1963 Lowering
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,447
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From: Littleton, CO
Hi John and welcome aboard!
I do not have the spring front end but will chime in anyway. The best methof to lowere your truck is to pick up a mono-leaf set up. One other route would be to have your 40 year old springs re-arched, but what fun would that be. There are no drop spindles to the best of my knowledge, but a lot of folks with your year vehicle are turning to an Aerostar front clip as an option.
Just a few $.01's, --Mike
I do not have the spring front end but will chime in anyway. The best methof to lowere your truck is to pick up a mono-leaf set up. One other route would be to have your 40 year old springs re-arched, but what fun would that be. There are no drop spindles to the best of my knowledge, but a lot of folks with your year vehicle are turning to an Aerostar front clip as an option.
Just a few $.01's, --Mike
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 279
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John,
Welcome to FTE!
I've got pictures in my gallery of the mods I did to lower my 64.
You have many options. I hope some of the others will chime in.
While there may be better options for lowering, what I like about what I did is that
everything is reversible. In an afternoon I can have my truck back to stock ride height.
(but I probably never will) Good luck with you're project! I'll be glad to help answer anything I can.
Welcome to FTE!
I've got pictures in my gallery of the mods I did to lower my 64.
You have many options. I hope some of the others will chime in.
While there may be better options for lowering, what I like about what I did is that
everything is reversible. In an afternoon I can have my truck back to stock ride height.
(but I probably never will) Good luck with you're project! I'll be glad to help answer anything I can.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3
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Thanks
Thanks for your response. Did you have to change anything when you lowered the front (shocks, etc.)? Will there be clearance between the axle and the oil pan? How much of a drop did it give you in the front? I also like the way you did the rear. Did you have to change shocks when you did the rear?
Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I have never built a truck before so this is all new to me. The truck is currently a 223 six with a 4 speed tranny. I am hoping to get the truck sitting right and cleaned up for right now. Maybe someday it will look as good as yours.
Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I have never built a truck before so this is all new to me. The truck is currently a 223 six with a 4 speed tranny. I am hoping to get the truck sitting right and cleaned up for right now. Maybe someday it will look as good as yours.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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First of all thank you for the kind words.
The mods dropped the truck about 6" front and rear. I used shorter shocks front and rear. The guys at my local parts store let me look through the catalogs to find what I needed.
With a rear sump oil pan clearance there wasn't a problem but, it doesn't leave much axle travel. Probably should C the front as well. No changes to the steering linkages were needed. Don't know what size tires you have, make sure they clear the finder when you turn because that's going to be close. Main thing is take you're time and enjoy you're new (old) truck. Mine's been an on and off project for over 10 years and theres still lots of stuff I want to do.
The mods dropped the truck about 6" front and rear. I used shorter shocks front and rear. The guys at my local parts store let me look through the catalogs to find what I needed.
With a rear sump oil pan clearance there wasn't a problem but, it doesn't leave much axle travel. Probably should C the front as well. No changes to the steering linkages were needed. Don't know what size tires you have, make sure they clear the finder when you turn because that's going to be close. Main thing is take you're time and enjoy you're new (old) truck. Mine's been an on and off project for over 10 years and theres still lots of stuff I want to do.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 26
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From: prince edward island
Hi I lowered my 61 truck front end by getting the main leaf spring made at a spring shop with the i turn the opposit way.Its like having the spring up side down with the arch the right way.You cant buy them too in parts cataloge were you can get suspention.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 421
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From: Canyon Lake Texas
I used the 3" drop monoleafs on my 63, but the way to get it in the weeds is a Volare torsion bar front suspension, then you can crank it up or down. Not any more trouble than putting a Mustang II under it. Staying with leafs is WAYYYY simpler. Toyota powersteeing box is the hot setup there, with a simple adapter that bolts it to your frame.
This is with the monoleafs:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...updates009.jpg
This is with the monoleafs:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...updates009.jpg
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Joined: Jan 2005
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hey thanks for all of the info here guys, im just getting my project started, but im planning on it being mostly stock except for the suspension... I want this thing ('62 unibody) to be as low as possible, and i dont mean 6" drop low i mean dragging rails with airbagged suspension low, so the question is (i did a search and didnt come up with much) does anyone have any info or know anyone that has even done a air setup? I have a fair amount of experience with bagged trucks ('96 door dragging f150, 99 rail dragging toyota taco) but have never done any thing, front end wise, with a straight axle. I guess i will see if its gonna be do-able this weekend when i yank the body off and see if i can notch enough of the frame away without mashing the axle into the motor when it baggs down. I guess i rambled a little but any and all info would be greatly appreciated. thanks.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by vegas
hey thanks for all of the info here guys, im just getting my project started, but im planning on it being mostly stock except for the suspension... I want this thing ('62 unibody) to be as low as possible, and i dont mean 6" drop low i mean dragging rails with airbagged suspension low, so the question is (i did a search and didnt come up with much) does anyone have any info or know anyone that has even done a air setup? I have a fair amount of experience with bagged trucks ('96 door dragging f150, 99 rail dragging toyota taco) but have never done any thing, front end wise, with a straight axle. I guess i will see if its gonna be do-able this weekend when i yank the body off and see if i can notch enough of the frame away without mashing the axle into the motor when it baggs down. I guess i rambled a little but any and all info would be greatly appreciated. thanks.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 421
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From: Canyon Lake Texas
If you crawl under with a tape measure you'll find the clearance to the engine is limited. Then , clearrance to the frame itself. If you want to "dump" the front, go to a Volare front clip, and you can crank the torsion bars up or down as you please.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,115
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From: seattle us
I have a question about the spring under axle on the front. Some people say it'snot safe, others say it's fine. Can anyone shed light on it for me? I was thinking of going the drop axle route, but if I can safely and cheaply do a spring under, I'd consider it.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 33
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From: Kerrville, Texas
On my '64 (same suspension) I'm using a Mor-Drop 3.5" front axle and 3" lowered new springs from Eaton Detroit. I'm not a fan of the ride that monoleaf springs gave on my '40 Ford and Mor-Drop has been in business since the '40s.
Wayne
Wayne
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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Comet,
I don't understand the unsafe comment. Flipping the front axle does not change the geometry or the steering linkage in any way. The same 4 U-bolts are still holdinfg the axle on. It just lowers the front end in relation to the ground. But since I'm riding on this I would like to know thier concerns. Please chime in
I don't understand the unsafe comment. Flipping the front axle does not change the geometry or the steering linkage in any way. The same 4 U-bolts are still holdinfg the axle on. It just lowers the front end in relation to the ground. But since I'm riding on this I would like to know thier concerns. Please chime in
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 33
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From: Kerrville, Texas
I don't know of anything unsafe about it either other than everything needs to be done to professional standards, preferably with new U-bolts, and anytime any geometry is changed whatsoever, it should be realigned.