lowering ????
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lowering ????
hey guys im new on the forum. i came here to get some help, seems like everytime i search the net it always brings me top this forum so i just made an account. as the tittle states i wanna lower my truck its a 1980 ford ranger f100. ive looked and i keep coming across super expensive kits to lower the truck. i know you gotta pay to to play but i want a simple way of lowering it any help would be greatly appreciated thanks.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
There is no simple cheap way. Sorry. You can probably lower it about 1 inch and get it in alignment and still have good tire wear. The other two ways are the dream beams, or cutting it out all together and putting a whole different suspension in under it.
Laughing Gas
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From: Wausau, WI
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Jonesborough, TN
Welcome to the forum. I'm lowering my truck as well. I went with the dream beams up front, and a custom coilover 4-link rear suspension. The dream beams aren't to difficult to install. A custom rear suspension is a different story. 
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well when you i go to the djm page it doesnt have an aplication for my truck. Which one would i have to use my truck is 1980 f100, in djm it doesnt list anything for that year
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From: Virginia
Some of the early trucks had kingpin I beams.
Some of the f100's had a small car bolt pattern.
All this is easily fixed so you can use the beams, but it's a little bit of work. The lowering beam people decided to pattern their beam after the beams on the later trucks. These trucks have the truck 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern, and they also have balljoints instead of kingpins. Luckily Ford made the mounting points the same for the later beams, so they bolt right in. So all you have to do is find a later truck and get the front beams/spindle assemblies out of it, and then you are good to go.
But, if you happen to have the small car bolt pattern, then you should change the rearend out also to match. And then of course you will need new wheels.
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wow super helpful im new to all this stuff im 24yrs old and been messing around with cars (honda). i have owened this truck since i was 15 but never did much to it and i think its time to get started on it. i think the only thing thats been done to it is that it has what i belive to be a 351m engine instead of the 302 that it should have.
also sorry but when you say later ford truck can you say what years would work so i can try to source one from a wreck yard ?
also sorry but when you say later ford truck can you say what years would work so i can try to source one from a wreck yard ?
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From: In my own world
He may also have a light weight f 100, you can tell by the swiss cheese holes in the frame.
Some of the trucks from that era also had stamped arms, NOT forged arms. My 82 had the stamped arms init.
Some of the trucks from that era also had stamped arms, NOT forged arms. My 82 had the stamped arms init.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
I would look at the site that sells the dream beams. Look for a truck in the year range they say will fit. Just make sure you get everything, the spindles, rotors, calipers, etc. If you could find a junked donor truck, that might be the cheapest way to go, and get the rearend and all.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Delhi, Iowa
i just picked up an 81 F150, i see that it has the kingpin front I beams... i have yet to pull the hubcaps to see what bolt pattern i had... guess i never knew of a difference. i thought they were all 5-5.5" wheels.
that may spoil my plans of running the old wheels off my 95...
my question to you all is this: if i swap on my 95 I beams and 95 spindles, can i use the 81 radius arms, or do i need to find a set off a 92-96?
that may spoil my plans of running the old wheels off my 95...
my question to you all is this: if i swap on my 95 I beams and 95 spindles, can i use the 81 radius arms, or do i need to find a set off a 92-96?
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From: In my own world
Other than the king pins, I think the rest pretty much stays the same. You can do some part number comps on Rock auto. I know the rear spring hangers on the f 150 4x2's are the same from 80-96
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
i just picked up an 81 F150, i see that it has the kingpin front I beams... i have yet to pull the hubcaps to see what bolt pattern i had... guess i never knew of a difference. i thought they were all 5-5.5" wheels.
that may spoil my plans of running the old wheels off my 95...
my question to you all is this: if i swap on my 95 I beams and 95 spindles, can i use the 81 radius arms, or do i need to find a set off a 92-96?
that may spoil my plans of running the old wheels off my 95...
my question to you all is this: if i swap on my 95 I beams and 95 spindles, can i use the 81 radius arms, or do i need to find a set off a 92-96?