Hot Rods Lowering problems on the Okie Apache 55-59

So, we had done an axle flip on the Okie Apache (55-59 Chevy Apache 3100) and it was REALLY low in the rear. Almost too low. Rear bumper was like 10" off the ground. I think he would get a thumbs up from the bomber crowd, but we need to space to route exhaust.

So we spent 4 hours reversing it tonight. Now it looks like a tow truck. I'm pretty frustrated to say the least. If I pull the 3 lower springs, how much would that gain me?

There may be an obvious solution, but sometimes we get so frustrated we can't see it.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Root

 

taller wheel / tire?

 

Pull three leafs and use 2" longer rear shackles Root.

 

The rear shackles are the original ones BTW.

 

2" longer will lower it 2" and get it lower but not as low as a flip. A flip is usually a 5" drop.

 

I'm not real familiar with the 55-59 rear spring hangers. But if you can pop out the rivets and then reinstall higher up on the frame you can get lower without a flip. Longer shackles also.

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After the axle flip, you could have had the springs arched to set the ride height.
I've had good results doing that .

 

As far as the hangers go, they are a big forged piece. I don't think relocation is really an option. There are 3 small helper springs in the pack. I don't know how much they would effect the ride height with longer shackles.

Re-arching would work also. The problem is, we don't have a good spring shop anymore, they moved them up to Tulsa.

I have brand new 225 -75/15's on it, pretty tall tires already.

 

On my 58, I reversed the spring eyes, made longer shackles and removed one leaf if I remember right. It was about as low as I could get it without a flip that was too much like you mention. I have a set of longer shackles somewhere...

And, re-arching is easy...Sid has a roller which is also what I use to reverse the eyes.

 

Oh really?

 

how I did mine was to use the front spring hangars on the rear (under the frame, not outboard of the frame), and then put the axle over the springs. Worked perfect, mostly.

 

Move the hangers up.

 

Flip kit = 6"
Shackles = 2"
Shackles + moving front hangers up = 4"
Lowering springs come in 3" and 4".

If the 6" flip is too much, you probably want about 4".
Easiest 4", is a set of 4" lowering springs. Around $300
Cheapest 4" is shackles and dearched springs. $50 shackles + labor of reworking springs.

 

I'm sure I saw i

Is there no room above them? Think grasshopper.

 

I did a truck recently, flipped the axle, used the original standard spring but did reverse the the rear brackets, swapped side to side upside down, and bolted back through the rivet holes. A bit of work but little cost, also put later shackles with rubber bushings for a better ride.

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No it won't. 2" longer shackles only lower one end of the spring 2" , The axle is slightly in front of the centre of the spring [if it was exactly halfway it would only lower it 1"]

2" longer shackles AND move the front hanger up 2" will lower it 2"

 

Exactly

 

Your going at exhaust all wrong bud... At flip low on a truck, you need to run exhaust under the rear end, and have a breakout flange right in front of rear axle for removal if you ever need to remove axle. Simple and easy, if you want it low then that is the work around, now to get the front down to match and your golden...

If that's not where you want to be, then Id say to do as others mentioned above, A relocate hangers, B re arch with shackles... I know mines not a chevy, but I have 1 leaf removed, and flipped, netted almost 7" of drop on my old gal. Has front end done with 2 leafs removed, and 3" drop axle... Drives and rides like a dream.......

 

Right now, with the axle under the spring, the rear bumper height sits at 19”. He could throw 800 lbs in the bed and it might look ok.

 

The problem with doing a flip with stock components is how close the axle ends up to the frame. When I first did my ‘58 there was maybe 1.5” of travel before it would bottom out. I ended up using a TCI flip kit which has fewer leaves in the spring pack and hangers which were taller, to position the axle farther from the frame. It got the rear down as far as you can go without needing a c notch. Removing leaves and re-arching the springs can get you there too, but might involve some trial and error.

 

Correct- 2" longer shackles wouldn't lower the truck 2", but lowering shackles would as they're actually about 4" longer than stock.
In lowering terms, "dropped shackles" usually drop the vehicle 2" (some late model truck drop shackles such as Bell Tech have two sets of mounting holes giving you the choice of 1" or 2" drop).
Add; Relocating hangers up 2" or using dropped hangers = 2", totaling 4".

I have an o/t Chevy pickup with a 6" flip kit. I just added 2" dropped shackles and it truly lowered the truck another 2".

Pics of stock vs. dropped 55-59 shackles.

 

I stand corrected about the amount of drop with 2" shackles. Although I truly believe they offer more that just 1" in drop. Here is my daily driver, 2" longer rear shackles 3 leaves removed, with a tall 255 70 15 rear tire.


Here it is loaded

 

This is how mine sat with all the things I mentioned above. I think the shackles I made were right at 2-1/2" longer than stock and then the reversed spring eyes got it another 2" or so. So, I think I was around 3-1/2" total lower than stock considering what has been discussed about longer shackles above using really only longer shackles as far as new parts. To reverse the eyes, we did basically the same thing mentioned above about sketching the arch of the main leaf to know where we were, but then ran it through a roller to reverse the arch ultimately reversing the spring eyes if that makes sense.

After all that...

Before:

 

Subscribed.

 

Thanks for all the good info. I may try and fab up some longer shackles and remove some leaves, to see how that turns out. Worst case, I can always flip the axle back and add a set of helper bags to sort of level it up. The truck has a c notch that we installed, just in case we needed it.

 

Here is a couple more to look at Root. This is my orange truck with stock shackles and mono leaf springs. I didn't like the ride of the mono leafs.

Here is the one I built for my friend Holly. The rear axle is flipped and it has been C notched.

 

Here's mine with Posies 3 inch lowering springs, everything else stock, 235/75/15

 

Thanks for all the help. I went with Lumpy’s and Guthriesmiths suggestion. Guthriesmith sent me a drawing of his shackles that he built. We went to a local steel supplier and had them shear us a piece of 3/8 strap long enough to make 4 pieces. I removed the lower 3 leaves.

It ended up taking all day, because we got into a deal where the shackles were shot and we had to put in all new bushings etc.

I wanted to let you guys know how much drop it actually gives you.

After the 3 leaves were removed and a 6.60” long shackle was installed. We ended up with 3.500” drop. It looks like the shackles will hit the wood, but it clears with 3/4” to spare.

 

Here is the stance we ended up with. This is a 225-75R15 on the rear.
The hardest part was hand reaming the shackles to fit the taper required fir the crush on the new shackle pins.

We ended up buying a set of shackles/repair kit for a first series 47-55 Chevy. Only because no one had the sets for the 55-59 locally.
The bolts are a little longer, but it worked out, since we stepped up the shackle material from 5/16" to 3/8". That ended up working perfectly.