Projects Jailbar ford front suspension

Thanks for the info. I was looking for a project when this truck presented itself. I have been riding and building old Shovelheads for years and needed to do something different. As you can see , it has no bed, rear fenders, and the floorboards are fabbed. I found a 46 that had the parts I needed and brought that home as well, all in now....

 

Nice looking truck! That is the stance I'm going for.

 

They dont make a dropped axle for these trucks, you would have to send yours to Sids
I reverse eyed the top spring and removed a few others. you will need to keep the second one if you do this.
You can also move the springs under the axle but be sure to fab and weld a flat section to the bottom of the axle or the spring package will twist trying to roll. not safe!
you can get enough drop doing this and a comfier ride

 

@Joe McCabe
We have rules here.
We also have opinions.

 

https://droppedaxles.com/f1-axle-install
This tech article is about a Ford F-1, but is very similar to your 42. And Sid does drop axles for your truck.
The article used to have lots of pictures, but I couldn’t view them on my phone.
Good luck with your Ford.

 

I am familiar with that tech article since I wrote it and that was my F1. Just realized all the pics appear to be gone now though... I have all that in a word document if someone needs it. And, I guess I should tell Sid it is messed up online.

Also, Sid drove his 47 for a few years and knows exactly what all he did on it if someone had questions.

 

I would like to see the article pictures if they are available , is Sid on this forum?

 

I’ll send it to you in a bit when I get to work. And, yes Sid is on here although not much at all anymore. His username is “55 Mercury”.

Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff!

 

Decided to just save the file as .jpg images and post them here since they aren't on the website correct right now and they might be of use to someone else too.

 

Great information! Thank you!

 

Thanks guthriesmith.

 

No problem guys. I also documented installing a dropped axle in a 59 Ford too, but we never wrote it up... So, I still have those pics as well.

 

Wow that was a fantastic write up.. Thank you..

 

To all who have replied and sent pm's, Thank you. I wasn't sure if I was on the right site but have quickly realized that I came to the right place!

 

Joe: In defense of your 'confession' of the truck having a 350 Chev in it:
I found my '55 F100 in '72. It was metallic blue, (nice) sitting in my friend's towing/recovery yard, on its drums. No wheels, no eng., no trans, broken windows, dash smashed, tailgate gone.
I had done an 'impossible' clutch job for my towing friend, (he said "too cheap", I owe you one") on his 5 ton 4-wheel drive Jeep 'wrecker'.
I asked about the F100, it was a theft recovery. He sold it to me for what he paid his guys the night of said 'recovery'...$60.
A customer had a '69 'Vette with a flat cam. I replaced the engine with a crate job (his bro worked at GM in Detroit) so he gave me the 350 'Vette as a 'bonus'.
My F100 was coming together, as I had bought a parts truck.
In order to make my truck 'mobile', (so I didn't have to push it) I went through the 350 'Vette, bolted a P.G. tranny up to it and used a Monte Carlo driveline! (9" rear was there by P.O.)
The 'Vette engine was only supposed to be in there 'til I could find a 406 or 427 Ford F.E.
My wife and I built a Vortek for it, (another FREE score from a customer) so now it's on its second 350. But I'm not tellin' anybody on the HAMB, they can look and I maintain: "It's a 327! Honest!"

 

They are patterned after Pinto/Mustang II era Ford front ends. Most of them that you buy have been beefed up but you can use those parts and make your own.

If I had a '41 Ford pickup I would use what its got and just modify it to suit. They make disc kits if that is what you are after (I'll take your drums and hubs for a project in the garage) you don't want them anyway. Take the springs apart you got to remove them anyway right? Take an angle grinder to them and polish the burrs off 'em. radius the ends and put some teflon between the leafe when you pit them back together. You can de-arch them while they are apart of you want it to sit lower. New bushings.

Make sure that your tie rod ends and everything are up to par and you got yourself a nice rolling and riding truck.

 

Do

Mike, Sounds like that truck was meant to be the way everything fell into place! Any pics?

 

I absolutely love that truck.

 

LOL a 350 is a stroked 327. If you stroked one that would be cool, if Chevy stroked it it is bad. Go figure.

Most guys don't get it, if its a hot rod all that matters is that it is fast not what makes it fast.

 

Glad to see this turned out positive, thought it was going south for a minute , New guy learned this is a very helpful site , I also enjoyed the Tech article , looks like 2021 is off to a good start, Dempsey

 

I removed the motor and transmission yesterday. Getting a better look at the suspension. After much thought and after member input, I have decided to go with a drop axle and rebuild the stock suspension. The previous owner had done some "interesting," mods with the shocks and motor mounts. I will be addressing these issues. I have been trying to upload pics but I keep getting error notifications from the site and have been unable.

 

You will do well with the dropped axle.

There are couple ways to post pics. You do have to watch file size tho

 

Glad to hear your direction. I’m sure you will be happy with it. As far as posting pics, I always use the method shown here where I click on the "Upload a file" button, browse to the pic I want on my phone or computer, then click the "Full Image" button so it shows up full size in the post.

 

Joe McCabe, I'm curious if you know Ron and Kathy D. from Pataskala? They have a couple of awesome gassers including Ferdinand, the BBC '41 Willys gasser.

 

I don't know them, sound like good people though!

 

The wise thing is to do some homework and learn what you can discuss here and what you have to not mention .
It's rather not talking about smoking cigars and drinking single barrel around your blue nose inlaws just to keep peace in the family and making sure that no one ever takes a photo of you with a cigar or drink in your hand. My Mother never knew I had smoked when I was young until my wife blabbed her mouth when I was in my mid 60's and I hadn't smoked a cigarette in over 30 years.
Same thing applies to things like aftermarket independent front ends here. You might have one but you never mention it here.

Check your PM's

 

Ok, I had to send the pictures to myself, then pull them off the media ony phone. Must have something to do with the size. So here you can see the state of the shocks and mounts. Any suggestions on what to do with the leaf springs and a different shock setup?