school me on lowering truck

[twangismythang]

I have really been looking at the idea of lowring my truck, nothing to wild that requires modding the frame just a nice 3 or 4 inches.

I see so many differant ideas that I dont know what to do.
The link shows a drop spring kit, will something like that simply require only swapping out the springs?

Someone please give me some guidance.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hs...ckup/year/1968
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[BlackedOut67shorty]

Those are some pretty quality springs. But very pricy indeed. You can probrobly get a better deal on drop springs and spend some of the extra cash on sway bars to help in the turns. Just my two cents
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[twangismythang]

Thanks for the input, can i use the drop spindles with the 6 lug drums and reuse them when ever I convert to 5 lug disc?
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[70blackfish]

no such thing as drum brake drop spindles, but i just put disc brakes and drop spindles on my 69, So much better knowing you can stop if you need to. but i might be stuck in LA traffic. so stop and go is part of life in LA.

[CC69Rat]

Welcome from Chattanooga!

Easy. Take a ride Eastward and I'll help you brother. A spring drop is easy. It just takes time, patience, and the right tools to do it safely. The only problem I see is with a 3" front spring for example the geometry of the suspension will change. If you use a dropped spindle then you can just keep the same ride quality, same stock shocks (if you wanted to) etc. The only thing that changes is the position of the spindle itself. The only downfall is you can't do dropped spindles with drum brakes. you'd need to convert to disk. .. it's just money

In the back, if you dropped it 4 inches for example. The angle of the shocks will change. They will be layed out almost flat .. (no shock travel / efficiency ) unless you relocate. It's easy to do, but it will be required IMO for anything over 4" of drop in the rear.

Things like the drive shaft, pinion angle, etc. All that comes into play too.

Leafs in the rear, or coils / trailing arms ? What are your plans for the truck? Are you going to be hauling a lot of stuff in it, a boat, etc.?

[twangismythang]

thanks for the help, I just wanna lower the stance a bit because it was a big block truck and now it sits a bit high with a small block in it. I have coils in the rear also. I am thinking about cutting the front springs for right now just to lower the front stance. I do want to lower and convert to disc at some point, but like ya said its a money thing.


You think cutting a spring off will jack up the front end? or will it do for a lil while? its just my project truck right now and wont see any heavy use.
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[CC69Rat]

Sure man .. you could do a 2.5" F and 4" R fairly easily. If you pull the front springs and cut one full turn out of it you're looking at at least 2, maybe 2.5" drop up front. Common sense would say the length of the spring - what you cut off is your drop but it's really not. If you cut it, the spring rate changes too. So, in theory, cut 3" off, you'd drop about 4.5" in. I wouldn't cut more than one full turn. Just my opinion. Some people do, but you have to remember, if you jump a railroad track or something that spring is really short. It could easily fly out completely if the arms fully extend.

In the back, Jeep TJ 97-06 factory rear springs will bolt right in these trucks. They are not technically 'correct' as far as the spring rate goes BUT it will drop the truck. The only down side is it makes it a bit bouncy and you can't haul much in it. I have heard people use Chevelle springs in them too but with similar results.

On the cheap, that's what I'd suggest. I wouldn't heat the springs .. again, just me. I'd take the time to take them out and actually cut one full round. People do it all the time.

Remember though, if you buy new drop springs. Your factory springs have probably sagged a little over time. So you're probably sitting about 1" lower now than the truck was from the factory. So, 3" drop springs will yield about 2" drop. New vs. sagging old springs.

Another option in the back would be shrader bags. You can inflate them kinda like the old school air shocks. They replace the springs and are not terribly expensive. Then that way if you wanted to go lower later on.. it's easy. (after the disk changeover)

I have cut SB springs in my big block truck, .. just sayin. People do it, absolutely. My only concern is when you bust it apart to get the old balljoints loose you might damage the boots and/or worn balljoints. While it's apart is the time to replace those too. IT would kinda be extra work for you to pull it apart, cut the springs, then do it again when you do the discs .. ? But not a huge deal.

I agree, it needs to come down a little but just keep safety and ride quality at a high standard too.. Just my .02. I'd rather it be safe and factory height as lowered and something dangerous to drive.

But, just me .. that's what I'd suggest. One full turn + Jeep / Chevelle springs. <$50 + your labor. IF you have a JEep dealer around, sometimes they will even give you the springs. I've seen them on CL too for $25 or so.

[twangismythang]

Very good information, I'm about to be off for 5 days and gonna do the camaro gas tanks swap and whatever else i can pull off. Thanks for taking the time to respond. ONce I get road worthy I plan on travelin east and meeting some of you guys.
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