Hi guys I am new to this part of the forum but not F100's I picked up a 1957 F100 last week and am doing a shop truck style build. I will post some pictures as soon as I can but it has a cool patina.

I am looking for help on lowering the truck without breaking the bank. I did a search and did not find anything that was helpful. If I have to I will buy a dropped strait axle but I would like to do it as cheap as possible.

I know I will have more questions in the future but for now getting it safe and running better then in the weeds are on the top of my list.


Tim

 

there is a couple of ways to do it depending on what the truck is going to be used for.

one way is to remove every other spring from the spring packs. this lowers the truck roughly 2". but i wouldn't do this if you are planning on hauling anything heavy with the truck.

other way is to extend the rear shackle hangers. they are pretty easy to fab up a couple of pairs to lower the truck while keeping all the springs. the only thing you will have to be concerned about is re-shimming the front and rear axle to keep the angles proper.

you can get the springs re-arched also to lower it or buy new lowering spring packs that will do this.

that is 3 methods that come to mind.

rgds
Mike

 

got any pics before lowering

 

There's lots of ways and different characteristics/prices/and all depending on what you want to spend and how you want to go etc. I'm using the modern lowered mono leafs in the front of my 58F100 and I'm happy with them. My truck is a "total rod". Its not used for hauling etc so that makes all simpler. It sounds like maybe you're going that way? If so this method of lowering seems good--mine works good, but I hear various comments. I'm only using them in the front because I've got a 4link suspension with coil overs in the rear. Various places sell these mono springs and the prices vary as well. They're available in the stock form which would lower your truck 3inches or reversed eye mono springs that would make it 4inches. At least thats the inches of drop suggested by Sacramento Vintage Ford in their catalog. Depending on the weight of your motor up front I think that all might vary. And when you mention "in the weeds", I'm not sure that's easily possible with leafs? It didn't work that way for me. I first tried the reversed eye mono leafs that got me down low where I wanted-but there was "scary crazy no room left for suspension travel". That can't be right!! Unless one wants to "really" creep around slow-you gotta have some suspension travel! Even with the stock OEM type Ford front snubbers trimmed way back--the way the snubbers fasten its hard to get them less than 2 1/2 inches or so and with the reversed eye monos up front my truck was "resting on those snubbers". That's not for me haha. And sometimes people try to use the mono springs and a dropped axle both--I haven't done it--but i hear one starts asking for "bump steer issues" etc.--I'm not an expert but "that's what I hear". So getting in the weeds? Maybe only with some sort of "air bag stuff". I wish mine were lower up front, but i couldn't do it. Of course I should add that I have a very heavy 460ci C6 combo and maybe the reversed eye monos would work if you had a lighter engine/tranny package. I don't know that, but maybe. Standard or "stock eye" Front Monos p/n 7317-3 retail for $435 a pair plus tax-if applicable and shipping. And the rears p/n 7319-6 go for $495 a pair. So they're not giving these things away. haha. If you can remove some leafs from what you have etc. I would thing that's an option too. I see someone is talking about that too. Goodluck

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...r-springs.html
if you didn't see it there's another current thread discussing this area in general/you might want to listen in