The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop lowering a 53, using dropped axles & rear blocks

hi new to the site, new to the hobby,new to owning a classic Chevy truck (hat trick eh!)here's me question: what kind of ride will i get from installing a 4"dropped axle and rear lowering block kit?
i saw a link (for these kits)someone posted on this site and read abit about it, but am wondering is this safe to do? does it alter handling at all?input mutchly appreciated!

A dropped axle is very safe (unless the bolts are not tightened). Much much much safer than a clip.

The spring choice quality of your king-pin bushings and spring shackles will determine your handling.

Ask away, there are many on this site that are using dropped axles. What year truck?

its a 53 3/4ton, its pretty much all stock (as far as i know)so original trans,rear end and motor (not running) has the 8 lug wheels, fronts and back, the front wheels are split rims?not sure what that is.i plan on lowering it and fitting some nice rims.just drop it and drive it.

There are issues with making mods the these front ends, it can be done but for every change you make you will have another issue. Like with the dropped axle, when dropped raises the tie rod and it hits the leaf springs. Also if you want to use a modern rim you have to watch the back spacing as it will hit the tie rod end, etc etc. So do your homework on all this stuff.

I used a set of Posies Dual-flex springs on the front of my 55.1.
It lowered the truck slightly (27.5" tall at the wheel well).
In the back, I removed leaf #6.(29" tall at the wheel well)
My tires are 21575R15.
The ride is great.
I don't know how much this is lower than stock, maybe someone has stock springs in good condition and could measure it for us.

regards,
Leon

Here is a tech article that exlpains some of what you have to deal with when installing a dropped axle as JiMerit mentions. One thing not mentioned in the article is watching the backspacing of the wheels.

Jeff

http://www.droppedaxles.com/TECH_ARTICLES.html#TXTOBJ7D9416E352E1C51

so how will dropping 4" in the front and 3 in the back, affect the type of wheel i want to run, like will i have to stick to pretty much stock rims? or can i go to a bigger rim without much problem?

What you have to worry about as far as rims is on the front. When you use a dropped axle you need to modify the steering arms so the tie rod will go under the springs. The easiest way to do the mod. is put the tie rod on the bottom side of the steering arms instead of top side. When this is done it puts the tie rod end close to your side wall of the tires. If you use a wider rim the off set of the rim may be to the inside and the tie rod end will rub on the tire side wall or be really close. This is something you need to watch....SID

there are a ton of ways to doing this. I have built 7 of these trucks and NEVER have had a problem and they handle great.
I used a front clp from a camaro and drop spindles I can assure you it is safe and stronger then it was from the factory and also used lowering blocks.
Built 2 with C4 vette stuff....nice as well but $$$
you can email me for pics if you like

Budzilla,
my opinion is to go with the dropped front axle. its a bolt in swap. i put one of Sids, (Drapal) 3 inch dropped fronts in my 57, and love the way it rides.
http://droppedaxles.com/
he is the expert when it comes to dropped axles.

along with the 3 inch dropped axle i removed one of the front leafs, the shortest, and got another 1/2 inch or so of a drop. and it actually softened up the ride.

out back i took 4 of the stock 7 leafs out, and installed lowering shackles to get the drop i wanted. removing those leafs also softened up the ride in the rear.

you can check out the before and after pics and installation in my photobucket album.

hope this helps.

leonard

Sid I did your 4 inch drop axe on a 51 chevy truck put tie rod on bottom of steering arms used a power steering conversion kit but the truck does not turn very sharp. do you know of anything that might be causing this.

Don't think Sid visits here very often if at all. Try sending him a private message or call Nostalgia Sid's in Guthrie, Oklahoma # should be on his web site.

does anyone have an idea of what might be going on here any advice on what to check.

Thanks
John