A previous owner installed the front end from a 64 or 65 F-100.

The shock mount points are no where near being in a position to actually install shocks.

It looks like the front axle is shifted forward 3-4 inches.

It looks like the axle is tilted so the input shaft/driveshaft angle is incorrect.

It looks like someone removed a leaf from each leaf pack.



Are these assumptions correct? What else is wrong? How do I fix it?

If I need to get different shots for you to be able to help please let me know.


Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

 

Looks ok to me but my truck is 2 wheel drive so.... Damifiknow

 

Everything looks about right except the add-a-leaf (your springs are sagged out).
I can't see where the shock attaches to the axle, but the upper mount looks correct.
The differential input shaft should match the output shaft angle of the transfer case so it looks like it angles down. You can check it with angle gauge.
As a side note I see your inner fender has a rigid mount to the floor board, mine is a soft mount. The parts book says to improvise a tire carcass, but I have seen several with rigid mounts like yours.

I will see if I have any pictures of that area for you, although mine is F250.

 

Thanks for the info.

Yeah, the front diff angles down. Can I fix that with shims? I wonder if I'll have to have the front drive shaft shortened?

The front shackles look like they are shifted forward, which also means the hard rubber block that would normally be more centered isn't. Would having the spring packs repaired take out these issues? And maybe allow the shock mount points to line up?


I'll get some better pics of that. I have pressure washed things since taking the pics I already posted.

 

My diff point down also, remember the input and output have to be parallel, If the out put angles up the input angles down. I know it don't look right.
Your front shackles look right to me, the rubber bump stop is in the right spot. I had my springs re-arched/repaired to factory specs.
You may be able to see my lower shock mount in the following pictures.

 

You rock! Thank you for the pics and the information.

I guess I'm all good then, except my lower shock mounts are on the back side of the axle. I also only have 5 leafs, and need the leaf packs re-arched.

 

Thought I would just post up a few things that may be helpful. Hope it does not confuse you. Im pretty sure your front drive line slip yoke should be up on the TC side.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vic-63-65/6774307807/" title="002 by HiBoy63-65, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6774307807_3b5f23fdc0_b.jpg" width="1024" height="730" alt="002"></a>

A few photos so you can see how the front end that is now under your truck was mounted using different shock mounts than your truck uses. This might be helpful to understand why the mounts are where they are now.




You can see in the last photo that on the later model axle the shock are somewhat behind the axle. Hope these don't confuse you just meant to educate on the later model setup. Interesting that the spring bump stops are set further back on the first gen 4wd springs. I wonder if this has something to do with stopping the spring travel sooner to stop the live axle from contacting the oilpan or something else. You can see the 61 up was dead in the center.

 

Thank you. The pics do help. The TC, front drive shaft, and input shaft on the front diff seem to be ok then.


So, I wonder why my upper shock mounts are so far forward of the axle? There doesn't seem to be a good way to attach shocks in this configuration.

 

Looks like your front drive shaft is installed backwards. Splines end of the shaft should be at the transfer case.

Your shock mount looks to be of a 2wd style, while your axel is 4wd, I don't think the radical angle of even Teddy's front shocks are right, way to flat to do much dampening. And Teddy's lower shock mount on the axel is on the front of the axel tube, not on the rear of it as yours is.

I would suggest to find and use a top shock mount as shown it the Photos Buzz44 posted, and mount the shocks behind the axel and in a more vertical position.

Just my opinion but hope it helps you. Aloha, Tony

 

Looks like you should be able to remove the top mount for your front shocks and fab it to a rear postion to make the newer model axle work with its mount on the back side of the axle vs the older gen axle that has the mount on the front of the axle. How are you on welding and fab work it doesn't look to hard to do. Looks like PO stopped before he had the fabed front axle change out complete. If you don't weld a good welding shop should be able to make a front mount on that axle so you can stay somewhat original.

 

The shock mounting points are at odds because he has a forth truck generation axle on a third generation frame. Two and four wheel drives in the third generation shared the same mounting points.

IMHO Since you need to fabricate one new shock mount, I would fabricate both and utilize the newer style shocks that have eyes instead of posts. This will allow easier access to better shocks.

 

I don't have a welder, and have very limited experience.

I like the idea of having two new mounts made and doing the shock upgrade.

 

Teddy,
Where did you get that pitman arm? I've got a 60 F100 (original 2WD) with a 62 Ford Dana 44 front axle installed. With the original 60's steering box installed, my drag link is too long by maybe 2". Either the drag link has to be shorter or the pitman arm has to be angled more toward the cab like yours.
Sorry for the hijack but the pictures were awesome and led to my aha moment. I even pulled the gemmar back out tonight thinking I must have done something wrong during the rebuild...
Thanks!
Nick in WI

 

Sorry Teddy, I just realized your tires are turned to the right... Back to square one.
Nick

 

After further review, that bracket that connects the drag link to the top of the closed knuckle on mine is curved like Buzz44's axle which makes sense due to both axles are the same vintage. I should have one that looks like Teddy's and Mont974x4. Any ideas on where to find one?
Thanks!
Nick

Ps- Mont974x4, I fashioned a set of shock mounts that mount a post style lower shock mount that bolts to the lower axle saddle - similar to how the rear shocks mount to the rear axle. The shocks get much longer than stock but it was no big deal talking to the counter guy to find a set that works.