Suspension Drop

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Jan 29, 2005 | 11:42 AM

emgee

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Tuned

Joined: Aug 2004

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From: Winnipeg Canada

Suspension Drop

I recently bought an '80 F100 Custom short bed 300 I6 which I want to drop 2". Right now the truck lists to the driver's side so I need spring work and I can get Neul's to get the springs fixed and at the 2" drop. My concern is the front coils. I know you can 1. heat them, 2. cut and bend or 3. buy new 2" dropped from a U.S. supplier. Do any of you know what is the best way to go and who can do #1 and #2 in and around Winnipeg?
Also, I am looking for a good used 4 speed tranny for same.

Jan 29, 2005 | 11:20 PM

Fomoko1

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From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Quote:

Originally Posted by emgee

DO NOT HEAT THEM! The best is of course to buy the dropped beams but is the most expensive. The coils can be cut a little at a time but it is hard to tell how much and once they are cut too much that is it. You will lose some travel, not a good thing. Also the ride and alignment maybe some what negatively affected, also not a good thing.

Jan 30, 2005 | 09:48 PM

85B2Owner

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From: The Great White North

Get new springs, try spindles for the front drop and just use blocks for the rear. Fairly cheap to do and not as bad as using spacers for lifting it.

Feb 2, 2005 | 04:33 PM

66MercMan

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I don't think you can cut them can you? I know I looked at that for mine, but they are not like chebbies that are the same radius top to bottom, mine have tighter curls at the ends to mount to the I beam cup and upper perch (or whatever their called).

I have drop I-beams on my 1980 F100. I was not aware that there was anyone who made drop spindles or even Drop springs. Do you know the manufacturer or supplier of either of these? (Just curious)

The only cheap trick I have for ya that will lose you an inch is this...Where the spring meets the I beam there is a cast part that has rubber on top that the spring sits on. The cast piece has a cup that goes over a nut that holds the Ibeam and then the nut that holds the spring goes on top of the cast piece using the same bolt. You can cut about an inch off the bottom of the cast piece and still have it go over the nut. This will give an extra inch of drop. If my explanation is hard to follow let me know and I will email you some pics.

Feb 2, 2005 | 09:23 PM

emgee

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From: Winnipeg Canada

Thanks for the info 66 MercMan. I got some coils and I see what you're talking about. I found you can get 2" drop springs (coil springs) from LMC Truck (free catalogue). Also SportTruck carry drop spindles and I-beams.Dendoff Spring in B.C. also carry some lowering kits fro Bell Tech.

Feb 3, 2005 | 09:21 AM

66MercMan

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Sweet, good to know, but mines pretty low already. Hope to have it cruzin in the peg this spring. If you see a silver 1980 stepside with a 96 front clip, shaved door handles and cowl hood, tha'd be me. Or my 1966 Mercury in primer and a lowrider bike in tha back.

Feb 3, 2005 | 10:28 AM

emgee

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From: Winnipeg Canada

Is that 66 Merc in the old St. Vital area? Just curious because I've seen one (maybe it was a Ford) around there. I'm interested in what you've done to the '80 Ford—never see one done up seems like everthing is new or 1950 -1979.