lowering my 50 ford
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Baton rouge, Louisiana
lowering my 50 ford
Im wondering what is the best way to lower my truck. Should i just remove a few leaf springs on the truck, if so what is the best way to do this. Or is there some lower kit i should use. Any advice will be great.
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Cody
Best way is a big catagory. Front? back? Both?- Front wheels can lower you an inch at a time,16" to 15" etc. Dropped spindels is easy and safe for 2 or 3 more. Dropped axles and spindles will give you 5" + or -, and put you in the weeds. you can remove a few leaf springs like every other one for about 3 leaves but you are reduceing load tolerance and maybe a bit of saftey. They also make a mono leaf that does it all. Rear end you can put your rear end on top of your springs but that requirs a "C" notch to be welded into your frame for clearance. Lots of new spring kits for the 50 that use 53 springs and new holes drilled into the frame that will give you several inches of drop. Lots of this stuff is reagulary in "Classic truck" magazines. GOOD luck Cody.
Best way is a big catagory. Front? back? Both?- Front wheels can lower you an inch at a time,16" to 15" etc. Dropped spindels is easy and safe for 2 or 3 more. Dropped axles and spindles will give you 5" + or -, and put you in the weeds. you can remove a few leaf springs like every other one for about 3 leaves but you are reduceing load tolerance and maybe a bit of saftey. They also make a mono leaf that does it all. Rear end you can put your rear end on top of your springs but that requirs a "C" notch to be welded into your frame for clearance. Lots of new spring kits for the 50 that use 53 springs and new holes drilled into the frame that will give you several inches of drop. Lots of this stuff is reagulary in "Classic truck" magazines. GOOD luck Cody.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Baton rouge, Louisiana
I was thinking about just going with a cheap block and u bolt lowering kit for the rear, i know its a cheap solution, but cost is at a minimum. How low do you think it will drop it if i put the rear end on top of the leaf springs?
Also other than drop spindles is there any tricks for the front end?
Thanks for the info
Also other than drop spindles is there any tricks for the front end?
Thanks for the info
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
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From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Originally Posted by codys50ford
I was thinking about just going with a cheap block and u bolt lowering kit for the rear, i know its a cheap solution, but cost is at a minimum. How low do you think it will drop it if i put the rear end on top of the leaf springs?
Also other than drop spindles is there any tricks for the front end?
Thanks for the info
Also other than drop spindles is there any tricks for the front end?
Thanks for the info
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,344
Likes: 11
From: I live in Leitchfield, KY
Hey Cody, I just thought I'd drop an idea on the subject. If you do choose to remove some leaves here's a helpful tip: take the "tie" bolt out of the center of the leaf springs, seperating ALL the leaves figure out which ones you're goin to keep. They recommend taking out ever other one. After you've done this, grind all the rust and scale off each leaf top and bottom. Then grind a bevel on the top end of each leaf, so it won't "dig" into the bottom of the leaf that's above it. After you've got your order of reassembly figured out, take an old bondo spreader and spread a thin coat all over each spring. That will make them slide easier, and not squeak!! I do this on all my leaf srping vehicles and it does make a difference!
GOD bless
GOD bless
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 340
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From: Longwood, fl
Cody,
I started out on my 55 with the same approach. Removed every other spring all the way around. Yes it did lower my truck but it road like an ox cart, not a good thing. If you really want to lower your baby and maintain any ride comfort when you are finished you need to make sure when you are at the ride height you want you still have spring travel without bottoming out. I wound up adding reverse eye mains on all four corners and removing all but four leafs on all four plus c_notched the rear and added a 3" drop axle. Now my truck handles great and still has travel when I hit a bump most important. Looking cool is great but if the ride sucks what good is it. The rear is pretty straight forward but with the front options are wide open. Really depends on the money you want to invest and your level of fabrication skills. IFS is real popular and depending on how you do it probably about the same cost as a drop axle. Personally I wanted to keep as many of the original charateristics of the truck while getting the ride height I wanted so I went with the straight axle. Many guys on here have done the c-notch so examples should be easy to find as well as the IFS. Good luck with the new stance. Joe
I started out on my 55 with the same approach. Removed every other spring all the way around. Yes it did lower my truck but it road like an ox cart, not a good thing. If you really want to lower your baby and maintain any ride comfort when you are finished you need to make sure when you are at the ride height you want you still have spring travel without bottoming out. I wound up adding reverse eye mains on all four corners and removing all but four leafs on all four plus c_notched the rear and added a 3" drop axle. Now my truck handles great and still has travel when I hit a bump most important. Looking cool is great but if the ride sucks what good is it. The rear is pretty straight forward but with the front options are wide open. Really depends on the money you want to invest and your level of fabrication skills. IFS is real popular and depending on how you do it probably about the same cost as a drop axle. Personally I wanted to keep as many of the original charateristics of the truck while getting the ride height I wanted so I went with the straight axle. Many guys on here have done the c-notch so examples should be easy to find as well as the IFS. Good luck with the new stance. Joe
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Cody
Freinds have said it all. I am putting the 53 spring kit in the 50 with a 9" rear. I bought the kit about $400 and really it is a swap out all shackels, hangers and springs, spring pads, shock mounts and shocks with a few new holes drilled for hangers. The kit comes with everything. If $400 is way over your budget and I can relate, do it like henry "Original stance" with 16in red steelies and buck the trend. I'm 50 this week Cody and these stances have come and gone and back again. Another idea is like we did in the 70s with a set of air shocks to jack up the rear to make the front look low. Cheep and fun. Have at it Cody,
Good times are those that role.
Freinds have said it all. I am putting the 53 spring kit in the 50 with a 9" rear. I bought the kit about $400 and really it is a swap out all shackels, hangers and springs, spring pads, shock mounts and shocks with a few new holes drilled for hangers. The kit comes with everything. If $400 is way over your budget and I can relate, do it like henry "Original stance" with 16in red steelies and buck the trend. I'm 50 this week Cody and these stances have come and gone and back again. Another idea is like we did in the 70s with a set of air shocks to jack up the rear to make the front look low. Cheep and fun. Have at it Cody,
Good times are those that role.
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