can you still tow with a dropped truck?

[CyanJaguar]

here is my dillemma. Im looking for a 55-66 to use for a home depot truck/ towing my soon to be turbocharged 468 nova.

thing is, I dont like the trucks unless they are dropped, have a raked look, and have that general prostreet look. I have enough power and discomfort with the nova, but I still want that general look

will I be able to do that and still tow with the car? Im not talking about a crazy drop or anything, maybe 6 inches from stock

[ed2552]

if you went with a 2/4 on a 3/4 ton i don't see why not. A 4/6 would be a bit extreme for a tow truck, though. Why exclude 67-72's? They had the option of a BBC, which would match the 468 on your nova, and even if you get a SB truck, it is a little easier to swap in a big block. Just my $.02

[CyanJaguar]

Originally Posted by ed2552

if you went with a 2/4 on a 3/4 ton i don't see why not. A 4/6 would be a bit extreme for a tow truck, though. Why exclude 67-72's? They had the option of a BBC, which would match the 468 on your nova, and even if you get a SB truck, it is a little easier to swap in a big block. Just my $.02

you make a good point about the space. I didnt know the 67+ had substantially more space. Im not a big fan of the way they look, but Im a fan of space, as Im considering dropping the bbc in the truck and turboing a smallblock, for space lol.

you have any links to hot prostreet 67-72s that can help sway me?

also, which is better for towing, short bed or long bed?

[jonzcustomshop]

Just put in a set of air bags in the rear in place of the coils, that are rated for the weight you need to tow.

[CyanJaguar]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

Just put in a set of air bags in the rear in place of the coils, that are rated for the weight you need to tow.

thanks, roughly how much is it to do airbags?

[jonzcustomshop]

contact runninlo here on the board, he has built a dropped truck with air bags that I think they were towing a boat with.

also check out these pics... wrong year , but the idea is there

[CyanJaguar]

wow, cool pics. THANKS!!!

good to know its doable

[98L150]

here is a pick of me pulling my camper. My sub is bagged on 20's.

[original_balzer]

What year is the nova? It would be cool to try to match the years of the truck and the car. A long bed (longer overall truck) is better to tow with. It helps with stability and the whip effect. Its VERY possible to tow with airbags and a lowered truck. In fact if its lowered you better run bags so you can raise it up to go through dips and such.

I personally would try to find a 3/4 ton suburban or panel wagon as close to the same year as the nova. Painted simular too. Of course some people would call me weird I guess.

[CyanJaguar]

its a 71 nova but I dont want to match years. I want to have a variety.

thank you guys so much for the responses and pictures. very very helpful

I have a couple of questions though. am I bagging the front And rear? when bagging does the frame need to be altered? as in a Z frame?

and also, how much more space in the engine bay does a 67-72 have over a 55-59/60-66

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by CyanJaguar

its a 71 nova but I dont want to match years. I want to have a variety.

thank you guys so much for the responses and pictures. very very helpful

I have a couple of questions though. am I bagging the front And rear? when bagging does the frame need to be altered? as in a Z frame?

and also, how much more space in the engine bay does a 67-72 have over a 55-59/60-66

You don't have to bag the front and rear unless you want to. Do a static drop up front w/spindles & coils & swap bags in place of the rear coils. It would look (and work) something like this . . ....

[CyanJaguar]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

You don't have to bag the front and rear unless you want to. Do a static drop up front w/spindles & coils & swap bags in place of the rear coils. It would look (and work) something like this . . ....

ok, thats something like I would be looking for. so it seems like no frame altering is needed. will the shocks have to be relocated?

roughly what does it cost to do bags on the rear like you have?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by CyanJaguar

ok, thats something like I would be looking for. so it seems like no frame altering is needed. will the shocks have to be relocated?

roughly what does it cost to do bags on the rear like you have?

The rear set-up consisted of:
Firestone 224c (F-6873) air bags @ $75ea
CPP 1.5" alum lowering blocks & longer u-bolts @ $69
CPP 'bolt-in' c-notches @ $129 (bolted & welded for towing)
owner modified OE shock brackets (the same as a shock relocation kit from CPP or ECE @ $59)
Gabriel HD gas shocks (off the shelf stock replacement shocks)
90° air bag fittings $5 (x2)
straight 'schrader' fittings $5 (x2)
DOT .250" airline $20 from Suicide Doors

If you don't go as low you can eliminate the blocks & c-notches. Mine was low enough the rear 'pumpkin' poked a hole through the original wood floor & still towed my trailer loaded w/my 74swb.

[CyanJaguar]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

The rear set-up consisted of:
Firestone 224c (F-6873) air bags @ $75ea
CPP 1.5" alum lowering blocks & longer u-bolts @ $69
CPP 'bolt-in' c-notches @ $129 (bolted & welded for towing)
owner modified OE shock brackets (the same as a shock relocation kit from CPP or ECE @ $59)
Gabriel HD gas shocks (off the shelf stock replacement shocks)
90° air bag fittings $5 (x2)
straight 'schrader' fittings $5 (x2)
DOT .250" airline $20 from Suicide Doors

If you don't go as low you can eliminate the blocks & c-notches. Mine was low enough the rear 'pumpkin' poked a hole through the original wood floor & still towed my trailer loaded w/my 74swb.

hey, thanks much for the breakdown. It looks VERY affordable.

can you recommend a good book on air suspension?

[RunninLo]

well it's towed everything in the picture and sometimes 2 at a time.

The Orange one is the workhorse, however the purple truck has towed a car or two itself as well as trailered behind the orange one.

Blue one has 371k on original motor and has towed and been lowered for most of that.



Josh

[Stepside65]

As far as engine bay room there are more than a few members on here with big blocks in 60-66's. IIRC the only real pinch points are the headers and maybe some clearance issues with the dizzy. Just make sure to use low profile valve covers. I'm sure at least one of the members with a rat under the hood will pop on here and shed more light for you as needed. Best of luck to you

[fchava]

I tow with my 66. As you can see from the pics, my bud built me a custom hidden hitch which he anchored not only to the rear frame, but also to the the frame closer to the rear end. It tows very well.
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[CyanJaguar]

Originally Posted by fchava

I tow with my 66. As you can see from the pics, my bud built me a custom hidden hitch which he anchored not only to the rear frame, but also to the the frame closer to the rear end. It tows very well.
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your setup looks awesome.