Lowering a '70
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley United States
Lowering a '70
I was looking at the suspension on my truck yesterday and figured it would be easy to lower the front 2 inches just by changing the coils. Then I took a look at the rear leafs. It looks like changing the front mounting brackets are the only adjustment I'd be able to get out of it, does anyone make a lowering kit for them? I figure 2 or 2 1/2 inches will give it the look I want without making the truck impracticle. I dont hall anything with it except the occasional bed full of firewood. The airbags on it will probably keep it capable of halling.
Brian
Brian
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 851
Likes: 0
From: Elizabeth City, NC
Lowering a '70
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 12-Jul-02 AT 05:53 PM (EST)]Get a flip kit. It puts the axle on top of the leaf springs. This will lower your truck the width of the leaf springs. Or try and find a mono leaf or straightened leaf spring setup. The latter will greatly decrease ride quality though. The flip-kit will just make it bottom out sooner so either install a c-notch in the frame or take it easy on the bumps.
Russell
1968 F250 LWB 300-6
FORD=First on Race Day
MOPAR=Mostly Old Parts and Rust
Russell
1968 F250 LWB 300-6
FORD=First on Race Day
MOPAR=Mostly Old Parts and Rust
Elder User
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 733
Likes: 0
Lowering a '70
Have your coils cut down,and add lowering blocks in the rear.Simple.
>MOPAR=Mostly Old Parts and Rust
Actually it's MoverOverPowerApproachingRapidly
I love Fords dearly,but MoPar rules the street/strip.Point Blank.
>MOPAR=Mostly Old Parts and Rust
Actually it's MoverOverPowerApproachingRapidly
I love Fords dearly,but MoPar rules the street/strip.Point Blank.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 851
Likes: 0
From: Elizabeth City, NC
Lowering a '70
>Have your coils cut down,and add lowering blocks in the
>rear.Simple.
>
>
If you add blocks to your truck it will raise it. The only way that blocks will lower a truck is if the axle is on top of the leaf springs. They might make drop shackles for this year but I don't know for sure.
Russell
1968 F250 LWB 300-6
FORD=First on Race Day
MOPAR=Mostly Old Parts and Rust
>rear.Simple.
>
>
If you add blocks to your truck it will raise it. The only way that blocks will lower a truck is if the axle is on top of the leaf springs. They might make drop shackles for this year but I don't know for sure.
Russell
1968 F250 LWB 300-6
FORD=First on Race Day
MOPAR=Mostly Old Parts and Rust
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Ca.
Lowering a '70
If your going to shorten your front springs that much, you might as well take them out comepletely and ride around with the I-Beams resting on the frame. You will NOT like the ride or drivability of this truck with the shortned springs. If you must lower it, go with a set of drop I-Beams. At least you would be able to drive something like this.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 542
Likes: 0
From: Middleton, WI
Lowering a '70
Good News-Bad News. Good news 1st, Yes your truck wants to be lowered! It can be done and yeah the ride gets a little stiff - so what! anybody can ride around in a stock truck. The 3" dropped I beams from AIM run 500., 2" lower coils DJM used to have, some still around, only 60-70. set., so front is 5" lower. For Rear you could start out with full flip and C-notch, but this restricts travel a lot, other options are C-Notch (this is a must) take out a leaf from spring pack, have spring pack de arched, and get the repositioned spring and shackle hangers also from AIM, this should get you almost as low as flip kit (4-5") but with more travel room. The Bad News? well it ain't cheap, and a great many of the other members on this forum will try to talk you out of it. I'm convinced FTE is for Stockers and Hi Riders only. My truck has had the above done (albeit in 2 phases) and I'm getting very close to finishing and will have pictures and road tests in Sept. The ride from first phase (lowered coils and leaf removal and de arch) was a little stiffer but I thought it was actually a little better than original, and I never bottomed out. These old I beam trucks have a lot of roll, so I'm also upgrading to HD sway bars from LMC. Good Luck -
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley United States
Lowering a '70
All the info is much appreciated. Sounds like I've got a plan beginning to form. I just gotta wake the hamster up. I think 3" will be plenty. I'm curious, how much lower will that shackle hanger get me? I'm thinking if it at least gets me 2 and a half, I can pull a leaf from the pack to get another half. I dont think that would hurt it too much. I've got air bags on it (origanally to help with a camper) so I dont think I'd loose any useabilty. I don't pretend to know what I'm talking about, but isn't cutting coil springs a bad thing??? I have noticed that the site is mostly made of stockers. Really helpful smart ones.
Sorry for the late reply, I've been out of town
Brian
Sorry for the late reply, I've been out of town
Brian
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Brett Foote
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 542
Likes: 0
From: Middleton, WI
Lowering a '70
The AIM hangers and removing a leaf should be good for 3" (plus -minus)
and you're right even though not many FTE folks into lowered trucks they are hugely knowledgeable and way helpful, this is where I found out about AOD trans for my'67, and many other good things.
and you're right even though not many FTE folks into lowered trucks they are hugely knowledgeable and way helpful, this is where I found out about AOD trans for my'67, and many other good things.