I am doing some research on how to get a sweet stance out of a 65.
I have some options:

Do I go with my 1964 frame with straight front I Beam...there seems to be alot of options...even when it comes to adding rack and pinion steering.
There just seems to be more out there. I have a complete 64 parts truck.

Granted it isnt IFS.

or

Do I stick with my 65 frame and buy some Drop beams for the front?

I would really like for this truck to ride on air...not a "lowrider" by any means. There are some replacement air shocks that give better ride quality that I like. I just havent found a kit yet for this truck. I have for the 64 though.

I am really inexperienced when it comes to the Twin I beam suspension...I tell people this thinking it is a good thing... and I tend to get some strange looks. Especially from the front end and frame guy?? I have heard stories of floating all over the road....I DONT WANT THAT!! I hear a sway bar is a must. and a steering stabalizer. I just want a mild lower...I want to see my tires! no tuckin

as for the rear... I was just thinking about lowering it with drop shackles.
at least for a little while. I would like to go with a 4link...but that is$$$$

My plans are to put 20's on --an understated 20 ...not a bling bling.
Im a hot rod guy...not a lowrida

Help me get this truck sitting right.. and handling right! I NEED HELP!

 

ok.wanna clear up what it is your working on???? a 1964 or a 1965. if its a 65 buy the drop i-beams. they can be used with ait bags, anddrop her in the weeds at the car show. if you have a 64. sweet stance is a bit tougher butr this is what i have found.
option one: buy the lowering mono leafs from like sacramento vintage ford or cpp.
option two: what i am gonna do.disassemble your leafs springs and keep the main leaf, then add bags to it. I am gonna go with the firestone bags.(5000 lb). might be a lil overkill, i seem to be good at overkill.lol.
option three: pull your axle out, send it out to a place that drops solid axles(truck will be down for nice period of time for this)
here is a the website for the drop axles and lowering springs:http://www.classicperform.com/4856fo...sionComponents
hope this helps a bit. also, check out some of the hot rod truck mags. they do stories iojn that stuff. also, if your truck is a 65, i belive air ride technologies has a complete i-beam air ride kit.

 

also, if some of the guys can chime in here on this, cpp makes a drop solid front axle for the up to 60 ford f100. maybe someone can tell us if the up to 60 and 61-64 front axle is pretty much the same as far as dimensions(spring perches and such)

 

well I have two trucks...a 64 and a 65... the body of the 65 is the better so I was using the 65 as my project. I am not partial to either. In my mind the 65 with the twin I beams was better. I could be wrong.??. I would like to stick to what I have but I havent seen alot of suspension mods for the 65 to 79 series trucks with the ibeams...but tons for the straight I beam...I am guessing because of the earlier model f100s popularity??? So im sorta riding the fence. weighing my options as to which is better. Any input is good input!
Thanks!

 

You should rethink the one leaf with bag 64ford100292 , and firestone bags are prone to blow out , Slam specialty's bags are a way better choice I highly recommend a 4-link . Here is a pick of my 65 it has dropped beams and is bagged with a 4 link

 

thanx. i seen it done in a lower rider mag. I am staying with the wstock suspension so a 4 link isnt in the cards. i see air ride technologies offers a leaf air bag setup but i wanna make sure that the bags can handle the truck. the firestone bags are the only ones i've seen rated at 5000lbs. know of any other air suspension companies that have 5000 lb bags???

 

I have a 64 short wide that was the first truck I bought. I don't have a lot of choice of which truck to fix up. If I were you and didn't have any sentimental value to one year over the other I would go with 65. As for drop axels and all that. They both cost a lot but why step back in time any further than you have to. 65 was a major upgrade for front end suspension on slicks. I paid $800 for disc brakes, all new brake parts and a power booster (on my 64). You can do the same thing on a 65 by going to the junk yard and pulling the parts you need for probably less than $100. If I want power steering I will have to pay $600 plus hoses and a pump. All you have to do is again go to the junk yard and pick up the power steering box and pump and get a bracket that fits your motor. I may be wrong but should you get hot you can bolt in an air conditioning unit. On the 64 I have to pay $1000 for a vintage air kit. Well enough bitching, get started on your 65. If you have a short wide bed in good shape on the 64 please give me a pm.

later

 

could i see a picture of that droped ibeam by chance?

 

Aerostar front suspension swap. 3" drop, rack and pinion steering...disc brakes. Nuff said? It looks like a wonderful option. And pretty cheap. You can prolly get the Aerostar front suspension for the same price as all the disc brake and power steering setup for the twin i beam suspension. And it will definitely ride better in the end.

ROb