Poll: how to drop my 68 shortbed

fitzwell · Post by **fitzwell** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:17 pm

Over several beers, we came up with a couple of options

Option1 Drop Beams. Advantages. I get to keep my wheel/tire package. Quick install. Keeps my Ford ALL Ford.
Disadvantages. Cost. No camber adjustment. Still drives like a twin ibeam truck ( not that this is a BAD thing...i'm just sayin)

Option 2 Camaro clip. Advantages. Way lower, handles like a , well like an early 70's camaro. full suspention adjustment.
Disadvantages. Now i have to buy at least 2 wheels. Install..at least two weekends. Build new core support. NOT all Ford.

Option 3 Mount the truck on an s-10 chassis.
Advantages...chassis is damn near free, Narrow frame at rear, i can run a huge tire if i want to. Front suspention setup is basically a mini camaro.
Disadvantages, once again , time. At least two weekends to get everything setup & mounted. Strength of the rear end. Doubt it i would ever get to hook, but if i did..... and once again. not ALL Ford

Discuss please

convincor · Post by **convincor** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:14 pm

please don't bring x brand into the picture

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:55 pm

THe I beam should be adjustible by a good shop. You should take it to a place that they do the Big trucks at (F-600)

I think the Camaro clip would be to week, same for the S-10. Both would take more than a "few" weekends.

cghstrojan08 · Post by **cghstrojan08** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:28 pm

Ya, please don't put X stuff on it. If you would ever sell it, alot of people I believe wouldn't buy it with that kind of stuff under it.

fitzwell · Post by **fitzwell** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:37 am

MadMaxetc wrote:THe I beam should be adjustible by a good shop. You should take it to a place that they do the Big trucks at (F-600)

I think the Camaro clip would be to week, same for the S-10. Both would take more than a "few" weekends.

DJM dream beams..non adjustable. Their instructions state that specifically.

The camaro clip is plenty stout, seen them under a number of chevy trucks. Done correctly, the clip, where grafted into the frame, becomes the strongest part of the frame.

The s-10 frame is right at the light end of what i would want to do, but it has the same bolt pattern on all 4 corners, has the brake lines & e-brake cables already run.

the camaro clip can be done in a weekend......trust me

marz68 · Post by **marz68** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:57 am

I would clip the front this way you can set your ride height before you weld it all in. No matter which way you go your going to have to take your time to do it right so don't make your decision on how long it will take to get it done but on what will work better for you.
My decision would be a front clip from a ford car but in your case go with the camaro clip.

layedout72 · Post by **layedout72** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:19 pm

or a crown vic frame....im about to look into that some more.

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:25 am

fitzwell wrote:...DJM dream beams..non adjustable. Their instructions state that specifically...

That makes them a big peice of crap to me. If Ford could make them adjustable, then why not DJM??

Have you looked into a Dakota kit from http://www.industrialchassisinc.com/ ? I realy don't get using a car suspention in a truck...but that is me. We can start/re-start a new thread on this, but we don't need too.

again...

fordman · Post by **fordman** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:33 am

i think lowered trucks look stupid. if they go to low. this is not directed at you. but for those who do want to put them on the ground. remove all the axles and tire and put roller skate wheels under it. then in a few years some one gets it from you. they will crush it when they see what a bad job has been done and how it looks all fu abbed up. be sensible about your work. make it look right. if its on the ground. the cab sticking up makes the truck look like it has a sore thumb.

layedout72 · Post by **layedout72** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:32 am

fordman wrote:i think lowered trucks look stupid. if they go to low. this is not directed at you. but for those who do want to put them on the ground. remove all the axles and tire and put roller skate wheels under it. then in a few years some one gets it from you. they will crush it when they see what a bad job has been done and how it looks all fu abbed up. be sensible about your work. make it look right. if its on the ground. the cab sticking up makes the truck look like it has a sore thumb.

so a lowered truck is automatically a hack job? You would be hard pressed to prove this. Surely a properly designed and built suspension isn't a hack job. Seeing as how, as i'm sure you know, correct suspension geometry is NOT impossible with a truck sitting 3 inches off the ground.

As for it being ON the ground, please let me hope you understand the truck raises up in most cases around 7-9 inches, depending on the setup. Once again, ride height should be set at where the lower arms are parallel to the ground, giving the front end the correct geometry. All the air bag does is act as a spring.

Anyways, you can have your opinion, I have the same about lifted truck being absolutely useless but I won't go into that.

layedout72 · Post by **layedout72** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:33 am

MadMaxetc wrote:
fitzwell wrote:...DJM dream beams..non adjustable. Their instructions state that specifically...
That makes them a big peice of crap to me. If Ford could make them adjustable, then why not DJM??

Have you looked into a Dakota kit from http://www.industrialchassisinc.com/ ? I realy don't get using a car suspention in a truck...but that is me. We can start/re-start a new thread on this, but we don't need too.

again...

When you want a car suspension under the truck, your no longer using it as a truck, it's a around town driver. Not a hauler.

fitzwell · Post by **fitzwell** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:24 am

layedout72 wrote:
MadMaxetc wrote: When you want a car suspension under the truck, your no longer using it as a truck, it's a around town driver. Not a hauler.

right.... I have a 69 that acts like a truck. I also have a 46 that has it's share of trips to home depot under it's belt.

The 68 is a short bed truck, and that's exactly what i want.....a cruiser. I think those trucks look good lowered. Not bagged, no huge rims, just a lowered stance. Just as a point of referance....i can stand flat footed (i'm 6'2) and look over the top of my 46. I don't think i can get the 68 THAT low, but i should be able to get close.

anyway.....continue. I appreciate all the viewpoints so far.

fordman · Post by **fordman** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:48 pm

i never siad it was a hack job. i said do it right. dont hack it do death and put it on roller skate wheels. thats exaclty what i said. some trucks look really cool when they are done right.

BlueovalFE · Post by **BlueovalFE** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:36 pm

How come I never get invited to these beer drinking discussions? Hell, I like beer

fitzwell · Post by **fitzwell** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:21 pm

BlueovalFE wrote:How come I never get invited to these beer drinking discussions? Hell, I like beer

hell, it was a work session that evolved into a beer drinkin/benchracin kinda deal.

and it was about 60 miles south of me

Looks like breakfast is out 'til around the 22nd or so. I just looked at all the crap i gotta get done before Calcasieu......YIKES!

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