1979 ford stepside
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1979 ford stepside
im starting to restore my 79 stepside & starting with the chasis i would like to lower the front-end about 2'' and the rear-end about 3'' trying to find out whats best drop spindles or springs for the front and either flipping the rear-end or have my leafsprings de-arched. any suggestions would be greatly apreceated
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 83
From: NorCal
Dropped spindles are not available. You may be able to get away by cutting the front coils to lower about an inch. Beyond that the camber alignment gets wonky.
What is 'best' depends on you. Typically, dropped I-beams (DJM beams about $600) will net three inches of drop. If you want to maintain the rake, then look into either flipping the forward leaf spring brackets or longer rear leaf spring swing shackles. Another option is a rear axle relocation kit which puts the axle on top of the leaf spring. A mild C-notch on the frame is highly recommended - $99 through airbagit.com. No welder? No problem!! - In mid-2010, Fatman Fabrications came out with a bolt-on C-notch kit for these rigs. Cutting the frame is required.
The last and labor extensive option for like a 5-inch front drop is an 03 and newer Crown Victoria subframe retrofit. Head over to the bumpside forum to review the CV IFS & T-Bird rear IFS thread. The same principles apply to Dentsides.
What is 'best' depends on you. Typically, dropped I-beams (DJM beams about $600) will net three inches of drop. If you want to maintain the rake, then look into either flipping the forward leaf spring brackets or longer rear leaf spring swing shackles. Another option is a rear axle relocation kit which puts the axle on top of the leaf spring. A mild C-notch on the frame is highly recommended - $99 through airbagit.com. No welder? No problem!! - In mid-2010, Fatman Fabrications came out with a bolt-on C-notch kit for these rigs. Cutting the frame is required.
The last and labor extensive option for like a 5-inch front drop is an 03 and newer Crown Victoria subframe retrofit. Head over to the bumpside forum to review the CV IFS & T-Bird rear IFS thread. The same principles apply to Dentsides.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
From: Grande Prairie, Alberta
I too am doing a '79 Flairside (stepside is a chevy term) Lets see some pics.
I have Dream Beams in mine for the 3" drop and I flipped the front spring hanger on the rear. I'm not 100% sure how it will sit yet as I am swapping the 302 with a 460 but if the back is still to high I am going to pull the thick bottom overload spring.
I have Dream Beams in mine for the 3" drop and I flipped the front spring hanger on the rear. I'm not 100% sure how it will sit yet as I am swapping the 302 with a 460 but if the back is still to high I am going to pull the thick bottom overload spring.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 83
From: NorCal
Git ta werk, will ya?!!
J/K! ..I too have a project. I'm buying, refinishing, and saving up for parts for a Spring 2012 thrash. Dream Beams are next up on my list.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 842
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
What other project do you have? Sorry for the hijack.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 83
From: NorCal
A very complete and mechanically sound 70 Bump... got it for $650 - the same amount that the local air district bribes people with to surrender their allegedly obsolete and non-emissions compliant vehicles that were built before 1980. The PO was gonna turn it in!!!! I just couldn't stand for it to be scrapped with only 70k original miles... she's still a baby.
I'll start a build thread and give ya guys the skinny real soon - dream beams, power disc brakes, and a front sway bar install. After weeks or searching, I found an OEM bar a couple of weeks ago on a 79 SC CS. Meanwhile, I just got my mega Weather-Pak terminal kit so I can finish up wiring up my 73. Xmas is early for me!!!
.... now back to our regularly scheduled programming already in progress.
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Flareside beds are basically the same 1957/79 F100, 1975/79 F150.
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