How Low should I go on my 66??? 2/4", 3/5", 4/6"?

[Pssst]

Good Afternoon!

My 66 is stock height and I recently put on a set of 15x7" chrome smoothies with 235-75-15 whitewalls. I love the look of the new wheels, but the truck is incredibly TOO TALL!!!

I plan to daily the truck, so don't want to go too extreme, just want a better stance and close the "tire to fender" cap in the front.

Was originally thinking a 2/4" drop as it is much cheaper being you can swap out springs front and rear with 2" and 4" coils and your done. All and all, not sure if it will give me the result look I'm looking for.

From my understanding, I can do a 3/5 drop under the same means as a 2/4 with just drop coils front and rear. I'm leaning more toward this amount of drop.

Lastly, the 4/6" is more drastic and more expensive. Aside from the money difference, I think a 4/6 might be too much for daily driving!

Also, with a 5" drop in the rear, is it a MUST to add a bolt in C-notch.

Couple pictures of the truck...

Let me know your opinions???

[jimmydean]

Truck looks great with the wheels. Since I bagged my '69, I will never go back to static drops because the ride quality and adjustment is worth it.

Plus, with bags I could put a half ton of hay in the bed, add a little air and you would think I was rolling empty.

Just toss the springs for bags and you can get as low as a 4/6 static drop without worrying about speed bumps.

[leddzepp]

Do a 5/7 drop. With 5" drop springs in the back, you will not need a c-notch....but you will not be able to haul much cargo.

[JaxsDad]

I had the same decision to make....
I decided to go with a 3/5. Just got the stuff this week, haven't installed it yet.
Since I don't really carry loads, I think it'll work....I hope

[N2TRUX]

Before I can answer, I need to know if you still have drum brakes? If so do you plan to convert to disc? I ask this because I am an advocate of lowering the front with spindle first, and spring second. They don't make drop spindles for drum brakes, so your plans would determine my response.

[Pssst]

N2TRUX-
The entire front crossmember was swapped with an 84....so disc of course. Rear was re-drilled for the 5x5 bolt pattern.

JaxsDad-
I'm curious where did you order your kit? Also, price?

Thanks

[oldblue1968chevy]

If you can afford it, try'n find some (maybe even used) 73+ drop spindles. and cut a 1/2 coil or so.

[N2TRUX]

Then my answer would be buy some spindles for the front. If you want more drop, cut your stock coil. I would NOT do a 3" drop coil if it were me.

[JaxsDad]

I ordered my kit through CPP. Jeff gave me a good deal....
Gonna start the install next Wednesday.....

[68Stepbed]

ECE

[el_bole]

Originally Posted by Pssst

N2TRUX-
The entire front crossmember was swapped with an 84....so disc of course. Rear was re-drilled for the 5x5 bolt pattern.

JaxsDad-
I'm curious where did you order your kit? Also, price?

Thanks

What do you Mean by RE-DRILLED??? I have a '61 rear currently but I will be converting to a '73 rear end in the near future. Is it true that I could use thd existing '61 axle and put on the 5x5s from the '73...

Thanks,
el_bole

[N2TRUX]

el_bole my memory gets a little sketchy on the early 60 rears so I may not be 100% correct here. From what I recall the 61's had an older style 12 bolt that is not compatible with the later 63ish 12 bolts.

You can have your current axles hubs redrilled for 5x5, or buy new axles with the 5x5 pattern for your current housing. Converting to a later axle gets the job done too, but will require some mods. The 73+ axle will be leaf spring vs trailing arm's and coils.

[el_bole]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

el_bole my memory gets a little sketchy on the early 60 rears so I may not be 100% correct here. From what I recall the 61's had an older style 12 bolt that is not compatible with the later 63ish 12 bolts.

You can have your current axles hubs redrilled for 5x5, or buy new axles with the 5x5 pattern for your current housing. Converting to a later axle gets the job done too, but will require some mods. The 73+ axle will be leaf spring vs trailing arm's and coils.

Thanks for the info!!! Yeah I am in the process of getting a '73 rolling chassis with front and rear suspension so Im wanting to swap out both...

Yes my '61 is 12 bolt but not posi unfortunetly,,,I am def. going to look into all my options before I dive head long into this project...

Thanks again

el_bole

[SCOTI]

Pre-65's have the weaker 17-spline axle 12-bolts or the old style 'drop-out' rear ends that resemble a 9". The post 65 12-bolts should be 30-spline.