The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop How to lower 50 3/4-ton rear

I'm thinking about hot-rodding my 50 3600 pickup: lowering the front 3-4" and the rear 5-6". Doing some other things... Has anyone lowered the rear of their 3/4-ton by flipping the axle on top of the springs?? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

I drove a hot rodded 1952 3100 for years. I even drove it 7000 miles in two weeks back in 1996. Filled up with gas 4 times the day I drove through Independence, MO and stopped at Jim Carter's.

I vowed never again to have a truck that is a car. This truck is staying a truck.

The only correct way to lower it in the rear is custom springs. Flipping the axle over the top of the springs relys on the the bolts to hold the load.

If you lower the front the only proper way to do it without steering geometry problems is dropped spindles. I'm not aware of anyone that makes them for 3/4 ton up.

You can lower the front by going with a dropped axle. The rear is much more complicated.

There is limited room between the axle and the frame, so you loose most the suspension movement if you flip the axle on top the springs.

If you intend to continue using it as a truck you face some real challenges. If you intend to use it as a car with a pretty box out back look into a four-link setup with airbags and a c-notched frame.

Or you can Z the frame.

Lots of options, but without a better idea how you want to use the truck when its finished its hard to say which is your best bet.

I was thinking about making a short, low "bobber" truck/ rat-rod out of it... but have about decided against it.