3" / 4" Static Drop Questions?

[ctandc]

I’ve used the search feature a lot, but can’t find the answer I’m looking for. Maybe someone has some tricks for the search feature? I always get too many threads.

Anyway, truck in question is a ’65 LWB Fleet. Truck will be a driver for sure, so don’t want to lay frame and really don’t want to bag it, so a static drop it is.

After looking at TONS of pictures of static dropped trucks, I think I’ve decided on the following.

FRONT

3” drop springs in the front. Stock 73-87 Spindles and 73-87 control arms / steering.

With this setup I was hoping to not have issues with alignment, and I was thinking I could still run stock type front shocks.

Should I relocate the shocks as well?

Any input here?

REAR

I’m looking for a 4” or so drop in the rear, and don’t want to deal with a notch. I also would like to be able to use this truck as a truck now and again. Really don’t want to NOT be able to carry stuff if we need to.

With that being said, would it be better to go with a 3” drop spring in the rear and ADD a block or just go with the 4” drop springs?

What about shocks? I see people going with stock front shocks at times? Will I need to add shock relocators?

Wheels will likely be 15x8 5 lug Truck Rally Wheels.


Thanks for any help here.

[T Smith]

FWIW, I'd do spindles and 1" springs in the front over 3" springs, still use stock shocks. As for the rear, either way would work but I'd just do 4" springs and save the $$ over the blocks, and relocate the shocks.

[waspp]

Originally Posted by T Smith

FWIW, I'd do spindles and 1" springs in the front over 3" springs, still use stock shocks. As for the rear, either way would work but I'd just do 4" springs and save the $$ over the blocks, and relocate the shocks.

That's the plan I came up with for my truck, I went with 2 1/2 drop spindles and 4" drop springs in the rear. I will either go with 1" drop coils to finish the front or trim the front coil.

[SIR]

This is what you will have with the drop you are thinking about...1 1/2 drop spindles with 1" drop coils the back is 3" drop coils...if you want more.....Then go to the blocks..

[MisterC]

Originally Posted by waspp

That's the plan I came up with for my truck, I went with 2 1/2 drop spindles and 4" drop springs in the rear. I will either go with 1" drop coils to finish the front or trim the front coil.

Hey Waspp, would you be so kind as to post a picture of your truck so we can see the stance on it? If you haven't that is...I'm at work and it blocks some picture hosting sites.

[bama63]

x2 on using the 2 1/2 " drop spindles and 1" coil springs, with the 3" drop springs you will definitely have alignment issues and a horrible ride to boot

[chevyrestoguy]

Originally Posted by SIR

This is what you will have with the drop you are thinking about...1 1/2 drop spindles with 1" drop coils the back is 3" drop coils...if you want more.....Then go to the blocks..

SIR-
Man, I love that truck! The stance, the wheels, and especially the color.

[Gianyveedub]

I feel your pain, before I bit the bullet and dropped the truck I had debated the same things in my head. What I ended up doing is a 4 inch spring in the back instead if a 3 inch spring and block because I learned that I could do a 4 inch drop and get away without getting a super panhard bar. All I had to do what relocate the shocks. If you check out my build, you can see it was not all that difficult to build your own shock relocaters. Also you have to worry about the scrub line depending on the tires and rims your use. As for the front I drop the front with 2.5 inch spindles and 1.5 inch springs and i did not relocate the shocks and it still ride so smooth. A lot of people forget that the ride is also affected by the tires you use. If you have low pro tire then your sidewall cannot absorb the bump as well and stock tires can. Good Luck and on.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=462003

[1965zac]

Originally Posted by waspp

That's the plan I came up with for my truck, I went with 2 1/2 drop spindles and 4" drop springs in the rear. I will either go with 1" drop coils to finish the front or trim the front coil.

Could you please post pictures of your truck? I am wanting to go with the exact same plan on my truck.
Thanks!!

[waspp]

Originally Posted by MisterC

Hey Waspp, would you be so kind as to post a picture of your truck so we can see the stance on it? If you haven't that is...I'm at work and it blocks some picture hosting sites.

Sorry no pics. It is my plan but not yet done, the parts are sitting in boxes while I finish up painting the truck. I searched around for a lot of pics and you might check out the thread of just static dropped trucks here on the forum. When I did my initial plan on the truck I set it up on a trailer with blocks under each wheel hub and measured from the bottom of the tin work to the truck floor. With those measurements (truck all assembled with engine in place) a 2 1/2" drop in the front and a 4" dropped rear would cause the truck to be basically level with no rake.

[ctandc]

Okay I’ve done a ton of searching, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why using 3” drop springs and not drop spindles would cause me to have “alignment” troubles.

But for right now, drop spindles aren’t in the budget.

I did find this thread though:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=487363

And I did find a couple other threads (very few) where people talked about needing longer bolts / studs for the control arm to align it.

Guess I’ll deal with it as it comes.

[VDOG]

Ok my drop is 3" in the front on stock 73 spindles, and 4" drop in the rear.
15x8's up front and 15x10.5 in the rear. No rubbing issues, but the plan is to drop the rear down 1.5 to 2 inches and the front im going with drop spindles.
I get a lot of compliments on my drop, but to me it needs to be lower.
Let me know if you need more information.

[TimE]

I did a 3-4 on my '64 stepside using coils. I thought it rode fine and didn't have any problems. I was using 235/60-15's in front and 295/50-15's in the rear. Only reason I'm not still running the same setup is because I got the bright idea to tear the truck down and do a full blown resto-mod(bags/LS motor etc) and then life started happening.
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