I really need some input, I posted yesterday with no results, so thought I would try again.

I've got a 61 short box that is very stock. 223/3 on the tree. I want to leave it mostly stock since it works fine now. The truck served as a forest service truck and has around 90k on it. I don't want to carve up an otherwise pristine truck, but do want to add my personal touches.
#1 I want to lower it. I have searched threads and cataloges etc. looks like the best thing to do is go mono leaf. Will the reverse eye mono (they say 4" drop) bolt in to the truck front and rear? Has anyone had experience with this? Any opinion on the best source for parts?

I want to know the good, bad and ugly.

Thanks

 

I have considered the same drop but have not done it yet. I've got a lot of the catalogs available and found the mono's run $385 to $450 per pair. I have seen a 6 inch drop available but only for the back I think. The drop axels I've for the front that I have seen are only for pre-1961. the 61-64 guys are left out on this so far. If someone else reads this and knows a company making the drop axel for these trucks, please let me know. I have a 64 f-100 I would like to lower a little. Good luck. I think Contour truck parts had the mono sets for $385.

 

You are right on about the drop axle. That was my first idea, then thought maybe someone made drop spindles for the truck but no go. Seems the 61-64 guys have been left to fend for ourselves in the axle department. Maybe if enough of us whine to the parts houses they will produce one!
Sacramento Vintage has the mono fronts for $350 and the rears for $450, that's the best price I have found for the fronts and the most expensive for the rears.
Unless someone has a better idea I just might try to play with the stock springs for the fun of it. Maybe remove a couple springs and de-arch the main. Anybody know if you can have the eyes reversed on a stock spring?

 

im pretty sure the 61-64 suspension is the same as the 57-60, things were left for the most part unchanged all the way from 57-63

 

I don't know. The catalogues stop at 60, pick up at 61-64 for front suspension.
I suspect a width difference or something in the axle, but the 61-64 seem to be looked over for front end goodies. I would love for someone to prove me wrong.

Anyone?

 

I dont know if the half tons are like the 3/4tons but when i was looking at dropping my 250, i was just going to fab up new spring perches and do a spring under swap (the spring is underneath instead of on top of the axles). But i like welding and grinding alot more than buying stuff. Just something to think about

 

I could be wrong, but if I remember correctly, the 57-60 front axle is the same width as 61-64 BUT the king pin bolt location is different. You would need to use the parts for the earlier truck on the drop axle. FBPete or BanjoPicker would know for sure.

 

The spindles on the 57-60 were a ball bearing type. In 61 Ford started using tapered rolloer bearings and made changes to the spindle. BTW my No Limit catalog uses the same part number for front and rear mono leafs from 61-64.

 

Oh yah I got side tracked again. Look in Articles/Specs,transmission/axle,48-60 rear axle swap. The next to last paragraph coares lowering options. Rich

 

OK, I broke down and bought some mono-leaf springs from one of the parts places. Prices are about the same so take your pick.
I have started installing the fronts and have one done so far. They say 3" drop and it is looking about right. I will do the other front today, (took about 2 hours working at my usual slow pace), the second will go faster. I may have to cut down the rubber bump stop on the frame but my stock springs have an extra short leaf for the top that curves up with a rubber stop on it (don't know if this is normal), so I have left it for now "just in case". BTW these springs come with no instructions, simple enough if you have some experience but I have never bought something like this with no instruction sheet. It looks like the stock shocks will still work, but I am thinking about a shorter shock. I know that the ride will change drastically since the mono's have no "progressive" load rate, I would like to find a more compatable shock with a better valve rate to compensate, short of going high tech and getting an adjustable shock (ie: big bucks), any suggestions?
I will post the progress and maybe a before and after pic.