering my gmc, flip kit too low, shackles not enough, cant decide how!!!
Hmmmm, now thats an idea. Im gonna start researching and see if i can find a spring shop. I wonder if the cost is gonna be more or less than shackles? Since ive gotta take it all apart either way. Thanks for the post! Now ive got another option at least
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Tags |
drop, lower, lowering, shackles, springs |
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