How to get that 1st Gen down low

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LifetimeDodge

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Ram Year
1984 1985 1977
Engine
5.9 Magnum
To lower your 1st gen you can use a lot of stock Dodge parts & aftermarket Chevy stuff as well a Mopar Performance pieces. How low is how much you want to spend or work or both. These mods will work only on 100-250 series with a 3300# front axle or 1/2 lugs

In the front you can use
72-94 Dodge Truck with 4000# front axle LCA's single wheel or dually 1 ton
8 lugs 9/16-5/8" 8 lugs 1/2" will not work
You press the balljoints intended for your truck in them
You have to drill your hangers on the frame to fit the pivot bolt hole in the LCA's bushing. 3/4"
If you use these you can use your factory sway bar
See the 1st pic


78-98? Dodge van B150-B350
5 or 8 lugs 1/2"
On these you have to cut the steering stop off
You have to drill the the strut rod holes
You have to grind the arm around the bushing to fit it in the hangers
You have to drill the hangers to fit the pivot hole in the bushing 3/4"
You press balljoints intended for your truck in them
If you order these LCA's off ebay the balljoints that come in them will work.
As of this time I've not taken the time to figure out how to use the factory sway bar on these yet
See the 2nd pic


On some trucks you will need offset problem solver bushings to align correctly


These simple mods are good for 2-3" depending on your springs
You have to cut the bump stop bracket off

You have to build a adjustable stop to keep your spring seated
See the 3rd pic
 

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LifetimeDodge

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1984 1985 1977
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5.9 Magnum
In the front you can use a 1st Gen Dakota 2" drop spindle from BellTech to gain another 2"
You have to use a balljoint ream to ream the tie rod on the bottom side to fit the full size tie rod end & to move it from the top to the bottom These spindles are $310.00+shipping from Jeg's


You can use lowering springs for a 2nd Gen Ram also a 2" spring will get you an inch
I cut springs too but you have to watch doing this because you can go so low as to break or bend the balljoint studs

In the future I will do a thread showing how to drop 7" in the front using stock parts with the Dak spindles. My 85 is going to get really low using stock suspension & Dak steering rack
 
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LifetimeDodge

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In the rear you can figure you have to drop an extra 2" VS the front due to the rake that the rear springs give the truck.

To get 4" in the rear to match the LCA's you can do it 2 different ways.

You can flip the front spring hanger over & use a 2" lowering shackle for a 88-98 Chevy truck
You have to trim the bed braces to clear the springs

The second way involves flipping the front hanger & moving the rear hanger up 2" drilling new holes & bolting them back on.
You have to trim the ears off the hangers they will hit the bed braces as the springs will hit too

You will want to take the bed off.

To get 5-7" in the rear you flip the axle on top of the springs
You can do this 2 ways

You can use a axle flip kit for a 73-98 Chevy truck & universal shock plates or C,B,or E with a 8 3/4 or 9 1/4" rear end
You have to grind the U brackets & weld them to the original perches

Or you can use weld on spring perches from Mopar Performance & the same shock plates as above
 

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LifetimeDodge

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As with any mods like these, there are other things that need to change also.
If you do a axle flip you will need to move your parking brake lever & cable bracket up on the frame like in the pic This keeps it from dragging on anything
 

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LifetimeDodge

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Here's my RC with a axle flip & a van LCA. The tires are 225 60 15 in the front & 255 70 15 for the rear. I staggered the tire size to make up for the lack of Dak spindle for now
 

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LifetimeDodge

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Thank You! My shorty will be 2 1/2" lower than that when I'm done with it. I like my trucks either lowered or lifted
 

dazedandconfused

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I'm running the LCA out of a 93 D250 cummins truck in mine. It's got drop hangers on the back and I plan on flipping the rear on top of the springs. My truck isn't your ordinary shortbed though. :)
CIMG0077.jpg
 

wermbang

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pretty neat , got any more pics?


welcome to the site
 
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LifetimeDodge

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The LCA from that Cummins is a 4000# LCA Welcome Dazed! How fast is your oil burner?
 

guips

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Ciao from Italy,
I have a Ram 1993 and I would like to lower it
You can just tell me what parts to buy?

Thanks for the info
 

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LifetimeDodge

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You can buy the lower control arms from Rock auto & other parts places. They fit 78-98 Dodge B250 van You will have to grind them & drill the strutrod holes. I can get you part numbers for all the parts.

How low do you want to go? Bob
 

crazzywolfie

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i think it also depends on how you lower it. i have seen slightly lowered trucks pulling a good load. personally i think you need to be able to keep the back end of the truck higher than the front if you are towing.
 

DodgeAddict

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1985
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5.9 Magnum
I towed a 18' car trailer with various Dodge trucks & a 24' travel trailer.

I moved the spring hangers up on the frame on it That was a 2" front & 4" rear drop on a 87 reg cab LWB 150

My CrewCab is done that way & I've used it as a truck I put 2200# (weighed) in the bed on it before the frame & axle bumped together on the bumps the first time

The car trailer loaded never made it hit

Now if you do the rear axle flip I can promise you it will hit without a C notch

Wolfie it's great seeing you here! RCAddict
 

crazzywolfie

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i think moving the spring hanger up would be the best way to lower a truck if you plan on towing weight. i don't know if i would trust 2000#+ on the U bolts if you did a axle flip. i think doing an axle flip is pretty much for a show truck that will never see any real work.

good seeing you also. i know i recognized your rigs. i have been spending a bit more time over here than the other forums lately.
 

DodgeAddict

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I know what you mean This forum needs more traffic so we all (1st Gen,Vintage,Pre Ram or whatever term we finally officially get from the net as to what we are) help one another to help more people get the word
 

crazzywolfie

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i just find this forum a bit more relaxed than and more reliable than some of the other forums. i currently can't post on RCC using google chrome. i found the 2nd gen mods on DF were starting to get a bit up tight so i have pretty much stopped hanging out there. so far this seems to be a pretty good forum.
 
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