Just got off the phone with my younger brother. He just sold one of his projects and has some cash to blow on his C-10 pickemup. The truck is built & completely restored, minus paint & interior. Everything is new, I mean EVERYTHING. I've changed his mind on the direction he was planning to go (pro street) and have talked him into a sweet 60's style custom. His new plans are wide whites on astros, pagan gold flake & cream white top, and he wants it to lay on the frame rails with airbags. So...I'm sure a heavy notch or solid bridge setup in the rear will do fine, but what's it going to take to lay the front end down? Thanks in advance folks.
To get the front that low will require a pit in the ground. The front crossmember is lower than the frame. A really big "Z" with the motor bove the fender maybe. jerry
there was a guy in one of the mini truck mags selling lowered crossmembers for like 300 bux.it easy to just notch and box your stock crossmember.
I was pricing universal kits on Ebay ($800-1000). I think you'll be into the suspension for about $1200-2000, depending on how low ya wanna go and the method. Should be relatively straight forward. Im not an expert on this stuff, I just happened to be in the market.
Check out ruffrodders.com There is a guy named low66 on there dropping a 66 to the ground, Its in the garage section. He had to modify the front crossmember and z'd the front of the frame, Box notched the rear. I lowered my 66 5.5" in the front and 5" in the rear and that was pretty low for a driver, but i had pretty small tires on it. good luck, and they look bitchin' when done right.
Check out: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/forumdisplay.php3?s=&forumid=6 Bunch of boys over there like to lay rockers. Seen several HAMBers there too, I'm Rogue, there and everywhere else.
here're some pix from a chevy I lowered - it don't lay down on the flor -- but....... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - hope that helps a little -- in front there are bags also --and dropped spindles are mounted too
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/forumdisplay.php3?s=&forumid=25 the 60-72 are essentially the same other than where the steering box goes...'67 and older doesn't have the indent for the power steering box. Lots of front suspension stuff from 60-87 will interchange. You can put later model stuff on your older crossmember or if you change out the ball joints in the control arms. alot of guys "section" the front crossmember. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php3?t=137398&page=1&pp=25 you can also check out the FAQ section....there might be something in there.
The 60 - 62 trucks have torsion bar front ends they are useless. The 62 and later is the same and you can swap out the front suspension with new trucks up to 87 if you change the crossshafts that bolt to the chassis and the ball joints. To get the truck to lay fram you have to set the crossmember up to get the bottom of the crossmemeber to the same height as the bottom of the frame. It takes about an 8 inch notch on 26 inch tire to get the truck on the ground. On the trcuk I did a few years ago i put the bags in the middle of the trailing arms. That allowed the bumper to set on the ground and raised to back en up almost 14 inches. It almost made it look stock in the back. The chassis tech a arm kit for those tricks is easy to install and is not that expensive. not the best quality but it will do the job. Rodger
Ironworks - AMEN This is my 61 with 2" drop spindles and stock torsion bars I was dumb about the suspension differences when I bought this truck 3 years ago, hell if I knew then what I know now I would have passed on this truck.
You DO know you're gonna have to re-engineer your inner fenders(as in cut em out) no matter WHAT you do to the front. My 66, with a Trans Am sub and 14" wheels/tires rubbed the inners with ever little dip in the road It was real low, but nothin' like what you're talkin about......and when ya DO cut em out, you can't move it other than straight. I gotta be a dick and ask.....is it WORTH the trouble just to lay frame when it's parked? I mean, is it really that cool? I never did understand "lower than low".....guess I'm just an old fart
I am finishinf up a 63 right now. It lays frame all the way around. The front is 87 suspension with 3" dropped spindles and a 3 1/2 " frame Z. 2 1/2 to 3" will get the crossmember even. I did mine 3 1/2 so I had the option of putting up to a 22 on the front or tall bias plys. I swapped the whole front cross member because I had it and it was easier to swap it all instead of trying to change shafts , ball joints etc.. Everything on the front end is new( bushings ,ball joints, brake calipers) everything and I only have a little over $500.00 bucks in it including the dropped spindles. I did have to by tie rod adapter sleeves from CCP to adapt the inner 63 tie rods to the bigger 87 ones at the spindle. This is a very easy swap as all but one bolt on each side line up. I'll try to post some picks of it all apart. THe back takes about a 8" notch to lay. I back halfed mine so that won't help you much but you don't have to do that to lay it out. Look on www.IFCustom.com or www.TotallyPolished.com for some good picks of ones they did. THe one that IF built is unbelievable. PM me if you need some more info.
Oh yeah. The rear cross member where the arms mount has to be cut off as well cuz it hangs down and will need holes in it for the exaust to exit. THe tranny member has to be moved up as well. CPP ( classic performance parts) has a ton of stuff for these trucks. It would be worth getting the catalog. THe online one does not do them justice. THey have this crossmember already done and ready to bolt in.
Or go to performanceonline.com. They deal in parts for CPP and for McGaughys. They try and keep everything in stock because they don't like back-orders either. And their customer service is tons better.
Whay kind of engine and transmissions work with a '65? I want to swap my 235 and 3 speed manual out for a V-8 and automatic trans.
There was a C-10 at Stray Kat that was perfect. Well sorted out and no bags, done the hard way. Looks like these trucks are gonna be the next mini-truck fad. I don't understand "laying frame" either. Maybe i should restore mine.
Sounds like a shit ton of work to get it that much lower. I think Barn Yard Chevy set my truck down just right. Bagged with a simple notched frame in the rear and 2" drop spindles in the front and it works perfect with the style. My truck (done by Barn Yard and Tony Bones) sounds like the direction you are looking for.
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