Porter vs Choppin vs RS vs NoLimit crossmember?? Bag recommendations

['68 Newtricks]

Hey 67-72,
I don't have much of my truck on here, mostly just a lurker. I'm looking to swap out my whole front end. (suspension,brakes,crossmember, steering) I currently have a CPP modular spindle, 1" spring, arms, 500 box, CPP swaybar, and CPP big brake kit. Truck is basically ~3.5/6" drop on 28.8" tires. Truck handles the mountain roads really well. Sucker stays planted nicely. So you might think, "what's the problem"?

Spindle grooved from a bad bearing
Howling noises have started again
Kinda over the drilled/slotted rotors, noisy groans
Freeway is a pleasure, streets are too eF'ed to enjoy the truck, terrible ride
Steering can be better, looking at R&P

Instead of addressing all the little things that bother me, I'm just going to swap out the whole crossmember for new stuff. I would like to go airbag all around, but not for dropping, hopping, dragging, or any of that nonsense

I just want a nicer ride. I want the same stance I have now. I don't want to lose handling, I really really push the truck as often as I can. I always pictured myself running coilovers in the future cause I want the best handling, but find myself not driving the truck as often as I'd like because the roads are so bad. I'm hoping the bags help. I am running the CPP trailing arms out back. I wouldn't mind bags out there too. Again, for a smoother ride and to help handle heavy loads.

What front crossmember is going to give me the best handling with bag option? Good caster, move wheels forward, accepts an LS, R&P, etc etc.
Any other options I'm not covering? I'm also not fond of running the CPP spindle and hub setup. I'm not having good luck with it.

NoLimit


Roadster Shop


PorterBuilt


Choppin Block

['68 Newtricks]

As the truck sits now. I LOVE the stance. I don't want to change at all. How can I achieve this with bags?

[Ctimrun]

I am also needing to do some suspension changes and don't know what route I want to go yet. I like the idea of coilovers more than airbags but am open to both. Looking forward to hearing about those with some experience with this, subscribed.

[sprint_9]

You might consider a Ridetech street grip system. While really not what your looking into here with a cross member it might be a good solution for the rougher roads you have, it would keep the ride height you have, and i think cost a little less. But that system doesnt get you rack and pinion steering or some of the other benefits of a cross member

[67 chevelle]

TCI is another consideration

[Swar]

You don't need a drop member, they're designed to lay frame rail. You can just convert to bags for a smooth, adjustable ride, and keep your ride height.

['68 Newtricks]

I looked at TCI but they didn't list an airbag option. Thought maybe they don't offer it.

[70blackfish]

poterbuilt is hard to beat, no limit is good also, you live in so cal like me. look at scotts hot rods, there in oxnard ca.

i have a lot of work done to mine but still have stock k member, with porterbuilt arms

[HO455]

Achieving that stance with air bags won't be hard. The hard part is going to getting the ride you want with tires that have no sidewalls. You should try to figure out how define the ride your looking for i.e. C6 vette or M5 or whatever. One persons perfect ride is a Lotus Extige and the next persons is a 74 Coupe d'ville. Spend a day test driving cars. Then call the venders you have listed and talk with them about what your expections are in definable terms. Then ask them how they can make your truck enjoyable again. Spend some time at the pro-touring forums in the tire sections. Lots of those guys put real miles on their cars and have good advice on what worked for them and what didn't.

[knomadd]

You don't need an aftermarket crossmember to run a 3.5"/6" drop on air. It's unnecessary. I run roughly a 4-5" front drop and 5-6" rear drop (at ride height) on bags with the factory crossmember, Porterbuilt lower control arms, CPP modular spindles and factory brake rotors. I only needed to add the upper bag plates since the PB LCAs don't require cups. If you want rack & pinion, No Limit makes a kit and I believe Flaming River has one as well. I think they both will mount to the factory crossmember.

[slow4dr]

Originally Posted by '68 Newtricks

I looked at TCI but they didn't list an airbag option. Thought maybe they don't offer it.

The option for shockwaves is on the website. There are also two different upper shock mounts available(not on the website) one for 5" drop the other for 7.5".

[demian5]

i don't see how the no limit bolts to the frame.

[Ctimrun]

I'm a little gunshy on going with a setup like these because of future parts availability. If my wife crashes the truck (read if I crash the truck) and bend some front end parts a few years down the road or need some replacements due to wear where am I at if the company is no longer in business?

[68Stepbed]

I have the Total Cost Involved setup in my truck.

[67 chevelle]

The reason I suggested TCI is I have used their stuff before . It was good quality , reasonably priced , and had very good instructions . I see a couple guys responded about them , and it looks like they are pleased with their kits also . TCI is the first company I would look to for stuff like this . Porterbuilt has a great reputation , I looked into them for a bag system for a 69 c10 , but their website is confusing to me , and their prices are high

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by Ctimrun

I'm a little gunshy on going with a setup like these because of future parts availability. If my wife crashes the truck (read if I crash the truck) and bend some front end parts a few years down the road or need some replacements due to wear where am I at if the company is no longer in business?

Just buy two of everything!

[TXBoudy]

My 2-cents. Ridetech Strong Arms run $1,500 and convert to coilovers as a bolt in kit keeping the OEM crossmember. Add $500 for coilovers and $1,000 for NoLimit's rack conversion and that's the best $3,000 front end I can find for the $$$.

Or Performance Online has a complete tubular control arm conversion with standard springs, shocks, and new ball joints for $999. Add NoLimit's rack conversion and you're in it for $2,000 but no coilovers.

Neither gets you bags but both address lowered geometry for better handling and you're desired stance doesn't look like you need bags to me.

[Ben_Yeaton]

Originally Posted by TXBoudy

My 2-cents. Ridetech Strong Arms run $1,500 and convert to coilovers as a bolt in kit keeping the OEM crossmember. Add $500 for coilovers and $1,000 for NoLimit's rack conversion and that's the best $3,000 front end I can find for the $$$.

Or Performance Online has a complete tubular control arm conversion with standard springs, shocks, and new ball joints for $999. Add NoLimit's rack conversion and you're in it for $2,000 but no coilovers.

Neither gets you bags but both address lowered geometry for better handling and you're desired stance doesn't look like you need bags to me.

I have wondered about the POL arms myself, especially compared to the CPP units. They look to present some clearance issues, as the spring sits low in the arm. Does anyone have the POL arms on their truck?

For the OP, coilovers may be exactly what you are looking for. High chance you would do a bag set up and be underwhelmed with the spring rate you get at your desired ride height. Although, most if not all of the "ground laying" set ups have a 5" ride height or so, which isn't far off from what you want. Something to think about.

[lolife99]

Unless you move the crossmember "UP" in the frame rails,... you are going to have lower a-arm clearance issues with a very low static drop.
(aka a-arms 2"-3" from the ground)
This is ok on bagged trucks because you can adjust the ride height,... but that also makes your ride height higher than most want.
Sure you can drive it low with tires cambered in and less than correct air pressure in the front bags,... but this only eats up tires.

My personal choice would be Porterbuilt.
Bags, coilovers, or stock coils.
So many choices.
Narrowed a-arms.
A-arms that move the front wheel forward in the fender opening.
3 levels of drop, from mild to extreme.
And of course, rack and pinion steering.
Nate Porter started this crossmember modding for all of us C10 owners, and continually improves his designs.
Plus he's a board supporting Member/Vendor here for over 10 years.

Just my 2 cents,...

[demian5]

Originally Posted by Ctimrun

I'm a little gunshy on going with a setup like these because of future parts availability. If my wife crashes the truck (read if I crash the truck) and bend some front end parts a few years down the road or need some replacements due to wear where am I at if the company is no longer in business?

This is trailer queen stuff.