Kevin,
I think grits suggestion of removing leafs is the most bang for the buck and you wont have much down time. I have one of those long term projects also. a 1926 T roadster pu I wish I would have left it in driving condition seems like I never get time to put it back together. I bought my 1961 uni so I would have something to take to work, cruse in's,ect. my 1961 uni still has the stock 223 3 speed and is stock other than lowered, wheels, paint and interior I prefer to drive it more than my new truck always get thumbs up, nice truck, or what year is it?
Randy
I don't understand what would be gained with this swap, if it's possible. (I guess anything is possible if you have enough money, fab skills and time.) Remember, the OP has a 62.
I understand that completely. My truck is also a straight axle. The point being that you could build new mounts for the beams and such and mount them where you wanted (within reason). If you have reasonable access to the twin beam parts you would get: a reasonably modern IFS, easier parts availability, instant disc brake upgrade, the ability to lower the truck quite a bit all in one fell swoop. The only cost other than the I beams would be for some bits of scrap steel.
Remember, just because Ford put there attachment points in one spot doesn't mean you have to put them in the exact same location. Granted, this presupposes that a person has either the fab skills or the money to pay for it but it really isn't very hard to do from a strictly fabrication standpoint. Two of the mounts are stupid easy to build and the third one (the spring pocket) isn't all that much more difficult. Getting the geometry correct is really the only tough part, and all that takes is a ruler, a calculator and some knowledge.
And as for the lowering shackles, you do realize that that will add even more roll-understeer in the rear, to a truck that already has a goodly amount from the factory. That combined with lowering the spring rate via pulled leaves will result in a truck that handles worse with more understeer AND body roll than the day it rolled off the assembly line. And these trucks were never exactly the pinnacle of engineering or handling.
I hope none of this is coming off as pissy or trite, it'd hard to convey intent or emotion. There's just lots of ways to do things.
I understand that completely. My truck is also a straight axle. The point being that you could build new mounts for the beams and such and mount them where you wanted (within reason). If you have reasonable access to the twin beam parts you would get: a reasonably modern IFS, easier parts availability, instant disc brake upgrade, the ability to lower the truck quite a bit all in one fell swoop. The only cost other than the I beams would be for some bits of scrap steel.
Remember, just because Ford put there attachment points in one spot doesn't mean you have to put them in the exact same location. Granted, this presupposes that a person has either the fab skills or the money to pay for it but it really isn't very hard to do from a strictly fabrication standpoint. Two of the mounts are stupid easy to build and the third one (the spring pocket) isn't all that much more difficult. Getting the geometry correct is really the only tough part, and all that takes is a ruler, a calculator and some knowledge.
And as for the lowering shackles, you do realize that that will add even more roll-understeer in the rear, to a truck that already has a goodly amount from the factory. That combined with lowering the spring rate via pulled leaves will result in a truck that handles worse with more understeer AND body roll than the day it rolled off the assembly line. And these trucks were never exactly the pinnacle of engineering or handling.
I hope none of this is coming off as pissy or trite, it'd hard to convey intent or emotion. There's just lots of ways to do things.
True there are lots of ways to do things but I can't imagine why anyone would want to fab in a twin-i-beam suspension into a truck that didn't already have it. Many guys whose trucks came with twin-i-beams can't wait to rip them out and replace them with one of the other options like the Dakota based suspension or the late model Crown Vic. Either of these options would be far easier and better handling. Just MHO....
just my 2 cents but i built a 2 link system for my uni and so far have had no issues from it it based off of the rear set up for most trucks and i thought since the front was basically set up the same why not try it out and so i did and just toying around the drive and in the country before i put the new motor in it did great so heres some picks but if had to do it over i would have just done the dokota install like gritts said or something to that extent.
Oh yeah, no doubt going to an IC Dakota front would be a huge upgrade over the twin beams, but it costs a whole bunch more money. That's not a bad thing, just depends on what you want out of the truck and how much you're willing or able to spend. IIRC, the OP was asking about cheap and easy. Flipping axles, while somewhat labor intensive, is really only going to cost the price of scrap steel. Assuming you can do the labor yourself. Grafting in the twin beams would likely cost about the same, again assuming, that you had the 65+ parts readily/easily/cheaply at hand.
Ever wonder why the front suspension cross member on a twin I is huge?
Garbz
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64 F100 "Christine" 472 EFI C6 and mean
63 F100 Uni Custom under construction 4" off the pavement and built to drive 4.6SOHC T56.
69 M250 Crew Hiboy 410 Ranger 435. Getting a full rebuild.
95 T-Bird LX 4.6 Cop Magnet........
05 Escape XLT
Oh yeah, no doubt going to an IC Dakota front would be a huge upgrade over the twin beams, but it costs a whole bunch more money. That's not a bad thing, just depends on what you want out of the truck and how much you're willing or able to spend. IIRC, the OP was asking about cheap and easy. Flipping axles, while somewhat labor intensive, is really only going to cost the price of scrap steel. Assuming you can do the labor yourself. Grafting in the twin beams would likely cost about the same, again assuming, that you had the 65+ parts readily/easily/cheaply at hand.
It might be cheap but it sure wouldn't be easy. Besides, he said he wanted to lower the truck. To do that with twin-i-beams he'd have to spend another $600 bucks on drop beams after he spent countless hours cutting the big honkin' crossmember and spring mounts out of a donor truck then trying to weld them into the 62 chassis. No matter how readily available the old twin-i-beam parts are it just seems like an all around BAD idea. He would be way ahead of the game to pull a couple of leaves from his stock springs to get the ride height he wants and then save his money until he can afford to do it a better way. Again, that's just my opinion.
[quote=37 Ford guy;7696440]It might be cheap but it sure wouldn't be easy. Besides, he said he wanted to lower the truck. To do that with twin-i-beams he'd have to spend another $600 bucks on drop beams after he spent countless hours cutting the big honkin' crossmember and spring mounts out of a donor truck then trying to weld them into the 62 chassis. No matter how readily available the old twin-i-beam parts are it just seems like an all around BAD idea. He would be way ahead of the game to pull a couple of leaves from his stock springs to get the ride height he wants and then save his money until he can afford to do it a better way. Again, that's just my opinion.[/QUOTE
I agree.
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64 Ford F100 Styleside Short Bed /223 "6" & 4 speed "Little Red"
63 Ford F100 Unibody Styleside Longbed w/292 V-8, 3 deuces, dual exhausts & 3 speed "Big Red"
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Many guys whose trucks came with twin-i-beams can't wait to rip them out and replace them with one of the other options like the Dakota based suspension or the late model Crown Vic. Either of these options would be far easier and better handling. Just MHO....
