Lowering the IDI?

[NapaBavarian]

SInce I have too many trucks and don't need another high ground clearance I'm thinking of lowering the '85 dualie 2wd at some point but I find a dearth of products to lower the front end anyone here found any? I'm thinking 1-2 inch drop in the front and add suplemental airbags to the rear, drop it to level with the front, but add air to raise rear end and/or keep load capacity

Oh yeah, batteries dead again

 

[Freight_Train]

I would love to do that to the Enterprise.Maybe do air bags all around.Lower it for general cruising and when I want to haul(or crappy roads) rise it back up to stock.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Been thinking of doing the same to the "All American".

DJM Suspention http://www.djmsuspension.com/Menus/OpeningMenu.htm makes 3" drop beams for the '80 - '86 F-250/350 ($735) part number DB3009-3

They also carry the correct shocks as well and drop hangers for the rear and lowering kits for almost any truck from the 60's to today.

 

[NapaBavarian]

I was thinking less than 3", but I love the lowrider dualie look as long as rear capacity is kept, don't really need to raise the truck for capacity, but increase the spring rate

 

[tonkadoctor]

I'd contact DJM to see if they could make a custom lower setup seeing that they already have to fabricate the arms anyways.

As far as load capacity goes......With air ride rear suspension you can run a self leveling valve like they do on a semi truck to get the best of both worlds automaticly, lower pressure for smooth ride running empty and increased pressure for running loaded.

If you really want to get fancy get a solenoid operated dump valve too like the big rigs have. That way you can drop or pick up a loaded trailer without having work so hard to jack the landing gear up to clear the ball, that is of course if the last person to drop the trailer didn't leave it too low.

 

[Agnem]

Buddy of mine is into that whole lowering thing. Myself, I don't get it, but I respect it for the hobby it is. Notwithstanding, that arena of truck interest really seems to get the chicks. Check out http://sporttruck.com and take a look at who manufactures wheels for these kinds of rigs.

 

[NapaBavarian]

For me it seems silly to lower the only truck I have, but if I'm gonna have 3 trucks then I might as well make them 3 different trucks 1 lowered, one stock hight, one lifted

 

[92F350CC]

I could personally never lowride a vehicle again, especially a truck. My 89' Firebird, as much as i love her, is always hitting speedbumps with a grind, and almost always grinds coming out of parking lots, and everybody who rides with me complains about the height.

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

I've been toying the idea myself for the Beef.
Only thing I have as a concern is the bumping and grinding the uneven roads round this are hence my thoughts of fiberglass skirts.
I had a set on Goldie when I bought it but removed them as a 4x4 looks kinda funny with them sitting up in the air and all.
So with the fiberglass skirts that I have i'm gonna stick em on the Beef and give it that faux lowered look but still have the factory clearance in case of the need to haul a heavy load and at a fraction of the cost.
Heck I might even grab a set of super single style tires for the rear to give it that tubbed look as well.

Notwithstanding, that arena of truck interest really seems to get the chicks. Check out http://sporttruck.com and take a look at who manufactures wheels for these kinds of rigs.

Mel good eye.

 

[SIKPUP]

This is something I have thought about many times, When I need to do major front end work or have the extra $$$, I would go as far as dropped I beams and the front and rear shackle kit but not the rear flip kit. I need to keep my towing capacity, and would like to close up the gaps in between the tires and fenders. This could be done with reasonable money. I have a friend that did air bags on all 4 corners with remote control lift / lower. That truck is cool but big bucks to get that done. Way to many things to go wrong with all that stuff.

SIKPUP

 

[TLBREWER]

I personally don't get the whole lowered truck thing either, but I too respect the work that goes into making a vehicle something you enjoy. I live in the land of lowered/hydraulic suspensions so I see it a lot. That being said, when I go forth with my '66 Impala restification, I'm toying with the idea of an air ride suspension as well. Not for a lowrider look, because it would stay stock ride-height, but in pusuit of a more modern, sportier ride quality. Air suspensions have come a long way in the last 5-10 years. They've been around for a long time. I believe Cadilac first started using air suspensions back in the '50's and they've been standard issue on a lot of, if not all, Lincolns for the last 15 years.

Tom

 

[troutwest66]

I may need to get a part time job at that Oasis wheels outfit. I think the employees there could use some of my help!

 

[92F350CC]

I like the idea of air ride suspension on the 66' impala. I put it on the 67' Firebird a few years back and it is nice.