Lowering?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 14
From: Vale, NC
I'm just curious for all of you that have experince dropping trucks, if you are only looking for a few inches - not a "slam" - can't you use the lowering springs and a lower profile tire? I only want about 3" of drop in my '66 2WD on the front. I want the back up about 2" so there's a little slope. Do I really have to buy the drop I-beams? Will the alignment plague me if I don't?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 14
From: Vale, NC
I have a question for those of you with experience lowering these trucks. If you only want a few inches - not a "slam" - then can't you just buy the lowering springs and use a lower profile tire in front than in back? Do I have to buy the drop I-beams. I want about 2-3" inches lower in the front and 2-3" higher in the back - give it a little slope! Will I be plagued by alignment problems?
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Now we're talkin'. All in fun. Sorry, but I have a soft-spot for farm trucks. Lowering should be reserved for rescued trucks. Like those ones from Seattle. Farm trucks are a special breed. The very essence of the pick-up. Not to be trifled with. But it's a free country. Thank God.
Junior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Fort Saskatchewan, Ab.
Hey FBP....I have measured about every possible thing I can think of on these frames..but never thought about adding the x members from a newer model...just thought about doing a whole clip or complete frame swap. I'm putting my '64 on a '79 chassis and all is going well...but, could I have put the front x members from my junk '65 into my '64????
Thanks for any input....and I'm gonna measure tomorrow!
Mike.
Thanks for any input....and I'm gonna measure tomorrow!
Mike.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
2 to 3 inch drop?
I'm just curious for all of you that have experince dropping trucks, if you are only looking for a few inches - not a "slam" - can't you use the lowering springs and a lower profile tire? I only want about 3" of drop in my '66 2WD on the front. I want the back up about 2" so there's a little slope. Do I really have to buy the drop I-beams? Will the alignment plague me if I don't?
. FIRST OF ALL......If you are going to do anything to a Twin i-beam truck. Go find yourself an old school alignment shop. Talk to them. Make sure they can heat & bend the I-beams to get the camber & caster set correctly. Most modern shops can't do these front ends properly. Make sure they can bend them properly.
. I've come across a few that have said they can. But when it came right down to it. They couldn't do the complete job.
. That's when I switched to Jaguar. The crown Vic front end is just to wide for my taste.
JAG is easy to install and very easy to align
good luck....
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 172
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
So many options for lowering the front a "little"
Crown Vic front end '03 and up
Aerostar front end - My '64 has this one, did it in '02 before the 'Vic came out. despite what someone said earlier, this was cheap and good.
Mustang II front end - Custom fit to your existing track width
Jaguar suspension - I dunno 'bout this I'm a
purist.
Dodge dakota k-member - See above.
Special I-Beams and springs. - Good for those with no torch nor welder.
Etc Etc.
Google it! it's probably been done by someone, somewhere.
Crown Vic front end '03 and up
Aerostar front end - My '64 has this one, did it in '02 before the 'Vic came out. despite what someone said earlier, this was cheap and good.
Mustang II front end - Custom fit to your existing track width
Jaguar suspension - I dunno 'bout this I'm a
purist.Dodge dakota k-member - See above.
Special I-Beams and springs. - Good for those with no torch nor welder.
Etc Etc.
Google it! it's probably been done by someone, somewhere.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Lower
This is the part that is really nice about the Jaguar XJS IFS. It will bolt to the stock F100 frame rails. Just weld a bracket to the Jag. Cradle with 8 bolts on both sides. Lift the cradle up against your stock fram & Walla new independent front suspension.
no grafting frames. No zing the frame. Just a nice lowered truck.
no grafting frames. No zing the frame. Just a nice lowered truck.
Tuned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 48
From: Somerset, OH
yes. Alignment will be a nightmare if you cut or heat anything under your front end. If it had A -arms with coil springs. You could cut a coil off an still get it aligned pretty close. You cannot cut a coil off a spring with an I-beam front end. Find a set of Dream Beams. They will drop the front end right at 3-plus inches. If you cut 1/2 coil out. You should be able to still get it aligned.
. FIRST OF ALL......If you are going to do anything to a Twin i-beam truck. Go find yourself an old school alignment shop. Talk to them. Make sure they can heat & bend the I-beams to get the camber & caster set correctly. Most modern shops can't do these front ends properly. Make sure they can bend them properly.
. I've come across a few that have said they can. But when it came right down to it. They couldn't do the complete job.
. That's when I switched to Jaguar. The crown Vic front end is just to wide for my taste.
JAG is easy to install and very easy to align
good luck....
. FIRST OF ALL......If you are going to do anything to a Twin i-beam truck. Go find yourself an old school alignment shop. Talk to them. Make sure they can heat & bend the I-beams to get the camber & caster set correctly. Most modern shops can't do these front ends properly. Make sure they can bend them properly.
. I've come across a few that have said they can. But when it came right down to it. They couldn't do the complete job.
. That's when I switched to Jaguar. The crown Vic front end is just to wide for my taste.
JAG is easy to install and very easy to align
good luck....
Last edited by g4g2g7; Aug 2, 2017 at 09:23 PM. Reason: Typo
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 172
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
Yes, we noticed. This conversation and the ones like it all over the site should be consolidated into a couple of stickies. One being "suspension mods", and the other being "lowering your slick"
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 172
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
This is the part that is really nice about the Jaguar XJS IFS. It will bolt to the stock F100 frame rails. Just weld a bracket to the Jag. Cradle with 8 bolts on both sides. Lift the cradle up against your stock fram & Walla new independent front suspension.
no grafting frames. No zing the frame. Just a nice lowered truck.
no grafting frames. No zing the frame. Just a nice lowered truck.
The challenges are; lining up the rack with a steering shaft, adding a power brake booster, and mounting any other engine besides the 4cyl, or v-6 which came in Aerostars. I built custom motor mounts for the 351 I put in mine.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 376
Likes: 4
I decided to go with a Helix "Corner Killer" Mustang II style front suspension , still doing all the work to the truck but it will be lowered 6 " total all the way around on QA1 coilovers , 20" wheels and 35 series tires , 1989 Mustang modded 5.0HO roller engine , 4 link rear suspension , 3.50 rear gears , 1" sway bars front and rear . and many other modifications ............ mainly just to give the purists a heart attack LOL
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gator1gear
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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