79' stepside street rod

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Jul 1, 2007 | 02:20 PM

roosplash

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From: Cincinnati, Ohio

79' stepside street rod

Just aquired my brothers 79' stepside in a even trade. The only thing that comes to mind to do to the truck is to make it a street rod. Research on lowering options scares me, honestly. I want to slam this truck as far as reasonably possible...tires at or just tucked into the wheel wells. In old school fashion I need to spend as little money as possible to accomplish this. $500 drop beams is out of the question, bending my TTB is to technical to attain the proper camber angles in my garage. Keeping in mind I need to drop the front 4''-6'' Im considering "Z'ing" the frame at the firewall and axle flip whith C-notch in the rear. Later as money provides bagging the truck with a 4-link in the rear. Does this sound viable?

Jul 1, 2007 | 03:00 PM

73FOMO

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2005

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From: Hartford, AL

Max drop removing bump stops on 2wd would be around 4-1/2". This would be deflated bags just for show. I am building a custom front airride suspension. I should have some pics soon I can post here. For about $250 you can bag the front and lower for showing and then air up for daily driving with factory I-beams. You can drop the front about 1-1/2 to 2" inches before camber is borderline out of specs. If I recall specs for the 2wd is 1 degree positive + or - 2 degrees. For every inch take away about a degree of camber, thus 2" inch drop on a truck in spec would be about -1 degree camber. This will tuck a 27" diameter tire with no problem on my 73". I haven't seen any z's on the 73-79 forums, but if you search around on the 67-72 there are a couple on there with something similar. You can drop the rear about 5" inchs with an axle flip and c notch and up to 4 more inches with 2" drop shackles and modifying and moving the rear frame hanger up the frame.

Jul 2, 2007 | 01:55 PM

trinogt

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From: Eustis FL

If you are talking high $$$ 4 link suspensions and stuff, you should do it right and go with the dropped I beams from places like DJM. It will be a great investment for the lifetime of your truck.
Otherwise, spend thousands on a Mustang II-type conversion with rack and pinion. Then you have adjustability.

Jul 3, 2007 | 08:52 AM

73FOMO

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Joined: Aug 2005

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From: Hartford, AL

For the least expensive I wouldn't immediately go to the drop beams, $499-599, but if you want to ride lowered for extended periods then yes. About 1-1/2 to 2 inches is all the drop you can get without getting front end camber out of spec on stock ibeams. With the 3" drop beams and air bag combo you could drop another 2" with the bags, for a total of 5", and still be in spec. With bags pancaked, and dropped beams you will get about 7-1/2" drop which still is not driveable. You could start with bags and stock I beams for some drop for driving, a full tuck for show, and then save money up to add the drop I-Beams down the road. You can get rear 4-links as cheap as $299-399...I wouldn't say that was expensive, but, "looking for cheapest", would be axle flip and C-notch in rear < $100, and bags in front $200-300. If you go ahead and bag the front when you do go with the 4 link and bags in rear you can set up a full FBSS system. You will run into some major fabrication with the trying to alter the frame although it is doable.

Last edited by 73FOMO; Jul 3, 2007 at 09:00 AM.

Jul 3, 2007 | 05:01 PM

trinogt

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Joined: Apr 2001

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From: Eustis FL

You can get front air bags and compressor/ full setup for $200-$300??? Tell me where to get it!

Jul 4, 2007 | 02:53 PM

roosplash

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From: Cincinnati, Ohio

As far as physically doable...that isnt a problem. My idea is to do it a minimum cost. Zing the front frame is free (I dont count my own labor costs) C-notching the rear end should cost little more than new spring perches, using the original leaf packs, original shocks with relocated upper shock mounts and maybe the rear hangers. After Zing the frame I will have to clearence the firewall and trans tunnel, possibly channeling the firewall for the frame depending on where I choose to Z it. I have all the material required to do the rear C-notch and to reinforce the Z cut in my garage(2x4 1/8" wall tube and 10g CR steel) So the way I figure it at this point all that would be spent would be $10 for new spring perches and my time.

Jul 6, 2007 | 09:02 PM

73FOMO

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Joined: Aug 2005

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From: Hartford, AL

You can pickup compressor from oem cars, i.e. lincoln, on ebay for about $50 and plumb for front bag set up....not side to side...no air tank. Bags can be purchased for $110, and brackets can be picked up for about $20.00....the rest is plumbline $15.00, guage $12.00, valves $40, switches, misc for $250-300. This is not for quick up and down, just to adjust air in bags. I think Air Lift or Firestone sells basically the same thing in Summit Racing, less the custom brackets, in the same price range.