flip kit

[78 Cheyenne]

im building a 78 c10 longbed and i was wondering how hard it it so install the belltech flip kit. I also wanted to know how it rides.
thanks -ian

[Driveway Dreams]

A flip kit rides very close to the stock ride. This is because you are using the same suspension. The change in geometry will change it slightly but only slightly. The biggest difference is suspension travel get reduced, hence the notch.

[MobSled]

Just did a home made flip kit on my 77 LWB. Have done the BT flipkits before so its the same thing. You'll get a 5inch drop automatically so that's not bad at all. No need for a c notch. I'm also running dropped shackles which brings me down 6 inches in the back. I am not running a cnotch and have not bottomed out. Make sure you either run drop shocks or oem shocks with shock extenders and remove the oem bump stopps and install the smaller bps. Good luck let's see pics. Nothing better then a LWB on the floor hehe.

[MobSled]

Btw man id run oem shocks with shock extenders. I ran drop shocks before and didn't like the ride before, a bit too stiff for my taste aka kidney killer. I switched over to oem shocks and extenders and my ride is still stiff but has a lot of give and take on bumps and potholes. Not to mention shock extenders 50 bucks, drop shocks 50 bucks a piece. Again, good luck.

[78-5.3]

i have a LWB with a flip kit ,my truck has the HD leaf springs lowered closer to 6 inches i didnt notch the frame either in the spring ,summer im going to triangular 4 bar my rear so i didnt want to invest anymore money in shock i had a set of front shocks they are shorter in length and smaller in diamiater i relocated the hole in the frame , but as i dont carry weight in the rear so i didnt worry about the smaller diamiater, i wouldnt recomend this for a truck carrying weight and long term use!!!!!

[thehitchmaster]

I just installed one last week. went pretty smooth. They give you a great template. the kit itself is pretty straight forward. I used belltech drop shocks. they seem to work good for me. they are a little stiff, but that doesnt bother me. Ok back to your question. this kit was extremely nice. It installed with no problems, the ride is fine because your not really changing anything. I loved the idea of the "squishy" bump stops rather than the hard eurothane. the only thing i didnt like about the kit was the driver shock mount is to close to the bottom plate for the u-bolts. Not sure what they could have done to avoid this issue. When installing the shock on the driver side, I took the nut from the shock bolt and ground it in half, then installed the shock. hope this helps, hope i didnt confuse you.

[silvereagle07]

I installed a DJM rear axle flip on my 84. I removed the rear factory bump stops and did not cnotch the frame. I used my factory style shocks and it rides pretty smooth to me. I also carry my Honda Rubicon in the back on a regular basis and it doesn't bottom out.

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by silvereagle07

I installed a DJM rear axle flip on my 84. I removed the rear factory bump stops and did not cnotch the frame. I used my factory style shocks and it rides pretty smooth to me. I also carry my Honda Rubicon in the back on a regular basis and it doesn't bottom out.

i tried my factory shocks first they bottomed out on every bump with a hard bang!! and you know i swapped out to front shock i can't tell the differance from the lowered ride to the orginal ride as far as shock ride

[jwa76fleetside]

i have a notched belltech flipkit....it rides great

[MobSled]

Shock extenders are the keye, screw the 200 dollar drop shocks just my opinion.

[oldschool18]

airbagit.com sells shocks at about every size you want for lowered or raised trucks, on the rear measure where it sits and then get shocks that splits the distance, so if the distance between your mounts is 15" then you would want a shock the will travel 10"-18" or 11"-19" thats just a rough idea or you can go to a NAPA store and they can look up shocks by length if you got a full size truck with a big motor go with the bigest bore you can get or if you are going to carry alot of weight in the bed....NAPA might be alittle cheaper then beltech

[3r!c84]

Originally Posted by MobSled

Shock extenders are the keye, screw the 200 dollar drop shocks just my opinion.

no i have theses and they work great
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BEL-8511/

[78 Cheyenne]

thanks guys, ill put up some pictures tommorow. where do i go about getting shock extenders?

[3r!c84]

djm makes them.mine came in the flip kit and i never used them

[MobSled]

Originally Posted by 3r!c84

no i have theses and they work great
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BEL-8511/

Yes sir those are also 41 plus tax a piece i`m assuming. Thats 200 for the setup. 2 in the front 2 in the back. You buy shock extenders once for the rear and you slap 15 dollar shocks on there from Autozone or NAPA and they will last you as long as the drop shocks. When time comes to replace the rear shocks you`ll spend 30 plus tax instead of 100 plus tax.

I like the way my rear rides with oem shocks and extenders rather then drop shocks. But then again what the hell do I know right, i`m just a dirty truck driver lol.

[MobSled]

Originally Posted by 78 Cheyenne

thanks guys, ill put up some pictures tommorow. where do i go about getting shock extenders?

You can order them from Summit or if you have a hotrod store or any kind of store around you that sells parts for old school cars they should have them. I paid 40 plus tax for mine so dont let anybody screw you.

[Panelman55]

Thanks for the info. I pulled my rear end for a refresh and plan to lower by cutting the rear shackles and adding new shocks. i hope to get about 2" out back. I don't know what to do in the front I may cut 1.5 turns off the springs. I don't have the coin to buy drop spindles so I'm not sure how to "get-r-dun" any other way. Give me some ideas.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Panelman55

....I pulled my rear end for a refresh and plan to lower by cutting the rear shackles and adding new shocks......

What do you mean by "cutting the rear shackles"?

[ShowSS12]

I have the ebay flip brackets, and I am still looking for a shock. Anyone got any p/n's about some rear shocks you can get at the local parts store

[Tow Me]

Originally Posted by ShowSS12

I have the ebay flip brackets, and I am still looking for a shock. Anyone got any p/n's about some rear shocks you can get at the local parts store

I have some shock extenders. PM Me.

[Panelman55]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

What do you mean by "cutting the rear shackles"?

I will remove the leaf springs at the rear shackle. Remove the part that goes from the spring to the bracket on the frame "shackle". cut it in half, add two inches of steel in the newly created opening, weld it up with reinforcement added and reinstall it in the truck( in reverse order as described). I wished I had photos. I will be doing this next week and can post a play by play if you want it.

[ShowSS12]

you know u can buy drop shackles at autozone for like $30.00

[Panelman55]

Originally Posted by ShowSS12

you know u can buy drop shackles at autozone for like $30.00

Cut and weld is cheep and welding is what I do best. $30.00 Can go to parts I can't make or repair. I'm not cheep, I'm as broke as a snake. I want to make this a nice truck so I can sell for a little coin to feed the kids and pick up another truck and start it over. Keeping them from the crusher, one truck at a time.

[78 Cheyenne]

I just ordered a Belltech flip kit from STILLEN, and it comes with shock extenders.