what tools for lowering?

[dhughins]

i just ordered a 3/5 drop from jcwhitney. its a western chassis with front drop springs and a flip kit in the rear. no c notch. what tools will i need to do this? i still have probably two weeks before it gets here. i hope tires wont rub. right now i have 31.50's on there. will have to do till i can save up some more dough.






any ideas what i can do about that tailpipe hanging there? i have the original i6 in there and dont wanna do anything drastic but it sure looks funky hanging there. i wanna replace the motor on down the road but that will probably be the last thing on my list. the last truck i had i lost interest when i had the motor out so long and ended up selling at a huge lost.

[75shortysocal]

tool:
anything you think you might need...you will need

kit:
got a link to the kit you got?

exhaust:
cut it off before the rear axle

[pcmcobra]

standard socket set.
Hammer for "pursuading" ball joints/spindles loose, flathead screwdriver, needlenose pliers.(for cotter pins)
Grinder for taking rivets out in rear.
Balljoint separator, could use that for tie rods also...

I did not have to cut my exhaust....

[dhughins]

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...Browse/s-10101

try this for a link

[beaterC10]

You will also need a decent drill motor and a 3/8 drill bit to install the aftermarket bump stops on the rear. A torch may be needed to persuade the rear shackle/spring bolts to move. Those were a pain on both flip kit installs I have done.

You should be okay on the tires. I have 235/70/15 on the front and 31/10.5/15 on the rear of my 3/5 dropped truck.

I had 255/70/15 on the rear, but after the drop, the rear sat lower than the front. The taller tires on the rear fixed that problem.

[knightlife]

BFH... (big F'n Hammer)....

works for everything

[bb1979]

If your only doing springs in the front shouldn't need a ball joint separator just remove the brake caliper, unbolt the shock and remove the upper a arm from the frame (your going to need a wheel alignment anyway), have the truck on jack stands with the trolley jack under the lower a arm. Slowly lower away. I find its the fastest way to change front springs

[tyjoja]

Nice truck, mine has a I6 too. I don't know if anyone said anything about the bed, It pretty much has to come off, wich is fairly easy, 8 bolts and a guy on each corner. also have to undo the gas tank filler from the body and the wiring plug to the taillights. as for the rivets I couldn't get to all of them with a grinder, what work great for me was a good cold chisel and about a 2-3 pound hammer. good luck

[dhughins]

u mean i cant leave the bed on?

[cochino12]

Originally Posted by dhughins

u mean i cant leave the bed on?

You can leave the bed on

[Malo83]

Originally Posted by cochino12

You can leave the bed on

with just the flip kit your fine, but if you go the C notch then yeah the bed comes off

[streetstar]

or just get a chunky woman to sit on the hood, and 2 to pose provocatively in the bed --- the height of the truck will come down, and all it will cost is a couple of bags of peanut butter cups ---

and will still be as practical as a lot of airbagged trucks i have seen

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by bb1979

If your only doing springs in the front shouldn't need a ball joint separator just remove the brake caliper, unbolt the shock and remove the upper a arm from the frame (your going to need a wheel alignment anyway), have the truck on jack stands with the trolley jack under the lower a arm. Slowly lower away. I find its the fastest way to change front springs

You do not need to remove the upper A-arms to put in coil springs. All you need to do is unbolt the shock from the LCA, disconnect the LCA from the spindle (while supported by a jack), once disconnected, simply lower the LCA (with the jack)...the spindle and LCA will seperate...and the spring can be removed. Install is reverse order of removal.

[Slonaker]

Sorry Jeff. I swear I will finish up that article for you.

Slonaker

Originally Posted by bigblock73

You do not need to remove the upper A-arms to put in coil springs. All you need to do is unbolt the shock from the LCA, disconnect the LCA from the spindle (while supported by a jack), once disconnected, simply lower the LCA (with the jack)...the spindle and LCA will seperate...and the spring can be removed. Install is reverse order of removal.

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by Slonaker

Sorry Jeff. I swear I will finish up that article for you.

Slonaker

I didn't say a word...but was thinking it.

No hurry, I haven't done much site work in a while, been busy myself too.