OK, here's what I'm up to. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**swervin ervin** · 03-24-2003, 11:20 PM

Well, let me explain what I'm up to.

Ok, my truck now is at 4/5, with 2.5 spindles and 1.5 coils up front. Out back, its with 4" drop leafs and shackles. All Western Chassis stuff. This gives me right at 1" of rake. I've grown tired of the rake.

So, I have a so called 5" flip kit on the way. This combined with the shackles I have, and my old stock leafs, will give me 6". I want my level stance back.

This is why I know of a guy who will probably have some 4" leafs for sale fairly soon.

Now, before all you road draggers jump in, no, I'm not going any lower. I like my control arms like they are, nice and not bent all to crap.

c10scotty · 03-24-2003, 11:44 PM

sounds like a plan, i could be interested in the drop leafs when the time comes...im sure shipping will be a lot though. how much you thinkin?

ocbaud · 03-24-2003, 11:45 PM

good! your rear looks to high now anyway!

come on, you know you want a 5/7 drop!

CT-Truckster · 03-24-2003, 11:54 PM

how do they ride, and how is the load carrying ability affected with those leaves, or is it leafs. if i went with 2.5 up front and 4 inches in the back, where would this put me in the rake department. seems like i remember someone saying our trucks had 2 inches of rake factory, is that right? would that put me at a half inch of rake? i want just a little bit of rake, inch or less maybe. if no one has claimed them yet i may be interested. i haul stuff all the time in my pickup, usually nothin real heavy but thats why i'm concerned about loads

**swervin ervin** · 03-25-2003, 12:10 AM

I think it leafs, leaves are what they are made of.

Anyway, they ride good, not bone jarring at all, like stock springs. From what I understand, and from what I've seen, they reduce load carrying by about 30%. No biggy if you don't haul anything real heavy. But hey, who plans on hauling anything anyway, on a dropped truck?

Biggest reason I'm replacing them is there is no other way I know of to go 1" more with these. I've already got shackles.

love it loud · 03-25-2003, 01:14 AM

hangers!!!!!!!!

gchemist · 03-25-2003, 01:43 AM

Hangers would give another 1/2 inch or so would they not? I know I've asked before Mike, what is your current measurements from the ground up to the fender wells?

Low83 · 03-25-2003, 02:26 AM

1" of rake!!! just throw a couple of sand bags in the back or a couple of tractor weights, that'll bring her down an inch

plus it will plant your rear tires to the road and she'll ride smoother

Support our Troops

apstguy · 03-25-2003, 02:37 AM

So Mike... you finally reveal your master plan...

Any more parts you are willing to part with?

79BIG10 · 03-25-2003, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by apstguy
So Mike... you finally reveal your master plan... Any more parts you are willing to part with?

Yeah like the autometer cluster, the console, shifter etc.

AirMale · 03-25-2003, 07:13 AM

Would hangers be outta the question? I am running drop leafs and shackles too. Has anyone tried the hangers+ drop leafs with shackles set at 1 inch?

**swervin ervin** · 03-25-2003, 09:31 AM

Well, lets see. Shackles and hangers drop it 4" by theirselves. So with the leafs, it would be 8", right? With the 4" leafs, I use shackles to get 5" now, or 5.25" to be exact. I know if only using shackles with stock leafs, it will drop it around 1.25" at most. Not the advertised 2". Remember the sea-saw effect I've talked about before. I know this for fact. I think the hanger will drop it 2" in front, and the shackle drops it 2" in back, for a total of 4", or somehow to this effect. I have no idea exactly how much hangers alone will drop, as I've never tried it. If I were guessing, I would say probably close to the same as a shackle by itself. It's very possible, the hanger drops it more in front than the shackle does out back. It may be something like 2.75 to 3" at the hanger and and 1 to 1.25" at the shackle. I don't know. Has anyone only used hangers to drop it and see how much it does in fact lower the truck? I'm curious now too.

I do know for a fact, the shackle alone will only drop it 1.25" at the most, in the highest hole, 1" in the lowest hole. I have tried this and measured the different settings.

As far as you guys getting my gauges, console, or shifter, it ain't going to happen.

Although, I will for a price, install your gauges to the bezel for you. I will wire them for you too, with a Painless harness. All you will need to do is wire the other side of the plug in your existing wiring. If you send me your bezel, and green cluster, I'll be glad to butcher it up for you.

I need to start a sideline business of building consoles and gauge clusters.

Don't have any other parts, besides what I have on my for sale page at my site. Give me time though. I change something before long. I always do.

Mike

AirMale · 03-25-2003, 09:59 AM

C'mon Mike, experiment on your truck. I know you don't want to lose those smooth rider leafs. Don't you have some hangers around you could install? This may be unchartered teritory.

Low87 · 03-25-2003, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by swervin ervin
Now, before all you road draggers jump in, no, I'm not going any lower. I like my control arms like they are, nice and not bent all to crap.

That hurts man.

By the way, I can't even get my bumper over the concrete parking lot curbs, much less hit my A-arms on them. It's all road humps.

SCOTI · 03-25-2003, 11:33 AM

Low87, my 68 is as low as yours (bumpers won't clear curbs) but I'm not tearing up the bottom anywhere near as bad as you are.?? I've got 1 good dent in my driver side lower arm from when I was hit & ran it up a curb.

Do you straddle the ruts & slow down for the dips, or just drive & hope for the best?

Swervin... some of us still use 'em for work trucks. My beater (w/the 5/7 drop) pulls the car trailer weekly. I like your truck as it sits though. I guess from pics the rake isn't as noticable.

LOHRTBT · 03-25-2003, 12:00 PM

Good to see you goin lower...next step....Bags!!! lol

I might just have to take you up on he AUto meter thing someday.

PHOENIX · 03-25-2003, 12:03 PM

Yep I say bag it!

Low87 · 03-25-2003, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SCOTI
Low87, my 68 is as low as yours (bumpers won't clear curbs) but I'm not tearing up the bottom anywhere near as bad as you are.?? I've got 1 good dent in my driver side lower arm from when I was hit & ran it up a curb.

Do you straddle the ruts & slow down for the dips, or just drive & hope for the best?

I've learned how to drive and avoid most all road obstacles (straddling, slowing down, etc.). Most of that came from having my truck down at college (Durant, OK) where the roads are far from perfect. I remember coming up on a few bigs dips in the highway without seeing them at night, one helluva sparks show. About the only thing I scrape any more is my plastic air dam, I buy a new one every 18 months or so. There's no helping that.

love it loud · 03-25-2003, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by swervin ervin
Well, lets see. Shackles and hangers drop it 4" by theirselves. So with the leafs, it would be 8", right?
Mike

You can get adjustable shackles and hangers. Set them both at the 1" setting with your 4" leafs and yer set right at 6!

AirMale · 03-25-2003, 01:27 PM

Where can I get adjustable hangers?? I am aware of the adj. shackles. Does everyone know about these adj. hangers cause that's just what I need. I'm running a 29inch tire in the back so another inch would be perfect!

love it loud · 03-25-2003, 03:00 PM

umm, someone correct me if i'm wrong but i believe djm shackles/hangers are adjustable? never had them myself, but maybe if lowc10 catches this thread he could chip in on the subject..

**swervin ervin** · 03-25-2003, 06:14 PM

Not sure on the adjustable hangers, but I've never seen any. Shackles are adjustable by having two sets of holes, supposedly for 2.5" (or 2" as some say) and 1". Although by themselves, they will lower it a maximum of 1.25". This is what gets me about these company's offering a 7" drop, consisting of a flip kit and shackles. Wrong, 6..5" is more like it. Again though, the thickness of the leaf spring pack has to do with the amount too, I guess.

Too late guys. No turning back now. Flip kit should be here soon.

BaggedC10 · 03-25-2003, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by love it loud
umm, someone correct me if i'm wrong but i believe djm shackles/hangers are adjustable? never had them myself, but maybe if lowc10 catches this thread he could chip in on the subject..

Yep.

DJM hangers are adjustable 1-2".

love it loud · 03-25-2003, 07:19 PM

*jumps around* I was right! I was right!!!!! awwww mike yer gonna miss those smooth-rider leafs when you go back to the stockers and it rattles the fillings out of your teeth..

**Captkaos** · 03-25-2003, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by swervin ervin
Too late guys. No turning back now. Flip kit should be here soon.

I told you I would build you a axle perch, (or how to build one) and if you were going with a notch, you know what I did there.....

I knew it wouldn't be much longer after we talked that you would go that route.

BTW, the Jimmy needs a "temp" drop kit

03-24-2003, 11:20 PM	#1
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	OK, here's what I'm up to. Well, let me explain what I'm up to. Ok, my truck now is at 4/5, with 2.5 spindles and 1.5 coils up front. Out back, its with 4" drop leafs and shackles. All Western Chassis stuff. This gives me right at 1" of rake. I've grown tired of the rake. So, I have a so called 5" flip kit on the way. This combined with the shackles I have, and my old stock leafs, will give me 6". I want my level stance back. This is why I know of a guy who will probably have some 4" leafs for sale fairly soon. Now, before all you road draggers jump in, no, I'm not going any lower. I like my control arms like they are, nice and not bent all to crap. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

03-24-2003, 11:44 PM	#2
c10scotty ~THE SILVER BULLET~ Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: WYOMING Posts: 285	sounds like a plan, i could be interested in the drop leafs when the time comes...im sure shipping will be a lot though. how much you thinkin? __________________ ~1980 c10 chevy scottsdale~ ~2.5/4 drop 305/th350c~

03-24-2003, 11:54 PM	#4
CT-Truckster ? Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Dyersburg, TN Posts: 471	how do they ride, and how is the load carrying ability affected with those leaves, or is it leafs. if i went with 2.5 up front and 4 inches in the back, where would this put me in the rake department. seems like i remember someone saying our trucks had 2 inches of rake factory, is that right? would that put me at a half inch of rake? i want just a little bit of rake, inch or less maybe. if no one has claimed them yet i may be interested. i haul stuff all the time in my pickup, usually nothin real heavy but thats why i'm concerned about loads Last edited by CT-Truckster; 03-24-2003 at 11:58 PM.

03-25-2003, 01:14 AM	#6
love it loud Calibration Engineer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada Posts: 361	hangers!!!!!!!! __________________ CANADIAN CONNECTION

03-25-2003, 01:43 AM	#7
gchemist BAD BOW-Silverado XST Join Date: May 2000 Location: Senior Member from Austin, TX Posts: 6,431	Hangers would give another 1/2 inch or so would they not? I know I've asked before Mike, what is your current measurements from the ground up to the fender wells? __________________ Gerardo a.k.a. Mad Chemist Silverado XST videos

03-24-2003, 11:45 PM	#3
ocbaud Garage Queen Material Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: USA Posts: 4,129	good! your rear looks to high now anyway! come on, you know you want a 5/7 drop!

03-25-2003, 12:10 AM	#5
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	I think it leafs, leaves are what they are made of. Anyway, they ride good, not bone jarring at all, like stock springs. From what I understand, and from what I've seen, they reduce load carrying by about 30%. No biggy if you don't haul anything real heavy. But hey, who plans on hauling anything anyway, on a dropped truck? Biggest reason I'm replacing them is there is no other way I know of to go 1" more with these. I've already got shackles.

03-25-2003, 02:26 AM	#8
Low83 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Porterville,Ca. Posts: 118	1" of rake!!! just throw a couple of sand bags in the back or a couple of tractor weights, that'll bring her down an inch plus it will plant your rear tires to the road and she'll ride smoother Support our Troops

03-25-2003, 02:37 AM	#9
apstguy LED King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,087	So Mike... you finally reveal your master plan... Any more parts you are willing to part with? __________________ Tyler 1985 C10 305 w/ Bowtie OD TH700R4 3.42 LSD 202,000 miles 2006 Ford Focus ZX3 5-speed Stick 2016 Chevy Spark EV Gone: 2002.5 VW GTI 24v VR6 Gone: 2008 VW R32

03-25-2003, 07:13 AM	#11
AirMale Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 1,073	Would hangers be outta the question? I am running drop leafs and shackles too. Has anyone tried the hangers+ drop leafs with shackles set at 1 inch? __________________ 86 SWB 9.0 LITER T-400-OD 4.11 eaton-4/5 drop Best 1/4 12.51 @112mph no traction

03-25-2003, 09:31 AM	#12
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Well, lets see. Shackles and hangers drop it 4" by theirselves. So with the leafs, it would be 8", right? With the 4" leafs, I use shackles to get 5" now, or 5.25" to be exact. I know if only using shackles with stock leafs, it will drop it around 1.25" at most. Not the advertised 2". Remember the sea-saw effect I've talked about before. I know this for fact. I think the hanger will drop it 2" in front, and the shackle drops it 2" in back, for a total of 4", or somehow to this effect. I have no idea exactly how much hangers alone will drop, as I've never tried it. If I were guessing, I would say probably close to the same as a shackle by itself. It's very possible, the hanger drops it more in front than the shackle does out back. It may be something like 2.75 to 3" at the hanger and and 1 to 1.25" at the shackle. I don't know. Has anyone only used hangers to drop it and see how much it does in fact lower the truck? I'm curious now too. I do know for a fact, the shackle alone will only drop it 1.25" at the most, in the highest hole, 1" in the lowest hole. I have tried this and measured the different settings. As far as you guys getting my gauges, console, or shifter, it ain't going to happen. Although, I will for a price, install your gauges to the bezel for you. I will wire them for you too, with a Painless harness. All you will need to do is wire the other side of the plug in your existing wiring. If you send me your bezel, and green cluster, I'll be glad to butcher it up for you. I need to start a sideline business of building consoles and gauge clusters. Don't have any other parts, besides what I have on my for sale page at my site. Give me time though. I change something before long. I always do. Mike

03-25-2003, 09:59 AM	#13
AirMale Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 1,073	C'mon Mike, experiment on your truck. I know you don't want to lose those smooth rider leafs. Don't you have some hangers around you could install? This may be unchartered teritory. __________________ 86 SWB 9.0 LITER T-400-OD 4.11 eaton-4/5 drop Best 1/4 12.51 @112mph no traction

03-25-2003, 11:33 AM	#15
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,080	Low87, my 68 is as low as yours (bumpers won't clear curbs) but I'm not tearing up the bottom anywhere near as bad as you are.?? I've got 1 good dent in my driver side lower arm from when I was hit & ran it up a curb. Do you straddle the ruts & slow down for the dips, or just drive & hope for the best? Swervin... some of us still use 'em for work trucks. My beater (w/the 5/7 drop) pulls the car trailer weekly. I like your truck as it sits though. I guess from pics the rake isn't as noticable. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

03-25-2003, 12:00 PM	#16
LOHRTBT BeWarE tHe eViL CrAnkTOe! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Yukon, OK Posts: 3,605	Good to see you goin lower...next step....Bags!!! lol I might just have to take you up on he AUto meter thing someday. __________________ ~Dave~ You can call me Mike, Mike Oxlong - 1986 Chevy SWB - Stock for now - *1986 Chevy Custom SWB* *Stolen 6/26/05* - 1985 Chevy SWB SOLD - 1999 T/A Some mods www.cardomain.com/id/ramairdave AIM Screenname - Jester84

03-25-2003, 12:03 PM	#17
PHOENIX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 4,703	Yep I say bag it! __________________ * AVOID: LOPER'S PERMORANCE / LOPERSPEED.COM OF PHOENIX, AZ & COTTMAN TRANSMISSION *



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03-25-2003, 01:27 PM	#20
AirMale Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 1,073	Where can I get adjustable hangers?? I am aware of the adj. shackles. Does everyone know about these adj. hangers cause that's just what I need. I'm running a 29inch tire in the back so another inch would be perfect! __________________ 86 SWB 9.0 LITER T-400-OD 4.11 eaton-4/5 drop Best 1/4 12.51 @112mph no traction

03-25-2003, 03:00 PM	#21
love it loud Calibration Engineer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada Posts: 361	umm, someone correct me if i'm wrong but i believe djm shackles/hangers are adjustable? never had them myself, but maybe if lowc10 catches this thread he could chip in on the subject.. __________________ CANADIAN CONNECTION

03-25-2003, 06:14 PM	#22
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Not sure on the adjustable hangers, but I've never seen any. Shackles are adjustable by having two sets of holes, supposedly for 2.5" (or 2" as some say) and 1". Although by themselves, they will lower it a maximum of 1.25". This is what gets me about these company's offering a 7" drop, consisting of a flip kit and shackles. Wrong, 6..5" is more like it. Again though, the thickness of the leaf spring pack has to do with the amount too, I guess. Too late guys. No turning back now. Flip kit should be here soon.

03-25-2003, 07:19 PM	#24
love it loud Calibration Engineer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada Posts: 361	jumps around I was right! I was right!!!!! awwww mike yer gonna miss those smooth-rider leafs when you go back to the stockers and it rattles the fillings out of your teeth.. __________________ CANADIAN CONNECTION

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