I'm trying to get my 48 Chevy truck's running boards a half inch from the ground. It's got a Mustang II front end with lowered spindles and tubular control arms. I'm using Slam Specialties bags. To get it as low as I'd like it I think I'll have to raise both control arm mounting points. Does anyone know of any after market parts that could help? Any input would be appreciated. I'd like to stay away from a body drop.
It sounds like the subframe was installed at the wrong hieght for what you're after. Cut it off and do it again.
you have dropped spindles? and air bags and its still not low enough? something is wrong.. do you have any photos of how the crossmember is mounted?
Only option I see is same as the previous replies, youhave to remount the crossmember up higher in the frame rails. Probably will mess up the existing one to get it out, so you would probably be looking at buying a new crossmember and possibly the spring hats, depending how much you need to move it up.
you might have to z the frame, thats the prob of most m2's othere than fatman's altra low,there x members hang down to far. my 54 has a altra low and is z'd 2''
i too have a 48 chevy and going to install air ride but im running an amc front member heres a few photos any ?'s just hollar http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/journal.php?journalid=50465&action=view
I can't seem to get my photo down to size either! Any way, the cross member can only be mounted in one position. It will still have an inch of clearance when dropped.The top hat section looks like the bigger problem. I've got a buddy who can water jet parts for me. I guess I'll try to make some templates to make a taller top hat. It just wondered if someone was manufacturing them so I wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel.
email your photo to mondo454@hotmail.com and I'll resize and post it for you. I'm curious as well. We'll be buiding a 46 Fleetline this summer and would lke to see what the problem is.
who made the crossmember? is it in its finished location? it appears to have NOT been fully welded? so you can still move it? why is the upper crossmember mounted to those standoffs? what is the measurement from the center of the spindle to the bottom of the running board brackets? (i can see them hanging out behind the service jack) from the photo it would appear that this thing is going to be "in the dirt"
surely those arent sockets spacing the upper control arm??? I agree it looks like its going to be low. At this point you are going to have to notch the heck out of the frame for the rack.
I have a JW Rod Garage(Thanks Vaphead) MII unit with tubular uppers/lowers and drop spindles, Plus the c/m was raised 4 1/4" up into the frame. Had to make a notch for the rack to go through. The rear of the front fenders sit about 4" off the ground right now, with no hood, grille, bumper, radiator, exhaust on it. So it should settle lower. I may have to go bags, or shockwaves..may be too low.
I'm not sure what brand it is I bought the truck with it already ,"bolted and tacked" in it. The measurement as it sits in the picture from spindle to bottum of running board is 13.5". Thats half the tire hight. I want a good size tire to show off the wide whites. The spacers are a mock up to see how tall I'll have to make the new top hat section to reduce the ball joint angle. I'll have to weld a plate on cross member to move lower control arms up, wich means I'll have to notck twice on both sides.
you might as well throw the crossmember away if your going to do that! moving all these pivots around your throwing all the geometry out the window. do it right.. move the crossmember up.. and remember.. scrub line.. I had an airbagged truck that had body parts BELOW the scrub line.. IT ****ED..
he means rais the cross member in the frame. Cut the lower cross member and raise up then add under the spring pockets.. Or build your own cross member with the plans on the HAMB. My 48 ford with 4 inch at the rocker with stock uncut springs.
no.. I mean cut the crossmember out.. and rework it so that it can be mounted HIGHER in the frame. thereby lowering the front of the truck..
i believe they make dropped lower control arms that would mount the bag lower. not sure if that would realy help you though. i'd go the route Sawzall is suggesting. he knows what he is talking about. the other option might be to Z the frame as Gambino suggested. FWIW. i have my 48 truck on an S10 frame with bags and it'll lay frame. my 47 coupe will have an MII with bags and i want it pretty low but not realy a ground s****er.
I just finished raising the engine so I can RAISE THE CROSS MEMBER next! Thanks for the push in the right direction.
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