Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Good morning everyone !

I Have a 1980 c10 and want for ideas in lowering my truck. I would like a leveled drop or a drop and wheel combo that will make the fender sit as close as possible to the wheel and not hide any behind the fender. I currently have a big rake that I don’t like . I’m running belltech 3120 from 71-72 trucks and pretty much stuck with that since that’s how I got the truck and don’t have the money to change them. I don’t know if they cut the springs but I’m pretty low in the front . I have long tube headers with 5in clearance and don’t want to do too low. I was thinking of just buying replacement front springs to raise the front and be at just 3in drop. I was thinking of shackles and hangers from belltech in the back since the truck came with shackles and unfortunately cut a big section of the bed frame. I’m running 255/60/15 in the front and 275/60/15 in the rear. I love side walls so the biggest I will get is 17 or 18 in wheels and maybe 50 series . Any pictures of drops and wheel combos will be a big help. I understand this question has been asked but I would like to see new pictures of members who are still active and not a post from a decade ago.

I will post a truck I saw on the forum. I love the stance and that’s something I would like!

Thank you!

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

4/5 drop. 15x8 and 15x10's, 245/60 and 295/50 TA's ;)

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

A perfect stance! How did accomplish a 5in drop? Flip kit?

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

And I looked up the sizes for your tire and you are running the same height even tho one is 50 and the other is 60 . That’s why you have a nice leveled drop! I need to find same height tires for all 4 corners and replace the different height of the 255/60 and 275/60!

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Flip kit on the rear.;)

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Why? Lot's of people run larger rear tires on non-stock stuff. I've never had a vehicle w/the same size tires front/rear in 37years of driving.

50's, 60's, 70's series are just the sidewall ratio of the tire width. You can mathematically have several different combos that all yield a similar overall height.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Mainly because I don’t want different heights throwing off the levelled drop I want to accomplish. That rake I have has to go lol. But something I learned about different combos of ratios giving similar heights . I would run only wider tires in the back and not higher. But everything is a learning experience. I’ll eventually find the right drop and tires!

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

I run the same set up as Loco pretty much. This picture is 2.5" drop spindles and 2" drop springs in the front and a rear flip kit with 5 leaf packs.

Front is 15x8 with 4" BS and 245/60/15. Rears are 15x10 with 5" BS and 295/50/15.

The front is a little too low for me so I have some 1" drop springs coming in today.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Thank you so much for replying and helping me out! Would you say your flip kit with 5 packs give it a 6in drop? Hopefully with some more pictures I can decide on just a flip kit or the shackles and hangers.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Beautiful truck by the way!

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Thank you, these trucks are hard work but worth it when people say nice things about them.

I didn't measure but I would say it went a full 6". My truck has the longer leaf packs of the two and had 8-leaf packs from factory. My original plan was to ditch all but three plus the overloads but I found both packs had multiple cracked leafs and it forced my hand. I was fortunate and found some 5 leaf packs from a Suburban locally for a deal. I did not c-notch but I also do not work the truck very hard. I've hauled 400 pounds of deer corn and did not have any issues and I never even looked at what clearance I had...

I've never had a lowered truck before this one so I went all in (static anyway) and do not regret it at all. You have to be a little more careful when driving since the LCA's hang really low but it's not too bad once you get an eye for it. I knew if I didn't do it the way I did I would regret it and end up doing it over.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Very very nice.

I really with I would have gone with a flip kit. I wasnt going for more than 4 inches at the time so I did shackles and hangers then scrapped the stock parts. Now I want just another inch or so out back. I am considering removing the overload leaf and rolling with 3 leafs. Also should get some drop shocks it's on factory length right now

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

I completely understand. these trucks are hard work getting the right stance. My goal is to maybe upgrade to a bigger wheel like a 17in or 18in max and still have that perfect stance.
the c notch is tricky. some do it and some don't. Glad you didn't have to c notch the frame and still be able to haul a lot of weight with no issue. That was my main issue that i didn't want a flip kit to avoid c notch.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

You have any pictures of just a shackles and hangers? would be a great pic for this thread!

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Prepare for an eye sore

Western Chassis parts
2 1/2" drop spindles
2" shackles
2" hangers

15x7 front 205/60/15
15x10 rear 295/50/15
Both front and rear are 4.5" backspacing

https://i.imgur.com/nz43nLC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ZDKdBC8.jpg

I really want to drop front and rear one inch.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

bro thats one badass truck and stance! you had the drop I wanted to all this time lol.. I want a leveled drop and I think ill be going for 3 / 4 drop since I have the 3in spindles. im afraid if I do a flip kit ill get 6in drop and it will be a reversed rake lol. a 3 / 4 is close enough plus ill be running taller tires too to fill up the fender hopefully. Thanks bro! I just hope it looks like yours and hope the difference in beds dont affect it

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Thanks man I appreciate it.

When you do the shackles and hangers, taking the bed off makes it pretty easy. You will need to notch one of the beds crossmembers above the shackle so mark it before you remove the bed and you'll be good to go.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

You'll definitely drop a little bit, I just hope you had better luck than I did! The crack was not apparent until after I tore them apart, glad I found it when I did though. And of course I found the cracks after I spent the time and effort to remove all 4 bushings and press in new ones!!!

3/8" allen head bolt is what you'll need to bolt it back together, about 2" if I recall.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Oh wow that's something I've never encountered personally. I'm still debating back and forth about it. It would really only cost me for new U bolts and some time

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Not always. The trucks w/the shorter 52" leaf springs require the bed support to be clearance. Trucks w/the longer 56" spring don't require it.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Ah yes I forgot about that.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

But.... You are 100% correct about marking things before taking them apart. It gives you the outline for the cuts whether you need them or not.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Bingo.

I have used this tire size calculator many many times. It's interesting to mess around with different sizes and how they compare
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

I'm a numbers guy. I researched the way the math is done years ago (30+) so I could calculate the numbers myself. I go even further & always target consistency when calculating widths for staggered F/R combos. I do not like a 'pinched' sidewall (too wide of a tire on a given wheel) or an 'empty' wheel opening (too short of a tire within the wheel well opening).

I do use online calculators for gearing decisions, number crunching engine combos, CID's, & power output potential. Very handy tools.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Just got the US Wheel Rat Rods. Do you think with a 295/50 and 4" BS it will stick out too far? Or should I go to the 275/60 which would be about the same . I want 295s in the back but don't want them to stick out way far.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

On the 10" rim your gonna need to go with a 5" BS or you'll get tire rub, this is a 295/50 on the 10" rim with 5" BS. ;)

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

I'm gonna do a bit more searching, but looks like i'll have to go 275/60s then dang it

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

How hard was it taking the leaf springs apart? I have one broken spring and I am thinking I will just replace the one bad leaf on the truck. I will probably just cut u-bolts off to get to the one bad leaf. Is it hard to get to the center bolt that goes through the leaves. Sorry do not mean to high jack thread.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Failure typically happens because of less than stellar material & stress. Sure you can replace just the one broken leaf. I'd be willing to bet all the remaining leafs on that side are suspect & would be nervous about the other side as well unless I had a solid, definitive cause for the initial failure.

https://www.eatondetroitspring.com/

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Not hard at all. Throw a c-clamp on each side of the bolt and remove the nut, then cut off the bolt as flush as you can. Once there you can take your hammer and punch and smack it out the rest of the way. I always replace u-bolts, they are cheap and make life a lot easier. The hanger bolts like to seize up too so be prepared for that, I use a grinder wheel and then beat them out. The bolts can be hard to find but Fastenal carries them.

I agree with SCOTI though, it would be hard to talk me into doing just one leaf when there was a failure already.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Unfortunately... You could use spacers if you are comfortable with those.

The BS on the fronts may lead to issues with drop spindles as well since they are 3.75" instead of 4". 4" is damn close with 15's with 2.5" spindles, 3" spindles are a no-go.

Those wheels look sick!

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Thanks man. The fronts should be fine. .25” is basically the diff between a 255/60 and a 245/60. The backs are gonna be a problem. Spacers won’t help, the 4” BS means they’ll stick out an inch more...I dunno we’ll see man. Didn’t realize it’s be that close! I have 3” spindles and my current wheels are fine.

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

This fellah on here has -45mm offset which is about 3.8” BS and should give me a bit more room and 295s. Think I’m just gonna send it and see what it looks like lol

When are you planning on taking the overload ? Really want to see a before and after . I Might want to do that to do lower. And let me know how it rides please !
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Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

I am still trying to talk myself into it lol

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

you want to go lower to close the gap between wheel and fender. will getting a taller wheel have the same effects? your running a 26in, what about a 28in?

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

I actually had 31x10.50s on the rear just a few weeks ago. They just barely filled up the tire/fender gap. I had those for a long time. I went with these new tires and wheels for the looks mostly but going from a 31 to a 26 really woke the truck up gearing wise its awesome.

I'm not exactly looking to fill the gap just thinking it will look a little better if it's a little bit lower. I should have done it from the beginning but that's not the look I wanted at the time

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

I test fit and have plenty room on the front. Can you take a pic from the ground looking up between your tire and fender? want to see how much of a gap there is if ya don't mind...

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

Oh I see! Do you want it to tuck tire?

Re: Drop set ups and wheel combos!!
 

I'd love to help but my truck is all tore apart at the moment. Front clip, engine, and transmission are out!