3/5 Drop kits

[misslemanid]

Hey everybody. I'm new to the forum but I have been a fan for a while. I have a 78 GMC C15 short bed and I am in the process of fixing it up. I am on a tight budget and wanna do a 3/5 drop without notching the frame. I am looking for an inexpensive flip kit and 3" drop coils to start with. Later I plan on installing drop spindles but for now I need to save money. Anybody have a direction they can point me? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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[VegasBruce]

Welcome. If you can weld, or have a friend that can, just get a pair of spring perches and weld them in yourself for the rear. It is cheaper than a flip kit, but more work. What you save there you can get a set of drop spindles for the front. That way you can cut a coil or two, for a little more drop.

[misslemanid]

Originally Posted by VegasBruce

Welcome. If you can weld, or have a friend that can, just get a pair of spring perches and weld them in yourself for the rear. It is cheaper than a flip kit, but more work. What you save there you can get a set of drop spindles for the front. That way you can cut a coil or two, for a little more drop.

I have read that I can just use drop shackles and remove a couple leafs on the rear. Would that work?
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[camshaftgsxr]

Originally Posted by misslemanid

I have read that I can just use drop shackles and remove a couple leafs on the rear. Would that work?
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yes it would, i wouldnt recommend it... but itll work, heating them and de arching them would work as well... but again NOT recommended

[StrokinRat]

Welcome to the form. I have a 3/5 djm kit under my 85. Lowering springs on front and flip kit on back. no c-notch. It doesn't bottom outand for a droped truck it rides rather smooth. The PO of my truck had it droped like Vagas said by cutting the front coil springs and heating the back left sping until they bent. I drove it 5 miles from where i bought it to my house and it felt like i was driving a log truck. So i would advise you to save up and do it right. I want to go 4/6 now something i wish i would have done when i was building the truck but like you i was trying to do it on a budget and wanted it back on the road asap so i opped for the 3/5. What i'm trying to say is if you really want to drop it using the spindles i would save up and get them. A lesson i learned. Good luck on your truck and post some pics when you get it droped.

[VegasBruce]

Let me clear myself up. I never said anything about heating springs. I said use spring perches instead of a flip kit. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-720025/ Compare $14 to $100 plus. So using that savings along with not buying drop springs comes close to the price of a set of drop spindles. Flipped rear $14 bucks, 2 1/2 dropped spindles cut 1 coil off the front and you have a 4/6 drop under 300 bucks. Stance priceless.

[misslemanid]

Bruce, I understood what you were saying I think. Axle flip, 2.5 drop spindles and I should be good to go. The only other question I have for now is how do I figure out what size rotors I have so I can get the right spindles? Because its a c15 does that mean it has the 1.25 rotor? How do I measure that?
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[VegasBruce]

Just measure them. It should be 1 1/4 on your 78. However in the last 30+ years they could be different. The C15 is just GMC's designation for a half ton. I guess they wanted to sound beefier than a C10.

[misslemanid]

Hey thanks everybody. Bruce, you've been a big help. And I will start a new thread with progress photos. Just bought it three weeks ago and I am gathering parts. I'm hoping to have most of the body work and mechanicals done before winter hits. Hope to have it completely done by late spring.

I got a small block and a big block for it and hopefully it will be one mean looking and running machine. Again, thanks for the help. I'm sure I'll be asking more questions in the near future.
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[VegasBruce]

Cool, I look forward to seeing it. I changed my spindles on my '80 yesterday. I'm going to flip the rear Mon. or Tues.

[misslemanid]

Nice Bruce. I would love to see some photos of yours too. Are you dropping it 4/6? I would like to see photos so I know what mine will look like.
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[VegasBruce]

Originally Posted by misslemanid

Nice Bruce. I would love to see some photos of yours too. Are you dropping it 4/6? I would like to see photos so I know what mine will look like.
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I'll post some up when its done.

[VegasBruce]

Originally Posted by careboy

Welcome to the form. I have a 3/5 djm kit under my 85.

Pics?

[StrokinRat]

Calm down Vagas. I see now it was Cam that said something about heating them but him not recommanding it> my misstake. i was just making a statement that thats how mine was done when i got it and it sucked to drive.

[VegasBruce]

Not a problem, all is good. I just wanted to make sure I was clear.