Cutting springs on a '70 F100

hellakornhaus · Post by **hellakornhaus** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:45 am

I have a 1970 F100 with a 302 (slight mods) 2 wheel drive. I am extremely interested in lowering the entire truck. However, my wife had a great idea; lower the front and leave the back stock height. That would make the truck look killer (lower in the front).

So my questions are:

1. If I want the front dropped 2", how many coils should I cut?
2. If I cut the springs, will it create any problems with the toe/tire wear?
3. Will I have to buy new radius arms, or anything, if I simply cut the springs?
4. Does anyone have a picture of a truck that has done what I am wanting to do (lower the front only)? If so, please provide pictures!

I am sure I will be posting a lot, when I start building up my new 302.

This site ROCKS!!!!

Thanks,

Kornhaus

Big D's 69 · Post by **Big D's 69** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 12:06 pm

Talk to SmokeyBear about this. He seems to know a great deal about this.

layedout72 · Post by **layedout72** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:12 pm

NEVER cut your springs, EVER.

they will not settle.

SmokeyBear · Post by **SmokeyBear** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:39 pm

layedout72 wrote:NEVER cut your springs, EVER.

they will not settle.

eh not true.

Every spring will settle, it depends on the amount of weight on it and what it was originally designed to do.

If you buy springs for a 460 and put them under a 6 banger, they won't settle much at all and be very stiff. But do the opposite and they will squat a LOT and be too soft.

What you want to do if you just want to go a couple of inches is cut a half a coil at a time then drive it for a week or so until you get what you want, if you cut too much at one time, then it's time to buy a new spring. It all depends on 1)how much weight is on your springs and 2)how much you cut them. Don't lower your truck more than 2 inches by cutting the coils(depending on how much your springs sag already) You'll run into a camber problem. If you want 3 inches or more, you need drop I-beams.

As far as leaving the back alone, it's all up to your preference but the back is a LOT easier to do than the front if that is what is holding you up. New drop-shackles will drop it 2 inches, flipping the hanger will lower it 3-5 inches depending on where you relocate it and an axle flip will lower it 4 or 5 but you'll have to notch your frame.

hellakornhaus · Post by **hellakornhaus** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 7:01 am

smokeybear,

All I want to do is drop the front about 2". The main reason I want to cut the springs, rather than buy the I-Beam kit, is price. If there is no harm in cutting the springs (1-1.5 coils) - which is FREE, why would I want to buy a $500 I-Beam lowering kit - that does the same thing (lower 2-3")?

I will not be doing any suspension mods for some time (probably not for another several months). Right now, I am just trying to gather as much information as I can, before I jump into anything.

Thank you all very much, for the fast and informative replies.

As I stated in my other post, I will be posting quite often, once I begin my rebuilding my suspension, engine, and everything else that comes along.

-Kornhaus

SmokeyBear · Post by **SmokeyBear** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:01 am

Good luck with it and post some pics for us. We all love to drool over other people's trucks.

hellakornhaus · Post by **hellakornhaus** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:07 am

I wont be doing this for some time. However, whenever I DO lower the truck, I will take pictures.

I am still debating on wheather I should just lower the entire truck, or just the front.

If I buy the I Beam drop kit (2-3"), how do I lower the back to match? Would I just buy the shackles or whatever? I don't want the back lower than the front, of course. I guess what I could do, is lower the back, buy the I beam drop kit, and then if the front is too high, I could just cut the springs a little couldn't I?

-Kornhaus

SmokeyBear · Post by **SmokeyBear** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:40 am

Yes, that's what I'm doing now, I flipped the hanger in the rear and got a little over 4 inches drop. I'll put in the lower I-beams in the front and cut the springs to get it where I want.

shortbedCUSTOM · Post by **shortbedCUSTOM** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:54 am

hey SmokeyBear, where can I get a set of drop shackles, and how much should I expect to pay?

SmokeyBear · Post by **SmokeyBear** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:06 am

shortbedCUSTOM wrote:hey SmokeyBear, where can I get a set of drop shackles, and how much should I expect to pay?

http://www.truckn-store.com/application_list.asp

or

http://www.djmsuspension.com/Products/P ... 0Parts.htm

somewhere around $70 to $85

shortbedCUSTOM · Post by **shortbedCUSTOM** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:07 am

thanks

theskytoucher · Post by **theskytoucher** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:28 am

Hey SmokeyBear, How much would it drop the truck if i just remove the helper spring out of the rear end?

SmokeyBear · Post by **SmokeyBear** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:24 am

approximately an inch.

theskytoucher · Post by **theskytoucher** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:27 am

Score
thats how much I wanted to lower it!

Big D's 69 · Post by **Big D's 69** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:45 am

Just too many options on lowering these trucks. Can't wait to lower mine.

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Cutting springs on a '70 F100

Cutting springs on a '70 F100

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