Basic Body Dropping

***AVTekk*** · 10-07-2002, 11:48 PM

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..

***AVTekk*** · 10-07-2002, 11:51 PM

***AVTekk*** · 10-07-2002, 11:59 PM

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.

POS-10 · 10-08-2002, 12:51 AM

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.

Basic · 10-08-2002, 11:55 AM

ogh.. id never do that myself.. id go half way through and be all like.. UHHHHHHHH what now?

GLHTurbo · 10-08-2002, 09:20 PM

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.

JoshJPKustoms · 10-08-2002, 09:39 PM

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

GLHTurbo · 10-08-2002, 09:47 PM

how much did you drop it? We did 3.5"

s15_2ground · 10-09-2002, 08:41 AM

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)

JoshJPKustoms · 10-09-2002, 11:40 AM

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!

GLHTurbo · 10-09-2002, 11:43 AM

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?

s15_2ground · 10-10-2002, 10:12 AM

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...

xtremer-pxl · 10-10-2002, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by drag_it
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!

how do you bd it 4.5inches and overlap it 5" that doesn't make sense!

s15_2ground · 10-10-2002, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by drag_it
.5"

point five means half an inch

xtremer-pxl · 10-10-2002, 10:55 AM

Ahh...my bad...I thought it said 5"(I just really wanted to post my pic!)

JoshJPKustoms · 10-10-2002, 11:18 AM

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)

s15_2ground · 10-10-2002, 11:22 AM

nice cart man, always wanted one...
isnt it a felony to theive a shopping cart?

xtremer-pxl · 10-10-2002, 11:23 AM

Beats me, not my cart...lol...

JoshJPKustoms · 10-10-2002, 07:44 PM

I bought mine s15, from a surplus store for 7bux..

SlammedOranges · 10-11-2002, 08:02 PM

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?

***AVTekk*** · 10-11-2002, 08:07 PM

you are indeed correct. thats why you see a lot of b/d trucks with out door panels and such..

SlammedOranges · 10-11-2002, 08:13 PM

hummm i am wondering if there is a place that tells you how to do this?

GLHTurbo · 10-11-2002, 08:14 PM

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.

SlammedOranges · 10-11-2002, 08:18 PM

is there any other little mods that are going to have to be done that noone talks about?

GLHTurbo · 10-11-2002, 08:21 PM

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...

~~sonoma350ed~~ · 10-11-2002, 08:22 PM

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

JoshJPKustoms · 10-12-2002, 11:44 AM

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

XonAir · 10-20-2002, 11:37 PM

i want a b/d.. some day i can only dream

91350s10 · 10-21-2002, 05:49 PM

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?

GLHTurbo · 10-21-2002, 08:24 PM

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.

91350s10 · 10-21-2002, 08:54 PM

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?

GLHTurbo · 10-22-2002, 08:23 AM

sure...you can taper ( _/ )the filler panel too... cut the inside more.

lowsonoma · 10-23-2002, 11:37 AM

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.

bubba · 10-25-2002, 10:15 AM

Whats_the_advantages_of_a_bd_over_springs_etc?

s15_2ground · 10-26-2002, 05:12 PM

have you read this post?

JoshJPKustoms · 10-27-2002, 11:48 AM

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.

10-08-2002, 12:51 AM	#4
POS-10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 370 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.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-08-2002, 11:55 AM	#5
Basic Beyond Basic. Age: 25 Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 2,315 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?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-08-2002, 09:20 PM	#6
GLHTurbo 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.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-08-2002, 09:39 PM	#7
JoshJPKustoms Draggin body member Age: 23 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,142 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
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-08-2002, 09:47 PM	#8
GLHTurbo Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 390 Location: Central Jersey User is: OffLine	how much did you drop it? We did 3.5"
	[Reply w/Quote]


S10Forum is the premier S-Series Site on the internet. Registered Users do not see the above ads. Please Register - It's Free!

10-09-2002, 08:41 AM	#9
s15_2ground _-¯xcess [ )raggage Age: 27 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 224 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)
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-09-2002, 11:40 AM	#10
JoshJPKustoms Draggin body member Age: 23 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,142 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!
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-09-2002, 11:43 AM	#11
GLHTurbo 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?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-10-2002, 10:12 AM	#12
s15_2ground _-¯xcess [ )raggage Age: 27 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 224 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...
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-10-2002, 10:49 AM	#14
s15_2ground _-¯xcess [ )raggage Age: 27 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 224 Location: Virginia User is: OffLine	Re: How much of a b/d Quote: Originally posted by drag_it .5" point five means half an inch
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-10-2002, 10:55 AM	#15
xtremer-pxl little pink pink Age: 30 Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 5,566 Location: KANSAS User is: OffLine	Ahh...my bad...I thought it said 5"(I just really wanted to post my pic!)
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-10-2002, 11:18 AM	#16
JoshJPKustoms Draggin body member Age: 23 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,142 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)
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-10-2002, 11:22 AM	#17
s15_2ground _-¯xcess [ )raggage Age: 27 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 224 Location: Virginia User is: OffLine	nice cart man, always wanted one... isnt it a felony to theive a shopping cart?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-10-2002, 11:23 AM	#18
xtremer-pxl little pink pink Age: 30 Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 5,566 Location: KANSAS User is: OffLine	Beats me, not my cart...lol...
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-10-2002, 07:44 PM	#19
JoshJPKustoms Draggin body member Age: 23 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,142 Location: Minot North Dakota User is: OffLine	I bought mine s15, from a surplus store for 7bux..
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-11-2002, 08:02 PM	#20
SlammedOranges LOWERED 12.75" Bit<h Age: 26 Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 415 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?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-11-2002, 08:13 PM	#22
SlammedOranges LOWERED 12.75" Bit<h Age: 26 Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 415 Location: whitelake\commerce, MI User is: OffLine	hummm i am wondering if there is a place that tells you how to do this?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-11-2002, 08:14 PM	#23
GLHTurbo 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.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-11-2002, 08:18 PM	#24
SlammedOranges LOWERED 12.75" Bit<h Age: 26 Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 415 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?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-11-2002, 08:21 PM	#25
GLHTurbo 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...
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-11-2002, 08:22 PM	#26
~~sonoma350ed~~ Banned Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 597 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
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-12-2002, 11:44 AM	#27
JoshJPKustoms Draggin body member Age: 23 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,142 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
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-20-2002, 11:37 PM	#28
XonAir LOWKEY Age: 28 Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 2,942 Location: maryland User is: OffLine	i want a b/d.. some day i can only dream
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-21-2002, 05:49 PM	#29
91350s10 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 149 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?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-21-2002, 08:24 PM	#30
GLHTurbo 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.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-21-2002, 08:54 PM	#31
91350s10 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 149 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?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-22-2002, 08:23 AM	#32
GLHTurbo 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.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-23-2002, 11:37 AM	#33
lowsonoma WESTSYDE KUSTOMZ Age: 40 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.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-25-2002, 10:15 AM	#34
bubba chevrolet > all Age: 22 Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 715 Location: Knoxville, TN User is: OffLine	Whats_the_advantages_of_a_bd_over_springs_etc?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-26-2002, 05:12 PM	#35
s15_2ground _-¯xcess [ )raggage Age: 27 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 224 Location: Virginia User is: OffLine	have you read this post?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2002, 11:48 AM	#36
JoshJPKustoms Draggin body member Age: 23 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,142 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.