41 Ford PU: Lengthen the shackle = Lower the car, no?

[Baron Von Mike]

Looking at the stock suspension setup on my PU, the single front and rear leaf springs are offset from the axles. They don't rest on top of either axle so it seems the truck can be easily lowered by lengthening the shackles.

I don't see this topic come up when lowering is discussed, seems everyone wants to de-arch the spring, or buy after market lowered springs, etc.

Anyone have thoughts on this? Should be fine? Don't do it 'cause...?

A pic of what I'm trying to explain is attached. Hope it makes sense. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks,

Mike

[DrJ]

That's right but if they are extreme, it'll sway all over the place if you don't put Panhard bars on front and rear.

[Bruce Lancaster]

This is actually traditional--all the old catalogs contained long shackles. And it's the reason for the traditional taildragger look--you can go farther in back this way.
Look under a '42-48 for ideas and possibly hardware for the necessary bars.

[Baron Von Mike]

Thanks for the couple posts so far. Both helpful. I'm not going gang busters on this lowering job. Looking for about 2" at all corners. Seems getting longer shackles for just this much drop should not cause too much sway.

Actually, this lowering method will most likely be for the front end. I have a complete Posies (modern) rear spring kit for this thing. Trying to decide if I should use that, but it would require the obvious welding of the spring mounts to the stock rear. If I go with the Posies then I'll lower the rear with blocks.

For this front lowering job I'm considering these possibilities:

- De-arching (hell the springs are 60 years old, kind of de-arched already)
- Lowered Mono-leaf spring
- Longer shackles (I like this one for some reason. Probably its low cost?)
- Dropped spindles (if they can be found, are they even made?)
- Modified Axle (Very cool, but too much work)

[sawzall]

heres a pic of the ford shackles that bruce is referring to..

[sawzall]

ANother option is a reverse eye spring.. actually you can buy JUST the main leaf with the eyes reversed.. I cant remember who sells it now but I had one on my 40 before I went to Mustang 2

good luck sawzall

[alchemy]

Sawzall, have you been in my garage? I have a NOS set of shackle bars EXACTLY like those. I was finally gonna crack open the seal and use them later this year, until you stole them. What else did you take off the shelf?

- alchemy

P.S. I saw your car at BTTF's. Impressive drive.