Any regrets on your drop??

[norville]

Hey folks,

I nearly have all the stuff to drop my 87 short wide 2.5/4. Anyone do this drop and regrt the drop itself? Will I be giving anythig up? I know some will say they should have went lower. That's not my thought, this is a daily driver, occasional hauler and my second vehicle. I just don't want to drop it and then decide to raise it back up.

thanks

norville

[bigarmzz]

Originally Posted by norville

Hey folks,

I nearly have all the stuff to drop my 87 short wide 2.5/4. Anyone do this drop and regrt the drop itself? Will I be giving anythig up? I know some will say they should have went lower. That's not my thought, this is a daily driver, occasional hauler and my second vehicle. I just don't want to drop it and then decide to raise it back up.

thanks

norville

i'm in the process of lowering mine 3/4 with all bell tech stuff.......got the front done so far, looks sweeeet...the back is turning out to be a *****....none here so far

[norville]

Please elaberate on your troubles. Grinding of the rivit's giving you fits??? I'm hoping to do this over one weekend?? Prolly start on friday eve and be finished by Sun. I don't have a torch. Ive done lifts where I had to grind the srping bolt but I was piching the springs.

SO please go.

bob

[75stepside]

Originally Posted by norville

I nearly have all the stuff to drop my 87 short wide 2.5/4.

What brand of stuff did you get? Where did you get it... only a few companies make 2.5" spindles, i think...

[N2TRUX]

If everthing is done correctly you should have no issues with driving a mildly dropped truck every day. I have had some sort of drop on almost every truck I have owned for the past 15 years. I drive my trucks all day long and never regret them being lowered....

[75stepside]

Ya, a mild drop shouldn't give you too many problems... i plan on mildly dropping my '75 stepside...

I did a slam on my daily driver '00 s10... depending on the bump, sometimes the front tires rub the inner fenders... the front air dam drags like crazy... you have to watch where you drive it... i dont regret it, but it gets annoying at times...

[Low87]

I've been driving a 6/8 drop for about 9 years. Just do it right and the ride won't bother you. You'll learn how to drive a lowered vehicle pretty quick. Also, you'll know the streets in your area better than you could have ever imagined.

[gldevall]

Mine was 4/6 DD and no problems. The only regret I have/had was lowering the rear I used shackles, hangers and lowered leaves. Wish I would have used a flip kit, I think. I do run into some frame hitting the rear axle whenever I hit a big bump or especially when hauling something, like my 500# 4-wheeler. But other than that I love it. Gotta Tahoe and trailer to haul stuff on now.

[PRUNEDA]

My truck has a 5/5 right now and i haven't had any problems at all. I just keep an eye out for some major pot holes, other than that it's nice.

[beaterC10]

I have had a 3/5 drop daily driver for about a year.

Only complaint is the stiff ride. I used poly bushings throughout the suspension, drop shocks and extenders on the rear. I'm not sure if it is the poly bushings or drop shocks that contribute to the stiff ride. I had a stock height truck before this one with poly bushings and the ride wasn't bad.

Only problems have been learning to stop short of concrete curbs when parking to avoid smacking the sway bar, a few brushes with bad roads, and a 5-6 inch snowfall that was a challenge for a few days.

The truck also has full length headers so it is more hassle on oil changes. I used to be able to do them without a jack.

[r0lf-]

There should be no problem riding with that little drop. You should be able to haul plenty of stuff without relocating the axle like you wont be. Ive been static dropped in the rear on mine to about 8" or so for a while now, its just a harsh ride, but thats a LOT different than yours. With Hangers/Shackles and spindles it will ride exactly the same as stock, if not better. You should have NO clearance problems either.

[Low87]

As far as hauling goes, with the 6/8 I had 900+ lbs of concrete in the bed last summer with no problem. I was bogged down, but made it home fine.

[Tom]

I did a 3/4 drop on my 78 first, and I regret it completley. Used shackles and hangers in the rear. Do yourself a favor and buy the 5" up front and flip kit out back in the first place for a good 5/6 or 5/7 drop [depending on spring pack]

Now I want the rear of my 78 down more, and theres no way to just get the 1-2" more I want without custom [read:$$$$$] leaf springs.

[jesse977]

Now I know why the term "slow and low" is used..you have to slow down when going down driveways and speed bumps. I just noticed my oil pan is dinged up and I have a small oil leak. But our trucks look sweet lowered..just have to be a little careful. I dont regret it, just remember slow and low.

[norville]

Thanks folks,

I can't go much lower in my area. 1: I'll never make it up my driveway 2: The potholes would kill me. This is 4x4 country. My wrenching bud won't even help(or so he says) lower it. I'm just looking for a little more sporty stance. Originall I planned only 2/2 but decided to go with hangers in the back. I have a 4.3 and my front springs ride abour an 1" higher than a v8. So I think I'm gunna just lop off a coil.

My major concerns are time and frozen bolt issues on the rear.

thanks again. With this drop I'm thinking a 27" tire would look good and around 10-11" wide.

thanks
bob

[bigarmzz]

i think the 3/4 looks really "muscle-like"....the truck sits kinda like a bull dog in my opinion....i like this stance the most...i'm in my 30's, and i dont want to look like all the "rice burner low rider types" around here...those kids are so damn annoying.

the rear is a ***** b/c of the rivets...i've been working steady now getting them off with air chissel....the ones on the drivers side kinda behind the gas tank are a biatch......

i've always went up too...this is my first time goind down instead of up...so its a bit new to me as well

one thing i've learned....if you get good quality components, it cost more to go down than up....

my 4" lifts usually with everything was usually around $350 to $400
my 3/4 drop with all bell tech components, drop spindles in the front, rear shackle/hangers, 2 degree shims, and the costly drop shocks,...i have about $600 from summit in this crap

buy hey....it'll look cool

Originally Posted by norville

Thanks folks,

I can't go much lower in my area. 1: I'll never make it up my driveway 2: The potholes would kill me. This is 4x4 country. My wrenching bud won't even help(or so he says) lower it. I'm just looking for a little more sporty stance. Originall I planned only 2/2 but decided to go with hangers in the back. I have a 4.3 and my front springs ride abour an 1" higher than a v8. So I think I'm gunna just lop off a coil.

My major concerns are time and frozen bolt issues on the rear.

thanks again. With this drop I'm thinking a 27" tire would look good and around 10-11" wide.

thanks
bob

[norville]

bigarmzz, you are right on track "muscle car" look. Same age also. Maybe that has something to do with it. Please post a pic when your done and let me in on any tips/hints. tire/wheel combo I'm hoping for mid late summer if I can swing it with the "boss"

thanks

bob

[Eyegore]

My son had dropped his, i'm not sure which drop he used but he had to raise it back up because his tire were rubbing inner and outer, he believes he needs to go to a smaller front tire and perhaps change the back spacing. I do know that he used drop spindles and notched the rear.

[454HO]

I had 3//4 drop using Bell Tech spindles and hanger/shackle kit on my '87 SWB GMC. I thought it looked cool, and I'm 43. I never had any issues with speedbumps or driveways, but then I had stock exhaust on it so maybe that helped. I took the spindles and the front hangers off when I sold the truck. I left the shackles on it, and it still looked nice without the rake that a factory truck has.

Unfortunately my my new truck, '77 LWB Chevy, has the thicker brake discs so I can't use the spindles. So I bought DMJ 3" drop tubular control arms for it. I already have the Bell Tech hangers on the rear, but I need to pick up a set of shackles. I think it will look good once it's done, but I really liked the look on the SWB.

[bigarmzz]

Originally Posted by 454HO

I had 3//4 drop using Bell Tech spindles and hanger/shackle kit on my '87 SWB GMC. I thought it looked cool, and I'm 43. I never had any issues with speedbumps or driveways, but then I had stock exhaust on it so maybe that helped. I took the spindles and the front hangers off when I sold the truck. I left the shackles on it, and it still looked nice without the rake that a factory truck has.

Unfortunately my my new truck, '77 LWB Chevy, has the thicker brake discs so I can't use the spindles. So I bought DMJ 3" drop tubular control arms for it. I already have the Bell Tech hangers on the rear, but I need to pick up a set of shackles. I think it will look good once it's done, but I really liked the look on the SWB.

got any pics of your 87?....

i'll post some of mine when i get the drop done......my truck still has the factory 7" rallies ..well....so far..

[454HO]

got any pics of your 87?....

Yeah, but they are actual prints. I'll try and find one this evening and scan it.

[solidaxel]

Here is 2/4 drop with Bilstine shocks and 17" wheels. Right front inner takes a hit ever so often when I am going over the limit !! I can't haul as much firewood as I used to, but then I don't have to work as hard !!
Just do it you will love it !

[boxrodz]

I think a 3/4 drop is a respectable drop. As everyone else says, you shouldn't have any problems. When I first started planning my drop, I decided upon a 3/4 drop for the same reasons of drivability. But now, after much measuring and planning, it's going down further. I'm after a lower stance and improved 'ride-ability'. Maybe a contradiction, but we'll see.

[boxrodz]

solidaxel-
Very sharp-looking truck you got there.
The one in the background looks cool too.

[solidaxel]

Thank You The Good Bad and The Ugly !!