How low before needing a C-notch?

[Eagle9502]

New member here, my question is at what amount of rear drop is a C-notch needed?

[SoCoC10]

I would say 6" or more. At 5" you had better have good bump stops, shocks and the rear diff centered with an adjustable trac bar.

[hardwaycooke]

I have 5" springs + 2" blocks + 1/4 pinion spacer for total 7.25". No c-notch but smaller bump stops, adj panhard, Ridetech HQ adjustable shocks. No problems...

[hardwaycooke]

Originally Posted by hardwaycooke

I have 5" springs + 2" blocks + 1/4 pinion spacer for total 7.25". No c-notch but smaller bump stops, adj panhard, Ridetech HQ adjustable shocks. No problems...

Course I dont hall anything except...you know...ARSE..

[rattle69]

Originally Posted by hardwaycooke

I have 5" springs + 2" blocks + 1/4 pinion spacer for total 7.25". No c-notch but smaller bump stops, adj panhard, Ridetech HQ adjustable shocks. No problems...

Cool truck! Glad to here you can get away with that drop without messing with the frame. I bet with some helper bags you could hall more than ARSE and still keep the ride height.

[Blue/72]

7 inch rear and 5 up front and running 20's all the way around with QA1 double adjustable shocks with smaller bump stops and no notch

[Blue/72]

And a 3/5 drop with rally wheels. Green truck never hauls anything except groceries and arse. Blue truck doesn't either but feels much smoother than the 5/7 drop and the smaller rims help with ride quality too

[Eagle9502]

I'm looking for little to no rake, really just want it to sit level. I've been looking at the 4/6 or 5/7 drop. Would either of these kits make it sit level or would I need to drop the rear an extra inch or so?

Think I should go ahead and do the bolt in C-notch while I have everything apart just to be sure I dont have any issues?

Thanks for all the replies!

[CC69Rat]

Are you planning to remove the bed at any point ?

[midniteblues]

Think I should go ahead and do the bolt in C-notch while I have everything apart just to be sure I dont have any issues?

I've riden in square body's with flip kits In them and a few heated spring trucks with no notch in them an I certainly didn't want the problem of hitting the frame like most of them had.

Since mine was down to the frame a notch was cheap to install. It should also help me down the road on my build.

Alot of guys don't like the idea of cutting into the frame though. It's such a small cut it could always be welded back up.

I have no real street time to say weather it was worth it or not.

Mine is a 6" spring with a 1 3/8 block but it ended up at 1 1/2
With the track bar mount.

[Eagle9502]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

Are you planning to remove the bed at any point ?

My truck is completely torn down right now, every bolt has been taken apart, so i have easy access to install the notch now if it looks like I'll need it.

[csfields]

I am running 4 inch shorter springs and 2 inch blocks and went with the c notch. I was hoping not to, but it was cutting it close for me, I did however put the bolt in style with the bed on without too much effort. Worse part is air chiseling the rivets out.

[CC69Rat]

Originally Posted by Eagle9502

My truck is completely torn down right now, every bolt has been taken apart, so i have easy access to install the notch now if it looks like I'll need it.

I'd go ahead and do it yes.. it's much easier to install with the bed off.

[Eagle9502]

Thanks for the replies!

Anyone have a 4/6 or 5/7 kit they recommend? Also, with either of these kits, would I need to lower the rear a little more with spacers in order to get the level stance I'm after?

[CC69Rat]

Wood bed floor or metal? The wood bed is about 1/2 or so closer to the center pumpkin of the rear axle housing. Don't go super low or you'll be hitting the bed floor...

But yes, 5/7 is doable. For the easiest kit and the most complete kit along with fantastic customer service I'd suggest Early Classics. Talk to Stan, tell him you're a board member and he'll give you a small discount.

[leddzepp]

Every truck is different, I needed a notch at 5". It bottomed out routinely going over speed bumps and potholes.

[midniteblues]

I often wandered if the same drop was used on a lwb as compared to a swb if the small weight differnce in the lwb had any effect on the clearance.
Same could be said weather a steel or wood floor is used.
Or a step compared to a fleet.

There has to be minor weight differences between all of the differnt configurations.
That effect the drop as minor as it could be. But it could make the difference between a notch or not.

[Eagle9502]

Mine will be swb fleet with wood bed, it was originally stepside.

[original-71]

Originally Posted by Eagle9502

Thanks for the replies!

Anyone have a 4/6 or 5/7 kit they recommend? Also, with either of these kits, would I need to lower the rear a little more with spacers in order to get the level stance I'm after?

I went with the E.C.E 4.5/6 drop after couple years I wasn't happy with rake tried a 1/2" drop block didn't bottom out then tried a 1" drop block trimmed the bump stops no c-notch no problems. I gave the 1/2" blocks to a forum member with same drop kit he hasn't had any issues. if you are gonna notch you will have more than enough room to drop it 7 inches in the rear. to me it sits pretty level now iam happy with it. steel floor though

[leftybass209]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Every truck is different, I needed a notch at 5". It bottomed out routinely going over speed bumps and potholes.

So true. In stark contrast, I have a 5" drop and I DON'T need a notch with the bed unloaded.

It depends on your tire size, and your particular truck.

I used ECE's drop kit. Great quality and top notch customer support. If you need something more exotic such as pro touring you can go with kits from ridetech, cpp, or even porterbuilt.

[67ChevyRedneck]

ECE 4.5/6 drop.

No notch needed here either, and I drive her hard, even had a few hundred pounds in the bed and still never bottomed out.

The truck did hit the factory bump stops when I first did it. ECE recommends cutting them down. I tried and mine were so old they fell apart, so I installed these instead:

[leftybass209]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

ECE 4.5/6 drop.

No notch needed here either, and I drive her hard, even had a few hundred pounds in the bed and still never bottomed out.

The truck did hit the factory bump stops when I first did it. ECE recommends cutting them down. I tried and mine were so old they fell apart, so I installed these instead:

Beautiful stance... love the truck!!!!!! Where did you get those bump stops.. is that an ECE thing?

Also, since you said you drive your truck hard, how's the clearance with the front being so low? I'm only on 2.5 drop spindles and sagging stock springs and it's nearly too close for comfort.

[67ChevyRedneck]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ens-9-9101g

Energy Suspension. Very neat product, I used them on my 65 Mustang too. On the truck, I cut the very bottom nub off for another 1/8" clearance. They still hang +/- 1/2" below the frame.

Energy Suspension Bump Stops 9-9101G

My local O'Reillys carries them, but they never seem to have them in stock, and they're like $5 less through summit if you have an order large enough for free shipping.

I've already had a couple "oopsies" with the truck. I drove it at stock height for 18 years... so I'm used to going over top of stuff... I pulled off the road to send a text, road pavement dropped off a few inches before the grass area... scrubbed the front suspension center cross member a bit. Another time I was going down a steep drive and just barely got the bumper where the license plate area hangs down...

Not used to these low trucks. Daily driver is a 4x4 Z71.

[leftybass209]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ens-9-9101g

Energy Suspension. Very neat product, I used them on my 65 Mustang too. On the truck, I cut the very bottom nub off for another 1/8" clearance. They still hang +/- 1/2" below the frame.

Energy Suspension Bump Stops 9-9101G

Thanks for the info!!!! Looks like my O'reillys does have them in stock, so i'll pick them up today. My bump stops are rock solid and brittle.

[Eagle9502]

Originally Posted by original-71

I went with the E.C.E 4.5/6 drop after couple years I wasn't happy with rake tried a 1/2" drop block didn't bottom out then tried a 1" drop block trimmed the bump stops no c-notch no problems. I gave the 1/2" blocks to a forum member with same drop kit he hasn't had any issues. if you are gonna notch you will have more than enough room to drop it 7 inches in the rear. to me it sits pretty level now iam happy with it. steel floor though

Nice truck! I like the way it sits!