Can someone tell me the stock distance between the front straight axle and the rubber bumpers mounted on the bottom off the frame. I like the stance of my truck but the previous owner went about it the wrong way. He either heated the springs or de arched them, the rubber bumbler is sitting on the straight axle. I'm going to replace the springs but I want the same ride height I have now. The stock measurement would help determine the drop I'm after. Not sure if I'm going with drop springs or if I'm going to send the axle to Sid and have him work his magic.

 

No one has a 53-56 F100 setting at stock height that can get a measurement between the rubber bumper and axle.

 

You can't have it both ways.....low stance and stock ride height. The distance between the axle and frame determines your ride height, unless you have a dropped axle or run shorter tires.
I have de-arched springs on my F-1 and had to trim the rubber bumpers....spring sets about 2" away now. It doesn't bottom out.....

Edit; Sorry, I mis-read your question.....carry on.

 

I have dropped and reversed eye springs, so I can't help you. The stock springs were pretty flat.
You might call Mid Fifty and ask, they sell stock springs and the gals there are pretty sharp. If they don't know the answer off hand, it's quite possible one of them would measure one of the trucks they have sitting there for you.

 

Thanks for the responses, I know for a fact that I need new front springs since they are bottomed out so, I was thinking about going with a 3" drop centering spring. If that doesn't put me where I want to go I guess I can have the axle dropped to get a tad lower. My front bumper measured from the bottom edge is 10.5" off the ground and that's where I'm wanting to keep it when completed. I'm running 235 70 15 tires up front.

Ax Racer what is your measurement, and how much drop is in your front springs.

Thanks Dave

 

I'm assuming that you have a stock solid axle up front. You can get a dropped axle that allows you to replace or re-arch your stock springs....the travel would be restored to the original stock travel, but the dropped axle tucks the wheels higher up in the wheel wells.

Heating springs is not the way to lower the ride if you have any plans to actually drive the truck.

1948-56 Ford Truck

Doh...if I had read the whole question it would have been a good thing. The link above is a speedway off-the-shelf dropped axle. I think is is 6 inches which is probably too much. You probably should send your axle out for a 2 to 3 inch drop and do the rest with tires. Measure the speed bumps at the grocery store where you shop to figure out how high you want the front valance off the ground!!

If you search hard, you may be able to find some dropped spindles. I don't know for sure if they exist for a solid axle setup, but they are common for the IFS setups.

Dan

 

I called Sid and he had me get some measurements, the most critical was from the wheel lip to the center of the spindle. He said he will do some calculating and look at some of his notes on other 53-56 drop fronts he has done and let me know what I need. He wasn't sure if just the lowering springs will get me where I want to be. Might have to send him the axle to finish the drop.

 

A 3" axle drop with lowering springs will definitely let you knock over beer cans with your front bumper. Watch how low you go or you may run into issues with tire/fender clearance when turning, especially if you are wanting to run wider or larger wheels/tires. My front bumper is off and the truck is up on stands at the moment, so I can't give you a measurement. You might look at my gallery to see how my truck sits. I planned my height for towing a car hauler, so I didn't want it too low. Ask Sid, but I think you will need tie rod spacers with the axle/springs combo.

 

I measure 13 1/2" from floor to bottom of the front bumper. This on a 54 F100 with a 223 and 29.5 OD tires and original springs. Also Speedy Bill sells dropped tie rods applicable to the 2 1/2 dropped axles; more elegant than some other solutions.

 

I'm at 10.5" from the bottom of the bumper to the floor, from the wheel opening on the fender at 12 oclock to the center of the spindle I'm at 15.5". Sid done some calculating and also from past experience believes that by going with a set of 3" drop Posie springs I should end up at 16" from the fender opening at 12 oclock to the center of spindle. This is going to be what I try first since the springs in the truck are bottomed out and need replaced anyway. If that doesn't get me back close to where I'm at now the next step is to drop the axle.