Thread: How do I narrow a 1 ton front end?

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I took over a prodject 1 ton Chevy chassie under a 35ish cab. First i though I would cut the cross member and take 4" out of the center, but the frame will not let me narrow it enough. So now its shorten the A arms OR?
Has any one done this before is there any aftermarket arms.....Thanks Jim

I do not understand why the frame will not let you narrow 4 inches. Could you post some pictures it would help to understand the situation more. Also I would not recomend shortening the A-arms, there is alot of geometry stuff involved there. As far as buying new A-arms, they are a fortune to buy and you may be better off going with a smaller donar chassis in that case.

Ive never heard of making them shorter, but i know the lowrider guys make them longer all the time, but they only do it to compensate for the hydraulics. I say stick with the frame , and make it work.

Thanks it is the exhaust that gets in the way and all the fender mounts. But I guess thats easier the shortning up the A arms. So I need to be creative with exhaust, engine mounts and a sway bar...........Jim

If you narrow the crossmember or change control arm lengths either one, just be aware that you are changing the instant center and all the characteristics that make that particular front end geometry work properly.

Thanks just eye balling for now but if i take only roll center in to account. If I narrow it buy 3.5" and leave A arms as they are I can get the roll center back to stock ( narrow = raised ) by lowering it 2" and adjust the upper arm up or down. But by only narrowing the crossmember the bump should not be affected and thats the most notisable. Remember you can make any suspention work if you limit the travel...Jim

Is the finished vehicle to be a hauler? A 1ton frame is quite a bit heavier than even a 1/2 ton,and on a gm chassis the entire front suspension will drop right out,making it simple to put in a straight axle,or mustang style front suspension. I wouldn't recommend trying to narrow what you have, cutting the crossmember is fairly easy,cutting and splicing the steering linkage isn't. Hank

I remember reading articles on narrowing the nova stub, can't remember how they handled the steering geometry issue.