Can someone give me the skinny on tie-rod end drops? I have 4-inch drop axle in a F-1. I need to know where to purchase them. Thanks!
I bought some for my '55 F~100 from BOBS F-100s in So.Cal. years ago. But they didnt work with a 4" axle, He said would but they didnt. Kinda scary looking lil buggers to, My truck at the time ran the 223 6 so what i did was heat the stearing arms & bent them UP to the cross link went OVER the leaf spring. Ran it like that, NO problems ofr a couple years till i switched in a Pontiac V8... Then had to make Deep dropped steering arms to clear the Oil pan of the V8
The ones that I bought for My F-1 years ago I could have made myself. Simply a tie rod end cut in half and welded to a 1/2 inch plate. A plate about 4 X 2 inches, hole drilled in each end, insert cut tie rod and weld. Lookin hokey but worked...........OLDBEET
http://www.classicperform.com/4856fordtrk.htm#FrontSuspensionComponents I got them for my '60 F100 when I used the dropped axle. They worked fine and are easy to install.
Picture this: 1/2 inch plate,(2 X 4 inch ) drill a hole (size of the threads on tie rod end) on each end of the plate llOlllllllllOll cut tie rod off thru threads, about 2 inches in stick threaded end in one hole stick knuckle end in other (opposed from each other) weld in place now you have a dropped tie rod end hope that makes sence..............OLDBEET
I guess the Florida heat is getting to my noggin. I can't seem to follow this. Please explain again, Thanks!
Is there any way to have a machine shop make them? All of the "parts dealers" only offer them for a 3" axle and I have a 4" axle.
Draw a verticle line above the "D" and that will be the plate that connects them together. Or, bolt the tie rod end to the steering arm, now hold the tie rod about 3-4 inches below that, picture a plate that fills the void. I can hardly operate this PC, let alone send brain waves...........OLDBEET
I found some on ebay with a photo, still don't see how they work. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Tie-...xles-Ford_W0QQitemZ260241328368QQcmdZViewItem "These drops will drop your tie rod 2" from stock. These work with the 1937-48 Ford car or the 48-64 Ford 1/2 ton pickup truck 7 degree tie rod ends. These blocks bolt to steering arm with grade 8 bolts thu tie rod holes on steering arms, then the tie rod end comes in bottom 7 degree hole and tie rod end nut goes in U-slot in block. Drop blocks are great for F-1 and F-100 with dropped axles."
That would make it look like this..... <<TR<| | | |>TR>> This would make the tie rod ends horizontal when they need to be vertical like this..... ^ This end into the bottom of the steering arm ^ TR _____ | | | ^ | ^ |__TR_ Tie rod end goes into this end from the bottom Now I am even more confused! I guess I'm a closet tard!
I could do with something like this but all of it sounds very dodgy. I think I'm gonna just put a drop in my tie rod. Pete
I am in the process of doing this now. This looks sort of like what I have, but a few people that have looked at it were suggesting I redo it better. I was thinking of bending the actual tie-rod with a tube bender? would this work also? I like the bent vega tie-rod end idea also since they are longer. or just look for the willys ones...
Yes you can drop the bar. Cut both ends off, lower the center section, then heavy gussets are a must. Adjustment is tough. If you simply bend a longer bar, it will bend forever. On my F-1 with a 4 inch dropped axle I heated and lowered the steering arms and used modified tie rod ends as pictured. Drove it that way for 20 years. Then went to Mustang II. Lower and a much better driver, nearly 400 K miles now.....OLDBEET
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