I know that if I searched through the suspension alternatives stickied threads or went to the threads linked to each alternative, i could eventually find some information that could give me an idea of ride height for each of the alternatives. but the above question continually gets asked.

Wouldn't it be nice to add a chart to the suspension alternatives that provides the ride height for each alternative.

Since ride height is affected by both distance from spindle to frame and tire rolling diameter, it would be nice to eliminate the tire influence and just compare spindle distance to frame. As well, a baseline would be required and a stone stock fresh straight axle in an F1 or F100 would be an excellent baseline. F2/250 and so on could be part of the comparison. The alternatives should be measured with the lower arms approx parallel to the ground. Given this, even non-running vehicles could provide input to this chart. A picture showing the ride height that provided the dimension, would be a bonus.

Am I just smoking rope here or would this kind of comparison be useful. I know I wrestled with this one for quite a while until I settled on what I wanted to do with the Aerostar on my 55.

Any comments?

 

Sounds like you have an extra project to do.
I think the article would be useful to most when deciding what option to go with.

Good luck, and go for it!


55forder

 

John how much drop did you get after installation. I am looking for no more then 3" drop when I do my installation. Ed

 

Ed,

You have just hit on part of the point that I'm trying to put forth here. I don't know what the original height of the stock suspension is, so I don't know how much of a drop it gives. I haven't done the Aerostar install yet but I know that I want the spindle centerline around 1/2 to an inch below the bottom of the existing frame. this will require approximately a 2 inch notch in to the frame.

This is the reference I would like to use as well.

Can any of the stockers out there measure distance from spindle centerline to bottom of frame. This can be accomplished by measuring from the floor to bottom of frame and then tire diameter. Can we get a similar measurement for each of the alternatives with the lower a-arms roughly parallel to the ground? The only measurement to use as a volare baseline is with the torsion bars adjusted so that the lower arms are parallel. Anyone with a project underway could just block the suspension at the proper lower arm position instead of using a spring

I am willing to create the chart if I can get some help with the measurements.

 

Try this, courtesy of good ole J.Niolon.



http://www.clubfte.com/users/jniolon/fordspecpage.htm


55forder

 

That's great info...wish we had the same for 48-52.

 

Vern I guess I should buy a membership so I can create a webpage since I have most of that stuff and a detailed spec sheet for each model.

 

55 forder,

Thanks for the link. i couldn't find anything about height of the frame from the ground. I guess I'll just keep looking and asking

 

John

I am almost sure the info you request is in the original threads for the suspension sections. From axle center to frame. Not sure we got all of them. But not many options are missing to my recollection.