OK everyone I'm new here on this forum so I will introduce myself and follow with a question... Name is Brian I'm 18 yrs old and I drive a riced out jetta and I'm deciding to go back to my roots... my dad restores old cars as a hobby so I have always been into them... he has a 64 chevelle convert. that he shows and he fixed up my sisters 66 mustang (also show quality). My grandpa gave me his 71 ford f-100 sport custom with the 302 in it and a good ol' 3-on-the-tree... 99,000 original miles on it... I want to restore it and turn her into a beauty. My first question to post is.... I am looking to lower the truck a few inches...(not slammed) my dad has a 57 ford f-100 (short bed) that he is working on right now and he dropped a valarie mopar front clip in to give it the cars riding height (a little too low for me on my long bed)... I want to drop it around 3-4" but I can not find ANY front spindles or any lowering springs... all I can to is lower the back with blocks... and thats not how I want to do it... and I dont want to have it tugboating around... any ideas of how I can lower it to my likings? because I do not have many more ideas of places to look for lowering a 71 f-100 thanks for the help.... Brian

 

Hi Brian and welcome aboard!

There are a couple of places that offer lowering parts for these trucks. Check out the crew at AIM (I think Industries) and DJM Suspension, they have websites for shopping at. The method to lower does not involve spindles or springs for these (unfortunately), just good old fashion replacement front ends... For the back, you can pick up some "hangers" which will raise the rear spring, rear eye location and drop the back down. Now some prefer the AIM over DJM and vice-versa, but you can check with the crew here about their reasoning.

Enjoy, --Mike

 

I prefer DJM did my 72 tried AIM and did not have a good fit on the pins, did a flip kit with a C notch on the rear and got a good 6 inches in the back with 3 full inches on the front, went to low profile tires on 15 inch wheels, and then used air shocks to make the truck even, Fords are slopped rear to front from the factory during the 67 to 72 era. Looks a lot better straight line. There are some different pins on some models so measure them first. Its also a good time to upgrade with front disc if you don't have them. Any 73 to 79 F100 to F250 will work. Get the proportioning valve so the brakes can be set up correctly to stop.

 

Am I correct in thinking that lowered I-Beams are needed for the front end?

 

well,u can go with the three inch dropped beams,or u can go to LMC and buy two inch lowering springs,they also have lowering real springs,on these old trucks there is no lowering spindals,someone should start making those,they would make a mint,but in the rear,if u want good handleing and have either the money or the skill to put on a fourlink rear end,butiful ride.....or flipkits,lowering blocks,bad idea...my opinion,but the best idea for the front is M2 conversion,pricey but the best....
just my 2 and 3/4 cents

 

while we are on the lowering topic, is their truly a difference between lowering springs you can buy from LMC truck and chopped factory springs when it comes down to it? thanks

 

yes,there is a large difference,lowerin springs are like stock springs,and all u need is a simple alignment,but if u cut ur stock factory springs u wil;l need to get ur i beams cut,and that is risky business,and with out bending ur ibeams u will never get it aligned even clost to wut it was,so yes there is a big diff.

 

On my 68, the rear leaf spring hangers, are from what I have read, are the progressive load handling hangers (2 separate hangers in one - 3 bolts). Can I swap these out, for a lower set of conventional hangers? I'd like to just give my truck a lower stance, not a slam job.

 

go to aim or w/e one of those places they should have them,i think they have them in 2 inch drop,i think,dont qoute me....