lowering my 85?

[JBRAVO383]

okay so i have an 85 c10:



Truck has Beltech 3 inch drop spindles and I believe stock springs up front. The rear has 2 leafs per side and traction bars. 30x12.50 tires. I am changing my rear wheels because the offset isn't right and they stick out to far, dropping down to a 28x10.50 (trying to get my trap speed up). So with this I should be able to get the tires to tuck in the bedsides. I want to maintain being able to hook still but get the rear fairly low. I'm more concerned with how to lower the rear because I can just buy springs to get the front where I want it.

My question is whats the best way to lower it?

Should i just go with spring under in the rear which gives me about a 4.5" drop? Do I have the clearance for this without having to notch to frame?

Should I buy a lowering kit? If so which one?

Your thoughts and opinions?

[Doug_J]

when you say springs under the rear you talkin new leaf springs? And if it was me I would go with the flip kit in the rear and leave your leaf springs alone. You can pick one up in the vendors market place on here DJM is pretty well priced. And 5in is cutting it pretty close I know theirs a few people on here that have 6in drop in the rear without notching the frame but id do 5 an call it good.

[JBRAVO383]

I just found some flip kits and looked into those, thats not a bad way to do it, i was thinking about just cutting off my spring perches and re-welding new ones on the bottom, and still use the springs i have. I only go out cruising in my truck once a week or so, and take its been to the track once, but will go more this year hopefully. but I just wasn't sure if spring under was the way to go for this or not... and im afraid if i have to notch the frame or anything if that will lose any strength. im not making a ridiculous amount of power. probably like 380-400 to the wheel or so, but i dont want to destroy my frame.

[mooseknuckles]

Do the flip in the back, 5-6". leave the springs alone. you really won't need a nocth unless your hauling something. cut a 1/2 coil off the front springs. you might have to change the rear wheels tho if the offset is wrong and they wont tuck. you should also be able to get a 12" wide tire on there easily with the right offset wheel too... going to a smaller dia. tire will hurt your mph on top end. leave the 30" and maybe swap to lower rear gears, which will also help 60' times.

[JBRAVO383]

i cut a 1.8 60 ft. and ran a 13.16 at 99.. with 4.10 gears.. i need to drop my tire size to a 28 so i can mph hire when cross the line and get my rpms up i crossed at 5k.. need to cross at 6k+ so the smaller tires will help that all out.

[mooseknuckles]

ok. gottcha. those are some pretty respectable numbers......the 28" will def help out then...awesome truck btw. should look better lowered down some and help get some air over it.

[JBRAVO383]

Thanks man! yeah i think the truck will look pretty good dropped down a few more inches

[low man]

on mine i just fliped the rear end and removed the bump stop mounts and it doesent bottom out.but i dont haul anything with it.if you dont want to remove the leafs if you do it.i remove the axels and the back plates for the brakes,you dont even have to undo the brake lines.the rear end will fit between the frame and leafs

[JBRAVO383]

Originally Posted by low man

on mine i just fliped the rear end and removed the bump stop mounts and it doesent bottom out.but i dont haul anything with it.if you dont want to remove the leafs if you do it.i remove the axels and the back plates for the brakes,you dont even have to undo the brake lines.the rear end will fit between the frame and leafs

Now by doing that all the gears are then running like there are in reverse all the time.. did that effect anything, wear and tear on the gears/bearings or anything?

[low man]

no no,you have to flip the brakets,you cant run it up side down,you wouldent get much oil in there.lol

[JBRAVO383]

right so just cut the old spring perches off and weld new ones on the bottom side of the housing then right?

[nbpro]

weld on axle saddles
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/member.php?u=32280

[willstruck]

Depending on how stiff the springs are, doing the flip will actually help against axle wrap, and help you launch. Doing the flip the opposite way on a Jeep, the axle will actually wrap the spring a little bit under hard acceleration.

[low man]

yes cut the old ones and reweld them underneath