Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train Suspension!

I have some questions on suspension and front ends on a 53 Chevy truck. If I wan't to lower the front is there any other way to do it without having to get a 4 inch dropped axle? I saw that on www.performanceonline.com they have front shocks for a 49-54 chevy truck that are a 3 inch drop but I thought that shocks have nothing to do with ride height on these trucks? Also is there anyway to put air bags on straight axles? If so then where can I get a kit at and how low would it go without a dropped axle, etc? Someone told me that it can be done and all but not sure.
Thanks a lot for any info!

Shawn-

You're right, shocks do not hold a vehicle up. Thye only dampen the spring effect.

As John suggets contact Patricks. Another good source for you is Street Rodder magazine. Almost everyone who is anyone in the hot rod business advertises in it and most have a catalog or web site. You can learn a lot browsing through.

Mike

E-mail patstrks@aol.com and ask for a catalog. Mine arrived within a week.

Baldy

Page 5 of catalog has suspension parts. Looks as though he uses lowering blocks on the front. The reason shocks are changed when lowering is so they don't bottom out before the axle does.

Ok, so if I get a 4 inch dropped axle I should get dropped shocks? I saw that Speedway has 6 inch dropped axles but it says for Ford and Chevy cars so I am not sure if trucks is included. Would 6 be too low or what? I plan to run wide whitewalls on the front and on the back but the back I wan't wider and taller cheater slicks. I am not sure if they make wide whitewalls that are lower for the front and skinnier.

Installing a dropped axle will not require shorter shocks as the mounting points will be the same. However if the truck is lowered by de-arching the springs or installing the axle "On Top" of the springs then the shocks will have to be shorter. ---Paul

You should have at least 3" of travel up front. If you are at that point now, then messing with the suspension isn't really an option. A dropped axle is then your only choice. When using a dropped axle on these trucks, the pitman arm will need to be re-bent also, otherwise you will end up with bumpsteer if the draglink is not close to being level.

If the shock travel stops before the suspension comes all the way up, then you have a problem.

As for air bags, I believe Air Ride Technologies has a setup for live rear axles, which is basically the same deal as a straight front axle. But it seems to me to be a bad idea in that if you can aford to do air ride, then you could afford to stub the frontend with a Nova/Camaro or get a Mustang II kit and still have some money left over. Going to an S10 frame is also a very popular choice for the 47-54 trucks. Of course, none of this is "traditional" if that's what you're going for either. There may also be clearance issues between the bags and the steering. It would also look ugly. Just my opinion of course...

Another source for straight axel stuff is Butch's Rod Shop aka Death Row Products in Dayton Ohio. Mordrop in Oakland Ca can drop yours. My info is dated so these guys could be gone or moved.I had Mordrop do my axel 2 1/2 inches plus some spring work with 5,50 x 14 tires my pu wasn't legal in Ca. If I had to do it again I think I would use the Pinto kit. Things got real busy trying to make the steering right. I had trouble with Mordrop, they made it right but I still had trouble. If you don't want a lot of trouble I would go with the springs and shocks.

One other comment on MorDrop. You cannot buy an axle outright from them. You send them your axle and they do the work and return it to you. Turn around time can take a while so if you want to keep driving the truck it would be best to locate another axle and send that one out to them.
When I was doing my 37 over I considered staying with the beam axle and contacted them about having it stretched ( dropped ) and that is what they told me.

In the end I didn't keep the beam axle and went to an indpendent front end but not for any of the reasons I just mentioned.

Mike

watch for a S10 with a bad engine. you can buy this for alot less than a salvage yard will ask for a rolling chassis Trucks here with a bad engine go for $200 to $250 . S10 rolling chassis is a very good fit for the chevy trucks.

From what I understand and have read about using the S10 frame; the front end is just about perfect, however the rear end needs to be changed because the wheels are to close or touching the bed. I also read where one guy narrowed the bed instead and utilized the S10 rear end.
Go to the following link, it show the swap and there are some pictures of 3 trucks.
Are these trucks LOW ENOUGH ??????????????
CLICK HERE TO SEE ONE GUYS VERSION OF USING THE S10 FRAME

Today I went by AGAIN to look at the chassis some and just stood there for 15 minutes stairing at the truck. I am going to just throw in a dropped axle. I priced up what I wan't to do with the front end to drop it later when it's road worth and I can put a IFS cheaper than the dropped axle because later I would like disk brakes, lowered, better shocks, etc and to lower it with a axle it costs as much. But... I like the straight axles and keeping it old school, heh.
Even if you guy's are not into straight axles, dropped axles or whatever else check this site out.
http://www.btc-bci.com/%7Ebillben/dropaxle.htm
I like what he says at the end there about the IFS thing.

SMF Speed & Cuestom, please note the author of the website you mentioned above is referring to early Ford axles which used a single leaf spring. The suspension you originally ask questions about uses parallel (2) springs is and slightly different ball game. Unfortunately There is more than one way to measure the drop of an axle so most dropped axles will not give you the same amount of drop as advertized.For Instance,A Ford 2 1/2" dropped axle will usually only drop the suspension about 1 1/2" --- it takes a combination of spring mods,different shackles,Modified perches,tires and in some cases crossmember mods to get a vehicle down LOW with a Ford straight axle.Chevy stock truck axles are factory 3 1/2" dropped so an aftermaket 6"dropped axle will only drop the suspension maybe 2 1/2".I mentioned early installing the axle on top of the springs which will drop the suspension at least 5". Just some thoughts.Paul
Paul

I don't know if it's too late, but these guys make brand new dropped axles for about $450:

http://www.cenpen.com/chevyaxle.htm

I looked at that site and see they made a air ride kit for a straight axle. The guy at Speedway motors helped me design a way to do that and he said he never seen it done before and I thought maybe I could be the first to do it but someone beat me to it, ****. Oh well, I don't even think they sell them right now and it's a new style and I have never seen something like that, I would like to do this to the truck if I get it and when I get extra money but that will be later on, probably like next summer or something.

Shawn;
this site has what I think you are looking for.
htmlwww.chevytruck.org look in the tech. articals on the right side.

Regarding Moordrop Axel.

I spoke with Marty the owner reagarding not being able to buy an axel directly from him. He said I was mistaken and that, in fact, he has "hundreds" of axel to sell. However, he requires a significant core deposit becuase his experience has been that without big core deposit people have often burned him for the core. You might consider calling them if you have a need for a dropped axel.
El V

Mordrop had my axle and money for 14 months. I had to badger them repeatedly to get it returned and get it refunded. I'm looking elsewhere to see if anyone can drop one. Any other leads anyone?

6inarow

I'm 4 blocks away from Moordrop. If I can be of help, let me know.

El V

Wow, old thread. Anyways, I never got that Chevy truck. I can't get ahold of the owner... I have been trying to get ahold of him for 2 1/2 years now and no luck. I bought a 48 Chevy coupe instead and a 54 Chevy BelAir Hardtop along with a 85 Chevy c10 truck and 66 Ford F100. I still have my eye on that truck though.

For those looking for a dropped axle, give MAS Racing Products a call 651-644-6811. 0-7" drops available, several spindle types available, different widths avaiable, different suspension types also. They advertise in Street Rodder magazine, and others...