COST EFFECTIVE Lowering questions 2wd

[morganater]

Please read this first before you flame, if anyone was planning on doing so. I have read the lowering instructions on this site's tech section many times and they have been of much help to me. My only problem right now is that I am a kid, without that much money, just the time, tools, and willingness to learn how to do something. I am seriously looking to drop the front end of my truck down. It is sitting at a sort of even stance right now, if not HIGHER in the front, even with a 460! I hate this stance, and want a rake, yet want it low to the ground at the same time. I have a set of chopped springs that are in my '68 parts truck, but I think the ride quality of these would be crappy. Drop Ibeams are really a dream of mine, but i just cant see paying 400+ for these right now. Drop coils are like $200, but i dont think those will lower my front end enough, or as much as I want it to. What do you guys think I should do, I am pretty serious when it comes to getting this stuff done, and It is just gunna be sweet once i get it done this winter.... Thanks!

[FORDification]

Unfortunately, with the Twin I-beam suspension, the camber settings are built in...if you lower the front-end height, the camber will also be negatively affected, by tilting the tops of the tires inwards, and the only way to correct this would be to bend the I-beams....but it's much more involved than just heating them with a torch and beating them with a BFH. Therefore it's NOT a task for the average enthusiast, and finding someone with the knowledge and equipment to do it right isn't gonna be easy.

AFAIK the only options you have to lowering your front end is to either use drop springs (or cut your existing springs) and then get the I-beams bent to compensate, or the use of drop I-beams. Nobody makes drop spindles for these trucks.

[greasemonkey060]

AFAIK the only options you have to lowering your front end is to either use drop springs (or cut your existing springs) and then get the I-beams bent to compensate, or the use of drop I-beams. Nobody makes drop spindles for these trucks.

How much can you cut the coils WITHOUT having to bend the i beams??

[roachrider]

I would think 1", 2" at the most. The I-beam isn't very long(abour 3'), so a couple inch change would be a fair difference(in degrees) from vertical very quickly.

[bluef250]

You might experiment and find another set of springs that are not as stiff or not as tall. Changing springs is an option if you can live with replacing tires more often as they wear without bending the I beams. If I remember it takes a 40 ton hydraulic jack with a chain arrangement to bend the I beams. If you can find the jack and rig then work with a front end shop, I don't see it as a major operation. I doubt if most front end shops have the equipment to bend the I beams. Having the right equipment is the problem.

[wt4speed#2]

Just for the record most alignment machines these days don't come with the set up to bend the i-beam axles the shop in Ft worth that i used to mange has the best Ford front end man in the nation when I bought my '69 at the 1st of the year I took it by and had him shake it down because it drove funny he told me that it just needed to have king pins greased , i ask him if I lowered it if he would set the camber for me . He asked me how I was going to go about it, I explained several ideas,he told me that if I was going with the 302 in lue of the tank motor in it now to get the 6- banger lowering coils 1st and if that didn't get it low enough cut them one 1/4 at a time (coil ring),and when I got it where i wanted it bring it by and he would check it . And if need be he would drag out the beams and 100 ton and bended into place, he told me if I went with the drop axles he wouldn't touch it

[wt4speed#2]

Hey Bob

Welcome what a conicdence that the 1st thread you've responded to is right after mine , I'm the one that stopped at your shop on Friday. Be sure and post some pics of your rides .

Hey guys Bob has some terrific stuff is is a master fabricator .If any one is passing thur on their way to San Angelo a stop at Bob Burris Fabrications is a must . He is on 67 in Miles texas And if you are comming from Brownwood you'll see his trucks before you see his shop

Was just checking the sight getting a late start headed to RUSK

Tony B

[calvinstoy]

I found an extra set of springs and started cutting 1/2 coil at a time( very time consuming since you must put the spring back in, lower the truck and roll it back and forth before you can get an accurate measurement) to lower the front. But first I found a gentleman that knew how to be I beams, he's been doing alignments since the 50's, no computers, just experience. He said you can only drop it around 2" and still bend the I beams to get the correct camber any more and they could not be bent enough. If you just want the rake you could go get some lower profile tires 40 or 50 series and run 60 series in the rear. Get take offs to save money. Or add air shocks to the rear to push it up. I am going monday to get the alignment done so I'll see how its done.

[rjewkes]

One question. Is your bed laden with heavy stuff or are the Rear springs just worn out?


Mine are worn out so loaded or unloaded it sits higher in the front as well.

Getting newer springs in the back might give you the ride and look you like and if nothing else you'll have good springs in the back and a smoother ride.

[SMF Speed&Custom]

Well I am new to this site and all and own a 66 Ford F100 and I know you dont deal with these years here but thought I can get some help and maybe help some others. I am hoping this isnt' an old thread (I didn't even check) but here is my question...
What if I get dropped I Beams and then about 2 inch dropped springs... Can I bring it to a shop and have them bend them down more to compensate for that 2 inch drop? Reason I ask is because 3 inches to me isn't much at all. I would like AT LEAST a 5 inch drop in the front and a 2 in the rear since the front of my truck sits a bit higher than the rear too.

Thanks for any info here!

[rjewkes]

Hi and to the site it is a bit old but I believe if you find a shop that is capable of bending the i beams you can do that. But as I asked the posts owner( original asker) are you carrying extra weight or are your springs just wore out.

[SMF Speed&Custom]

Thanks for the welcome! Anyways, my springs are not worn out or nothing. I actually have way too much positive camber or some reason and you can tell just by looking at the front of the truck that the tires bow out. I just bought new tires so I need to get this fixed. I have a small block V8 302 in it so the springs can't be wrong either. My front shocks are worn but that wont cause any affect I don't think. I am going to get new ones but even if they were worn that would cause for it to have negative camber am I right?

Thanks a lot for any info!

[rjewkes]

camber should be the top or bottom of the tire leaning like when you turn. and i believe that either way the front should sit lower wit bad camber. could need rearv shocks. or maybe thats how the 66 sits brand new.

Other than that good luck.

[SMF Speed&Custom]

Yeah the front tires are leaning out... positive camber. I may cut one coil and see if it corrects it or not. If not then I dont think there are any good places near me that will do the alignment right. I have never had nothing done right around here with any of my vehicles or motorcycles, nothing so I can't trust people it's hard for me. I may sell this truck and buy me something else I am not sure. I don't like the Twin I Beam set up or anything on these trucks because I cant do nothing with them unless I spend a thousand bucks or so and I can't get the wheels I want either unless I have that huge off road looking cap on it.

[rjewkes]

just a thought but if you raise the front off the ground holding the top and bottom of the wheel if you can move it back to normal watch the i beam where the steering knuckle meets it or the kingpin area may have bad kingpins. And previous owner may have started a lowering project on it in the rear.