Dropping the 1 ton!

[tc4x4]

Axle flip kit, should give me 5 inches lowered for the rear end.

http://www.gcustoms.com/7387-chevygm...4c1cf11a77ea63

2 inch drop springs for the front, cut out one coil should get me another 2 inch drop and trim the bump stop, should get me 4.5 inch drop.

http://lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=141

Does this sound like im on the right track. I'm pretty much doing it just like Charlsdur did.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=286975



Couldn't i just cut a couple coils out of my stock coil springs up front and wouldn't that lower it about 4 inches? Instead of buying half ton springs?

Where can i buy some after market upper and lower control arms for my truck, that would work with my plans here? I like the clean look of the after market tube control arms.

[tc4x4]

http://www.gcustoms.com/gcustomscom-...4c1cf11a77ea63

What if i use these, will they work with the half ton springs?

[tc4x4]

http://www.gcustoms.com/gcustomscom-...4c1cf11a77ea63

Also using these, would it work to just cut a half a coil out of the stock 1 ton springs instead of buying half ton springs.

[1tonchevy]

i have a 1ton dually and i 2inch shackle and 2inch hangered out back and 3inch spindles and cut 1 coil on mine.

[J Knight]

That's a good lookin truck, if it was me I would go with your original idea of converting to a half ton. Try to find a rolling chassis to do the conversion, you should be able to find one for roughly $200 then you will have everything you need and you can lower it from there by cutting the 1/2 ton springs, spindles, and a flip kit for about $350.
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[lolife99]

Dont cut 2 full coils.
That's too much.
The spring will be loose in the spring pocket.
1-1/2 coils is the max.

[lolife99]

If you need more drop,... use drop spindles.

[tc4x4]

But cutting 1 ton coils is fine?

[konakustoms]

I just did mine and If I was doing it again I would have used spindles and cut my springs and the flip kit......Mine is way to low with the 3" springs/3" spindles/ flip kit.
Rear is great but front needs to come up a inch or so. And the rite shocks also!

[tc4x4]

Originally Posted by konakustoms

I just did mine and If I was doing it again I would have used spindles and cut my springs and the flip kit......Mine is way to low with the 3" springs/3" spindles/ flip kit.
Rear is great but front needs to come up a inch or so. And the rite shocks also!

Let me clarify....So you would do 3'' drop spindles, and cut out a full coil leaving you with another 2'' drop, having a total of 5 inch drop in the front, and then do a axle flip in the rear?

When you refer to 3'' springs, do you mean 3'' drop springs?

Thanks you everyone for you help, im very new to all of this and am learning a lot, keep it coming!

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

But cutting 1 ton coils is fine?

Sure.
They might have a stiffer spring rate than a 1/2-ton coil spring.
I usually try to not say anything bad about LMC,... BUT THEY SUCK!
LMC must flood the market with catelogs.
Seems like every truck owner knows about them.
There are much better places to buy parts.
LMC sells overpriced junk.

www.PerformanceOnline.com sells drop springs every day for $99.99.
http://www.performanceonline.com/196...-SPRINGS-PAIR/

Your suspension is nothing to mess with.
It's not an area you want to jump into,... about modifying.
(not saying you are,... just saying)

Look around here on the board and the rest of the internet.
Use drop spindles to drop the front.
POL sells them for 1/2-ton and 3/4-ton trucks.

What is your budget.
What drop do you want to end up with?
What shocks are you going to run?
Are you adding a front sway bar?
(if you don't have one already)

Sorry about the rant.
Choose your components wisely.

Look at:
Mcgaughy's.
Belltech
Western Chassis
(even DJM and CPP)
CPP products can be purchased from Summit Racing.
There seems to be issues with buying parts directly from CPP.
They have bad customer service issues.
Look at our "Review Board" area.

Good luck with your build.
Use the LMC catelog for nice pictures.
But buy your stuff anywhere else,...

[tc4x4]

My budget is what ever it takes to get it how i want, i want to do it right the first time and not look back with " I wish i would of done this" on my mind. Im not sure how low i wan to go with it.

How low can you go with out any major modification like inner wheel wells and stuff?

I'm thinking i want at least 3'' in the front and 5'' in the back. How will that look and sit?

What are good shocks to get? I want to buy nice quality parts for this truck. I want it done right the first time.

Thanks for the directions and tips, they are much appreciated. In the build of this truck I also want to build my knowledge!

[lolife99]

A 3/5 drop or even a 4/6 drop are both very streetable.
The back can be dropped up to 7"-8" without any issues.
The front is where you run into problems.
Your total tire height will dictate how low you can go and keep your inner fenders.

[tc4x4]

Originally Posted by lolife99

A 3/5 drop or even a 4/6 drop are both very streetable.
The back can be dropped up to 7"-8" without any issues.
The front is where you run into problems.
Your total tire height will dictate how low you can go and keep your inner fenders.

So if you had my truck, and wanted to get a 3/5 or a 4/6 how would you go about reaching each of those heights? The reason i ask is i appreciate you input and help, and it seems you know your stuff pretty well! Keep it coming!

[lolife99]

Look at these pics,...

Dropped 3/4-ton long bed:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ered+long+beds

Lowered long beds:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ered+long+beds.

Long bed pics:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ered+long+beds

'74 lowered long bed:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ered+long+beds

long bed truck pics in this sticky (1800 replies):
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ered+long+beds

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

So if you had my truck, and wanted to get a 3/5 or a 4/6 how would you go about reaching each of those heights? The reason i ask is i appreciate you input and help, and it seems you know your stuff pretty well! Keep it coming!

Are you keeping it 1 ton or 1/2 ton?

[tc4x4]

The plan is to keep it a 1 ton.

[Stew_Magoo]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

The plan is to keep it a 1 ton.

Why? If your going to ruin it's load bearing abilities, go all in and five lug it and put soft springs in it. It will greatly broaden your wheel options.

[tc4x4]

Im leaning towards keeping it a 1 ton, because there are a lot less dropped ones out there.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

The plan is to keep it a 1 ton.

There are a ton of wheel options for 8-lug trucks.
The main problem is the backspacing for these wheels are made for 4x4 trucks.
You will need to research wheel choices closely,... if you plan on upgrading your current wheels.
The 1-ton suspension shouldn't be too much of an issue.
You can run C20 (3/4-ton) drop spindles on your truck,... because they use the same balljoints and outer tie rod ends.
Just know that 3/4-ton drop spindles are pricey.
POL sells them for over $400/pair.
(compared to $228 for 1/2-ton drop spindles)

Also, Early Classic Enterprises sells a "Conversion" drop spindle.
These ECE spindles allow you to bolt them on to your existing truck's ball joints and outer tie rods,... BUT they accept a 1/2-ton rotor and caliper.
It's a super easy way to get 5-lug wheels up front.

I personally like a 4/6 or 5/7 drop on these trucks.
I would use drop spindles, cut or dropped springs and drop shocks up front.
Then add a flip kit to the rear with drop shocks and shock relocators.

Your big front sway bar will work great with a set of Energy Suspension bushings.
You can even remove the sway bar bracket from the frame and mount the bar directly to the frame.

[tc4x4]

Those are the details I'm liking! Thanks bro! Whats the best way to get 5 lugs in the rear, can i use the same axle?

[lolife99]

Originally,... I would have told you to use Belltech Suspension parts on your truck.
In my opinion they are the best choice for 73-87 trucks.
(they've been around forever)
But there are more companies to choose from now.
McGaughy's and Western Chassis are great also,... I'm just not sure they have everything you need.

I'm sure Performance Online can help you out.

Keep us posted on your progress!

[lolife99]

Since your truck is a 1-ton,... you may have to search for rear flip kits in the "Dually Section".
For that matter,... the 1-ton 73-87 drop spindles are available also.

The main difference between 3/4-ton and 1-ton spindles is the brake caliper.
Each version takes it's own caliper.

Look at Belltech for 1-ton drop components.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by tc4x4

Those are the details I'm liking! Thanks bro! Whats the best way to get 5 lugs in the rear, can i use the same axle?

A 1/2 ton 73-87 rear axle is the easiest way to get 5-lug wheels on the rear.

I'm pretty sure the leaf spring perches are in a different location on the axle tube.
Can you weld?
You'll probably have to move the 1/2-ton perchs farther apart to work with the 1-ton leaf springs.

[tc4x4]

I figured that an axle swap is what would be called for, and as far as welding, im pretty new at it, if there were any to be done i would have my buddy come over!