help me get low! 76F100
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Pennsylvania
help me get low! 76F100
Ok guys. I have a 1976 F100 2wd auto with the 390.
I want to drop the truck 3"/5" . Where do i go? What suspension pieces are recommended? Where can i find a spring set for the front of this truck?? I've been told id have to have them custom made(i dont think this is correct).
If air bags dont cost much more...id consider that as well. Just gimme your honest opinions and a little insight. I'm not a suspension guru, so I turn to you guys!
Thanks!
I want to drop the truck 3"/5" . Where do i go? What suspension pieces are recommended? Where can i find a spring set for the front of this truck?? I've been told id have to have them custom made(i dont think this is correct).
If air bags dont cost much more...id consider that as well. Just gimme your honest opinions and a little insight. I'm not a suspension guru, so I turn to you guys!
Thanks!
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Joined: May 2003
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help me get low! 76F100
Check with Belltech, I know at one time they were making dropped beams back to 72 I belive. I think that the bell tech 3-5 is going for 1000 or so. I dont think any company is making off the shelf drop springs
For a quality built and installed Air Bag system your going to pay between 4 and 5 grand from a reliable shop.
Just my tid bit... hope it helps
For a quality built and installed Air Bag system your going to pay between 4 and 5 grand from a reliable shop.
Just my tid bit... hope it helps
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Coutts Canada
help me get low! 76F100
If you want it cheap go for the droped I-beams (3" and about $300-400 maybe lower) and a rear axle flip($100 the most). Then just get some good shocks, cut the front bumpstops to make sure you have as close to possible as much travel as before. Then for safe measure get it aligned. I don't know about the front end geometry though, you might have a few problems with it binding if you have stabilizer bars and the steering might be off to.
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From: Pennsylvania
help me get low! 76F100
I found the 3" drop Dream Beams(I beams) manufactured by DJM suspension. These I assume would rop the front about 3", correct me if I'm wrong.
What is involved in installing these? I'm sure my mechanic can handle this, but im not sure what kind of time I'm looking at for this to be done. Any one have any ideas what the process is for installing the drop beams, and about how long it could take ?
The rear "axle flip"...whats involved?
I've also seen lowering hangers and shackles. Are these rear suspension lowering pieces? They show a 3 or 4" drop.
Thank you very much for your help guys !
What is involved in installing these? I'm sure my mechanic can handle this, but im not sure what kind of time I'm looking at for this to be done. Any one have any ideas what the process is for installing the drop beams, and about how long it could take ?
The rear "axle flip"...whats involved?
I've also seen lowering hangers and shackles. Are these rear suspension lowering pieces? They show a 3 or 4" drop.
Thank you very much for your help guys !
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Coutts Canada
help me get low! 76F100
Be careful with the I-beams you have to be prepared for bottoming out though. The axle flip is basically just moving the axle on top of the spring pack and is very cheap to do. If you had everything ready and set out you could perform the whole thing in about a full day (or maybe a day and a half.)
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help me get low! 76F100
Lift the truck up, so the springs no longer have tension in them. Unbolt the radius arm, and remove the bolt from the pivot end of the I-beam. Undo the shock and it should drop out with a little bit of prying and pulling. Oh, dont forget to disconnect your brake line, and your steering components. Undo the bolt holding the spring to the I-beam, and it, and the radius arm will come apart. Take your existing I-beam and the new drop beams to a suspension shop, and get them to swap the components to the new I-beams. This is a good time to put in new king pins. Once they have been swapped, you can bolt everything back together. One note, you will have to take your radius arms to a welding shop, and get them to cut the top half of the support for the radius arm, where the steering link goes through. Once you lower the truck, the steering arm will be positioned roughly where this support is. Get them to reinforce the opening with 1/4" plate. Email me through FTE, and I can email you a picture back of what I mean for the radius arms.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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help me get low! 76F100
hey i would check www.godfathercustoms.com or djm suspension, dont use chassis tech. anyways i have 20 inch harley rims and my truck is in the shop as you read this getting a 4/6 slam. (00 reg cab straight side). i would use djm. basically with a suspension drop everything bolts on, just make sure you get it alligned, and expect to redo the allignment every 4-6 months. fords suspension in the front isnt made to be riding slammed...anyways air ride is the way to go. if i were you id just wait and get airbags. you can get a decent setup for 2500-3500 here in houston.
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Post Fiend
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From: Coutts Canada
help me get low! 76F100
i have just finished my truck (2/4 drop, springs shackle/hangers and custom spring perches). I have found that my truck although it rides a little rough (it always has) handles better and the TIB seems to be fine with the drop.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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lowered 70 ford f100
I just got threw lowering my 70 ford. I went with djm I-beams ,brought thru Aim Industries for $399.00. $45 shipping. The kit included the king pins ,bushings and tie rod extentions. Getting the king pins out and back in was the only hard part of the process. With the tie rod extentions you don't have to cut or weld anything.
Last edited by dave2435; Jun 28, 2004 at 09:09 PM.
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