66 I-beam upgrade?
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 573
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From: San Jose Ca.
66 I-beam upgrade?
I have been looking through a lot of the threads here and have seen a few that give the years of the trucks that I beams can interchange. I am still in shopping mode for a slick but want to start collecting the necessary parts to make the ride as nice as my 96 F350. Now, I have read that the I-beams from trucks up to 79 will work in the 66 and that later ones won't. My question(s) is why? What are the differences? What kind of fabrication would be needed to do such a conversion? Has anyone done this? Any assistance or direction to a particular thread in the forum, would be appreciated. Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Highlands Ranch CO.
I have been looking through a lot of the threads here and have seen a few that give the years of the trucks that I beams can interchange. I am still in shopping mode for a slick but want to start collecting the necessary parts to make the ride as nice as my 96 F350. Now, I have read that the I-beams from trucks up to 79 will work in the 66 and that later ones won't. My question(s) is why? What are the differences? What kind of fabrication would be needed to do such a conversion? Has anyone done this? Any assistance or direction to a particular thread in the forum, would be appreciated. Thanks
My questions what makes you think there is a difference in ride from 66 to 79 I beams? Your ride comes springs and shocks. And if I remember right the 80 style frame is totally different from the 65-79 frame.
If riding like a caddy is a big deal I would look at swap the front end out for a crown vic.
But if hauling stuff with a 66 is a big deal then I would just upgrade the shocks and springs and update to disk front brakes.
just my .02
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Elder User
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From: San Jose Ca.
I was looking at lowering the truck utilizing the DJM dropped I-beams and thought that the newer design that uses ball joints instead of a king pin design would be better for alignment purposes. My F350 has Bell-tech dropped beams and the alignment is spot on and the ride is nice. I work in a shop and we build complete tubular suspensions for old Mopars so I guess its just part of my thought process to want to upgrade the suspension.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2008
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From: PHX AZ
I was looking at lowering the truck utilizing the DJM dropped I-beams and thought that the newer design that uses ball joints instead of a king pin design would be better for alignment purposes. My F350 has Bell-tech dropped beams and the alignment is spot on and the ride is nice. I work in a shop and we build complete tubular suspensions for old Mopars so I guess its just part of my thought process to want to upgrade the suspension.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: San Jose Ca.
I wish it were that easy. We only do Chryslers from mid 60's to mid 70's. The owner is a die hard Mopar guy and barely recognizes any other makes. Plus I was looking for something that required as little fab work as possible. I've been out of the old Ford truck scene for a while and don't know what all the options are for modifying these trucks. Thanks for the input guys.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Glendale Arizona
The 65 to 79 front frame profile and section is basically identical from the rear cab mounts to the bumper. Hence all the suspension parts interchange.
The 80 up series, though similar in frame section width it mounts different and has a differing profile.
The 80s beam can possibly be made to fit with new brackets and some redesign of the spring towers, but will not bolt in.
Garbz
The 80 up series, though similar in frame section width it mounts different and has a differing profile.
The 80s beam can possibly be made to fit with new brackets and some redesign of the spring towers, but will not bolt in.
Garbz
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Elder User
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From: San Jose Ca.
You'll have to forgive the 
for the my questions. I have owned several bumpside F250s and none of them rode as well as my 96. So I will take the comments stated here to heart and just go with a disk upgrade and based on what has been said, my truck will ride nice as... So the next question is: What are a good Dropped I-beam to get? DJM or Bell Tech? Are there aftermarket springs available for these trucks?And just in case anyone may be interested...I saw a 66 MERCURY M100 along with 66 F100 Parts truck on the Wako Texas CL today. 1500.00for both trucks. They are projects and as much as I want a Merc, I don't have time for another project so, I thought I would throw it out there.
http://waco.craigslist.org/cto/2109530565.html
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,564
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From: Tucson
here is one write up
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...xperience.html
you can use the search tool and type in dream beams to find more threads on the subject.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...xperience.html
you can use the search tool and type in dream beams to find more threads on the subject.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2008
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From: PHX AZ
Ok, I'm not trying to stir up any hostilities You'll have to forgive the for the my questions. I have owned several bumpside F250s and none of them rode as well as my 96. So I will take the comments stated here to heart and just go with a disk upgrade and based on what has been said, my truck will ride nice as... So the next question is: What are a good Dropped I-beam to get? DJM or Bell Tech? Are there aftermarket springs available for these trucks?
And just in case anyone may be interested...I saw a 66 MERCURY M100 along with 66 F100 Parts truck on the Wako Texas CL today. 1500.00for both trucks. They are projects and as much as I want a Merc, I don't have time for another project so, I thought I would throw it out there.
1966 MERCURY PICKUP
You'll have to forgive the for the my questions. I have owned several bumpside F250s and none of them rode as well as my 96. So I will take the comments stated here to heart and just go with a disk upgrade and based on what has been said, my truck will ride nice as... So the next question is: What are a good Dropped I-beam to get? DJM or Bell Tech? Are there aftermarket springs available for these trucks?And just in case anyone may be interested...I saw a 66 MERCURY M100 along with 66 F100 Parts truck on the Wako Texas CL today. 1500.00for both trucks. They are projects and as much as I want a Merc, I don't have time for another project so, I thought I would throw it out there.
1966 MERCURY PICKUP
Springs and shocks are avail.
The DJM's do not give the drop as claimed, cheap axx pieces of plate tacked together and crooked at that. Also very little + caster and its different from side side. Not only that but the worst powder coating I have ever seen. All around slop job and would not put them on a display wagon.
The holes for the king pins are another hack job.... I could go on.
Posting Guru
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From: Elizabethtown, PA
I have owned several bumpside F250s and none of them rode as well as my 96.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Highlands Ranch CO.
Thats kinda what I was thinking.....I think my 66 rides better then my old 95 F250....
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2008
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From: PHX AZ
I have 3 F250's and they ride every bit as well as the F100. With a 10 pack spring on each side in the rear its amazing they ride as nice as they do. A few years back I skipped over the F250's because I "thought" the ride would be poor. Boy was I wrong...