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Old 06-08-2012, 04:03 PM   #1
Ezzz
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I guess it is possible: help I'm too low

Hey guys, awesome forum, been lurking for a while but this is my first post.

Bought a 69 a couple days ago, and while I love the stance looks wise, something needs to change.

The headers scrape on just about everything, and I'd guess the rear has less than 1" of travel. I want to raise and soften it up a little bit. I've read a lot on lowering from stock height but not much on raising from a lowered ride height.

According to the previous owner, it's on spindles and lowering springs. It also has pretty tiny 245/45/17 tires, that I'd like to swap out for much bigger ones. As it sits, the front fenders are 25.5" from the ground and the rear is 26.25".

Will taller tires raise it enough? New springs? New spindles? Do I just have to guess which springs, or is there a way to find out how much a certain lowering spring will raise my truck?

Thanks
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Old 06-08-2012, 06:51 PM   #2
smashingchuck
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Re: I guess it is possible: help I'm too low

lose the long tube headers first of all, then swap in some nice new drop springs and your stance will be how you want it and your head ache will be gone. no need to raise it, just lower it correctly....
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Old 06-08-2012, 07:40 PM   #3
lolife99
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Re: I guess it is possible: help I'm too low

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezzz View Post
Hey guys, awesome forum, been lurking for a while but this is my first post.

Bought a 69 a couple days ago, and while I love the stance looks wise, something needs to change.

The headers scrape on just about everything, and I'd guess the rear has less than 1" of travel. I want to raise and soften it up a little bit. I've read a lot on lowering from stock height but not much on raising from a lowered ride height.

According to the previous owner, it's on spindles and lowering springs. It also has pretty tiny 245/45/17 tires, that I'd like to swap out for much bigger ones. As it sits, the front fenders are 25.5" from the ground and the rear is 26.25".

Will taller tires raise it enough? New springs? New spindles? Do I just have to guess which springs, or is there a way to find out how much a certain lowering spring will raise my truck?

Thanks
First,... WELCOME to the board!

Can you post some pics of your truck and the suspension, so we can see what you have under your truck?
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Old 06-08-2012, 08:24 PM   #4
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Re: I guess it is possible: help I'm too low

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Originally Posted by smashingchuck View Post
lose the long tube headers first of all, then swap in some nice new drop springs and your stance will be how you want it and your head ache will be gone. no need to raise it, just lower it correctly....
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Welcome aboard. I agree, get some shorty headers, proper OD tires, and you will be great.
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Old 06-09-2012, 02:45 AM   #5
Ezzz
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Re: I guess it is possible: help I'm too low

Thanks for the advice. How can I figure out how much a certain spring will raise me over how much I'm lowered now?

Don't have a pic of the suspension specifically but here's my truck.

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Old 06-09-2012, 10:02 PM   #6
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Re: I guess it is possible: help I'm too low

Welcome. Nice little pick up.

As mentioned before lose the long tube headers. Then you can run the exhaust inside the frame.

As far as which springs will give a specific drop. In the LMC truck catalog I know they show what a stock truck looks and then add lowering kits with images showing progression. My opinion would be to loose whatever springs are in there and pick the drop you want. a 4/6 is a really nice drop for this old iron. If you spend some time looking around it is easy to come up with pictures and drop specs that others have used. I see those type of threads all the time. Mine (which is still just a frame at the moment) has 2.5" drop spindles with 2" drop springs in the front. The rear has 2" drop blocks and 4" drop springs. Remember you will need drop shocks if you use drop springs to have proper dampening.

Good luck
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Old 06-09-2012, 10:08 PM   #7
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Re: I guess it is possible: help I'm too low

this might help. http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cb/t.aspx?Page=131
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