z'ing the front frame...

ok so instead of stockflooring my ranger, we just BD'd it 3.5" traditional.... and now it is starting to drag uneven. i was wondering if it is as easy as it seems to z the front clip. i was thinking you'd just put the truck up on jackstands, and put a jack under the front clip, cut it off with the ol trusty plasma cutter, and raise it up however much ya need, then drop the frame horns the appropriate amount (the amount of the z) then brace and weld it back up. seems to me like this would be pretty cut and dry, but i know it cant be that easy. anyone who has done the z, please chime in and let me know what im getting into!@ any pics would be a great help..... thanks alot streetsource!@

its not a hard task but i wouldnt do it on jackstands , i would do it on something level, lay the front out on wood that is cut to the height that you want the front clip to be above the ground, then you can cut it with the old trusty plasma, the frmae will lay out and your front clip will have clearance and you wont drag your fuckin a arms off.

ive done a few, def use a reciprocation saw, not a plasma, you want an exact cut, it takes some time so that everything is lined up and the clip isnt sagged down in front or off to the side or too far back or whatever.

dont forget if you dont have everything at the right angles you will throw off the suspension up front, and never will have a good alignment.

thanks cris that pic was really helpful... did you shift the frame forward at all there? just aking cause it looks like you did the way that line bolts up... anyways, so if i cut and and just raise it straight up that should be good, right? this is my first time trying this, and i dont wanna mess my truck up too much haha. thanks alot.

if you dont have an angle finder, get one, that way you can level the truck out on stands, and make note of the angle that the front clip is, and i raised it straight up, that way when i dropped the frame horns the same, bolted up the core support, the hood shut like it came zed from the factory.

take a million measurements then take 4 more to make sure its square and it has to be exact or like he said u will never have an alignment again and nothing bolt up good i did it to my 72 c-10 and it was easy if u take ur time dont rush it at all o and have fun

http://www.streetsourcemag.com/forum/topic.aspx?whichpage=1&pagesize=15&forum_id=20&topic_id=54381

this is a thread when i did my Z on my yota

Make sure you weld a crossbar/crossmember (something) in between the front frame horns so that they stay lined up after you cut em loose.

i used an engine hoist to z the frame hook it to the motor and pull it up and measuer like a bitch then weld then gusset.