I took the bed off to repair my fuel line issues, and am now asking the question of "what else to do now that it's off and out of the way"? I would like to level the truck by lowering the rear, but do not want to chop, cut or alter to extremes. If I do this, I would want to improve the ride/performance as well as make it look level or even a bit lower. If that means lower the front end then a bit, I would entertain the idea as well. My abilities are limited, and have read up on it a bit and one thing I do not want to repeat is those who mentioned creating an alignment nightmare. What are your thoughts folks?

 

If you have any blocks under the rear leaf pack you could possibly take that out and lower it a little bit. Or take one of the leaves out.

But that is probably not going to be low enough, so you might was well buy the drop beam kit for up front and a axle flip for the rear.

 

Thanks for the reply Dave,
What is the tried and true, top rated lowering kit company?

 

I have never installed a lowering kit. But there are these I hear about once in awhile. There may be one other company, not sure.

http://djmsuspension.com/wp-content/...05/DB3000s.pdf

 

I would go with the Dj drop beams front / rear.
I also have not done the kit only because they don't make one for my year (81) truck.

Also know even if you lower just the rear you are changing to aliniment so should be checked / adjusted as needed.
Dave - - - -

 

You all are correct on the DJM co. as they are the only ones I can find that have something for my 86. My goal is level, and if I need to lower both to achieve that I will, but after talking with DJM (super helpful by the way), we kicked around the idea of just a 2 inch rear drop shackle, take out one leaf spring, and install a new set of shocks. This would get me close to level but probably a touch above which is fine, and improve on that super stiff truck ride rear bounce that I asked him to improve on. Yes, I will get another alignment as well (thanks for that tip). The front drop beams put the wheel well at the top of the tires, and I would like to stay away from that if possible. Thanks for helping me kick this idea around, brainstorming is so helpful when an idea could be bad one.

 

 

Why drop? taking out suspension travel gives a crappy ride and you lose the functionality of what it is, a truck......

 

If he was to use DJM kit front and rear, yes I know he does not want to lower the front but this will show what I am about to say.
The front does not loose travel as they are moving only the spindle up so the space between beam & bump stop does not change.


Now the rear is different as you are bringing the axle & bump stop closer together. The only way to get around this that I know of is to "C" notch the rear frame so the axle has the room to move up with out hitting the bump stop.


For a 2" dropout back you could cut down the rubber bumper but them you don't have the cushion the taller bump would give.
Dave ----

 

You have been around here long enough to know some people want to beef up their rear springs, "it sags too much". Some people want a softer ride. Some people want their truck higher, some want it lower, some want it level.

Ford tried to shoot down the middle to try and make it for all purposes.

 

I do like the dual exhaust, was that a stock configuration from Ford?
I see the C-130 poster in the background, My younger brother was a C-5 Loadmaster out of Westover for 25 years.
Come on Dave, don let the blood pressure get to high

 

My thoughts are what size are the joists the straps around to hold the bed?


I want to do the same to my parts truck long bed to get the carcass out from under it.
Dave ----

 

Thanks Dave for putting so nicely, since I am new to this world and I do put things out there for any and all to chime in, I have to take all opinions especially the ones that disagree with my novice ideas. My take away from Reamer's idea is that I may be opening myself to more work than it's worth. I sure don't want to create something I am going to regret, if it was a simple fix with great returns, then that is what I was looking for. I will still do some more research on the topic.

 

It's all up to you, of course, but I have found raising or lowering seems to always bring on, "well I lower this, now it needs an alignment, Now that its aligned, speed bumps are a killer, or this needs tweaking or that needs.....
Raising brings a whole different rounds of battles.
Stock can be good.....

 

I was a C-130 Loadmaster for 21 years, and saw all the good and bad places and people of the world, I would not have traded my life in the Air Force for any amount of money. While the C-5 was clearly the best heavy lifter in the airlift world, the Herk could land/takeoff on a short dirt strip in places and do "stuff" that movies are made of. I look back now, and it seems almost dreamlike, damn I miss it. My guess is your brother feels the same.