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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => The Lows (Lowering/Drops) => Topic started by: FrankenTruckSS on September 19, 2004, 11:34:00 am

Title: New to this whole loweirng business, any help?
Post by: FrankenTruckSS on September 19, 2004, 11:34:00 am

I decided to sell my 74 k-10 with about 7 " of lift and 35" meats, and i want to buy a c-10 and go the other way. I knew i didnt want to just slam it and put 20's on, but i want a nice rake to it with some big rubbers in the rear. The drop im lookin for is what this yellow c-10 has here:
www.73-87chevytrucks.com/visitors10.htm
It says thats 4" on each end. Will that seriously give the truck that much rake? If so, what is involved in doing a drop like this and where are the best deals for finding the components?

Title: lowering
Post by: 77c15 on September 20, 2004, 05:18:00 am

I highly recommend using Bell Tech lowering components as they have been around for the longest out of all the truck lowering companies. If they are too pricey for you, try DJM. Scoggin-Dickey (www.SDPC2000.com), Summit Racing Equipment (www.SummitRacing.com), and EBay are your best bets price wise. The only way to figure out how well your truck is going to look the way you want it to is to find out what type of suspension it has. The Camper Specials sit much higher than the standard c10s. My dads '79 Camper Special sits about 8 inches higher in the rear (measured from the driveway to the top of the tailgate) than mine. Now, my '77 regular C10 sits higher than a Silverado or Cheyenne, simply because it was ordered by the original owner to be used as a work truck and has a "tow package" that packs 9 leafs and 2 helpers into each side of the rear. Depending on your factory stuff is what really determines how low you need to go. You can actually park your truck on a very flat surface with the wheels straight and take some good side shot pictures of the truck. Then, if the cameras not digital, wherever you get the picture developed, have them give you the pictures on CD. Upload them to your harddrive, then go to "www.Adobe.com" where you can download there "photoshop" spin-off software. Using a few buttons you'll find that it's very easy to "crop" the wheels and move them closer up into the fenders. Another good tip is to measure from the wheel well line on the fender and bedside down to the top of the tires and hold the measuring tape while subtracting inches. Most lowering kit components can be sold seperately, so you don't have to buy a kit. I'm awaiting the arrival of my Summit brand 3" front lowering springs (from Summit Racing, $79.50 +S/H), and the BellTech shackle/hanger kit from Scoggin-Dickey ($143.95 +S/H). Hope this helps!
-Mike

Title: Re: lowering
Post by: FrankenTruckSS on September 20, 2004, 03:37:00 pm

thanks a ton, i didnt realize the many differences in suspension setups the c-10s had. I am well aware of photoshop and use it often, and that is usually how i decide what i want, and by using it i know i want an agressive rake, maybe with air bags on the rear springs (the "helper springs"). I have seen those in magazines for sale and was thinkin they might be cool. However, i have an   catalog and it says that a 2 3/4" front drop provides a good rake, but i just feel lowering the front without the rear would look like your front suspension is just shot? i dunno. You did help a good amount, but could you also tell me what is required in the stuff you bought and if there is anything else i'd need. For example, can you lower the front just by using different coils, or do you need to do something special to control arms and other front suspension components too. I dont want this slammed, and dont plan on notching the frame or anything, i was just wondering what a good drop is without major modifications to the frame and such. Thanks

Title: lowering
Post by: 77c15 on September 20, 2004, 10:48:00 pm

Well, here goes: Stay away from spindles. They are WAY too expensive and you usually wind up replacing most of the front suspension when you start taking things apart and they break or look too worn out for you to feel good about putting things back together. Summit sells the drop springs in 1,2, and 3 inch increments for cheap, and bell tech has PLENTY of choices for lowering the rear. I chose the simple route and went with the hanger kit for the rear leafs that simply repositions the mounting hardware to the frame and lowers the rear nicely without a rough ride. I've got Monroe SensaTrac shocks all the way around and they ride good. I'd go with BellTech Nitro shocks if I had the money, but i'm a sucker for the lifetime warranty the Monroe's have. For your rake, i'd go with 3" front drop springs and JUST the hanger for the rear leafs. NOT the shackle/hanger setup, just the rear hanger. That'll give you the perfect rake. Get the scoggin-dickey catalog and check out the belltech section near the back. They have the cheapest prices i've ever seen on BellTech. Hope this helps!
-Mike

Title: Re: New to this whole loweirng business, any help?
Post by: roundedline on September 20, 2004, 11:17:00 pm

The yellow truck is owned by bigblock73 on this forum, I will get him to chime in.  You can also see his truck here:  www.73-87.com/my_truck/mytruck2.htm

He is rebuilding it frame up.  His truck was dropped 4" front and 4" rear.  

As for staying away from spindles, I couldn't recommend that based on the fact that you might have to replace worn parts.  This should be your priority anyway.  Spindles are the best option for dropping without alot of alignment issues especially if you only want to got about 3", and if you want to go lower later, you already have the spindles.  DJM make 3" dropped spindles.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

Title: Re: New to this whole loweirng business, any help?
Post by: bigblock73 on September 22, 2004, 12:27:00 pm

FrankenTruckSS, that is my 73...it is lowered 4/4 (spindles/springs up front and shackles/hangers out back).  Because my truck has HD rear leafs, the back sat higher...and I had taller diameter tires in rear to help keep the RPM's down (I have 4.10 gears and no OD trans at the time).

As Chris mentioned, spindles are the way to go for the front IMO.  Your ride is not compromised at all...unlike drop springs, which will make it ride a little stiffer.  I have many miles and my Bell Tech drop spindles, not a single problem to date.

Hope this helps some.  

PS - thanks for the PM Chris.

...Jeff

'73 swb 2wd
'77 Blazer 2wd

73-87.com

Title: Re: New to this whole loweirng business, any help?
Post by: lotopp79 on November 18, 2004, 05:58:00 am

with new or fresh  leaf springs that rake you have is natural for a short bed old tired ones sag a littel because when I changea set out on a 86 i had the rear came up and a it had a modest rake that really come out when you put it lower to the ground