Lowering a 67

Hi all, I just bought a 67 chevy van, I am working on getting it roadworthy, and dropping it. So this here is my inspiration for the van.

I tried to PM the guy who owns it on cardomain, but no luck. From what I can gather it's a static drop without bags, or a dropped axle. At least now I know it can be done.
Here is a pic of the stock suspension

One of the front spring perches was smashed, So I had to cut it off to straighten it. I went ahead and cut off the other one and modified both of them to move straight up 2 inches. The van is setting kind of crooked now, but it's got 4 different sized tires on it, so I'm not sure if the springs are bent or what. I am going to flip the axle this weekend and see where that gets me. I might need to narrow it too. Plus it's on 15's now and I'm going to 14's. The plan is to get the front as low as I can with it being comfortable to drive, then match the rear, So I might be driving it around with a stupid rake for a bit! lol. Am I on the right track, or is there other tricks for doing this?

Thanks

I cut all 4 front spring perches on my '69 GMC and it lowered the front of the van about 2" or slightly less. i ended up cutting open the perches and allowing them to slide further up on the frame. My spring eye holes are close to the frame. I kept the stock axle and run 14" cragars on front. Haven't lowered the back. Good luck with your project!

Do you have any pics of it?

Nice job KC. Anyone else dropped their van? Dropped axles? flipped axles? anything? You guys aren't a bunch of stock purists are you? hahaha!

Fu_Manchu, Thanks for compliment! Did the pictures of my cut spring perches help you at all? If you look at the picture of the rear spring shackle, you will notice my lower bushing is where the top bushing once was. I know you want your van down in the weeds. I'm not a suspension expert, but watch out for your drag link while lowering your van. I knew a guy who dropped a '66 Chevy really low and he took it on the freeway and it jumped over a lane from a dip in the road. Bump steer?? My goal was to get a little rake without raising the rearend.

I'm new here on this site. Here is a pic of my lowered van that has been off the road for way too long. I like 'em low.

Artesian - very cool. I remember seeing a picture of it some years ago. Is this the same van that has an S-10 or Astrovan front suspension? Did you move your rear axle on top of the leafs?

Fu - KCs approach might be the easiest. Or you can get the axle dropped up to 4 inches. It looks like dropping a supplied axle costs $200
http://www.roadsters.com/axles/
There is another place in Oakland Ca, that drops axles called Mor-Drop. Do both and get up to 6" drop (Oh Yeah).

Thanks KC, my van is the same one with the astro front, corvette rear, and mid engine 454-4L80. I have been distracted by other projects and life, but hope to get it going for next season.

I really like lowered vans and there should be a way to lower the front using the original spring mounts and the straight axle by replacing the springs with a 6 link. I had a setup on the back of an s-10 like this:

The same idea could work on the front of a van if you wanted it bagged.

That's cool... I wondered about using a rear setup in the front like this, probably with a panhard bar rather than the centre links...

Got the front end in the weeds. Still playing with it, probably a 4 link is going in the back.

Looking better already, So what all you do to the front of your 67???
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I droped my NY 65 with fliping the springs ,front needed to be a little lower,and it didn't drive to well(in & out of my driveway),but did look cool(well if I finish the primer paint job

Still gotta bring the front end down some more, and figure out tires, My lantera rollers are way to small. New doors, body and paint next.

THAT'S what I like!!!!!

Thanks Artesian, Your van is amazing BTW! I'm still learning about these vans, what are the mirrors on yours? I know they are factory, but what years etc. I need a set.

Fu_Manchu, those are stock and they were the cheapo mirrors of there time, but they are also the mirrors everyone wants now. Kind of hard to find, but not impossible

G-Man wrote:Fu_Manchu, those are stock and they were the cheapo mirrors of there time, but they are also the mirrors everyone wants now. Kind of hard to find, but not impossible

I love "hard to find", the thrill of the hunt! I got some of the parts for my Buick from Finland. hahaha!

Where they available 64-69?

I didn't know where to post this, but I need some help. I got my seats back from the upholstery shop,



They werent bolted all the way in when I pulled them, and I think some of the brackets were missing, can you guys show me some pics of seats bolted in so I can see what I'm missing?

OH, White pearl vinyl, what do you think?

Getting closer to paint!

What color are you going with????

Hot rod flatz...
old gold metallic,
carnival red pearl,
copper pearl,
plus I got a big jar of sunshine pearl powder that I might try to add to get some inbetween shades.
Plus pearl white accents but gloss on the interior.
Think late sixties...only semi-gloss
http://www.tcpglobal.com/kustomshop/ksflatz.aspx

I Posted pics on the old forums of some of the work i did to lower the Van, i will try to link some pics i have posted up so whoever is interested can view,

First prototype bracket i built
http://dkm.smugmug.com/Cars/1969-Chevy-Van/Vanbracket3/96031529_ujuiQ-S.jpg


picture of it installed



another view angle




the rear obviously easy old school leaf flip



finished stance

Good lookin' van LowSchooL!

does the drag link need to be modified mounting the axle above the springs like that in the front end? how does it handle, any bump steer?

hey lowschool just curious what size rims are those (height wise)