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76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
#1432212
05/08/13 11:20 AM
05/08/13 11:20 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 271
Dearborn, Michigan
jstollfu
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 271
Dearborn, Michigan
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I thought I would share some photos of my 76 D100 project. These are before it was lowered, after it was lowered with dropped lower control arms and cut springs, and finally after I went back and tossed out the cut springs in favor of Bell Tech Dakota 2 inch dropped spindles and going back to the stock original springs.
It rode horrible with the dropped lower control arms and cut springs. It bottomed out all the time. I had maybe and inch of suspension travel even after cutting 2 inches out of the bump stop bracket. The alignment angles for the upper and lower ball joints was terrible, the outer tie rod angles were terrible. The upper control arms would hit the steering shaft on the drivers side. It drove ok on a smooth roads but smooth roads in Michigan are few and far between.
So far with the dropped lower control arms and the dropped spindles, it rides much better, I've got 3-4 inches of suspension travel. The alignment angles are better, the upper and lower ball joints are more in-line. Also with the outer tie rod end going from the bottom of the steering arm on the spindle that angle is perfect. However, now the lower control arms less then 3 inches off the ground. The lower shock bushing is less then 2 inches off the ground. I've drug the shocks once in the few days I've driven it recently. I ran into some clearance issues using the Bell Tech spindles with the dropped lower control arms. But worked past them.
The stance is exactly the same as it was with the dropped arms and the cut springs.
Last edited by jstollfu; 05/08/13 04:31 PM.
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: 72d100]
#1432218
05/08/13 11:49 PM
05/08/13 11:49 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048
Back home in PA
BulletBob
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048
Back home in PA
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Quote:
wow. them are some extreme suspension angles 
 I think I'm going to move my uppers up & tilt the lower balljoint a little too
I bet you're really close to the steering shaft
My Pro Streeter that I had & built years ago was like that & I moved the bottom of the column up on the firewall
Built another coupling shaft using borgeson joints
Van LCA's were the only thing then
I've bought extra frames for one of my Shortbeds & RC so I can channel the rails into the crossmember 2" & use a rack with 1 7/8" E body Hooker SuperComps  
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: jstollfu]
#1432221
05/09/13 09:59 AM
05/09/13 09:59 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 22
houston, tx
d100clubcab
member
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member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 22
houston, tx
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Where did you get the dropped LCA (were they the mid-america customs you had a while back)? Did you replace the springs when you started to use the dropped LCA or did you keep the cut ones in? I've been kicking around the idea of lowering mine but I don't want to bottom out on these horrible Houston roads.  And are those Boss 338 you have on you truck? What size wheels and tires are you running? These are Boss 338 on this car... 
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: jstollfu]
#1432224
05/09/13 11:17 AM
05/09/13 11:17 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 22
houston, tx
d100clubcab
member
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member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 22
houston, tx
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Quote:
BRE sells the same control arm. They are pricey but nicely made.
BRE = Bill Rolik Enterprises?
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: BulletBob]
#1432232
05/09/13 09:58 PM
05/09/13 09:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,235
Marion Illinois
72d100
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,235
Marion Illinois
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Quote:
Spindles are $238 shipped to the door
Perches & u bolts another $65
Tie rod ends & sleeves are $60
Offset upper bushings are $45
Welding perches $75
Alignment $100
I lowered mine & rebuilt the brakes everything new as well all the suspension for less than $800
dumb question but why 2 sets of perches? 
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: BulletBob]
#1432235
05/09/13 11:19 PM
05/09/13 11:19 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 22
houston, tx
d100clubcab
member
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member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 22
houston, tx
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Quote:
Spindles are $238 shipped to the door
Perches & u bolts another $65
Tie rod ends & sleeves are $60
Offset upper bushings are $45
Welding perches $75
Alignment $100
I lowered mine & rebuilt the brakes everything new as well all the suspension for less than $800
I know $870 is not $1,000 but in my mind it might as well be (when I'ms spending it NOT receiving it)
and your list includes things i totally forgot about like alignment and new bushings.
i just replaced every single front end bushing in my front end 3 months ago!
lowering requires different tie rods and UCA bushings? (i still have to read up on this some more)
but today my front brakes started squealing and my rear cylinders are leaking so i need a complete brake system
luckily rockauto has a lot of brake components on closeout right now so maybe i can get a complete system (rotors, drums, pads, shoes, etc) for under $300
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: BulletBob]
#1432237
05/10/13 08:10 AM
05/10/13 08:10 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 22
houston, tx
d100clubcab
member
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member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 22
houston, tx
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Quote:
Here's what I got for cheap
Van Lca's
Stock springs
Rear flip
Offset tire sizes
I likes that Bob!!!
That's something I can do without thinking about it
I already have brand new stock springs
Rear flip is FREE (or maybe a few new grade 8 bolts) right?
van LCA are going for what in junk yards these days?
can you give me your tire/wheel sizes?
I don't want to scrub my frame every few blocks
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: jstollfu]
#1432239
05/10/13 10:27 AM
05/10/13 10:27 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,064
Iowa
76dodgeboy
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master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,064
Iowa
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Quote:
The Dakota Dropped spindles also require different rotors due to bearing size differences, different outer tie rod ends, and different adjusting sleeves. The upper control arm bushing do not need to be replaced unless the offset bushing are needed for alignment. I did not use the off set upper control arm bushings on mine, with the Dakota spindles the alignment came into spec fine. \
Too expensive? You need a different hobby then..
Bearings are the same as the fullsize. you can use your rotors
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: jstollfu]
#1432240
05/10/13 10:42 AM
05/10/13 10:42 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 34,868
S.E. South Dakota !
bigdad
Still Posting A Lot
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Still Posting A Lot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 34,868
S.E. South Dakota !
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Quote:
How it sits now.
Looks great
I'm going to drop my 89
I try to keep all this info straight but, everyone seems to have different opinions then
My mind gets cluttered
I want to change the bolt pattern to 4 1/2 too
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: jstollfu]
#1432243
05/10/13 07:27 PM
05/10/13 07:27 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,064
Iowa
76dodgeboy
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master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,064
Iowa
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Quote:
No, that is an INCORRECT STATEMENT in my application, a 76 D100, I had to change the rotors due to the rear bearing. (The big one) being a different size. I wanted to keep my 5 on 4.5 bolt circle. Possibley different on other applications.
You could have simply used 80-84 2wd Rotors
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: BulletBob]
#1432245
05/11/13 01:15 AM
05/11/13 01:15 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,652
Amarillo, Tx
old_goat
Six Abuser
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Six Abuser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,652
Amarillo, Tx
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If you are using dakota spindles 77 new yorker rotors and bearings interchange also.
Or 84 rotors are the same bearing sizes as dakota
Last edited by old_goat; 05/11/13 01:17 AM.
84 D150 440/727
79 /6 swb D150
1964 A100 window van. Just because it has spark plug tubes doesn't mean it's a Hemi.
If ya haven't been there, ya just wouldn't understand.
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: lifted85]
#1432247
05/11/13 11:49 PM
05/11/13 11:49 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048
Back home in PA
BulletBob
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048
Back home in PA
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Quote:
Quote:
How it sits now.
man I like the stance of the truck  did it sit the same way with the cut spring's?? im going cheap on my 81 d150 shorty build an doing the rear axle flip an chopping a coil or 2 up front tell fund's allow for a better set up for the front
At least do the van Lca's
You can use a 255/70/15 on the rear & a 225/60/15 in the front to level it out
Another member asked what size rim
Original 15X7 argent slot wheels with all original caps & trim bands
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Re: 76 D100 lowering project before and after pictures.
[Re: 76dodgeboy]
#1432248
05/13/13 10:37 AM
05/13/13 10:37 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 271
Dearborn, Michigan
jstollfu
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 271
Dearborn, Michigan
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Quote:
Quote:
No, that is an INCORRECT STATEMENT in my application, a 76 D100, I had to change the rotors due to the rear bearing. (The big one) being a different size. I wanted to keep my 5 on 4.5 bolt circle. Possibley different on other applications.
You could have simply used 80-84 2wd Rotors
Yes that is simply what I used. They are the same part number as the Newyorker rotors. So I've said this at least twice before, in my application to use the Dakota spindles I had to change rotors. I could not use the original 76 D100 rotors with the Dakota spindles. Does that sink it yet? Josh-
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