how low did u go?

[jrsmith_2010]

hey guys, i found a new project that hopefully will be buying sometime this week, its a 69 swb. so ive got some questions

how low did u go on the zing of the frame?

how many inches for the bodydrop?

did u have to modify the crossmember?

how did u modify the tranny mount?

any help will be great before i start tearing into it

[N2TRUX]

You really don't specify what you want to accomplish. The whole point of Z'ing a frame is to avoid a body drop. Do you want a body drop, or a Z?

[Ackattack]

I used airbags/drop spindles/blocks to lower my truck.

Here are a few things I ran into.

1) My front tires hit the inner wheel wells. So that is probably going to be one of your first limitations. My tires and track width are a little wider than than others, but either way the inner wheel wells will get in the way. You can get rid of them, modify them, or make new ones to get over this hump.

2) I'm running a 5.3L with a 4L60E. For header clearance and tranny clearance, I modified the tranny crossmember to raise the tail of the tranny up. With the bags aired out the drive shaft was hitting the back of the cab. I did ended up making a new crossmember and solved those issues, but something I didn't consider (oh, btw I'm using a 1 piece drive shaft).

With all of that the frame is about 6" off the ground with 29" tall tires.

[FnLow69]

how low did u go on the zing of the frame?

depends on tire size, i Z'd my old frame 3" and laidout on a 28 inch tire(20" wheel) with air bags, 2.5" drop spindles and art control arms...

how many inches for the bodydrop?

only one inch is needed to lay rockers, have to remove the pinch weld first..

did u have to modify the crossmember?

not with a frame Z...

how did u modify the tranny mount?

yes, must be moved up the same amount that you Z the frame...

[RunninLo]

Originally Posted by jrsmith_2010

hey guys, i found a new project that hopefully will be buying sometime this week, its a 69 swb. so ive got some questions

how low did u go on the zing of the frame?
No Z for me. I went with a Dropped x-member

how many inches for the bodydrop?
Still trying to decide if this is necessary. I'll know more once my body is back on. Having done several SFBD's I may go that route. I've heard two schools. one says you can get to the pinch by simply moving the mounts down or shaving the rubber.
did u have to modify the crossmember?
Like I mentioned before I went with an aftermarket x-member replacement. Best choice for me. I've done Z's before but like this route so much better. It addresses many of the concerns that pop up with this type of change. And can be done in an afternoon

how did u modify the tranny mount?
replacement mount was provided with my x-member kit making it an even better solution. If you can handle a Z though modifying or making a replacement trans x-member should be a piece of cake

any help will be great before i start tearing into it

My Z advice: Measure,measure, measure, get your self several sets of jackstands and some shims to get everything level. I usually put four stands under the frame and then I have a piece of 1" thick plywood that I but a screw jack under each corner and then put 4 jack stands on top to hold up the frame clip in front of the cut line for the z. I weld a piece if scrap angle ( old steel bed frames I got for free) across the top and bottom of the frame about 2" on either side of the cut line. and then one diagonal left rail to right on both side of the cut. The bracing keeps the frame sections from spreading,twisting, etc... I prefer a perfectly vertical cut ( some will angle to slide the suspension forward as it goes up). I lay out my cut line and then make two horizontal marks on the frame spaced apart the amount of the Z. I'm picky enough I'll take a punch and trace the lines with dots. marker/paint can get wiped off a good layout mark won't. It's a PITA to realize after the frame is cut that the measurements wiped off.( Did I mention MEASURE) Once you're ready to cut just try to be a clean as possible. Once the cut is complete, I crank up the 4 screw jacks until I've got my desired Z. A few rounds with the level checking front to back and side to side It's time to weld it back in place. The front horns are done similarly although due to their smaller size I forgo the screw jack set-up.

WOW that was just supposed to be a few pointers. guess I got a lil longwinded. hope it was helpful at least.

Josh

[jrsmith_2010]

so if i z the frame i dont have to bodydrop it? will it still lay rockers?

and thanks RunninLo, that seems to be the way ill go.

[FnLow69]

no you will still be about 1" away from rockers

[jrsmith_2010]

but cab that be atcheved by modifying the rubber on the cab mounts?

[FnLow69]

that or moving the body mount down... remember if you bodydrop it you need to add another inch to the trans tunnel, witch i forgot to mention also needs to be raised with a frame Z...