Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

Here's some installation pics of a Dropmember in a 69 C10. Don't worry, the final hardware will all be grade 8!

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

nice work PB... youve got some good lookin stuff down at your shop!!

Re: dropmember
 

Definately different, NICE WELDS

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

Nice welds...yours?

Is that all there is to it? Don't you have to section the cross member as well? Send me the plans!

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

Thanks for compliments on the welds Stllookn... they do belong to me. It doesn't need to be sectioned... its a replacement crossmember that converts the steering to rack and pinion, gives these trucks the extra ground clearance they so desperately need, narrows up the front track width, and changes the suspension geometry slightly. All changes needed to set one of these trucks ultra-low and still drive comfortably. I will post up more pics tonight. The rack will be mounted, the frame rails clearanced for the rack, we will have the arms back on, and should have the Air Ride Technologies Shockwaves all mounted up as well.

Re: dropmember
 

Different is good!... isn't that what Arby's said?

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

those welds are spectacular! looks like a great start, keep on going!

is that a 73-87 frame? the core support mounts are squared off instead of round like 67-72

Re: dropmember
 

I Like IT! I want to see more pics of that blazer and panel!!!! Any info on the crossmember???

Re: dropmember
 

THATS WHAT I SOULD HAVE DONE! Looks SIIIIIICK. My front looks like an abortion compared to that. Keep em commin.

Re: dropmember
 

The panel is already on the board in 60-66 trucks (under 63 panle), and the blazer is under 67-72 blazers (under low72).

I didn't get everything done today I wanted to, but I do have more pics. The rack is in, the control arms and spindles are mounted up, and the motor/trans is mocked up and ready for mounts. I will not make much more progress on this one until next week.

Oh, it lays frame on a 29 inch tall tire (with a 3 inch drop-spindle)

Re: dropmember
 

One more good one. The cab mounts are not installed yet, that's why the rocker is also touching the ground.

Re: dropmember
 

Did I miss something? What's a Dropmember? Is that something you built, or someone else is building. The welds are awesome, and the end result looks good. I'm just wondering what it is....:)

Re: dropmember
 

Thats what I was wondering also???

Re: dropmember
 

This is a "Dropmember". It is made to bolt into 63-87 Chevrolet Trucks, 2wd and those who are tired of their 4wd sitting too high. It uses a rack and pinion, designed to be used with tubular arms (Air Ride Tech.) but can be used with stock arms (slight modification to lower arm is needed), it allows the frame to set on the ground with a drop spindle and a 29 inch tall tire. Porterbuilt Street Rods is the manufacturer and they sell for a whopping $1200.

Re: dropmember
 

Heh, I felt the same way. It was presented as if we were supposed to know what it was already...

What about motor mounts? Pricing?

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

I was going to ask about the steering linkage but I see you just ran it through the frame...KEWL! Just like the exhaust will be...through the frame! I love those lowered trucks...so much opportunity for creative solutions...LOL! Nice work!

Re: dropmember
 

ok now i am going to ask how much is it!! and do you make one the will work with out a rack? looks like some awesome work!!

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

Is the linkage from the power sterring box to the sterring column going to nterfere with the exhaust routing?That is some really,really nice welds!!! I think you have a great idea, would love to see the finished truck to show the vesitility(sp) of the new crossmember

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

porterbuilt- Thank you for becoming a supporting vendor. It looks like you have an awesome product that will be what many of these guys are looking for.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

I had a duplicate thread going in the 67-72 forum as well, so we went ahead and merged them together here. Some questions that were previously asked may have already been answered... go back and re-read the thread, if the question has not been answered please ask it again.:)

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

i've been talking with nathen porter for the past couple of weeks since i saw the dropmember metioned on the low 72 thread. nathen is a really cool guy and is very helpful. i will be ordering my dropmember next week. thanks for all the great pics and all your help nathen.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

Is there another bracket that isn't in yet, to hold the top of the bags? Also did you move the mounts for the arms inward any, to give a little more clearance? It looks like you might have.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

This truck will be running shockwaves, and the mounts are not finished yet. It is narrowed up a bit... four inches over all. Go to the 60-66 board and look at the 63 panel I posted and you will see some pics of the bracket for the bags. I would post some right now, but I am on my wife's laptop and all my pics are on mine.:)

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

Would you be able to run "normal" bags with another type of bracket?

*** EDIT*** Nevermind I went and looked at the pics on the panel and aswered my own question.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

is that a typical ford rack and pinion (24" inner balljoint centers) or is it a modified one for extended travel, or does the drop-member require the use of impala spindles? what im getting at is how the turning radius is with that rack. I'm building a full chassis front to back on a table and I think I've got it figured out how to build my ifs from scratch using a rack with the same amount of bumpsteer as stock but I have to figure a way to get my turning radius tighter.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

Suspension geometry can be a complicated thing! When building a custom chassis or one-off piece things can become less complicated than when building a production piece like the dropmember. Sounds wierd, but true. Production pieces have to be cost effective... a custom rack would change that real quick. In all suspension and steering design/geometry there has to be certain trade-offs that take place. The stock rack does take away slightly from the turning radius, its turning radius is still average or slightly above, but I would be lying if I said it was the same or better. To increase the steering radius I could have had a custom rack produced or decided to use different spindles with a shorter steering arm, (this might be what you need to do for your custom application) , but it would have defeated the purpose of building this crossmember. My original objective was to build a kit that was a quality piece, both in design and manufacturing, and most importantly cost effective for the consumer. It is an exceptional design, the quality of the piece is incredible, the suspension geometry is an improvement from stock, all obstacles that are inherent with putting these trucks on the ground have been addressed, and the price is reasonable. Sorry for soapboxing and giving you more info than you probably wanted or needed, but I hope I was able to help answer your questions.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

oh thank you for soapboxing! I enjoy people rattling off because I do it too. You completely answered my questions. And I totally understand what you are getting at with a one off peice being not as complicated. I really like the dropmember and if i had a stock frame still, I'd probably save up for one. I think my favorite part of the dropmember is the way the lower c-arms are sandwiched inside of the crossmemeber. Its a hell of a lot stronger than the factory u-bolts! I was thinking of getting impala spindles but I already have 2-inch drops so i think ill stick with what I got and the next time i have 800 bucks laying around ill have a rack modified to have more travel. Theres a company out there that does this but I forget the name of them. A hot rod shop here in town told me the name so i think ill ask them again.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

One company that I know of (and deal with) that will build a custom rack or modify one to your specs is Maval Manufacturing... AKA Unisteer. I highly recommend them!

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

yeah! thats what it is. Maval. I actually googled Marvel. lol. And the only reason why I remembered that much was because I wrote it down in a phonebook around here and i see it all the time in it.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

Well, this truck was originally going to have Shockwaves installed on the Dropmember instead of bags... plans changed. The Shockwaves weren't going to fit quite like we had intended, so they went back on the shelf, and the traditional bag and shock combo will be used. Here's some pics of the completed rack mount and the bag mounts starting to take shape. The arms in the pics are DJM drop arms for coil springs, the owner of the truck already had the arms and it was going to cost him less to modify the arms than purchase some from Air Ride. The dropmember is designed to be used with the Strong Arms from Air Ride Tech., but any tubular arms and even stock arms will work... there may need to be a little modifying having to take place on the lower arm though.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

Looks good! I have a few questions. What comes with the kit for $1200? Do you get the rack Notches and bag mounts? From the front bumper being on the ground how much lift will a standard bag give? What else do you need to get in order to install this kit on a stock truck? I know these are basic questions but they were not covered completly in the posts. Now one question for my own knowledge how much of a rear notch (no need to address floor and arm mods) would it take to get the rockers level with the full drop of the front?
By th eway sweet PB logo. I am working on an LFD logo for my roll cages and tube chassie's I just have not decided on a method yet.
Thanks for your time.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

The $1200 bucks gets the whole crossmember, upper control arm plates/bag mounts, inner frame brace, rack and pinion mounts (rack is additional), outer tie rod ends and tie-rod adapters (outer tie-rod ends are 3/4-16 LH heims with a 5/8 hole. The spindle gets drilled out with a 5/8 bit, mis-alignment spacers are included. The tie-rod adapter is currently tubing with a 3/4 LH bung on one end and a 9/16 on the rack side), shock mounts, rack notch, and grade 8 hardware are also included. Things that are left on the "to buy list"... rack and pinion, steering linkage and borgeson joints (the joint on the column end needs to be a double u-joint), bags, and shocks. The stock trans crossmember will need to be modified or replaced. The motor also moves up a little and forward a little to give oil pan to ground clearance and harmonic balancer to rack clearance. The driveshaft and exhaust will have to be modofied to compensate for this. As far as lift... I will measure on Monday. (The panel truck lifts up to where there is almost daylight between the fender lip and the top of the tire). Same answer for the rear notch, oh, what tire diameter do you want me to measure by?
Thanks for the compliment on the PB logo.:)

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

For the tire size the red blazer on page one would be a good choise. Sounds like your kit is very well equiped. For oil pan clearance does it matter if it is a new SL1 or a stock carb model? With sliding the engine forward how would it be for a Big block (not common any more but thought I would ask)?

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

yeh thanx for askin bout big block rokcrln i was about to, guess i'll be one of those rarities....

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

No problem! I have been looking around for different front set up and this may just be it. I thought about MustangII which is a good desigh but our trucks are heavy and the basic MustangII set up has smaller spindles and brakes unless you want to spend major $ to up grade everything. Then I am also checking into Corvett suspention and I do like it but also it is alot of money just for doner parts + a install kit + labor from a qualified shop to install it for most guys and once it is in you are stuck for life. This Dropmember uses our stock parts (or improved after market parts just for our trucks) and has been narrowed just a bit for tire clearance. If you want to run it as is you can and then up grade later as $ allows to tubular arms, disk brakes or biger disk brakes and if for some reason you wanted to return to stock you would be able to with out way to much work. The reason I say this is because I am starting to design my 70 2wd blazer and can not decide if I want to go full custom on it or do a real clean stock look but dump it to the ground. My only concern is they are so rare for a factory 2wd I really do not want to much that would make it non returnable to stock if some one every wanted to but at the same time I can not drive a stock vehical:rolleyes: So I am thinking this would be the best of both worlds. Then in my 71 SWB I have already spent the money for bags, disk's, big sway bars, drop spindles and so on but it is not as low as I want to go and I still have the tire clealance issue that I think this kit would fix.

So if anyone up in my area wants one of these installed I will do a great install price so I can check it out before buying a few for my own toys;)

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

If I ever do a "standard build" (i.e. use the truck frame) I'll go with one of these. In fact, when the '61 is done I should get one for the Burb...:) So they will work with big blocks no problem?

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

We do not know yet!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

OK- What's a big block? and what's a carborator? Just kidding! (I thought big blocks and carborators were forgotten when gas prices reached $3.00 a gallon :)) I have not set this up with a big block. It can be done I am sure, but how much work it is I do not yet know. The obvious points of concern with running a big block with the Dropmember would be the firewall clearance and the steering shaft to header clearance. Small blocks with carbs will work just fine (the 63 panel is running that combo). The LS1 is actually a little bit larger than the traditional small block, and fits a lot tighter (If you want to run an LS1 you will need the f-body oil pan). The 350 in the panel had to come forward 2" and up 2" and has plenty of oil pan clearance and distributor to firewall clearance. I will be digging one of my own trucks (a 69) out of the back lot and be doing an install with a small block and turbo 350 trans so I can have some good pics for installation instructions (I am assuming this would be the most common combination to be run). I will be happy to post up more pics for all to see. I want to make sure everybody knows exactly what to expect when they purchase one of my Dropmembers. Keep the questions coming, and feel free to make suggestions or offer constructive criticism. The better I make this thing, the more people will buy it!

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

Are the outer tie-rod ends adjustable studs w/heims to correct for bumpsteer? How well do heims hold up to daily abuse?

Many states up north apparently frown upon heims used in suspensions. I just learned this recently while researching info about the 'B' spindle swap on GM cars. Guys were using parts similar to Baer Brakes 'bumpsteer eliminator' kits (heim ends) & having inspection issues.

Re: Dropmember in a 69 C10
 

The outer tie-rod is a heavy duty 3/4 inch heim with a 5/8" hole (overkill). It uses a grade 8 5/8 bolt to go through the spindle, and misalignment spacers (maximize travel without binding, and supplied with kit). The bumpsteer was minimized in the design with the pieces supplied in the kit.
I have not heard of any inspection issues due to spherical bearings (heims) being used in suspension systems. I wouldn't know why it would be an issue. As far as durabilty and strength is concerned, spherical bearings (heims and uni-balls) are the first choice of many performance suspension systems. I have been debating having a tie-rod adapter sleeve made that allows the use of a stock outer tie-rod end, the only draw-back to this is the rack threads and the stock tie-rod threads will need to be trimmed for installation... Which sounds more appealing?