Lay out on 24's?

[badblu97]

First of all, is it possible to lay out on 24s? I assume that it is, but just checking.

I have a question: I have a 3" Z, and no money for a dropmember. SO, my alternative is having a local guy I know notching the crossmember for $150. As it sits now, I lay frame and the LCAs are about 1.5 inches from the ground. However, I plan on a 3/4 frame (with the help of a frame buddy) So then I will be laying rocker. Which I think will bring my LCAs back to the ground right?

So now my question(again) If I notch the xmember, will it help? and how much do I notch?

And do I have to straighten the upper ball joints? how is that done?

Please be gentle

[jmedero]

If you take 12/17th off of the drip raills and sing the national anthem backwards than should help you lay rocker. Also use only premium grade diesel fuel.... I found that helps.

[badblu97]

..........and here I was excited to see a reply to my question, and it was you. great. well Im gonna look for premium diesel I should be laying rocker soon.

Thanx Touch of Class! lol....

[lolife99]

Would it be cheaper to just body drop it? You already have the engine/trans shoved up fairly high with the addition of the "Z". Correct?

[Throwback]

Okay, I have an 84 c20 that will lay 24s in front but i am running 22s in the front due to the fact, I don't like rubber bands. 3 inch z with 3 inch drop spindles, I am running SD lower arms, DJM Upper arms that are pie cut due to ball joints binding out. IF I could go back and Redo it, I would go with 3 and 1/4 Z cause the front of the truck is like 1/4 off the ground. Not really noticeable to the common eye but I know and thats what bugs me. I am also SFBD and lay rocker from about middle of the second door all the way back.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by badblu97

First of all, is it possible to lay out on 24s? I assume that it is, but just checking.

I have a question: I have a 3" Z, and no money for a dropmember. SO, my alternative is having a local guy I know notching the crossmember for $150. As it sits now, I lay frame and the LCAs are about 1.5 inches from the ground. However, I plan on a 3/4 frame (with the help of a frame buddy) So then I will be laying rocker. ......

Ok, run this past again? What exactly do you mean by "I plan on a 3/4 frame"? Are you say section the frame or?

As for the first part of your question, is it possible to lay on 24's. The answer is yes it's possible, it just depends on how determined you are to make it happen. I'm thinking if a Dropmember isn't in your budget, 24" tires and wheels are not either.

I suggest you consider a plan that is realistically achievable based on your budget and stay focused on that goal.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by jmedero

If you take 12/17th off of the drip raills and sing the national anthem backwards than should help you lay rocker. Also use only premium grade diesel fuel.... I found that helps.

If your "attempting" to be amusing, at least use a smilie...

[badblu97]

N2trux, 24s are in my reach, because I can get wheels and tires at cost. I cant however, get a dropmember at cost. and remember, I have to put it all together first before I can bolt wheels on right? please think before you try and make me look dumb. And if you couldnt see that Jmedero was BEING "amusing", then well...I dont know... I was looking for help, but thanx anyways.


As for the other questions, by 3/4 frame I meant from the firewall back with 2x3 box.

I know the 3" Z moved the engine and all up, but wouldnt a xmember section move it back down? or am I confused.

lolife99, I was trying to stay away from a traditional BD, however I am stockfloring it.



Thank you for all your positive input.

[jmedero]

Ok I think I got it now. You wanted to lay rocker.... why didn't you say that badblu97. What I did on my truck that sits on 26's is I cut the rocker off at the door and moved it down 3 inches, welded it back up and BAM!! laying rocker. Sure there are more "correct" ways of doing it but I thought this was a "CUSTOM" truck thing... so lets be custom.
Well badblu97 I hope that helps you in your quest.
:


I was just messing with you badblu97, I will see you soon and give the fam a hug. See you later on today at the BBQ.

[N2TRUX]

badblu97 Lets try this again. I was not attempting to make you look dumb. I wanted to clarify your intentions so you could get the information that you needed.

I "thought" I knew what you meant about 3/4 the frame but wanted to be sure.

[jmedero]

ok on a serious note, you cant take me serious I was just kidding.
What badblu97 did was planned out to perfection. 2 years ago the plan was to lay flat out on 22's and he did that. Just like fad's and styles change so did his goal. After laying out 2's for 2 years now he wants to lay 4's. I have known him for years and we have always been the DIY kind of guys, b/c we just like to do it and cant afford to pay someone else to do all of it. I think his question was the xmember section is what he was thinking to be the best solution, unless anyone else has another idea. If the dropmember was purchased it would delay the project for a while b/c saving up that money again for wheels would take a bit.
Did I get the question right derek?

[N2TRUX]

jmedero-What you have to realize is that you and badblu97 may be buddies, but we have no way of knowing that. What is no more than clowning between friends appears to be sarcasm to the unknowing, hence my response.

I still don't see that the crossmember section is going to benefit.

If it's 1.5" off the ground now, sectioning is only going to raise it higher. Until he sections the frame there won't be any gains.

[jmedero]

I understand that, that is why I did my last post.
Its all good.

[badblu97]

I dont understand what your saying about the xmember. If I section it 2" let say, wont that give me more ground clearance?

Right now, I lay frame with the Z. But if I want to lay rocker, Ill cut the bottom of the frame off (lets just use this for an example, thats not what I intend on doing, like I said earlier, Im going to do a 3/4 chassis, but that will yield the same results) which would be about 3" lopped off the bottom of the frame. So now my 1.5" ground clearance goes away, and I need about 1.5" more to lay rocker, correct?

Nobody else has any input? all the gurus? nobody?

[smashingchuck]

I don't see the need to remove 3" from the bottom of the frame. The rockers don't sit the high -all you need to do with the frame is make it level with the rockers.

After you get that squared away, I think raising the corssmember 1.5" may get you where you need to be. I wouldn't go much more than 1.5 inches.

[badblu97]

Finally! Thank you! Any other help or advice would be appreciated!

[64shortc10]

Found a pic for ya layed out on the rockers on 24's 255-30-24 and it says the tire touches inner hood support!

[badblu97]

Nice....exactly what I want...thank you!

[N2TRUX]

Have you considered a 22/24 combo?

Yeah, I know go big or go home and all, but that would still look good and save some of the headache.

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by badblu97

Finally! Thank you! Any other help or advice would be appreciated!

Your welcome. I'm not sure that this is going to get you where you need to be, but it will get you closer and it's pretty much all you can do as far as the crossmember goes.

What are you running for control arms/bags/spindles?

[badblu97]

N2trux, No, I havent thought about that, and while I think that most of those combos look good, I dont think that is the route I want to go.

Smashing, I am running 2" drop spindles, slam RE-6's (I may upgrade to 7's), and stock control arms. I would like to do different control arms, but they sure are pricey....

I am also interested in one of the comments someone said about the correcting the upper ball joint angle and how this would be done.

Again, thanks for the help.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by badblu97

..... I dont think that is the route I want to go.

I am also interested in one of the comments someone said about the correcting the upper ball joint angle and how this would be done.

Again, thanks for the help.

Yeah, I figured but had to throw it out there. That's what Midwestcar is running and it looks pretty good. Then again, I am Old Skool and dig the rake.(pic below)

There is a thread on here showing how to cut your stock arms, raise the BJ and eliminate some of the dramatic angle. Let me see if I can find it.

[cajundragger]

if your looking to lay rocker on 24's the route to go is to lay 2x4 inside the bottom of the frame rail so that you can trim off the hump in the bottom of the frame and the bottom of the frame is straight with the 2x4 tubing for support. hard to explain what Im talking about and I dont currently have any pictures so if you dont understand I can look for pics.

suspension wise I'd go ART arms, 3" spindles, 1.25 crossmember drop, raise steering location .5" to clear the crossmember and trim and brace the upper pocket and use a cup not a plate to get the bag inside the pocket.

you can do that or still do the 2x4 and the trim(de hump) but call porterbuilt and get one of his crossmembers. I think you still may have to z a super small amount but it saves a little work with more expense.

bodydropped on 24's is no easy task either way.

[smashingchuck]

Yep, Cajundragger pretty much hit it on the head, but you might consider going to a rack and pinion for steering. If not, you need to raise the steering the SAME amount that you raise the cross member, other wise you'll have problems with bumpster that will be magnified with the huge and stiff diameter tires you'll be running. Also, instead of trying to stuff the bag into the factory spring pocket, it might be easier to just lop the spring pockets off the each side of the the cross member and go with a "torsion bar" style upper bag mount.

Tubular control arms are no longer an option at this point, they are a necessity. I know that not what you want to hear, but it is the truth.

Take it easy.

[badblu97]

Cajun and Smashing, Thanks a bunch! I already have a 3" Z, and intend on going the 2x4 route, and the rack and pinion as well. I simply dont have the dough for the porterbuilt, I wish I did!

I was intending on a 1.5" crossmember section, is that too much, why just 1.25?

Now I have a couple more questions:

What rack do I get? Ive heard of getting one from a local parts store, just from what application?

I know I dont have to run ART arms, who else makes arms for our trucks? and do I need uppers and lowers?

and just what the heck is a "torsion style" bag mount?

Thanks again for all of the help guys!