10-07-2002, 11:48 PM
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#1 |
 Age: 31
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 26,979
Location: NJ User is: OffLine |
Basic Body Dropping
Ok since body dropping is a hot topic lately, and Mini Truckin' magezine did an article on the subject earlier this year, I'm taking the liberty to post it here.
So here is the article in it's entirety. It was published in the December 01, January 02, and February 02 issues, pages 38-41, 16-18, and 16-18 respectively. While it was a decent article, it did have a few downfalls that will be discussed in the following posts. Click the thumbs for biggers images..     
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10-07-2002, 11:51 PM
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#2 |
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Age: 31
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 26,979
Location: NJ User is: OffLine |
    
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10-07-2002, 11:59 PM
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#3 |
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Age: 31
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 26,979
Location: NJ User is: OffLine |
The area in question is when they section the rear cab wall, and overlap the 4" of metal and use about 5 tubes of seam sealer and sheet metal screws to hold everything together. The proper way is to overlap the two sections about 1/4" and weld the seam shut, then apply seam sealer over it to keep everything water tight.
Also in this article they body dropped the bed 2" more than they needed to, then added 2" spacers underneath the mounting points. This is done to minimize cutting through the bed floor for frame and suspesion components. If you have anything to add to this article, please do. If you have any questions pertaining to the subject, please ask. Any posts other will be deleted so please, keep it clean. Thanks. |
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10-08-2002, 12:51 AM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 369
Location: Honolulu User is: OffLine |
This may be a dumb question, but how is the firewall done? That is the only part holding me back from doing my truck.
Are you supposed to cut across the firewall too or did they just slit the floor up to the firewall? I think this is one of the hardest and maybe most important obstacles. |
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10-08-2002, 11:55 AM
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#5 |
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Beyond Basic.
 Age: 30
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,306
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada User is: OffLine |
ogh.. id never do that myself.. id go half way through and be all like.. UHHHHHHHH what now?
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10-08-2002, 09:20 PM
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#6 |
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Registered User
 Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 390
Location: Central Jersey User is: OffLine |
yes, you have to section out the firewall as well, the same amount as the bodydrop. 3" Drop = 3" section...
We bodydropped my friends 1st gen. Lots of work. Plan on tubbing your firewall too for your tires. |
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10-08-2002, 09:39 PM
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#7 |
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Draggin body member
 Age: 28
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,141
Location: Minot North Dakota User is: OffLine |
I have 17s, never had to tub my firewall??? BUT LMAO now i have 18s and were tubbing it! Dont tub it unless you have to,or plan on getting bigger wheels. The b/d itself is not really that tough, just all the exact measuring, welding is tough because there is so much of it, other than that its a walk in the park!!
Josh Schatz "XTREMEMACHINES", Even our cell phones are primered |
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10-08-2002, 09:47 PM
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 390
Location: Central Jersey User is: OffLine |
how much did you drop it? We did 3.5"
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10-09-2002, 08:41 AM
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#9 |
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_-¯xcess [ )raggage
 Age: 32
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 227
Location: Virginia User is: OffLine |
i'm in the process of Body Dropping mine, bed is done, pinch molding is shaved, just chopped the frame off last night. only bad part is i can only work on it a couple hours a night(at someone elses garage)
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10-09-2002, 11:40 AM
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#10 |
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Draggin body member
Age: 28
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,141
Location: Minot North Dakota User is: OffLine |
How much of a b/d
We did a 4.5" on my new gen s10. We overlapped the back of the cab .5" we have done it about that on all the body drops, 2 toyotas and 2 s10s, everything has held up fine!
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10-09-2002, 11:43 AM
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#11 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 390
Location: Central Jersey User is: OffLine |
hey s15, got any pics of you body dropping you 1st gen bed? We are going to be dropping my friends shortly...any heads up?
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10-10-2002, 10:12 AM
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#12 |
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_-¯xcess [ )raggage
Age: 32
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 227
Location: Virginia User is: OffLine |
sorry, no pics yet, i was gonna do a tech thing w/ pics, but i didnt have a camera, so....
headsup., hmmm, well i took the bulkhead piece off the bed completely, i cut the bed high near the rail, and then cut down when i got to the back right at the bend, then strait back on the bed floor. it wasnt easy by any means, but it wasnt really that bad. i wouldnt recommend doing this unless you have patience... |
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10-10-2002, 10:43 AM
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#13 |
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little pink pink
 Age: 35
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,369
Location: KANSAS User is: OffLine |
Re: How much of a b/d
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10-10-2002, 10:49 AM
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#14 |
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_-¯xcess [ )raggage
Age: 32
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 227
Location: Virginia User is: OffLine |
Re: How much of a b/d
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10-10-2002, 10:55 AM
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#15 |
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little pink pink
Age: 35
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,369
Location: KANSAS User is: OffLine |
Ahh...my bad...I thought it said 5"(I just really wanted to post my pic!)
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10-10-2002, 11:18 AM
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#16 |
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Draggin body member
Age: 28
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,141
Location: Minot North Dakota User is: OffLine |
yeah sorry 1/2" over lap my bad. That shopping cart is cool, ill take some pics of mine its b/d to about 1/16" off the ground and it rolls fine! also getting air shocks on it( shocks that hold up a hatch on a car)
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10-10-2002, 11:22 AM
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#17 |
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_-¯xcess [ )raggage
Age: 32
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 227
Location: Virginia User is: OffLine |
nice cart man, always wanted one...
isnt it a felony to theive a shopping cart? 
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10-10-2002, 11:23 AM
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#18 |
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little pink pink
Age: 35
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,369
Location: KANSAS User is: OffLine |
Beats me, not my cart...lol...
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10-10-2002, 07:44 PM
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#19 |
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Draggin body member
Age: 28
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,141
Location: Minot North Dakota User is: OffLine |
I bought mine s15, from a surplus store for 7bux..
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10-11-2002, 08:02 PM
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#20 |
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LOWERED 12.75" Bit<h
 Age: 30
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 414
Location: whitelake\commerce, MI User is: OffLine |
this is a nice ?
heres a nice question... what happens to the interior panels.. dosent the body go down and the floor go up? if so the panels are going to have to be shortened. and the extra cab seats can not be reinstalled?
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10-11-2002, 08:07 PM
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#21 |
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Age: 31
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 26,979
Location: NJ User is: OffLine |
you are indeed correct. thats why you see a lot of b/d trucks with out door panels and such..
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10-11-2002, 08:13 PM
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#22 |
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LOWERED 12.75" Bit<h
Age: 30
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 414
Location: whitelake\commerce, MI User is: OffLine |
hummm i am wondering if there is a place that tells you how to do this?
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10-11-2002, 08:14 PM
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#23 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 390
Location: Central Jersey User is: OffLine |
id say its pretty easy, if you did a 3" body drop for instance, I'd assume you'd have to hack off 3" off the bottom of that panel.
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10-11-2002, 08:18 PM
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#24 |
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LOWERED 12.75" Bit<h
Age: 30
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 414
Location: whitelake\commerce, MI User is: OffLine |
is there any other little mods that are going to have to be done that noone talks about?
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10-11-2002, 08:21 PM
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#25 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 390
Location: Central Jersey User is: OffLine |
the steering shaft going to the box has to be shortened, on the 1st gen we did, we just collapsed it by hitting it on the ground, these are meant to collapse in the case of an accident.
Might need to do some gas pedal mods... Hood clearance.... Might have some issues with the radiator hoses...remember the core is now 3" (For example) Lower...splice them up with some metal pipe of sorts to make it work if need be... Trimming the front fenders for tire clearance... |
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10-11-2002, 08:22 PM
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#26 |
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Registered User
 Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 596
Location: User is: OffLine |
i'm sure you can modify the interior panels to fit, (this is just my 2 cents, dont hurt me) just cut 3" (or how ever many) from the middle and "weld"** the panel back together and cover it in tweed
 or clothe/vynal/etc**when i say weld the plastic, i mean use like a heat gun or a torchy thing, not an actual welder 
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10-12-2002, 11:44 AM
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#27 |
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Draggin body member
Age: 28
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,141
Location: Minot North Dakota User is: OffLine |
ID anyone has seen the new minitruckin, i think they have the best damn idea ever. When they tubbed the firewall on that s10 they used parts of a wheel barrell. I am for sure doing this, i was going to use trailer fenders at first, but then i seen this. My bed is completely done now pics will be up soon. Peace
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10-20-2002, 11:37 PM
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#28 |
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LOWKEY
 Age: 33
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,957
Location: maryland User is: OffLine |
i want a b/d.. some day i can only dream
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10-21-2002, 05:49 PM
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#29 |
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Registered User
 Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 148
Location: User is: OffLine |
i just was wondering... someone said that alot of body dropped trucks have thier door panels removed. dont you slide the cab down and cut the floor along the sill seam. this wouldnt change the height of the doors would it?
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10-21-2002, 08:24 PM
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#30 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 390
Location: Central Jersey User is: OffLine |
no, but when the door is closed, the panel normally would take up space in an empty void..now that void is 3" of metal..depending on the panel it may or may not clear.
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10-21-2002, 08:54 PM
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#31 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 148
Location: User is: OffLine |
you could cut it in a little more than an inch to clear the doors couldnt you? as long as you dont cut on the wrong side of the body mount right?
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10-22-2002, 08:23 AM
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#32 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 390
Location: Central Jersey User is: OffLine |
sure...you can taper ( _/ )the filler panel too... cut the inside more.
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10-23-2002, 11:37 AM
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#33 |
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WESTSYDE KUSTOMZ
 Age: 45
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 3
Location: Ft Myers,Fl User is: OffLine |
I HAVE A STOCK FLOOR BODY DROP ON MY 1996 SONOMA,2.2L,LOST THE A/C.STOCK CARPET FITS RIGHT BACK IN ,BED IS STOCK FLOOR BODY DROPPED,WHEN YOU WALK UP TO IT AND LOOK INTO THE BED IT LOOKS LIKE THE BED HAS NEVER BEEN TOUCHED,OPEN THE DOORS STOCK FLOOR, NO 4-6 INCH HUMP JUST STOCK FLOOR.THE WAY TO GO IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR HEADROOM.
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10-25-2002, 10:15 AM
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#34 |
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chevrolet > all
 Age: 27
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 715
Location: Knoxville, TN User is: OffLine |
Whats_the_advantages_of_a_bd_over_springs_etc?
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10-26-2002, 05:12 PM
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#35 |
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_-¯xcess [ )raggage
Age: 32
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 227
Location: Virginia User is: OffLine |
have you read this post?
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10-27-2002, 11:48 AM
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#36 |
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Draggin body member
Age: 28
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,141
Location: Minot North Dakota User is: OffLine |
Body drop is not in comparison w/ springs dogg. That is lowering the suspension. We are talking about lowering the body over the frame, Cutting the cab floor out and letting the frame come up into the floor andwelding patches in. SPrings are just lowering the suspension.
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10-27-2002, 07:15 PM
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#37 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 369
Location: Honolulu User is: OffLine |
Do you guys think 2.5" is too little to b/d? I'm about to do mine but am not sure how much I want to go. With 2.5" I think the pinch weld will be flush with the bottom of the frame. I don't think I can go much more cause I will have some issues with my headers and steering column.
I was thinking go 3" and just space it up if it's too low, but I don't really want to run my pinch weld lower than the frame. Hope I don't run into any unsuspected problems Oh yeah, one more thing. Looks like my distributor might interfere with my wiper motor. Any ideas? Last edited by POS-10; 10-27-2002 at 07:18 PM. |
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10-28-2002, 08:59 AM
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#38 |
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_-¯xcess [ )raggage
Age: 32
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 227
Location: Virginia User is: OffLine |
your distributer should clear the wiper moter(barely). and yes, 2.5 might not be enough, shave you're pinch molding, you'll prolly be happier. i'm in the process of doing a 3.5 right now, and it lays hard, cant get my license between the rocker and the concrete.
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10-28-2002, 08:20 PM
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#39 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1
Location: Austin User is: OffLine |
i have a 91 s10 4.3.L v6 i got it for $100.00 and i would love to body drop i have no clue of what to do but if i can see some pix i can do it.So dose any one have pix of a body drop it will help alot
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11-01-2002, 03:10 AM
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#40 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 369
Location: Honolulu User is: OffLine |
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11-01-2002, 07:20 PM
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#41 |
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Work in progress....
 Age: 41
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 861
Location: Jacksonville, FL User is: OffLine |
Anyone got pics of the body drop with the door open? I'm curious to see how/what it looks like in the cab AFTER the drop is done.
Thanks! |
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11-01-2002, 11:58 PM
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#42 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 369
Location: Honolulu User is: OffLine |
I made my cut about 1/2' in from the door seam and everything clears fine. It just feels weird sitting 3" higher in the cab I still have to figure out my steering column cause it rubs my header. |
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11-02-2002, 12:59 AM
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#43 |
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Work in progress....
Age: 41
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 861
Location: Jacksonville, FL User is: OffLine |
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11-03-2002, 01:56 AM
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#44 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 369
Location: Honolulu User is: OffLine |
Here's a shot from my drivers door. My carpet is all jacked up but anyway...
My steering wheel is super close to the seat, but I drove it around the block and it was okay. I guess I should go to the junkyard to find a tilt column. My speaker and door panel clear the raised section, but it's real close. I still got some firewall issues to deal with. Then I get to start working on the bed |
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11-03-2002, 02:03 AM
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#45 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 369
Location: Honolulu User is: OffLine |
Here's from the pass. side
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11-03-2002, 04:19 AM
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#46 |
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Work in progress....
Age: 41
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 861
Location: Jacksonville, FL User is: OffLine |
 Thanks! Now I know what it would look like!
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11-03-2002, 12:30 PM
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#47 |
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LOWERED 12.75" Bit<h
Age: 30
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 414
Location: whitelake\commerce, MI User is: OffLine |
lets see all kinds of pick the more the marryer.. we need to know how to do it all!!! thanks for what you know
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11-03-2002, 07:31 PM
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#48 |
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Bolt-On Body Dropz
 Age: 27
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,722
Location: St. Louis Pavement User is: OffLine |
Ya your bed will be ALOT easier.
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11-03-2002, 07:39 PM
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#49 |
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Guest
Posts: n/a
Location: User is: |
Hey where can I find a shop to do a stock floor body drop? I live in North Carolina and I don't know if Str8 Twizted Customz does or not. How much more is a stock floor body drop than a regular body drop?
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11-03-2002, 11:08 PM
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#50 |
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Bolt-On Body Dropz
Age: 27
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,722
Location: St. Louis Pavement User is: OffLine |
Well www.jpkustoms.com -James can do it but our shop is in Cleveland. As far as cost difference, that depends on the truck and what size body drop it is. If you really wanted to send your truck that far talk to the owner James and he will gladly answer any questions you have, even if he doesn't do the work for you.
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