Lower arms on a 82 Burban? Help?

I am getting ready to bag an 82 GMC Suburban 1500. on these trucks, the lower control arms will hit the ground well before the frame does. So, I could Z the frame, but I'm not really too interested in doing all of that. Is there any other way I can get the rails to lay flat? Would a smaller tubular control arm clear? or does that entire crossmember have to be raised where the arm mounts to? - then if that's the case then the upper bag bracket/pocket may have to be modified for the truck to lay out..? I want to lay on 235/40/20's

anyone have any input on this topic? who's layed out their early 80's chevy?

You can notch the x-member to lay frame but if you wanna lay rocker you need to z the frame. Its easier in my opinion anyways.

ZZZZZZZZZ it. Sorry for that I was stutterin. We just got done plantin my 87 on the ground. All we did was spindles, Zd the frame cut out the upper pocket and made new mounts and SLAm. There yah go.

do what Zach said, it's much better...... read this forum on the subject......

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=60649

Originally posted by dragginsteel67



do what Zach said, it's much better...... read this forum on the subject......

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=60649



what does that thread have to do with an 82 burb

Its how you do the crossmember drop on your burb. That thread will tell you everything you will need to know. And will also probably convince you to z your frame!

Thanks for the feedback, great picture for referance & i'll check out that forum topic. I hope to get the Burb to hop w/ nitrogen & duel 3/4 valves, so I didn't want to do any more cutting than nessicary. Buut. If that's what everyone thinks is best, i trust your judgement. Why is it that it will lay frame w/o a Z, but not rocker? arn't they about even?...
just curious. is the Xmember the problem or the lower arms.

Can anyone give me a real detailed play by play on the Z? pleeeease. THANKS!

I just did an 86 this week. Zd the frame 3" and installed tube arms. we braced the hell out of it. we also cut the frame under the cab so the cab lays with no body drop.

I took over 100 pics of the whole thing for a tech article for my website. ill have pics up asap.

we are also about to release the dropped crossmember for those trucks.

I would like to see the pics of the 86 Michael! How did you reinforce the frame under the cab after you cut it? Did you have to take the cab off?

the can and bed were already off. good things is it was easy to get very good pics of the whole job.

I plated the frame inside and out and welded both sides, and have good pics of all of it.

im working on the page for the site right now.

couple more days and it will be up.