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Old 05-08-2005, 12:33 AM   #1
'78 Fleetside
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Lowering

Ok guys, i have NO CLUE about anything having to do with lowering a truck... lol. So.. heres where yall come in =D. I have a 1978 lwb fleetside sitting at stock height. I want to lower 2" in the front and 4" in the back, cause i know the stock stance is 32"/34", so i want to do a drop.Now here is my question, i am on a budget... so, what would be the cheapest, but still safe way to drop my truck to this height, what kind of kits do i need or whatnot? And i dont want to heat or cut my leafsprings or coils or any of that b.s. But i do want a Cheap and proper way of doing it. and i dont care if it rides rough, i know alot of you are gunna think, pshhht you will care how it rides sooner or later. And it may be true, but right now, i want a drop on it, and it may be a long while before i can have the right sources to do the best kind of drop to my truck, and im not one of those guys who will wait forever to do something just cause its the best way. im the one who will go half ass so im satisfied =D. Well so any help would be VERY GREATLY appreciated.
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Old 05-08-2005, 05:40 AM   #2
1986Silverado
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2" drop springs in the front, 2" drop shackles and hangers for the rear. Summit has front springs for around $80, shackles will run you $40-45, and hangers are $100 give or take.
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Old 05-08-2005, 12:47 PM   #3
1FaastC10
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personally, i'd go with a 2.5" spindle, and a shackle and hanger combo. buying as a kit will give you shocks, and everything you need to complete the drop. i highly reccomend Western Chassis drop components, and stay away from Chassis Tech/AIM/Truckin' Suspension.
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Old 05-08-2005, 04:08 PM   #4
bodydropped
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i got 2 inch springs in the frt and a home made flip kit

but im fixin to pull some rear leafs out and add 3inch spindles
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Old 05-08-2005, 05:30 PM   #5
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how did your homemade flip kit ride?
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Old 05-08-2005, 05:35 PM   #6
boxrodz
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I assume you have a 1/2 ton LWB.

For a 2-4 drop, 2" springs would be cheaper than drop sprindles. Out back you could do the shackle/hanger set-up. That's probably the cheapest setup for a 2-4 drop.

If you can step 'down' to a 3-5 drop, you could do a 3" drop spring in front and a flip kit out back. The flip kit would be cheaper and easier than the shackle/hanger setup. (You shouldn't need to notch the rear, if you have sufficient clearance ~3" or you don't plan on hauling anything heavy).

If you think that you'll mod the front down further in the future, go with a drop spindle vs. a drop spring. Drop spindles are more expensive than dropped springs, but they do preserve your front suspension geometry and ride. BTW, if you go with a 3" dropped sprindle, you'll more than likely need to grind the lip of the LCA.

Good luck.

bodydropped - Nice truck.
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Last edited by boxrodz; 05-08-2005 at 09:30 PM.
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Old 05-08-2005, 07:42 PM   #7
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3" lift springs are a bad idea. a) they wont ride nearly as nice as a set of spindles with stock springs, and b) they will throw the steering and suspension geometry way out of whack.

there's no way i'd do a flip kit and not notch the rear, thats just asking for trouble.
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Old 05-08-2005, 08:35 PM   #8
'78 Fleetside
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=D thx for all your help guys! Bodydropped.... That is one Shweet ride.. wow. And Thx for all your help, i will be going with the 2" in the front and 4" in the back.
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Old 05-09-2005, 10:05 AM   #9
bodydropped
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on my rear i bought a set of sxle sadles and flipped the springs it rides damn good even though i have 10 leaf springs on each side since this truck was my dads daily until he built his dually we use to tow race cars with the truck when it was this low before i repainted it and thanks for the comments on the truck
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Old 05-09-2005, 10:08 AM   #10
bodydropped
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heres another truck im doin so far i 2 linked the rear and cut coils in the frt
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Old 05-09-2005, 11:43 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bodydropped
heres another truck im doin so far i 2 linked the rear and cut coils in the frt

man, that sits nice
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Old 05-09-2005, 03:20 PM   #12
bodydropped
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thanks im no were near done the bed is 60inchs off the ground which i want to go for the lowest stationary at heatwave but theres a lwb prostreet that won 3 years n a row
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