z the frame

just wondering is it necessay to z the front on a 81-86 isuzu pup to lay it out?? if not what do i have to rework to get it to lay out??..

also if anyone makes custom tubular control arms and is willing to ship to australia can u shoot me an message please!!

thanks for answering my question guys and keep on choppin s%$t up!

how do i z the truck pic and mesurments

Ive done a few frames like this.. Mine a Toyota and a Sport Trac all worked fine.

what you do it get the area in front and behind the lower control arms cleared away so you can work in there.

Then lay the vehical out. and block the back of the frame till the rails are paralle with the ground so if your doin a 2" z then block the back up 2" while its layin on the front cross

Weld these support legs/cut guides to both sides of the frame, on the Control arm side of the Cut. Then use them to gude the blade straight down as you cut though the frame. After your done cuttin all 4 cuts the frame and front clip can slide down... You will need to remove the blocks you have under the back frame rails

Slide everything down till the ride is layin flat frame and front cross memeber.. the support legs you just welded on are going to keep the clip with the front suspension on it from rocking forward and backward and getting out of alightment with the frame.

Heres some tips extra depending on how striped the truck is when you do this.

If you still have the motor and tanny in the truck. Unblot the tail end of the tranny and put a block under it... if your doin a 2" Z then put a 2" block under the tail end.. if you dont yours gona hate life when you cant get the frame to slide down like its supposed to. Also you might want to unhook the steering cuz it can bind up and keep things from movin down cuz its hitting the upper control arm or just binding. Remeber to Gusset when your done.. and be sure to pick a place on the frame far enough forward from the firewall that its not geting to hit your floor when your done.

I Hope this helps.

more pics would be nice do u go infront of the stering box?

Originally posted by mmrcustoms



more pics would be nice do u go infront of the stering box?

Yes be sure to cut infront of the steering box for the front cuts.

My pics arnt going to apply to your truck as far as location of the cuts because i have a Rodeo chassie which has a full lower A-arm and no radius rods. But the way in which you set up the cut works great and on any type of frame.

Maby some of you other cats with Isuzu trucks could post your cuts.

That looks good Miles. It really helped out and gave good ideas. I want to see the rodeo this weekdend at the Twisted Show.

ive been pondering this too. to check if it even needs a z, level the frame out, and measure between the ground and frame and the ground and engine crossmember. if the engine cross hangs down, then you (well, we actually) will need to either z the front clip or rework the crossmember.

as far as tube arms go, BYC is the only one who makes them that i know of. I have some on order (along with a ton of other ppl) and have been waiting on them since Aug 2005.

you can however, make some of your own using the factory arms to make a jig. ive seen jigs made of plate steel with mounting tabs welded on them for placement and a hole cut for balljoint placement.

hope this story helps a lil bit. wish i could give more a more detailed answer. or a yes or no.

miles's pics and method are pretty awesome BTW. def how i would do it if i were keeping a factory frame.

Originally posted by FreaksofReno



That looks good Miles. It really helped out and gave good ideas. I want to see the rodeo this weekdend at the Twisted Show.

Yeah ill have it there for sure!!

Miles is the man....he helped me with my Z on my toyota!

Thanks again miles!


There is a thread around here somewhere with all the pics of my Z in it.