Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Here's some pics of a back-half, C4 install we're doing in a 69 C10. It will lay frame and have a pair of Air Ride Technologies Shockwaves canti-levered. I also have a nice before pic.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

sa-weet :ito:

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Now we are talking:metal: So a few questions for ya. Does the frame need to be lopped off due to the width or just because of the third member being raised up? How much higher is the flor at this point if it were in place? You do know the more pics you put up the sooner I may have to drive over and check your place out! Any chance you will be doing a kit for this? It would go real nice with your front Dropmember..

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

I lopped off the frame because of the width, and because of the third member being raised. It seems easier (to me) to build a new back-half than modify the stock chassis to accomodate the extreme drop. The top of the new frame-rails sit four inches higher than the original floor height. I hadn't thought of offering it in a kit form... do you want one?

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

I like the design of the reinforcement where it ties into the frame. I also like your miter cut gussetting. Lookin sweet!

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

That all makes gopd sence! As far as a kit for me, all my kits come like yours do (In 20' lengths from the steel co). I just knew it would be asked so I thought I would get it out their. But in reality if you were to offer a Jig built back half I think it would take off.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

That's pretty sweet looking. Very impressive welds too.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Beautiful work! In the far future I'd like to do that to my '67 for some Open Road Racing. The welding and brackets are very classy.:metal:

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Got a little more done on it today.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

A couple more pics.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Very impressive!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

That's gonna ride like a dream. Keep the progress pics coming.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Getting your $$$ back out of that CNC plasma cutter huh?!?! So very nice! Wondering what the rear bed cross-sill will rest on, but I'm sure it's all planned out. Keep the pics rollin'.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

You will find out soon enough about how we mount the bed... and you better believe it about the CNC plasma! I don't think anything could get done without it! I used to do the hand plasma and grind thing when I first started out, but I was never satisfied with the end result... never could get it "perfect" or close enough to where it didn't keep me from sleeping at night! I am one of those who holds myself to an extremely high standard.

Here's a couple more pics of the back-half minus bed and body. We still have to finish up the shockwave and canti-lever mounts (It would have been done by now if I had remembered to re-stock on plate!) It shows how low it can go!

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

That C4 Stuff Doenst Seem Near As Heavy Duty As The Old C3's

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

That is looking great! What is the front suspention set up?

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

The front end is a Dropmember.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

not into the whole "bag" thing but you do some REALLY NICE WELDS :metal: and love the signature ya left at the back of the frame

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

You can always run coil overs or the stock mono leaf!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

"Bags" aren't for everybody! We are doing a full C4 set-up on a 71 Blazer that will not be bagged. It will have coil-overs up front, and either mono-leaf or coil-ovrs in the rear. Hopefully we will get to the chassis on it in the next month or two (most likely 2!).

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

A few more questions for you if you don't mind. With the vett set up out back what size tire/rim combo will fit between the bed lip and forward control links while still laying frame? Also if you can please explain to us theadvantage of this set up over a solid axel. Handling, bed floor clearance at same givin heights, tire size!

Thanks for your time. Also you have two packages headed your way;)

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Hey PB what type / brand of cnc plasma do you have? I am looking at a couple of different setups right now, and id like to hear what you think. PM me and let me know what you are using. thanks

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Cant wait to see how the waves are gonna be mounted in a canti setup. Should be super trick.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Very sweet set-up sure hope to see a clear or false bed floor that could raise up to show off all that hard work it would be a shame to cover it all up...

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Did you have to narrow the rear any? What is the track width on it?

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

I have not measured the max width tire/wheel combo we can fit back there yet. The new bed-sides and bed pieces will be here next week. I do know that I am running a 295 40R 20 on the blue 55 with a 20x10 and 7" backspacing. At full dump the tire is 1/16" (and that's a generous spec!) away from the stock upper link mounting bolt (the tires toe-in hard at full dump). We will be building our own links on this truck to make clearances a little more acceptable! Advantages to an IRS are all performance. It's true that a strait-axle can handle exceptionally well if set-up properly, but the function of an independently suspended rear is obvious. Advantages are gained in cornering, each wheel is allowed to react independently. As for bed floor clearance, the top of the framerail (2x4) sets 4" above the stock bed floor, and the frame lays on the groud with a 29" tall tire (to achieve this, new tie-rod links are made that relocate to the bottom side of the spindle, or rear hub, whatever you want to call it. If you want to keep stock tie-rod linkage, notch the frame a little, or move the whole thing up an inch). One main advantage to those of us who are afraid of heights and like to minimize the space between our frame-rails and the pavement is that the rear wheels camber in during bump (compression). This allows more clearance at the fender lip, minimizing bed hacking, and maximizing tire width! Besides, how cool is it when all four wheels are cambered in at full dump!!!!

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

The rear-end is not narrowed. These suspensions do not lend themselves to being narrowed. It causes some major changes in the suspension geometry. The rear frame-rails do need to be narrowed. As for track width, I have those measurements at the shop. All the specs you will find on-line are from tire center to tire center, I have the hub to hub measurement at the shop, and will post it up on Wednesday. (I should know it by heart, but with so many measurements to remember, I just memorize where to find them, not what they are!)

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

The C4 rear end measures 63.5" from hub face to hub face (this is with the rotors in place).

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Where are the new pic's I am starting to get the shake's and need a fix:lol:

Will a C4 front set up allow you to go as low as your drop member? Are their any advantages to it over the drop member other than all alum and much better brakes. I would think having matching brakes would make things alittle better for master cyclinder set up.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Meet me in the alley behind the liquor store on 3rd and Oak... I will be wearing a red baseball hat and white Reeboks.:lol:
I just unloaded all the new sheetmetal for the truck yesterday afternoon, and will be working on it again next week (late in the week). I have too many irons in the fire right now and am trying to keep everybody happy! As far as C4 up front there are some performance advantages to it. The design produces more camber gain and has a lower roll center than the truck front ends (dropmember included). Brakes are also a little better. Unsprung weight is greatly diminished due to the aluminum construction. As for allowing for the same drop, I am pretty sure it can lay frame and still have a 4.5" ride height, that's how I set em up on the 55-59 trucks. The only draw back is the difficulty in retro-fitting a C4 suspension to these trucks (63-87), not the price of components. A complete front end for the 88-96 Corvette can be found in wrecking yards for $800-$1100 in fairly good shape (you can then sell off the parts you don't use to re-coup a little cash). Tube arms, drop spindles, and new brakes will set you back beyond that price. True, it is by no means "cheap or inexpensive" and there may be some wear parts that need replaced, but it still probably isn't as expensive as most people might assume. I am working on a C4 bolt-in front end similar to the dropmember for 63-87 trucks... maybe it will make it a possibility for more people??????

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

:c2: :metal: I love your work!

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

I'd probably buy that. I can weld and do some light fabrication, but when it comes to the front susp, I'm just a little weary of getting everything in just the right place. Although I might not be able to wait that long for you to come up with a kit, so I might just have to go with a dropmember. You do some amazing work to make it easier for the little guy. Do you offer any discounts for board members? :lol:

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

:gi: If you did some major marketing and advertisement, they would sell like hotcakes!

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

I am very impressed. Its about time we see someone doing bad ass work and still putting the frame on the ground.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

I offer a 10% discount to board members (I just charge a 10% service fee first:lol: ). All joking aside, I do offer a discount to board members. The price I have advertised on the board for the Dropmember is the Board's price (already discounted), and I offer a 10% discount on air suspension components for board members (you have to PM me to recieve the discount, that way I know you're a board member for sure).
I do appreciate all the interest and compliments on the work, I take pride in what I do, and it's good to hear when people acknowledge it. Just don't get too carried away, I wouldn't want my head to get too big!

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

I thought of this thread when I saw this:

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier, but one huge advantage of using an IRS like this C4 is the fact that the driveshaft stays stationary as the suspension goes through its travel. One huge obstacle when putting any vehicle on the ground (when they are equipped with a straight axle) is having to clearance everything for the driveshaft.
And Kevin, the step in the framerails are LESS with the C4 than a straight axle (by at least 4"), minimizing the amount the floor will have to be raised. You were right the whole time:) !

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Your fab work is incredible and this is from a guy that is EXTREMELY picky. You do incredible work. Keep us all inspired please as you build your customer's trucks.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

Did some more welding on the frame today, should have it all back together tomorrow.

Re: Back-half, Corvette C4 in 69
 

a couple more.