Hello all

I recently got a '78 F150 that was my grandpa's and I want to bring it back to life. Its not bad, but needs a little love. I am thinking of dropping it a few inches (1-3), maybe chopping the roof, adding dual exhaust, painting that awful door, new mirrors, i could go on forever...

My question is... whats the cheapest and easiest way of lowering the truck?Im planning on getting new rims/wheels anyway so what size would I need? I dont want that hot-rod look, I just want a nice drop with matching roof chop and complimenting wheels. Basically I want it all to flow together.

Here are some visual aids (pictures)
Better side:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/eglaisi/2417a6bf.jpg

Kinda funny, different size mirrors...
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/eglaisi/e8b029da.jpg

Not exactly original door
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/eglaisi/f462cfce.jpg


Thanks for any help

 

Well you have a ton of options...

Lowering: Front...1 inch is easily accomplished with cutting the springs or ordering shorter ones. 2 inches can be done with even shorter springs but now you are cutting down suspension travel fast. 3 inches is best left to a lowered beam

Lowering: Rear....drop shackles can be used for roughly 1/2 to 1.5 inch drop. If you want 4 inches, buy the drop front hanger. If you want 5 to 6 inches (which will leave you nearly -0- suspension without a frame notch) you can buy a "flip kit" which relocates the axle to the top of the spring.

Wheels: you have so many options I can't even start. You can put big meets on the 15s and have them a bit shorter (275/60/15 is popular) than stock size (235/75/15). If you upsize the wheels you can do all sorts of things. As for size, look at rigs you like and check the size out. You don't want too short of a tire for the wheelwell then becomes a gaping hole.

I have a 1981 with 3" drop beams and 4 inch shackle/hanger combo in the back. You can look at my gallary and see how it looks with the winter tires on white spokes (225/75/15's). The winter tires are very close in height to my summer tires which are 255/45/18's on ATS rims.

It is hard to get a Ford to sit as low as a Chevy. I hate it but it is true. I had to keep mine a little higher than I want so it still has enough suspension to haul some weight and tow a car trailer.

Kenny

 

Also...chopping a roof...not a beginner project!!! You might be best off to start with suspension and cleaning the ugly chrome off of it (FORD accross the hood for starters) and doing some mild mods (delete side lights, french antenna, roll pan in the back) then paint. If you like it for a few years, then get the sawsall out and start chopping the roof (not without a lot of research though).

I don't know how old you are but I am guessing young. Start easy and keep it running/driving so you can enjoy it, not just work on it all the time.

Kenny

 

yeah dropping sounds easy enough, and i will of course do research before i try anything. My dad is a perfectionist mechanic, the old school kind, so he'd help me out. yeah I plan on painting everything up, repairing dents and all that before any mods. Thanks for replies.