"Z" the frame or section crossmember - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bagged69c10 · 04-13-2005, 12:00 PM

I need some opinions and pros and cons on which way to go to get my truck to lay out on 20s. Its already bagged and I have some belltech spindles but havent gotten them on yet. Ive got a pretty good size tire on it now but will probably go smaller before too long. Which method is more costly and complicated? Thanks for any help, I need all of it I can get.

DM310 · 04-13-2005, 01:38 PM

Z'ing the frame is more work than doing the crossmember and taking 1.5" out of the crossmember should allow you to lay on 20's

bagged69c10 · 04-13-2005, 01:49 PM

Also, do you have to replace the control arms?

DM310 · 04-13-2005, 05:21 PM

No you dont, for either way you go

bagged69c10 · 04-18-2005, 09:30 AM

no help

DM310 · 04-18-2005, 02:16 PM

no help??????

bigred66 · 04-19-2005, 11:32 AM

I would like to here more feed back on this as well...

grnddwn · 04-19-2005, 11:54 AM

No help??? Maybe I don't understand the question

bagged69c10 · 04-19-2005, 01:40 PM

Should I section the crossmember or Z the frame?

grnddwn · 04-19-2005, 03:11 PM

The crossmember will should cuase you less grief

DM310 · 04-19-2005, 03:54 PM

As I said before if you Z the frame, there will be more work involved then just doing the crossmember. Are you doing it yourself and how good are you fab skills?

Faster_than_you · 04-19-2005, 04:22 PM

what does one mean by "z-ing the frame" and "sectioning the crossmember"?
thanks,
chris

DM310 · 04-19-2005, 04:27 PM

Z'ing the frame is cutting the frame and moving one of the halfs up anywhere from 1-4" then welding it back together. Sectioning the crossmember is removing a section out of the crossmember to move the whole front suspension up as a whole. If you do a search you will be able to see pics which could help you

**N2TRUX** · 04-20-2005, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faster_than_you

what does one mean by "z-ing the frame" .....

Take a look at these pics. It should give you an idea of what the term means. The reason it is called Z'ing the frame is because when its done the frame will have a Z shape due to the cut and raising process...

**N2TRUX** · 04-20-2005, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faster_than_you

what does one mean by .... "sectioning the crossmember"?....

Sectioning or removing a section from your crossmember actually take a section out of the middle of the crossmember. This raises the crossmember, and at the same time lowers the truck. Here are some pics from Capt. Kaos website. Follow the link for more details- Thanks to Chris for the pics

loweredd · 04-21-2005, 06:46 PM

Z'ing the frame is a piece of cake. Dont be a woman, Z the frame. LOL. J/P

grnddwn · 04-21-2005, 07:39 PM

Do both!

bagged69c10 · 04-22-2005, 01:13 PM

Am I gonna have to do both because I heard that you should only do a 1.5" section on the crossmember. Is that gonna make it lay frame on dubs? My fab skills are pretty good, Ive done all of the rest of the work myself and it turned out pretty good considering it was all done in my driveway. Thanks for all the info so far.

DM310 · 04-22-2005, 01:49 PM

well measure the difference of how much the crossmember hangs lower than the frame. From what I remember 1.5" is enough for the frame to be lower.

loweredd · 04-22-2005, 04:36 PM

It's going to depend on what size tire you use, and if you are going to try to get it on the rocker.

SkyBlue72' · 04-24-2005, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DM310

As I said before if you Z the frame, there will be more work involved then just doing the crossmember. Are you doing it yourself and how good are you fab skills?

I have nunchuck skills

, will that be work.

1low1967 · 05-03-2005, 12:12 PM

I "z"ed my frame 3 1/4 ins and it lays flat out on 275/45/r20. I was pretty easy but I have the cab off. The front horns is just like a boby drop.

bagged69c10 · 05-03-2005, 01:05 PM

I just put my new Belltech drop spindles on and the correct plates and cups on the front and its alot lower but the crossmember is still a good 2 inches from the ground. I figured that when I did that it would lay the crossmember on the ground. Its probably just my monster truck tires.

fastbagged68 · 05-03-2005, 04:46 PM

Cut your bag mounts more! If you are using a plate.... ditch it. and cut up and run a smaller cup! that will get your crossmember down unless you are hitting on something else. What size tire you running?

bagged69c10 · 05-04-2005, 09:33 AM

Im not sure what size my tire is exactly, Ill check tonight, they are a little smaller than a stock dodge 20. So dont use upper plates? Ive heard not to use lower plates but I thought you were suppost to use the uppers?

04-13-2005, 12:00 PM	#1
bagged69c10 soon to be bagged64sub Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW-currently phoenix Posts: 635	"Z" the frame or section crossmember I need some opinions and pros and cons on which way to go to get my truck to lay out on 20s. Its already bagged and I have some belltech spindles but havent gotten them on yet. Ive got a pretty good size tire on it now but will probably go smaller before too long. Which method is more costly and complicated? Thanks for any help, I need all of it I can get. __________________ 1969 c-10, bagged, Zd, 20" Boyds SOLD! 1964 Suburban COMING SOON Build threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=304726 1965 c-10 long bed 1993 Sierra x-cab 1999 tahoe-4/5 on 22s 2005 Chevy work truck

04-13-2005, 01:49 PM	#3
bagged69c10 soon to be bagged64sub Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW-currently phoenix Posts: 635	Also, do you have to replace the control arms? __________________ 1969 c-10, bagged, Zd, 20" Boyds SOLD! 1964 Suburban COMING SOON Build threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=304726 1965 c-10 long bed 1993 Sierra x-cab 1999 tahoe-4/5 on 22s 2005 Chevy work truck

04-18-2005, 09:30 AM	#5
bagged69c10 soon to be bagged64sub Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW-currently phoenix Posts: 635	no help __________________ 1969 c-10, bagged, Zd, 20" Boyds SOLD! 1964 Suburban COMING SOON Build threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=304726 1965 c-10 long bed 1993 Sierra x-cab 1999 tahoe-4/5 on 22s 2005 Chevy work truck

04-19-2005, 11:32 AM	#7
bigred66 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, Mo Posts: 123	I would like to here more feed back on this as well... __________________ Atom (bigRed66) 1966- C10 1995- Wide Body Talon 1987- Dodge Raider (4 sale) 2000- 4-door Nissan Frontier 2003- Ford Focus (wife)

04-19-2005, 01:40 PM	#9
bagged69c10 soon to be bagged64sub Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW-currently phoenix Posts: 635	Should I section the crossmember or Z the frame? __________________ 1969 c-10, bagged, Zd, 20" Boyds SOLD! 1964 Suburban COMING SOON Build threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=304726 1965 c-10 long bed 1993 Sierra x-cab 1999 tahoe-4/5 on 22s 2005 Chevy work truck

04-13-2005, 01:38 PM	#2
DM310 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 256	Z'ing the frame is more work than doing the crossmember and taking 1.5" out of the crossmember should allow you to lay on 20's

04-13-2005, 05:21 PM	#4
DM310 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 256	No you dont, for either way you go

04-18-2005, 02:16 PM	#6
DM310 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 256	no help??????

04-19-2005, 11:54 AM	#8
grnddwn belly dragger Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: sherwood park AB. Canada Posts: 696	No help??? Maybe I don't understand the question

04-19-2005, 03:11 PM	#10
grnddwn belly dragger Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: sherwood park AB. Canada Posts: 696	The crossmember will should cuase you less grief

04-19-2005, 03:54 PM	#11
DM310 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 256	As I said before if you Z the frame, there will be more work involved then just doing the crossmember. Are you doing it yourself and how good are you fab skills?

04-19-2005, 04:22 PM	#12
Faster_than_you Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Virginia beach, Va Posts: 209	z-ing fram what does one mean by "z-ing the frame" and "sectioning the crossmember"? thanks, chris __________________ ~Christopher L. Orr 71 c20, 454- Stolen While Deployed. dynoed at 550 ft lbs, 425 hp at 3000 rpm (mustang dyno). TH400 3500 stall.... etc, etc.

04-19-2005, 04:27 PM	#13
DM310 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 256	Z'ing the frame is cutting the frame and moving one of the halfs up anywhere from 1-4" then welding it back together. Sectioning the crossmember is removing a section out of the crossmember to move the whole front suspension up as a whole. If you do a search you will be able to see pics which could help you

04-21-2005, 06:46 PM	#16
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	Z'ing the frame is a piece of cake. Dont be a woman, Z the frame. LOL. J/P

04-21-2005, 07:39 PM	#17
grnddwn belly dragger Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: sherwood park AB. Canada Posts: 696	Do both!



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04-22-2005, 01:13 PM	#18
bagged69c10 soon to be bagged64sub Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW-currently phoenix Posts: 635	Am I gonna have to do both because I heard that you should only do a 1.5" section on the crossmember. Is that gonna make it lay frame on dubs? My fab skills are pretty good, Ive done all of the rest of the work myself and it turned out pretty good considering it was all done in my driveway. Thanks for all the info so far. __________________ 1969 c-10, bagged, Zd, 20" Boyds SOLD! 1964 Suburban COMING SOON Build threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=304726 1965 c-10 long bed 1993 Sierra x-cab 1999 tahoe-4/5 on 22s 2005 Chevy work truck

04-22-2005, 01:49 PM	#19
DM310 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 256	well measure the difference of how much the crossmember hangs lower than the frame. From what I remember 1.5" is enough for the frame to be lower.

04-22-2005, 04:36 PM	#20
loweredd www.loweredd.com Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Struble IA Posts: 808	It's going to depend on what size tire you use, and if you are going to try to get it on the rocker.

05-03-2005, 12:12 PM	#22
1low1967 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mohnton Posts: 87	I "z"ed my frame 3 1/4 ins and it lays flat out on 275/45/r20. I was pretty easy but I have the cab off. The front horns is just like a boby drop.

05-03-2005, 01:05 PM	#23
bagged69c10 soon to be bagged64sub Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW-currently phoenix Posts: 635	I just put my new Belltech drop spindles on and the correct plates and cups on the front and its alot lower but the crossmember is still a good 2 inches from the ground. I figured that when I did that it would lay the crossmember on the ground. Its probably just my monster truck tires. __________________ 1969 c-10, bagged, Zd, 20" Boyds SOLD! 1964 Suburban COMING SOON Build threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=304726 1965 c-10 long bed 1993 Sierra x-cab 1999 tahoe-4/5 on 22s 2005 Chevy work truck

05-03-2005, 04:46 PM	#24
fastbagged68 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tri Valley California Posts: 792	Cut your bag mounts more! If you are using a plate.... ditch it. and cut up and run a smaller cup! that will get your crossmember down unless you are hitting on something else. What size tire you running?

05-04-2005, 09:33 AM	#25
bagged69c10 soon to be bagged64sub Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW-currently phoenix Posts: 635	Im not sure what size my tire is exactly, Ill check tonight, they are a little smaller than a stock dodge 20. So dont use upper plates? Ive heard not to use lower plates but I thought you were suppost to use the uppers? __________________ 1969 c-10, bagged, Zd, 20" Boyds SOLD! 1964 Suburban COMING SOON Build threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=304726 1965 c-10 long bed 1993 Sierra x-cab 1999 tahoe-4/5 on 22s 2005 Chevy work truck

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