Spoke to Hotchkis today. The front and rear springs are ready now. The sway bars will not be for another 60-90 days. Apparently a new piece of equipment to make the sway bars has been delayed. The just did an istall for a magazine on a L. He wouldn't tell me which mag. Front and rear springs, urethane sprng perch, and cam bolts will run about $530.00. No problem to add the sway bars later. You will net a 1" drop on the front and a 2" in the rear. No loss of load or towing capacity.

------------------
2000 Silver Lightning 13.16 (so far)
PSP 4-way
PSP Filter Kit
PSP Lower Pulley
Level 10 Shift kit
F-250 Trans pan
MagnaFlow 12468
Snug-Lid

I feel a 12.xx coming on.

Team PSP West

 

Sounds perrrrrfect... any idea about spring rates?

 

Do they have a web site?
Thanks
Bill

 

This sounds like exactly what i'm looking for as well!

Are all the parts you mentioned available now?

 

http://www.hotchkisperformance.com/

 

LOwering the truck one inch in the front and two in rear sounds just about perfect for me....im not into slamming the truck. Will the truck sit level or slighty nose down like it is stock? Will the new springs have urethane bushings?

 

I will find out the spring rates. The truck will have a slight rake to it. Not as drastic as stock. All urethane bushings. When the sway bars are done they will also have urethane bushings. Check the link above. Very nice people. Willing to take the time and explain things.

------------------
2000 Silver Lightning 13.16 (so far)
PSP 4-way
PSP Filter Kit
PSP Lower Pulley
Level 10 Shift kit
F-250 Trans pan
MagnaFlow 12468
Snug-Lid

I feel a 12.xx coming on.

Team PSP West

 

I have the front coils. The rears should be here any day now. I've decided to keep my stock 01 shocks for now.

 

Silver-Bolt: I just spoke to So-Cal yesterday and they said that their kit did not need a change in sway bars. Does Hotchkis recommend changing our stock sway bars? Just wondering....

So-Cals' kit for $754.00 includes for the front: Eibach Springs, shorter bump stops. For the back: Bell Tech hangers, "add a leaf" replacement for the shortest stock leaf, shorter bump stops. They let you decide if you want to swap shocks. I asked for a smoother ride, he recommended KYB shocks. They also want about $650 in labor. I am not tech oriented enough to determine who is better.

Recommendation going with Hotchkis or So-Cal?
So Cal also says their kit will drop the front by 1.75" and the back by 2.5" on a Lightning.

 

Sorry no spring rates yet. The sway bars from Hotchkis will not be needed with their kit. They will however be a big improvement over the factory setup. Plus the added benefit of a tubular bar being lighter and more responsive. I am looking for improved handling more than lowered for looks. If it handle good and looks good that will be a bonus.

------------------
2000 Silver Lightning 13.16 (so far)
PSP 4-way
PSP Filter Kit
PSP Lower Pulley
Level 10 Shift kit
F-250 Trans pan
MagnaFlow 12468
Snug-Lid

I feel a 12.xx coming on.

Team PSP West

 

How does this lowering effect the shocks. Do you need new ones with a shorter throw? Do these new parts make the truck the 1" and 2" lower or do you need to add something else like the drop shackles that were so popular awhile back?
noelvm

 

That's good news, I've been hanging out for Hotchkis to release the spring kits.

Was somebody talking recently about the need to upgrade the shocks when you install the new springs? I was considering upgrading anyway. Any comments on the best shocks to go to with? I tried some Edelbrocks in my Lariat 4x4 when I had it, loved the improvement. However in most of the european cars I've had previous I've stuck to billsteins.



[This message has been edited by OzFseries (edited 05-09-2001).]

 

I like the Bilsteins alot....The stiff ride gives the truck a more feel for the ground. Can you order em through hotchkis directly?

 

The total drop is 1" front, and 2" rear. No shackles. That is on of the things I like about their setup. Stock shocks should be fine. If it were a 3/4 drop you would have to change. Thet are working with Bilstein on a custom shock setup. There best guess on the shocks was at least 90 days.

------------------
2000 Silver Lightning 13.16 (so far)
PSP 4-way
PSP Filter Kit
PSP Lower Pulley
Level 10 Shift kit
F-250 Trans pan
MagnaFlow 12468
Snug-Lid

I feel a 12.xx coming on.

Team PSP West

 

Went and opened my box from Hotchkis finally and it only had one coil spring in it. I had alot of boxes from UPS that day and didn't pay much attention, but, it was obviously damaged and a spring had fallen out. UPS just taped up the box and one spring. Called Hotckis and they will send me a new spring as soon as I get a claim no.

They started shipping the rear leaf springs yesterday I was told. So I'm waiting on 1 coil, 2 leafs and the urethane spring perches for the front coils.