lowering question

[BrooKLyn]

Hello Everyone im brand new to this bored.. My question is i picked up a 73 crew cab (not dually) truck Just got done swaping fenders to new style and core support. Still need some notes on hood part.. I want my truck as low as i can go with out bags. Im going to run 22 x8.5 with 255/30/22=28"tire, So far im thinking of going with 3" drop belltech spindals 3 in djm coils and a flip kit in rear. Since im going with a 1/2 ton swap as well can i go any lower? i dont care about not beinng able to bust a full u turn..

[chev74]

[Ivan D.]

BrooKLyn, my truck currently sits at about 10-11" off the ground measured under the LCA shafts, which would be the lowest point of the chassis in yer configuration - if I got down with a 6" drop that's like 5-6" of ground clearance, if I swap out the 30" wheels I have with the 28" setup you're looking at that's another inch lower. So overall you'd be really looking at around 3-5" ground clearance, which I consider fairly good against bottoming out on railroad tracks and speed bumps, provided you use good springs and shocks.

Now for the rear - you truck more than likely has a 14-bolt rear end, the differential pumpkin of these is fairly large - with a halfton leaf conversion and careful driving you shouldn't need to notch the frame, however you may find out that the differential pumpkin comes real close to the bed floor, I remember at least one member here running into that after installing a flip kit on his dually truck.

[68GMC454]

i will have to get you some pics of my rear set up....to me it looks like a shackle drop was doen on my crew cab dually...the rear of the springs almost touch the from, the is no room to flip the axle...plua i think i would be to low for a static dropp for a daily driver...let me know if you want the pics....

[knightlife]

yes you can go lower, its not recommended, but if you wanna high-center on a cigarette laying on its side ok...

you can C-notch the rear, and achieve 4 more inches with blocks
http://www.andysautosport.com/chevro...kits/belltech/

and you can also get drop Lower Control Arms (I dont have a link for those). which will allow you another 2"? in the front, if nothing else you can always "lightly trim" your front drop springs to get further down, but you will need a grinder (you'll understand first time you try to steer), and need to remove your inner fender wells (you'll understand that one too when you go to steer ).

thats bout all I know

[BrooKLyn]

Thanks for the replys im going to go 6 in front n flip the rear and see how that goes if i want the front lower ill do the control arm as well

[Captkaos]

Lowered control arms and spindles were NOT designed to be used together, it will put the suspension pieces lower than the tire when flat which creates a 7000lb sled on a crew cab.

[knightlife]

I think that brings an entirely new definition to "laying frame" ROFL!!

[68GMC454]

nice looking crew cab...so what are your plans for it...


well i guess i need to install some indy car style jacks..lol.... i think my crew cab is low now, but if i have a front flat, i may have a problem gettign a floor jack under the front end...i already think the factory jack is useless... good thing my friend just got a roll back..lol

[bb1979]

Nice looking truck I've got 3" drop spindles and around 2" lowered coils in the front of my C20 and have less than 4" under the lowest part of the LCA, a regular trolley jack can't fit under if that gives you some idea of how low it is and that is with a 30" tall tire. Here is a couple of shots, to give you some perspective the sway bar sits on the top edge of a 5" high kerb when parked nose in. You will have to chop out the bump stop rubber mounts as well from the LCA but leave the wheel lock portion. I am going to be changing the front suspension around a bit over Christmas because I'm dropping a 454 in so the extra weight is going to require some mods

I'm waiting on the rear components to arrive from the states at the moment so I can bring the back down as well.