SUSPENSION GURUS:

[Stewart G Griffin]

i'm not saying i want to do this.  In fact, i don't (although i feel a 73-91 that is "donked out" could fetch big-bucks on the west coast).

http://mhtwheels.com/images/gallery/oldshool_condo.JPG

Could you explain, exactly, how this is done?

[grayharville]

From what I understand, they basically lift the car to fit the rims, like someone would lift a 4x4 to fit bigger tires, I personally don't like it, but everyone has their tastes.

[Blazin]

There ain't no taste in wrecking a perfectly good car in that manner!

[ccz145a]

money don't buy taste, either.

[Captkaos]

Suspension, body lifts or custom frames, just like you would on any vehicle.
In the early stages, they were robbing 73-87's of the front coils to get them up.

[grayharville]

My mom works at a magazine distribution company, and she found a magazine dedicated to these, I think its called DONK, If you need to have a good laugh, take a look at this mag, just don't let anyone see you,its pretty embarrasing... p.s. for those interested I think it shows how to "donk" one out in the mag

[yellasldrboy_04]

Just to clear this up a bit...

There is NO SUCH THING AS "DONK'n" something out

A donk is a 1971-1976 Caprice or Impala regardless of it having rims, custom paint, or anything....It is just a nick name for those years of caprice or impala

The mag that is mentioned above is the Donk, Box, & Bubble mag distributed by Rides mag.  It referes again to the years of the cars that have become common to putting plus size rims on.

Donk = 71-76 Caprice or impala
Box   = 77-89 Caprice and earliar impalas
Bubble = 90-96 Caprice or Impala

The nick names box & bubble comes from the shape of the cars

Some feel that lifting a truck to the sky and putting on big tires is stupid considering that alot of lifted trucks never see any offroading or swaps for that matter

Then there's others who say its a truck...no need to lower it, if you want something low than get a car

Yes its true that  parts from trucks are modified and used to lift these cars for the plus size wheels but some 50's and 60's trucks are placed on car chassis also to give the lower stance....so it goes both ways

I personally dont feel that lifting a car to fit your wheel/tire choice is not messing up a perfectly good car as I dont feel that lowering on on hydro or air to create a lowrider is messing up one.

Have some gone too far w/ the car lift....IMO....yes just as I have seen some trucks w/ lifts that I would consider way too much.  Also some feel that lowering a truck to the point that you want to drag the frame on the ground and shoot sparks from under it is just crazy...... But its just their opinion.

Im speaking on this out of my true knowledge of the plus size, customized, car/truck scene for I have built and showed a 1975 Caprice (DONK/DUNK) which was featured in the King of the Streets mag and has won quite a few shows to include the NOPI Nationals show held here in ATL, GA

Now I have a truck and Im not going to slam it to the ground nor lift it to the sky....but the C10 does look great on the larger wheels (pics below)

In closing the big rim scene has been real big in the south (and yes Im from GA) but has caught on throughout the country and has hence went pretty mainstream. All the major wheel companies have started producing wheels up to 32s.  Even Boyds Coddington have started producing 24 inch wheels.

There was a comment made above that money dont buy taste and I agree----> And that there's no taste in wrecking a perfectly good car.....but who/what is the determining factor on what's tasteful and some, many, feel its not wrecking at all.

Just My .02




Here is a pic of my caprice...complete frame off build....Custom interior (leather suede & gator), A/V system w/ Ps2, 22inch wheels:









Now here are a few pics of some C10s w/ plus size wheels.....alot of these are from ATL (RIDES mag dubbed ATL as the Mecca of Custom Shortbeds in the big rim game)
----> All trucks pictured have 22 to 30 inch rims.....Click for larger view:

[Captkaos]

yellasldrboy_04,
Nice Caprice.  Can you share some interior pics? 

I explained this in an earlier thread also.

[Stewart G Griffin]

OK, thanks for the clarification(s).  i'm Stewart and i'm a business person first, car fan second. 

Anyways,  you probably know that all the other GM divisions had their version of the impala, so i'm wondering, as an example, in the case of, say, a 76 Bonneville/Grandville etc., would this also be referred to as a 'Donk?'  Or "Donkiac?"  That could possibly be a new term and perhaps you may want to suggest it to your friends.  But remember, i'm the one that coined it first if it hasn't been used yet.

I bring this up for another reason;  Since the impala/caprice is so in demand, the prices for the other GM twins are probably lower.  And you're getting basically an impala but at a cheaper price:
Pontiac bonneville/grandville/catalina
Buick   Lesabre/electra
Oldsmoboggie   88/98


2) i feel that you should build and drive whatever makes you happy.  These are, for the most part very clean vehicles with exceptional paint jobs and above averege interiors.  i feel that the animosity is in large part mostly due to possibly "cultural" differences;  It's the same thing with some people being annoyed with the "import/tuner" crowd.  But with gas prices going up, it may be the "ricers" who are going to have the last laugh.  To be continued........??

3) Could you tell us how, exactly, a car is lifted in order to make room for the larger wheels/tires?  For example, did you have to raise your Caprice in order to fit the 22's?
a) personally, i feel that a body lift would probably be the easiest way to more clearance, but it probably wouldn't look right?

4) Yes, it's true---this is really big in the south.  i forgot about that.  Starting from Charlotte on down.  Actually, starting from Richmond.  But starting from Charlotte on down, it's full swing.  i came to this observation during my occasional trips to the south.
Do you feel that there is a market for turn-key cars that already have a paint job and big rims? (including the GM twins listed above)  Or do you feel that people generally would prefer to buy a lower cost "stocker" and jazz it up as they go?  Do people generally pay cash for work done/and or completed cars or do they use credit or other types of financing?

Personally, i'll usually buy parts thru mail order with a CC, but only if i can pay the balance (the cost of the parts) off at the end of the month.  i've never financed a car and have only bought used paying cash.  But that's just me.

5) Do you feel that a longbed c-10 would be as attractive with big rims as a shortbed.  i'm trying to figure out the compulsion, for the most part, by most people toward shortbeds.  i personally feel that if a person is going to get a truck, then they should get a bed that you could actually haul something with.  Also, my personal opinion.

[yellasldrboy_04]

yellasldrboy_04,
Nice Caprice.  Can you share some interior pics? 

I explained this in an earlier thread also.

Here are some interior pics of the caprice dubbed "Coffee n Cream ...... Brown leather, Coco Brown Suede (dash, sits, & headliner), accents of albino gator"

















Stewart G Griffin:

1.  No, the term DONK/DUNK is only in reference to the caprice or impala.  All the other vehicle are called by their name.  And yes alot of guys are doing the bonnevilles, catalinas, lasabres to be different.  A vert bonneville gets just as much respect as a vert bonneville.  But again Donk is only refer the caprice or impala.  But there are other nick names for the other cars too, Cutty = cutlass, Vic = Crown Victoria (but you can say a bubble vic so ones will know you have a 90s model one), Merc = Mercury Marqui and so on

The media has gotten everyone messed up with wanting to call any and everything w/ custom paint and big rims a donk.....but it is not.... And believe it we have to correct people on it all the time.

3.  There are various ways of lifting.  But a body lift is not the preferred choice though some are doing it.  If you have a G body styled car like a cutlass or regal than you can us lift spindles for a s10 modified a bit and springs w/ airshocks in the rear.  But if you going up to 24s you may only need heavy duty springs in the front and some airshocks in the rear depending on the vehicle.  Now if going over 24s than a custom suspension set up is needed.  Some companies have come out w/ some bolt on setups. 

Now w/ the introduction of the "skinny" low pro tire ones are able to fit 24s, 26, and up to 28s now on vehicle that normally would have to have alot of suspension work and some cutting to fit them w/ very little if any extra work.

No lifting was needed to put the 22s on my caprice, I did add airshocks to the rear so I can lower the rear down for the "A1" stance (high in the front, low in the rear). I could have put up to 24s w/ 295/35 tires and now 26s w/ the new skinnies


4.  As far as fixing and old stocker or buying new....Its up to the person.  Some guys only want cars from the 70s and 80s than there's others putting 26s on brand new cars and trucks.  But most guys would rather customize their own ride rather than buy one already done up.

Most guys are saving the money up to buy a part or get things done to their ride....Customize as the Cash allows.  There have been an uprise in the Rent-a-Rim craze but its not the prefered way to go.  Now the only financing most are doing is if they are paying for the newer car but they still customize it to make it their own.

5. The shortbed has always been the prefered though alot more longbeds are showing up due to them being less wanted you can get better deals on buying them.  The same goes for Donks....most want a 2 door vert or hard top rather than a 4 door but its some who have chose to hook up some really clean 4 doors.  Would you rather have an 81 2dr cutlass or a 4dr....see my point.

But it has been some really sharp lwb c10 produced also.....here are a few pics of one from around my way:




2tone paint, ostrich interior, w/ 24 inch wheels

[yellasldrboy_04]

Here's a friend of mine Delta w/ 24s and no lift.....NOT A DONK

[VileZambonie]

Donk.

Now I have a truck and Im not going to slam it to the ground nor lift it to the sky....but the C10 does look great on the larger wheels (pics below)

It's personal preference I guess but I don't think I could ever get into that look.

[cracker0169]

Big wheels? I prefer my 15s with some big rubber wrapped around them!!! But as the old sayin goes, "different strokes for different folks"


I have seen some of those cars however that appeared to have more ground clearance than a truck on 44's!

[Captkaos]

Nice Ride yellasldrboy_04.

[Blazin]

Although I can appreciate the work that goes into them. I still think they all look hoaky, and are a waste of a good car or truck, sorry.