I would like to get my truck a little lower than stock but not super low. I don't want to spend the bucks putting on an IFS. What is the most affordable way to do something like this?

 

It depends on what you consider a "budget?" For about $700, you can have 4 brand new springs engineered to give you a 2-3 inch drop, look good and be safe doing it. New springs come with new bushings, which you probably need to replace anyway if you're going to mess with the old ones, so there's some money savings right there.

 

I have seen these. Do you need to change anything else besides the leaf springs?

 

You can move the rear spring perches (mounts) up. Lots of labor but only about $50 for grade 8 bolts. Give you about 2" drop.

Or, remove some leaves from the springs. Remove every other gives another 2-3" drop.

Are you hauling anything in the bed?

 

Hey Jim,
We had an Explorer 8.8 inch rear end installed with the springs flipped -
that dropped it a couple of inches. The axle was $125 at a salvage yard -
then it's labor & a bit of welding - pretty reasonable way to get the rear end down a bit.

Ben in Ausitn
1950 F1

 

Put on some 13 inch wheels and let the air out of the tires.

Just kidding Bud

 

Other than new U-bolts, nothing that you wouldn't plan on replacing in the normal course of business anyway; hardware, bushings, etc. If you go with Posie's springs, they come with U-bolts for the front springs, you just have to buy the ones for the rears.

 

Taking out every other leaf from the springs is the very least expensive way to lower your truck. Only expense is new eye bushings and shackle pins (not technically necessary but they usually need replacing and will make the truck ride and handle much better, so since you have it apart change them.) you may need new center pin bolts if yours aren't threaded far enough. Once you lower the front more than a couple inches you're likely to need to add one or two pairs of alignment wedges to bring the caster back into spec. Do an advanced search on my user name and removing spring leafs to read my posts on how to disassemble the springs safely. If not done right, the spring can blow apart with enough force to break a wrist or ankle.
If you look on page 153 and 156 of the Mid Fifty catalog (if you don't have one, download it on their web site or better yet call and ask them to send you one, one of the best references for working on a 53-56 you can get, and it's FREE!) Mid Fifty F-100 Parts - Home you'll find a chart giving all the different lowering methods with the beam axle, and instructions on which leafs to remove.