lowering a staight axle ford f100?

i have a 64 f100 ,lowering the back is not a problem but the front baffles me. are there any tricks on lowering the front. whats the most drop i can get using the straight axle. i do not want to front clip it or add aftermarket suspension. please help!

 

Never saw one lowered with out the options you have already ruled out. A Nova subframe matches up so-o-o-o-o nice, whatya got against it?

 

I wonder if they're the same setup as 56 Ford? Mid Fifty Pickup Parts has lowered springs, dropped axles, any combination you need for the earlier trucks.
Larry T

 

Here's an older link that has some interesting info.................
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46702

 

You can buy a dropped axle,lowering springs,etc,etc.

 

You can take a few leaf springs out of the front. I did this to my F1 and maybe later I will do the dropped axle. I want to drive it first and see how it feels.

 

Check this stuff out...www.droppedaxles.com
Smokey

 

I got a 58,pretty close,so here's what I did-reverse eyes on the main springs,flipped the axle onto the top of the springs(required making saddle mounts,new 6 inch long u-bolts custom made,shortened pitman arm about 1 1/2 inches,stepped the drag link ends to reduce angle of ends where they mount,c-notched the frame above the axle to get room for axle to travel) Tie rod will sit above the springs with just enough clearance for operation. Mine has a 302/c4 with speedway crossmembers and front sump pan,so everything clears on mine no problemo. Stock shocks work still,no drop axles to buy,no hokey tie rod drop kits to mess with,no need to mess with kingpins or core charges...worked for me. I added a big steering stabilizer from Rancho(made my own mounts) to keep the steering a little tighter too. A little more work than the bolt-on way,but WAY cheaper. Will give 6+ inches of drop.

 

Consider a dropped axel for this thing. Contact Sid Dropel aka/Nostalgia Sids in Guthrie, OK. www.droppedaxles.com. He has two presses and I've seen him drop these axles. Uses original axles for your specific application and creates a great product. Ya can't go wrong this way.........................

 

I used a CenPen axle with the machined steel ends on my 61 and their tie rod drops. Worked great. http://www.cenpen.com/truckaxles.htm

 

I like this over the spring setup and am planning to do the same on my 62.

 

I recently lowered my '64 F100 by flipping one of the leafs OVER the main leaf upside-down (in negative arc), and then clamping it all back together. Overall it lowered the truck about 3-4". It rides pretty well too and bottoms out only on rare occasions.











As far as I'm concerned, this is the best and lowest way you can go without spending any money.

 

Will the spring flip cause problems with the steering components, or do they stay stock? I don't want it to bumpsteer real bad.

 

putting the axle on the top of the springs will give you some bump steer i did this to my 61 not to bad but it is there

 

I haven't had any problems with bumpsteer. The steering still feels pretty much the same as stock.

This truck is my main driver, so I've been driving it all over the place, and I haven't had a single problem with the flipped springs. It really doesn't ride too bad.

 

Don't worry about that truck. Work on your bike so I can ride it. I still want those wheels.

 

Thanks guys, it will be my driver too, but it doesn't sound too bad.

 

That doesn't look very low.

 

Yeah, unfortunately, its really not. The truck still sits about a foot off the ground now , but you should’ve seen how it sat at stock height. All flipping the leaf did was take the edge off the tippity-top farm truck look. I didn’t want to hack the frame and spend money to get it down up front, so this is the lowest possible while retaining a little bit of travel clearance.

 

I have 64 f 100 short bed that I dropped. I found a two inch dropped axle at a swap meet for $80.00. It is mounted above the spring and I have gone with a monoleaf front spring with custom brackets. I can go lower but I would hit the oil pan on the yblock. The rear is custom four link system, I am going to run some Hurst Racing tires 16" x 12" pie crust whitewalls.

 

you can use the front cradle fron an A body Mopar - Fits nicely to the arch of the frame - mid 70s chrys. use transverse tortion bars - no rear cross member required for bar mounts. simple fit - dont even have to move the steering box- Our5kids has done this to a 59 and is starting a 58 in a couple of weeks - works thru 66 - Jaxx

 

my 66 f100 is dropped something like 6-8 inches, rear was easy, cut perches off the bottom of the frame and moved them to the top, as far as the front, i havent looked to see how they dropped it, but i can in the morning,

here is a picture of mine ( bought it like you see it)

 

Have you looked into a shop that can reverse the eyes on your leaf springs?

 

Dropped axle is the way to go. Mine is a drop axle 3"-4" and no leaves taken out. I have a 352 cast iron anchor so its pretty heavy....

 

I've always felt like dropping the already low axle 3-4" over stock is just putting it too close to the ground for clearance. It just seems that way from all the pictures I've seen and looking at my own.

 

'66 is twin I-beam, '64 is still a straight axle.

Reverse the spring yourself and leave a little of the arch out of it, that'd be the easiest and cheapest way to get some drop.

...here is a link to an idea I'm thinking seriously about using on my daughters '64:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/716058-buildup-06-crown-vic-front-suspension-into-67-f100.html

 

this is what i did and this i where mine sits

 

Could u put up a pic of the underneath of ur truck showing the dropped axle on top o the leafs

 

camaro sub

 

would flipping one spring over the main leaf work a 51 ford f100