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#1 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Jonesborough, TN
Posts: 390
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basic lowering?
Hey i'm new here and i have a 68 shortbed thats getting some stuff done to it, but we wanna lower it first....whats the best and quickest way to lower these trucks? i have a S-10 Xtreme thats been lowered using spindles and blocks, thanks guys i love this forum! oh yeah i dont wanna lower it really low....just enough to make it look level with possibly 18's
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#2 |
Got Light Emitting Diode?
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 2,485
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welcome from portland or. where you from? you can do springs or spindles (or both) in the front and you can do springs or blocks (or both) in the rear
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1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's ![]() 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler Last edited by 68w/sbc406; 05-06-2005 at 11:37 PM. |
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#3 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Magnolia, Texas
Posts: 336
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Quote:
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'72 Chevy Cheyenne Super, '56 Chevy Bel Air,'56 Chevy Nomad, '61 Chevy Impala, '64 Cadillac Fleetwood, 1966 Thunderbird Convertible |
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#4 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: North Highlands. California
Posts: 449
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Welcome , From a Nor Cal New Guy
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67 short step ![]() 71 Custom ![]() |
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#5 | |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Jonesborough, TN
Posts: 390
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Quote:
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#6 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Jonesborough, TN
Posts: 390
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Currently New Windsor, NY but Texas is home
Posts: 332
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Looks like a great builder you got there, what are you currently doing to the truck?
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2002 Silverado 2500HD LB7 CCSB LT EFI Live by Rob at ATP, Edge CTS Insight DSP 5 control, S&B CAI, PPE boost valve, Pro Fab AIH, AirDog II 165, PPE WIF sensor delete plug, 5" stainless exhaust, Cognito braces & HD tie rods, H2's 315/70 R17 BFG's 2004 Tahoe LT 2006 Silverado Z71 LS 1971 Chevy C10 |
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#8 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Jonesborough, TN
Posts: 390
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nothing yet, the bed is getting bolted on today and it's gonna get a little primer on it.....the bed isnt all that great but it'll work for now till i can find a better one.
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#9 |
67 is sold
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Troy, Michigan
Posts: 6,738
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Welcome, nice '68
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#10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,963
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Check out the suspension forum as it has lots of info on choices when lowering.
For mild drops w/a relatively low budget, use drop spindles for 2.5" of drop. If you want more, trim the stock front springs 1 coil while it's apart. That will be about 4.5-5.5" of front drop depending on how much your stock springs have sagged. Some people are very opposed to cutting coils (I've done most of the trucks I've lowered this way & it works well for the cost). But, if cutting is a problem, spend a little more $$ & substitute some new 1-3" dropped coils. Put some off the shelf/stock HD gas shocks & if it's not already equipped w/a sway bar, get one -- they make a significant difference. Keep in mind, the shorter the front spring, the harder it is for someone to align the front end. That's usually why spindles + springs are the easiest overall method. Quote:
The back can be done w/dropped coils (or airbags if you plan to tow anything) for between 4-6" of drop. You can also add lowering blocks (2" should be the practical limit when using blocks) in combination w/springs/bags to get more drop w/a better ride. The lower the rear goes, the more mods that will be necessary. 4" w/springs won't require any other mods (get some new shocks to match the fronts!). 6" drops should prob get the shock brackets relocated for a better (more effective) angle & an adjustable panhard bar (or shorten the stock one. More than 6" of drop & you'll definitely want the clearance the frame w/some c-sections. Hope this helps & welcome to the board.
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. Last edited by SCOTI; 05-07-2005 at 09:43 AM. |
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#11 |
An American Soldier
![]() Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Grumolo D' Abadessee, Italy
Posts: 503
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Welcome to the board from Southern Cal. I just lowered my '69 in my garage, and I had never done anything like that before. It really was pretty easy. I bought Early Classic Enterprises 2 1/2" drop spindles and stock front springs and 4" drop springs for the rear. I have 275/60/15's all the way around right now. It sits 30" from the garage floor to the top of the front fender well and 31" from the garage floor to the top of the rear fender well. I plan to put 17"s on it eventually. Good luck.
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Dan dan.brue@us.army.mil |
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#12 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Jonesborough, TN
Posts: 390
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about how much are the spindles and wheres the best place to get the spindles and springs? thanks again guys...
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Currently New Windsor, NY but Texas is home
Posts: 332
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I'd go with the ECE springs and spindels.
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2002 Silverado 2500HD LB7 CCSB LT EFI Live by Rob at ATP, Edge CTS Insight DSP 5 control, S&B CAI, PPE boost valve, Pro Fab AIH, AirDog II 165, PPE WIF sensor delete plug, 5" stainless exhaust, Cognito braces & HD tie rods, H2's 315/70 R17 BFG's 2004 Tahoe LT 2006 Silverado Z71 LS 1971 Chevy C10 |
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#14 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Lancaster S.C.
Posts: 4,752
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I good cheap way to do this would be remove the front springs and cut 1 round out of the bottom coil then have the frontend aligned. Then go to Advance Auto Parts and get a 2" block kit that comes with the Ubolts and use them on the rearend and then you will have a 2" drop and you truck will look cool and level.
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Things happen for a reason! Last edited by BIG ORANGE; 10-06-2009 at 09:32 PM. |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Magnolia, Texas
Posts: 336
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I have 2-1/2-inch dropped springs and 2-inch dropped spindles up front and my A-arms bolts were maxed out to the point where you couldn't get a zero camber. The shop said I was out of luck so I went to Home Depot and bought 4 4X1/2-inch grade 8 bolts. They installed these in the A-arms and it works perfectly. Why don't these guys have enough sense to figure this stuff out for themselves?
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'72 Chevy Cheyenne Super, '56 Chevy Bel Air,'56 Chevy Nomad, '61 Chevy Impala, '64 Cadillac Fleetwood, 1966 Thunderbird Convertible |
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