Wanting to lower my 83' F100 and have an idea for the rear, what i need input on is the front end. How would you guys recommend the front end be lowered due to the twin i-beam set up? I have heard its a pain in the butt, have I heard right? If any one could post pics of their lowered truck that would be awesome! Or post pics of how they lowered their truck. Thanks!

 

The only way to SAFELY lower the front of a F series truck is with drop beams. DJM sell Dream Beams lowering kits, and they have the reputation of being the best on the market. You can get a basic 2" rear drop, 3"front-4" rear drop, or 3" front-5" rear drop. DJMSUSPENSION.com

 

Even throwing safety out the window, you still can't lower them without the alignment being hopelessly thrown off. It's the same reason you can't raise the twin I beam 4wd's without drop down brackets and such.

I still want to see a 80-86 guy put a later model crown vic suspension in the front. The crossmember unbolts completely out of the car, and may be a close fit in these trucks, and gives you the ability to lower it at the same time. Fab skills are required though.

 

DJM huh, i have been wondering about throwing a newer model front end under the truck. i have some buddies here at school who are amazing fab guys...they are finishing up a VW vanagon. they took the VW frame out from under the van, threw a 4x4 toyota truck frame under it, slapped a 2.4 liter toyota fuel injected motor with a turbo in between the seats. it is incredible....anywase...i am looking up the DJM stuff first...

 

The DJM beams are designed to keep correct alignment. Thats why they are made of jig welded tubular steel and not i beam material that warps and bends. Always take it to the alignment shop after any front suspension work.

 

i am looking at the DJM stuff...more money than i expected...oh well..we have a new Hunter alignment rack where i am goin to school...got that covered

 

If you want the best you gotta pay for it. Besides if we wanted to go the cheap route we would be driving Chebbys.

 

hahahaha...nice! good point though...so, my brother back in TX and one of his buddies put a 632 chevy in a 89' Stang..was really impressed until they popped the hood...it has a pissing on Ford sticker on the back. i wanted to kick some ***, but they are bother 6'4" and over 300 pounds each...not fat either..so i held my tongue

 

Pick up a new front end cheaper than those DJM beams, get your fab mates to weld it in, bobs your uncle!

I put a Jag XJ6 front end in mine, IFS, power rack and pinion - all good and only cost me about $200US complete. I'm doing mine with air bags as well, so the height in the 2nd pic is without air, it'll sit at a more drivable height with air.

 

wow, i like the right hand drive ford...thats pretty different..also really like the idea. i played around yesterday and removed the 2 middle leaf springs. i lowered down alot more than planned. just kinda getting an idea of what i want. i really want to scrap the i beam front end and do the rack and pinion, my buddies and i were talking about that yesterday.

 

The question you have to ask yourself is can you afford for your ride to be down long enough to do a complete frontend swap? You have to balance what you want and what is realistic for your capabilities. Just dont get in over your head.

 

I have two trucks (the other is a 76' LWB effy) so I have no issues with mine being off the road to get the job done right. Still working on the rear end which is already notched, awaiting the diff back from narrowing before we get the parallel 4 link and air bags in. Ditching the leaf spring means I've got room for 15" wide rims, but I'm sticking to 9" wide to keep the truck legal without going to floating hubs. Then we need to fab front and rear wheel tubs, get it all back together and it's rolling. Got to get custom headers made to fit around the steering linkage, get my wheels then it's good to go. Also sticking in buckets and going to floor shift, so still a fair bit of work left.

 

of course, i am more than likely going to just get lowering beams for now and then do a front end swap next year some time after i get the wifes car and she gets something newer. i won't be in over my head, just a matter of starting/finishing.

 

Ok I'm looking at buying an '83 f100 I would like to lower it but I'm having trouble finding from beams they all seem to go up to '78 for the f100's and then they jump to '83+ f150's do I just use the f150 beams?

 

Yes, find some later beams from the junkyard and use all the spindles/brakes/wheels from them. Caution, your wheel bolt pattern may change.