Better Handling
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New User
Joined: Jun 2001
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Better Handling
Hey I am looking into lowering my 69 truck 3/4 inches. I can't find any place that carries parts to do this can anybody help me with this? No I cannot be dissuaded from going this route so don't try cause this is for better handling. I'm not going so far as to drop it in the weeds where it would rust.
Adam
Adam
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Better Handling
Adam, Welcome to the best Ford truck site on the web. Now since you don't want anyone trying to stop you from your madness, how about splaining to the rest of us about your 3/4" theory, and why you THINK it will improve your ride. Tell us a little more about your truck that has the bad ride.
John
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66F100s Rule
In the cool still quiet of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
John
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[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page
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66F100s Rule
In the cool still quiet of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
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Better Handling
The 3/4" theory as you call it is based on simple physics. I will lower the center of gravity of my truck bring closer to the road thus making less likly to lean during hard cornering.
Adam
Adam
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,188
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From: yes
Better Handling
are you talking 3/4" or 3 inch front and 4 inch rear? There is a strong redneck/white trash influence on this board sometimes (no offense, but if someone wants to lower their truck let them and no John not talking about you I value your opinion, just from what I remember of old posts) so if you want to do it dont let anyone dissuade you. you may try http://www.aimind.com they have 3" drop I-beams for about $400 and a flip kit for the rear axle for about $150 It's pretty easy to see the dropping the center of gravity makes a big difference in cornering. One of the Motor Trends a while ago I believe it was motor trend anyways was talking about the redesigned viper and how glad they were to lower the CoG 3/4" because of the improvement it would provide in handling, so a 3.5" drop would obviously help, especially in conjunction with sway bars.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Better Handling
Hey FE, I resemble that remark. Yall keep driving over from the trailer park and trowing your empties in our yard and call it hyway beautification. :-)
#1 Tarheel Ford truck driving Redneck. Oo Oo
John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group
66F100s Rule
In the cool still quiet of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
#1 Tarheel Ford truck driving Redneck. Oo Oo
John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group
66F100s Rule
In the cool still quiet of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,635
Likes: 349
From: Albuquerque
Better Handling
You might be a red neck if the only tires on your property with air in them are on your house.
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2001
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Better Handling
Now yall listen here, anybody talking about lowering a truck is crazy. Why do they make 4x4's? So you have the clearence and the power to go where ever you need to or want too. Personally no matter how much you lower a truck it is a waste of money and a waste of a good truck
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Senior User
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Better Handling
That's true of a 4x4, but not a 2wd, at least one that won't be used for towing. Factory ride heights are compromises. You need plenty of height for off road use, and long travel for heavy hauling (if you want to avoid spine crushingly high spring rates, anyway). But lower ride heights provide better and safer handling. If he has a 2wd drive truck that's used as a daily driver or commuter, and he never intends to take it off road of haul anything heavy, why not lower it a few inches? My 2wd F100 is at the factory height, and I intend to keep it that way just because I like the view and don't want to spend the money to lower it, even though I don't haul big loads and don't take it off road. But if he wants to lower his, he should
ksd
69 F100 Explorer lwb 2wd FE 360 C6 3.25:1. WANTED: straight/clean styleside long box w/aux fuel tank for 67-69 F series.
ksd
69 F100 Explorer lwb 2wd FE 360 C6 3.25:1. WANTED: straight/clean styleside long box w/aux fuel tank for 67-69 F series.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 38
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Better Handling
As someone with a little engineering knowledge, lowering a truck 3/4 inch will not effect handling unless your sitting on the pole of the "Brickyard 400" this weekend. Since the bulk of the wt of your truck is at or below the frame (lower part of the engine block, axles wheels, trans, etc.) and there is very little weight up high (just your cab); lowering 3/4in will effect your center of balance on a 73 to 79 F-150 about an 1/8 of an inch. If you want to do it for "appearance" than go ahead but, it's not going to help your handing.
Doop <
76 F-100 Custom (96K Original North Dakota miles) 360-C6 All stock
64 F-250 (Bought from the north slope of Alaska) 292-T18 4 speed
Doop <
76 F-100 Custom (96K Original North Dakota miles) 360-C6 All stock
64 F-250 (Bought from the north slope of Alaska) 292-T18 4 speed
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Better Handling
By "3/4 inch" he probably meant 3 inches in front and 4 in the rear. That's pretty standard on trucks, which come from the factory set several inches higher in the rear.
Also, where the weight is doesn't matter at all so long as it isn't "unsprung" weight we're talking about. Lowering the truck by three inches will lower the center of gravity by very close to three inches.
ksd
69 F100 Explorer lwb 2wd FE 360 C6 3.25:1. WANTED: straight/clean styleside long box w/aux fuel tank for 67-69 F series.
Also, where the weight is doesn't matter at all so long as it isn't "unsprung" weight we're talking about. Lowering the truck by three inches will lower the center of gravity by very close to three inches.
ksd
69 F100 Explorer lwb 2wd FE 360 C6 3.25:1. WANTED: straight/clean styleside long box w/aux fuel tank for 67-69 F series.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 38
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Better Handling
Lowering the CB doesnt effect handling (unless you are using downforce as in NASCAR) suspension systems, weight distribution, speed, radius of turn and arc of turn determine handling. If center of balance determined handling, than a 1978 Ford LTD 4-door would be the best handling car on the road since it's center of balance is far lower than pickup. However, make a sharp turn at 70 mph in an old LTD and it leans far more than a Ford truck, why? softer suspension!
If you want better handling than upgrade your springs, stocks, and balance the weight front to rear.
Here's a simple AV formula to figure center of balance:
(GVW)(length x width)
___________________________________________ = CB
(mass squared + 2.25)(GVW - RVW)(GVW - FVW)2
Doop <
76 F-100 Custom (96K Original North Dakota miles) 360-C6 All stock
64 F-250 (Bought from the north slope of Alaska) 292-T18 4 speed
If you want better handling than upgrade your springs, stocks, and balance the weight front to rear.
Here's a simple AV formula to figure center of balance:
(GVW)(length x width)
___________________________________________ = CB
(mass squared + 2.25)(GVW - RVW)(GVW - FVW)2
Doop <
76 F-100 Custom (96K Original North Dakota miles) 360-C6 All stock
64 F-250 (Bought from the north slope of Alaska) 292-T18 4 speed
New User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4
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Better Handling
Adam,
I have a 69 stepside I,d like to do this to my self let me know how it goes.Would you know any thing about suicide doors and shaved handle kits ? Also been thinking about choping the top but not sure about that yet.
Mark
I have a 69 stepside I,d like to do this to my self let me know how it goes.Would you know any thing about suicide doors and shaved handle kits ? Also been thinking about choping the top but not sure about that yet.
Mark