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Author Topic:   Lower
Richard
Journeyman

Posts: 25
From: Aylesford,Nova Scotia Canada
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 11-11-2004 12:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Richard   Click Here to Email Richard     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have a 1980 F-150.I would like to lower my truck 2-3in. I can do the back no probelm its the front that I have the trouble with.Do i just have to cut the coil springs? or do I have to move anything? thanks for any help.

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MLariviere
Moderator

Posts: 3984
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99

posted 11-12-2004 08:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for MLariviere   Click Here to Email MLariviere     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You will need to get drop I-beams. You can't cut the springs because of how they mount up.

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Richard
Journeyman

Posts: 25
From: Aylesford,Nova Scotia Canada
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 11-12-2004 06:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Richard   Click Here to Email Richard     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What do you mean by drop I beams?Is that something I can do myself?Or do I have to by new I beams?

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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator

Posts: 43151
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99

posted 11-12-2004 07:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SteveLaRiviere   Click Here to Email SteveLaRiviere     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Those are replacement I-beams with a larger bend. I have a set of Bell Tech 3" drop I-beams on my F-150. It really improved the handling by quite a bit.

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'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip

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Richard
Journeyman

Posts: 25
From: Aylesford,Nova Scotia Canada
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 11-13-2004 02:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Richard   Click Here to Email Richard     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Where can you get these I beams? and ruflly how much do the cost?

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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator

Posts: 43151
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99

posted 11-13-2004 07:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SteveLaRiviere   Click Here to Email SteveLaRiviere     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I got mine over 10 years ago, and I got them from Summit.

I just checked and Summit has them as part number BEL-4010 for $439.95.

On my truck I also installed the 4" drop hangers for the rear leafs, and a set of Bell Tech Nitro-Drop shocks.

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'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip

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Richard
Journeyman

Posts: 25
From: Aylesford,Nova Scotia Canada
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 11-17-2004 04:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Richard   Click Here to Email Richard     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thats a nice looking truck.I spose that price is american too.To rich for me is there a differnt way i can do it.

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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator

Posts: 43151
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99

posted 11-19-2004 05:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SteveLaRiviere   Click Here to Email SteveLaRiviere     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If you pick up a Sport Truck magazine you may find cheaper ones in the ads. It really wasn't something I wanted to gamble on and the ones I got looked just as strong or stronger than the originals.

Other than that, you could just use low profile tires, but that would give you the huge wheelwell look. Cutting the springs would destroy your camber.

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'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip

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drag79stang
Journeyman

Posts: 83
From: New Richmond, Wisconsin
Registered: Jul 2002

posted 12-25-2004 11:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for drag79stang   Click Here to Email drag79stang     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
On my previous truck, (94 f150_), I believe the front ends are pretty much the same, anyway, I just installed 2" lowering springs., (think Eico, (or something), made them.
Had to get the spendier 2 way adjustable front end camber/caster pieces to get it in adjustment, (also replaced all 4 ball joints at the same time), to get it into alighment specs, but it worked great. (also installed lowering shackles/mounts in the rear and dropped it 5" there too. Put lightning sway bars front and rear on it.....handled like it was on rails..............kinda miss that truck................:>(

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You can sleep in your race car, but you can't race your house!

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