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lowering my LRE??? #2460979
03/04/18 05:21 PM
03/04/18 05:21 PM
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Posts: 11,071
Berlin, N.J.
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abodyjoe Offline OP
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abodyjoe  Offline OP
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Berlin, N.J.
ok so i've read a few old threads about lowering this year truck but still have questions...


front end.. if i go with a van lower control arm i need to drill the mounting hole correct? i didn't really want to do that. want to make it easily back to original if i want..

i was given this link to a set of springs.. the guy said they will fit perfectly and lower the truck about the same as the van lowers.. https://www.summitracing.com/oh/parts/djm-cs2391-2/overview/



as far as the rear goes i'm not sure what to do.. again i want to be able to easily go back to stock if i choose.. is putting the axle over the springs the best way? thats what a 4" drop? don't want to notch the frame so i can't go too low. will doing the axle flip hurt the drivability? cause wheel hop/spring wrap? is there a kit to easily do it? i have a 9 1/4 rear in this thing.. or do i just weld new spring mounts to the opposite side of the rear?


kinda lost on what way to go.. like i said it doesn't need to be slammed but lower then what it is now would look nice.. i was thinking 4-6 inches in the rear and 2-3 inches up front....
.

IMG_7304#2.jpg

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Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2461005
03/04/18 05:58 PM
03/04/18 05:58 PM
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Posts: 15,487
Florida
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scratchnfotraction Offline
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Florida
on my 85 stepside and the 88 d100 440 truck I used a front rear leaf spring hanger to replace the rear shackle hanger. then flip the shackle over.

on a 4x4 with axle under spring it lifts truck 4-5 inches

on a 2x chassis it moves spring down away from frame rail to make room for a axle on top of spring and a set of car shock plates with 3 inch u-bolts

called a flip flop. I have done about 6 trucks already. I run a stock front end set up with the rear flip flop. gives a nice stance, ride and handling.

FYI. on the 440 truck I used an A-body 8 3/4 to tuck 12 wide rims with a set of 29x15x15 M/Ts in the fenders.

on my stepside I have a 67 polara C-body 8 3/4 tucking a set of 10 inch rims and 29x9.50x15 tire.

it will drop the rear bumper level with the front bumper, still haul a 440/727 in the bed with out hitting frame rail, no wheel ho off the line,stock front end with a sway bar clears a parking stop

this is why I don't lower the front and ajust with tire size. whacked my swaybar end links on the parking stop and broke them.

make the truck ride and handle like a car on the street.


shackle flip.jpgdaily driver.jpgdaily weekend driver.jpg
Last edited by scratchnfotraction; 03/04/18 06:16 PM.
Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2461012
03/04/18 06:07 PM
03/04/18 06:07 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline
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Granite Bay CA
A 6 inch drop at the rear will leave very little room for travel before bottoming out. At that point, you would need a C notch for the frame.

Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2461017
03/04/18 06:20 PM
03/04/18 06:20 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
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scratchnfotraction Offline
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I Agree if you don't flip the shackle and move spring down away from frame it slams it to the ground and whacks frame rail with slow normal driving on the street.

c-notches are needed for axle clearance.

Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2461028
03/04/18 06:46 PM
03/04/18 06:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,071
Berlin, N.J.
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abodyjoe Offline OP
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abodyjoe  Offline OP
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well i don't want to notch the frame.. whats would a happy medium be then?

just flip the rear and be done?


It's better to keep your mouth shut and give the impression that you're stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.

www.MoparMisfits.com
Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2461067
03/04/18 07:43 PM
03/04/18 07:43 PM
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Posts: 2,046
ky.
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kenworth_goose Offline
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On my tubbed 84 all I did was put the axle on top of the springs and used 4 inch lowering blocks and that rear end never touched the frame. No c notch needed.

Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2461145
03/04/18 09:22 PM
03/04/18 09:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 516
,Pa.
68dodge Offline
mopar
68dodge  Offline
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,Pa.
Put the rear axle on top of the springs will give you about 5" drop. You will have enough room for travel up and down for the axle. Change your shocks to the right size needed. I change the shock angle for racing. I still run the rear stock springs. Any question send me PM> The last picture was taken when I first lowered the rear, before the bed was taken off to modify the frame for a fuel cell and paint.

t61.JPGt74.JPGt15.JPG
Last edited by 68dodge; 03/04/18 09:28 PM.
Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2461899
03/06/18 09:22 AM
03/06/18 09:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,400
Trumbauersville PA
ric3xrt Offline
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Trumbauersville PA
For the front, if you don't want to drill out the lower mounting point , it's a bit pricey...BUT YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER SOULTION
http://www.x2industries.com/control-arms-dodge-c-89_568_579_615.html

the 94+ front drop springs work for about 2-3 inch drop, on your 79 it will be a 3 inch drop, but I've had alignment issues with those springs, , not enough camber on 3 of the 5 trucks I've used them on....Quality control on these 72 -80 trucks lacks a bit. I used a modified B- body upper to fix it.

for the back since you want to be able to go back to stock if need be, just flip the axle on top of the springs, no need to c Notch unless you plan on carrying 750lbs or more. I've found thru the years that a W300/350 rear springs work nicely with a axle flip, gives a about a 1-2 inch arch, remove some of the spring pack if it's too rough of a ride.
one suggestion that will be hard to return to stock.....move the top of the shocks as close to perpendicular as possible(or bring the top as close to the frame rail as you can) ride quality and traction increases by a fun factor of AWESOME.

Last edited by ric3xrt; 03/06/18 09:31 AM.

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Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2462652
03/07/18 04:31 PM
03/07/18 04:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,077
Oklahoma City
Jwilli500 Offline
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Oklahoma City
Here is a thread from a few years ago addressing this very thing...
P.S. The thread is about a sleeve so you don't have to drill the lower control arm mounts. Guess I shoulda included that, sorry.
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbt...tml#Post1384107

Originally Posted By abodyjoe
front end.. if i go with a van lower control arm i need to drill the mounting hole correct? i didn't really want to do that. want to make it easily back to original if i want..

Last edited by Jwilli500; 03/08/18 04:10 PM.
Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2462831
03/07/18 10:25 PM
03/07/18 10:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,069
Washington State
70Duster440 Offline
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Washington State
Just for reference, we tried changing just the rear shackles which was good for a 2”+ drop...

See this thread: https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbt...tml#Post1624610

(Ultimately we ended up changing everything and 4 -linked it).

Did the van LCA thing in the front with stock springs...


Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2464728
03/11/18 01:48 PM
03/11/18 01:48 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,001
Central US
grancuda Offline
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Central US
Just went thru this on my '72 D100 & decided to just do a mild amount lowering to take the fender gap out & keep it so I can still use it as a truck. I am running a 28" tall tire on 18's.

On the rear I went with a square body McGaughys rear lowering shackle which lowers it a little lower than advertised for the GMs because the factory Dodge shackle is shorter than a GM.

On the front I cut 1/2 a coil out & it took it down a little over 2".

IMG_4594.JPGIMG_4598.JPG

1967 Barracuda Formula S 383
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Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2464798
03/11/18 04:00 PM
03/11/18 04:00 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline
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Granite Bay CA
The stance of the green truck is great.

Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: Kern Dog] #2465878
03/13/18 05:09 PM
03/13/18 05:09 PM
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Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
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bboogieart Offline
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Did I tell you I "DIG!" that truck?
That's just gorgeous.


I have mechanical Aptitude.
I can screw up anything.
Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: abodyjoe] #2483760
04/16/18 06:18 PM
04/16/18 06:18 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 271
Dearborn, Michigan
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jstollfu Offline
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Dearborn, Michigan
Mine. Axle flip with 1 inch lower block in rear. Front lowering is another story.

rear end crop 1.jpgp1010843.JPG
Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: jstollfu] #2484074
04/17/18 09:51 AM
04/17/18 09:51 AM
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Posts: 15,487
Florida
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scratchnfotraction Offline
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Florida
wow! that's a nice truck.

Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: jstollfu] #2484497
04/18/18 08:32 AM
04/18/18 08:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,400
Trumbauersville PA
ric3xrt Offline
pro stock
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Trumbauersville PA
Originally Posted By jstollfu
Mine. Axle flip with 1 inch lower block in rear. Front lowering is another story.


not a fan of lowering block, but that is one sexy truck

Re: lowering my LRE??? [Re: ric3xrt] #2485551
04/20/18 12:29 PM
04/20/18 12:29 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 154
Winlock, Wa
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fshd4it Offline
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Winlock, Wa
Originally Posted By ric3xrt
I used a modified B- body upper to fix it.

That sounds very interesting, how do you modify the B-body UCA? I've got a spare set that I wouldn't mind chopping on a bit, the upper ball joint angle is the one thing that concerns me the most on my lowered '77.


In order to know what you want, you'll probably have to find out what you don't want.






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