Dropping on a very very small budget?

[MWS1994]

I got a 74' C20 Cheyenne Camper Special from a neighbor. I'm thinking about dropping it but since I am VERY low on funds, I want to know the cheapest yet safest way to do it.

This will be my first venture doing something like this so I am illiterate when it comes to terms so please explain it simply.

I'm thinking about getting this drop kit for the rear:
http://www.gcustoms.com/7387-chevygm...p-p-29524.html

And for the front, I'm thinking about cutting a little off the springs but I don't know if there is anything else I need.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

[Skunksmash]

Well you'll definitely be doing a static drop, That is, springs and shocks, not bags and air tanks. There is a guy around here somewhere, N2trux or something. He told me that you want to use two different spring rates for the front and the back. Forgot what they were but I'm sure someone will chime in. The reason is it gives you a much more "balanced" ride than the truck came with from the factory.

And that's about all I know. I'm sure others will help more.

[Reziel_1983]

Depends on how low you want to go really. Spindles are a bit on the high end but they will not affect your ride quality. You can cut a couple of rounds off the front coils to lower the front. I think a flip kit in the rear should give you anywhere from 5-6" of drop in the rear so if you plan to do the flip kit you can drop the front to match. Or you can get drop shackles and hangars. I'm not sure how much you'd have to cut off the coils to get a 3" drop in the front, so maybe someone else can chime in on that.

[MWS1994]

Originally Posted by Skunksmash

Well you'll definitely be doing a static drop, That is, springs and shocks, not bags and air tanks.

I wasn't going to be doing the bags and tank, to much for right now.

Originally Posted by Reziel_1983

Depends on how low you want to go really. Spindles are a bit on the high end but they will not affect your ride quality. You can cut a couple of rounds off the front coils to lower the front. I think a flip kit in the rear should give you anywhere from 5-6" of drop in the rear so if you plan to do the flip kit you can drop the front to match. Or you can get drop shackles and hangars. I'm not sure how much you'd have to cut off the coils to get a 3" drop in the front, so maybe someone else can chime in on that.

I got excited about lowering mine after I saw your truck thread a couple days ago

I was thinking 3/5 would look pretty good.

[MWS1994]

If I cut the coils in the front, do I need to get anything else or does it work to do just that?

[LONGHAIR]

A flip kit with drop shackles too, is going to get you into clearance issues. First you have to do some cutting for the shackles, no matter what they don't fit w/o it.
Second, you may end up with so much drop that you need c-notches, more cutting and expense.
Plus, it would cost more to get the front down to that level.

A simple flip kit alone, with 1 coil cut from the front springs, is the cheapest (still road worthy) way to do it. Beyond that you are looking at spindles and a spring locating kit to get lower, but you are going to need c-notches.

The first few inches are fairly cheap, it gets more expensive as you go.

[Reziel_1983]

Originally Posted by MWS1994

I got excited about lowering mine after I saw your truck thread a couple days ago

I was thinking 3/5 would look pretty good.

Awesome, I need to get excited to work on my own truck now, haha.

For 3/5 drop I think the cheapest route would probably be to do a flip kit in the rear and cut coils on the front. Or for a 2/4 drop you could do shackle/hangar combo in rear and cut coils on the front.

[Reziel_1983]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

A flip kit with drop shackles too, is going to get you into clearance issues. First you have to do some cutting for the shackles, no matter what they don't fit w/o it.
Second, you may end up with so much drop that you need c-notches, more cutting and expense.
Plus, it would cost more to get the front down to that level.

A simple flip kit alone, with 1 coil cut from the front springs, is the cheapest (still road worthy) way to do it. Beyond that you are looking at spindles and a spring locating kit to get lower, but you are going to need c-notches.

The first few inches are fairly cheap, it gets more expensive as you go.

Oh, this is true, I didn't notice that the kit you linked had drop shackles with it. If you put drop shackles on with the flip kit, you are almost certainly gonna need to do c-notches on the frame. Which will be more expensive. Also the rear would be lower, meaning you would need to lower the front more to match, meaning more expensive

[meatwagon83]

just cut the springs with a torch in the front, the alignment wont change and it will ride great! in the back you could maybe use a 2x4 for a lowering block or just turn the u-bolts upside down for a poor mans flip kit, then use a 2x4 for more drop!! or you can make some drop shackles out of unistrut!

[MWS1994]

Originally Posted by meatwagon83

just cut the springs with a torch in the front, the alignment wont change and it will ride great!

I would think a cutting grinder would be better because it seems like the torch would heat the coils to much and change the structure.

[MWS1994]

Thanks for all the replies!

So what flip kit do I need? I did some searching but didn't come up with anything.

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by MWS1994

I would think a cutting grinder would be better because it seems like the torch would heat the coils to much and change the structure.

yes do not use a torch

[Reziel_1983]

Originally Posted by meatwagon83

just cut the springs with a torch in the front, the alignment wont change and it will ride great! in the back you could maybe use a 2x4 for a lowering block or just turn the u-bolts upside down for a poor mans flip kit, then use a 2x4 for more drop!! or you can make some drop shackles out of unistrut!

Yeah no.

[Reziel_1983]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ws...make/chevrolet

Something like this.

[88Jimmy4x4]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=576560

[68longhorn]

Cutting springs will require an alignment. A "free" few inches, cut 1, 1.25, or 1.5 coils off the front and take a leaf or 2 out of the back

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by meatwagon83

just cut the springs with a torch in the front, the alignment wont change and it will ride great! in the back you could maybe use a 2x4 for a lowering block or just turn the u-bolts upside down for a poor mans flip kit, then use a 2x4 for more drop!! or you can make some drop shackles out of unistrut!

I sure hope that this is kidding.

In case it is not.......Please ignore this whole thing. Worst advice ever with-out a smiley in sight.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

There's multiple ways to skin a cat here. First off a 3-5 drop will make the rear seem lower than the front which will look odd

It will be harder work but my recommendation is to cut a coil to one and a half coil up front but no more. Your toe angle will be the most effected so an alignment is in order afterwards

As for the rear you can do a flip but this will cost more. Just stay away from djm quality is spotty with them. Or if you or a buddy can weld I would recommend buying spring pads to weld on top of the axle. Or you can do what kite seymore did and move your hangers and shackles up on the frame and re drill and mount. Which will get you 3-4 drop but you have to cut the rivets off which will be the hard part.

Use a cut off wheel on the springs.

If you have any questions about how and what do doing all this let us know
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[a Good Man]

How much is the price of the steering wheel, I want more images Is this possible Send images to private messages
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[tinydb84]

Careful with godfather customs. I have a C20 and bought a flip kit from them. It didnt work and they wouldnt return my calls or emails to return it. I wouldnt order from them again.

The C20's require a notch with a flip kit. You can get under there and measure to be sure. I did shackles and hangers and removed three leafs in the rear and got 6 inch drop. Its not even low...lol Check my signature for the pics.

[meatwagon83]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

I sure hope that this is kidding.

In case it is not.......Please ignore this whole thing. Worst advice ever with-out a smiley in sight.

yes i was joking, i figured it was so obvious i didnt need a smiley, next time i will use one!

[cst204x4]

Are you interested in selling the hubcaps off your truck?
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[Skunksmash]

Which of the aforementioned methods won't make the truck ride like... poop?

[mongoose]

depends on what you classify as poop...

imo most stock trucks ride like poop.. so, a flip kit and cutting a coil would effect the ride a very small mount if at all... especially if you dont put on new shocks or change the wheels/tires and mounts etc.

[Sodell]

There really is no cheap way to do this. I was new to lowering myself a few months ago and got some great advice here. The cheapest way to do this will require some lowering spindles and cut to the front coils, and a flip kit. But that is going to cost you at least $500. You have to account for the cost of a front end alignment (cost more when they have to shim upper, which they will) and at the least a set of new lower ball joints. You could cut a spring and put in some shackles, but you wont be happy. I used a pair of JDM drop spindles I got for cheap on Ebay, and I had to modify them slightly to work but they were $200 with shipping.