How do I measure my suspension drop?

[72junky]

Hey, I'm trying to figure out how much my truck has been lowered. I bought the truck dropped. '72 swb, trailing arm/coil suspension, lowered rear spring, front springs cut with stock spindles. So, where should I measure my rear suspension to determine how far from stock it is? I'm concerned I need an adjustable track bar (panhard) due to it's current stance. Going to run 15x10 rear wheels, they really fill out the wheel wells and concerned I have too much side offest and going to get tire rub. Anyone know where to begin?

Thanks

[cool68]

post some pics of your truck, list existing tire sizes. check to see if truck bottoming out on front rubber bump stops - modify/change if it is.

[72junky]

Hey thanks for inquiring! Would like to show some pics, but, all 4 are on jack stands right now doing an engine swap, brake rebuild, and exhaust.... I'll be running 15" american racing 200s, (daisy wheel) originals one piece casts from the '70's 8" fronts and 10" rears. Tires are BFG TA's, front P245/60/R15, rear P295/50/R15. I chose these sizes by using a circumference calculator to match the original "78" series our trucks came with. With the tires on the truck I have a pretty equal gap of 3" or so around the wheel wells. What has prompted me to ask for help, is because I only have about a 5/8" to 3/4" gap for the rear bump stop to the U bolt for the axle. This seems too close to me, but, this is my first dropped suspension. I'm a stock kinda guy, but really like a proportionately lowered look. It's kind of like a stance that Chevy should have done from the factory, but, not radical. Suttle. Sort of like looking a 2 '69 Camaros, one a 6 cylinder, the other a Z28. The Z28 just sits right. know what I mean?