Disadvantages to lowering body????

[crawdaddy]

So I am setting the body to my K5 back on the frame and will be removing the entire floor and mounting the body to the cage and frame.

Question is I was considering lowering the body closer to the frame than it would sit stock and was wondering if this would cause any problems in the future that I am not considering.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Really don't see any disadvantage.......assuming you can make it fit. Can't imagine you can lower it much at all without doing serious modifcations

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Issues i would see would only be trans tunnel/ linkage and radiator issues. Of course cut cut for tires

 

[crawdaddy]

Thanks for responding guys.

Redoing the trans tunnel and floor.

I am only going to drop it 3/4" to 1".

Never considered the radiator that was a good point. But for an inch I think I can lower it that far with some new brackets.

 

[Greg72]

More exhaust heat to the interior
Interferences all along the center tunnel and driveline
Bumper fitment issues
Harder to rinse out mud/debris from top of framerails
Less clearance to access bolt heads
Possible airflow restrictions across top of transmission and xfer case?

 

[down4thakrown]

Filler neck and fuel sending unit clearence..unless you gota fuel cell mounted in bed....

 

[blazerbones]

Would reduce ground clearance to body. That could be made up for by additional .

 

[dhcomp]

I don't really see the advantage. Most of your mass is in the frame/engine/drivetrain, so it won't drop your COG much.

 

[crawdaddy]

Well I guess the main reason for it is the extra clearance to fit in my garage, was hoping that with the extensive cage going in it might help the COG a little.
And the extra inch will help making it look cleaner when done.

As far as the problems mentioned. I was thinking of raising the floor to make up some of the difference. My floor is trash and coming out anyway. Was thinking about leaving access panels for trans and transfer.

As far as the tank goes I am doing a fuel cell, that is mounting flush with the bottom frame rails so I planning on doing a "raised area" there for it kinda like what colby did on his build.

Thanks again for the comments guys.

 

[sope]

Sounds like a lot of extra work to do this. To fit in the garage I'd just air down a little more if you only need an inch. That is if it's not a daily driver. I guess that would be a pain on a dd.

 

[doonjumper]

Wont be able to get as good look at the hottie in the car next to you at a stop light.

 

[dhcomp]

Wont be able to get as good look at the hottie in the car next to you at a stop light.

Best reason against by far.

Seems like a lot of work to me. Id rather make my garage door bigger, and stay stockish with teh floor setup .

 

[crawdaddy]

Wont be able to get as good look at the hottie in the car next to you at a stop light.

You got me there

 

[owenst7]

Well I guess the main reason for it is the extra clearance to fit in my garage,

Run some cheap suckdown winches on your axles like the buggies do. They can come in handy depending on the terrain you wheel anyways.

 

[blazinzuk]

Well if you are going to lower the body and put it on the frame, are you gonna boatside it too. With the boatsiding it will kind of make it easier to attach everything to the frame.

As has been said I dont' think it will help much with COG but if it helps you get it in the garage then do it.

I don't think you will run into that many problems. It sounds like the mods are fairly extensive so if you have gone that far you know to expect alot more. One change major or minor cause force another dozen or so changes you or no one else who has done it has thought of

 

[ryoken]

CD.... just be aware how this will affect your floor construction, especially if your gonna clock the TC..... it WILL eat into your "flat" floor space.. and it WILL put you close to the frame in some areas you may be working/welding, trans tunnel sidewalls, etc... not that it's not doable, just bringing up potential issues...

are you leaving the stock supports and just removing the body mount? or are you doing some sort of support rework like I did?

 

[crawdaddy]

Well the body is sitting on 3/4" spacers (wood blocks) that are on the factory mounts. I believe the factory bushings are like 1 1/4' to 1 1/2" so its not that much lower than normal.

I was planning on removing the factory mounts all together and doing new floor supports. I like the way ryoken did his floor. But was also thinking about doing all of the cage including the seat bars and console and then piecing the floor in kinda like the floor of a buggy. Not sure about that though.

 

[ryoken]

. I like the way ryoken did his floor. But was also thinking about doing all of the cage including the seat bars and console and then piecing the floor in kinda like the floor of a buggy.

thats basically what i did...

 

[crawdaddy]

thats basically what i did...

Yes basically the only difference is instead of using the factory mounts (where the bushings go) I would just weld a small piece of tube on top of the frame and under the 2x4 floor support.

When I mentioned the seat bar I thought about putting it lower than normal so as it would be part of the floor instead of just above the floor. I would like to keep the seats low as I am 6'5" and my head always seemed close to the cage in my old rig.

Your build is pretty much the manual I use for my floor. Just changing a few things to suit me/ my rig. Thanks for your insight though I appreciate it.