Well I finally got myself a 1955 Ford C-600 COE and are looking at ways to quickly lower the front end. I was contemplating putting the axle on top of the leaf springs (instead of under) and extending the hanger a little to give me a drop of 1-2 inches without changing the ride quality (don't laugh) or amount of travel - ie the axle will sit at the height the spring does today - leaving the same amount of travel space, but lowering it the thickness of the leaf spring pack (ie a couple of inches). Any thoughts or other suggestions. A four link front end was suggested, but not sure which way to go...
On something as heavy as a C600, I would consider doing an air-over leaf set up. Reduce the spring pack down to a few leafs for axle location, and then use airbags out of a similar sized (GVW rated) truck on top of the leafs. Removing the leafs will lower the front end, and then you can control the ride height, firmness, and load capacity with the air. Big rigs have been set up like this for decades.
Hi Travis, it actually is only the thickness of the springs, as otherwise if it's also the thickness of the axle, I have no room for the axle to travel.
Other option I was thinking of was getting the axle bent - I know you can easily buy an after market drop axle for a F100 sized truck, but not sure of anyone reliable able to bend my axle for this, as that would give me at least a few inches and then reducing the leafs could give me another inch.
The Jalopy Journal
