Dropped beams

[BobbyFord]

Update your auto insurance...
The stock beams are forged not cast. I wouldn't chance messing with suspension parts.

[67special]

Forged,cast....that wont make a difference. I should still be able to do it. All I need is a donor set.

[fordman]

i think i would make something from scratch before i cut and welding tubing to the i beams.

[westco]

I wanted to do the same thing..... we have cut and extended beams for our desert trucks both 2wd and TTB and we use them hard.... but on these beams the cut would be at the bend below the king pin and there's not a lot of room and I just don't have the time.

But yes it is totally do-able.

[tybob81]

The "bump" trucks are a lot heavier than a model A or T. The old hot rodders back it the day heated and bent the front axles to lower them down, but they are also not known for the best steering geometry to begin with. So doing that on a 2500lb model T is a liitle different than a 3200-3700lb F100 truck. I wouldnt advise cutting the stock beams and welding them. You han heat and bend them a little, but thats about it. A lot of custom shops to make early Rangers and i beam F- trucks will take a set of DJM or Chassie Tech beams and cut and notch those to lay out better when bagged, but those are steel tubbing and box. A lot safer to weld and it not busting apart due to stress.

[grabberblue72]

are after market drop beams like djm and chassis tech heat treated? if they arent, i dont see why a guy/welder couldnt build a set of drop beams.

[tybob81]

A guy could build a set of those beams if he wanted. They use a higher quality steel but it's still is steel, not cast.

[tybob81]

My buddies 95 Ranger was bagged on DJM beams. He had some bad neg caster at ride hight so I pie cut the beams right behind the head and bent the down a little to give him proper camber at his ride height. I then cut a bevel into the pie area and welded it up and then plated around the beam for added strength. That has lasted almost 80k mi. The frame is about dragged thru in spots but the beams are still together and he's not buying new front tires every 20k any more.