Dropping a '63 F100?
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Dropping a '63 F100?
Anyone have any ideas for dropping a '63 F100? I've seen pics of them but can't find any info on how to do it? Looking for all available methods in case I can't afford the "best" way. Thanks.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Texas
Dropping a '63 F100?
Welcome to the fold my friend. 
Your in the same spot most of as were in (or still are) when it comes to these old trucks.
Several companies are out there offering momo spring kits, Independant front ends and such. I would suggest browsing through all of the previous posts (or do a search) to find some help in this area.
Before doing any of this, you need to sit back and decide what you want out of your truck, what your skill level is, and how fat your bankroll is before doing anything to your truck.
Anything is possible, it's how you get there that matters.
Your in the same spot most of as were in (or still are) when it comes to these old trucks.
Several companies are out there offering momo spring kits, Independant front ends and such. I would suggest browsing through all of the previous posts (or do a search) to find some help in this area.
Before doing any of this, you need to sit back and decide what you want out of your truck, what your skill level is, and how fat your bankroll is before doing anything to your truck.
Anything is possible, it's how you get there that matters.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Salisbury NC
Dropping a '63 F100?
I have a 61 Unibody and I think I may try removing a few spring leafs when I have the springs off. I've heard of lots of guys doing this - I realize it affects your hauling capability but I won't be doing much of that anyway. I figure it's cheap and if it works - great. If not I can always order those mono leaf springs from CPP or somebody. Good luck.
Kris
Kris
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Canyon Lake Texas
Dropping a '63 F100?
I was crawling around under my 63 (see in my gallery) wondering the same thing. To drop the rear much, the frame needs to be "C'ed"-which is not all that exotic an operation. Taking off the bed is pretty straight forward and easy (we have lots of Oak Trees down here, and I've done it by myself before). Then, "flip" the axle, moving to rest on top the spring (figure it all out before you start). Be sure to maintain your pinion angle, and you're good to go as low as you want. Just the flip will be good for about 4 ", and you can use blocks after that. I can't find a dropped axle for the front of this truck, but that's the way to go. In both cases new shocks will be needed. OR...put in a Mopar torsion bar front and dial it up or down as you please. Most folks will advise you to go with a new clip of some sort so you gain. Rack&pinion (or power) steering, disc brakes. smoother ride, and a drop all in one.
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Dropping a '63 F100?
Thanks for all the suggestions. The rear doesn't seem to be a real problem. It's the front end that has me scratchin. Will the so called "dream beams" work on a '63? I think those will only work on '65 front ends and up. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'd like to avoid putting a new front end (Mustang II, Aerostar, etc) on. I eventually plan on putting air suspension on. And can you remove the bed on a unibody without removing the cab too?
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From: Canyon Lake Texas
Dropping a '63 F100?
I imagine that the entire body would have to come off as a unit on a Unibody. I don't know about "Dreambeams". You can set up a dropped axle with airbags, but that's not a common approach. I've seen it, but the bags were in coil-overs.
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Dropping a '63 F100?
if you have couls in the front you can cut off at a max of half of the round of the spring or you can heat them up and they will shrink
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Texas
Dropping a '63 F100?
I was re-reading this post and thought of a cool somewhat inexpensive way to lower the front end.
Remove the leaves, make your own brackets and as mentioned above, you could use bags or coil overs with trailing arms (except they face forward) Give the same treatment out back for a rad custom suspension that hasn't been done on our old trucks yet.
Sort of a "front" four link suspension.
Remove the leaves, make your own brackets and as mentioned above, you could use bags or coil overs with trailing arms (except they face forward) Give the same treatment out back for a rad custom suspension that hasn't been done on our old trucks yet.
Sort of a "front" four link suspension.
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New User
Joined: Apr 2003
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Dropping a '63 F100?
With everyone's help, I'd love to be the first to try this and send pics on the results. Plan on painting it all black with chrome wheels, bumpers, and grill. Any pitfalls to look out for while designing the custom brackets?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Eugene Oregon
Dropping a '63 F100?
Perhaps a tracking rod or panhard bar is in order to keep the axle from moving sideways, or some other way of locating the axle in proper alignment. Have yet to measure up a later truck, but an old timey trick was to use a one-ton axle with more 'drop' to lower mid fifty's F-100's. Also AMC Pacers have a swell front end, but those ugly ducklings might be getting hard to find, I haven't really looked around myself. Good luck.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: prince edward island
Dropping a '63 F100?
HI I just finish dropping the front off my unibody ford truck.I got the main leaf spring made at a truck shop with the eyes upside down it drops the front about 1to2incheslooks find.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Washington State
Dropping a '63 F100?
Here's another concept. I recently noticed in one of the mags (either Classic Trucks or Custom Classic Trucks) that there are different straight front axels that appear to have more drop than others. They appeared to be stock, but there was also a company in the same mag that actually built new front straight axels with any drop you wanted. Also, changing your front spring to a mono will also drop your truck about 2" without doing anything else to your rig. Hope you take pictures of whatever you do to show the rest of us.
Jim
Jim
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From: columbia
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Mtn Home ID
Dropping a '63 F100?
I have found only one good way to do it that is with a Dodge Aspen, Volarie Front clip, gives you disc brakes, power steering ajustable ride height, all in one package and it fits in these trucks like it was made for them Ive got it down to about a weekend AND can be done fairly cheap 
