twps

Just bolted on my C5 wheels and I really need to lower my 84 now. I'm measuring 26.5" front & 29.5" rear from bottom of fender lip to ground. Is this the average stock ride height? It looks really high with the new wheels. I'm reading where people are getting ~1" don in front and ~2" in the rear, this still seems high to me?

Any before & after measurements you care to share? Thanks.

oldalaskaman

I lowered mine till I get two fingers in between top of tire and bottom of fender lip. Didnt measure any other way. looks like I want it to and doesnt rub the 315x35x17 toyo proxy tq's on the back or the toyo proxy 4's 275x40x17 on the front. it's a personal preference.

Charleston2012

Every year will be a little different on the lowering before and after heights. As the years went on GM raised the C4 little by little. If you notice some have larger front spoilers too, and that changed as people complained they scraped too much.
Also, I believe different suspensions had different heights, ie ZO7, Z51, etc . Different springs, shocks and tires.
Mine was 27.5 front to 25.5 front, and rear is 26.5 from 28sh.
Also, people lower there differently. Some put a wedge on the spring after taking the aluminum spacer out and the material on the spring off. So, just cut it down to the height of a wedge from a kit. Some do the wedge, and then take the spring pad eyes of too, lowering it even more.
The rear is easy. Go to a Nuts/Bolts store other than crappy Lowes and Home Depot, and get Grade 8 bolts(with proper markings) that are 10-12 inches long and a nylon locking nut. Measure your bolt size, so you know you are getting the right diameter bolt.
Or you can just buy the lowering kits from mid America and do it that way too. For the front spring, use a real good two part epoxy, marine style if you can get it. The wedge kits use crappy 3m stuff which wont last.

twps

I'll admit the back looks super easy to drop, and I'm not hesitant to do this work at all. The front on the other hand looks a little difficult ans I am a little hesitant to perform this work myself.

EurekaVette

Just purchased some rear lowering parts. 9/16 nyloc nuts (2) and 9/16 grade 8 flat washers (4). Got these from the local, independant, building supply. I ordered 9/16-12 x 10" grade 8 bolts from Fastenal, due here next Tues. The bolt p/n is 15283 at $5.09 ea. The nuts and washers were about $6. Also ordered new spring cushions from CorvCntrl, like $16, can't stand using old rubber cushions and the new ones are polyurethane. All together, parts are $32ish and my 'labor' is 'free'.
dws

socalman

There's only 1" of rubber to cut out of the fronts, so I don't know how anyone would get anything more than that without coilovers.

twps

Looks like I'll be hitting up fastenall Monday when they open. Thanks man! I appreciate the detailed shopping list.

Charleston2012

On the end of the spring there are pad eyes of rubber/metal. You cut that off and you lower another inch. If I take my pad eyes out, it will drop into 24 inches, in other words my tires would be in the fenderwells. All I have is a ZO7/Corvette Challenge spring, wedges and 3/4 inch pad eyes, and I am at 25.5.

twps

So looking more into lowering my '84. The rear sounds and looks simple, the front not so much. I understand you need to replace the front spring outer retainer, but with what? The product appears to be discontinued from everyone I've looked at. Any suggestions?

Can I use newer (87-later) outer retainers? Maybe find them used or from a wrecking yard?

Charleston2012

Most write ups tell you to use the later ones anyways as you need to cut them down to accommodate the spacer being taken out.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050F