77 F-100 lowering ?

I just picked up a 1977 f100 2wd short box and I want to lower it and need some advice on what is the cheapest way to do this? I found only a couple of places that have lowering components for this year truck. and no tech articles on this subject. I was thinking of lowering springs in the front and drop shackles and leaf spring hangers for the back. Has anyone done this and how did it turn out?If I use just lowering springs in the front is that all I need or do I need different I beams?[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img][img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img][img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

The best way is definately to use dropped I beams. These will give you somewhere around 2 to 3 inches of drop. If you want to go lower you could then trim the springs a quarter of a coil at a time, but be careful to not go to far as the I beam suspension in not very forgiving as far as alignment goes if you lower it to far. On my 79 shortbox I used I beams and removed one full coil which gave me about a 5 inch drop, which would be about max as I was barely able to get the alignment within specs. On the rear you could go with the shackles and hangers for about 4 inches, or you could flip the axle to on top of the springs for about 6 inches of drop. I flipped my axle by cutting off the stock spring perches and welding them back on the bottom of the axle housing. I also had to notch the frame for axle clearance, nothing to difficult but make sure to have these welded in properly, Also, make sure to check your pinion angle.

I used DJM dream beams on our '65, really pricy but it fits very well. 3" front 4" rear,
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If I get the drop coils only or cut new coils will I have allignment issues? Do I need the drop I beams in conjucsion with the drop ciols? Does the shackle and hanger kit require notching the frame? I am on a tight budget (who isn't).[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

It depends on how much you cut. I wouldn't cut more than a coil or you will have problems. A coil isn't going to give you a noticable drop by itself. You have the get the beams. Put the beams on and then see how you much lower you want to go. You might be happy, you might want more. If you want more then cut a 1/4 of a coil at a time until you are happy. If you still aren't happy, then you need to drop the cash for air bags.

Austin

After watching people cut coild for close to 30 years, telling them not to, them doing it anyway, & saying "I told ya so", don't do it...
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On 2005-04-13 17:21, qtrmiler wrote:
saying "I told ya so", don't do it...

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Man, I wish I had a dollar for every time my Dad tried to tell me not to do something on my car and then ended up saying he told me so. I agree with qtrmiler on the coil cutting. Your shock absorber determines how much travel you get out of that suspension. If you go cutting the coils off, you'll likely end up with a spring that's too short.

On my truck, gravity did the lowering for me. My springs have sagged over the years, and now the front end is right where I like it! [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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