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any good way to lower a 63 dodge pickup?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by unclescooby, Mar 26, 2008.

  1. unclescooby
    Joined: Jul 5, 2004
    Posts: 5,005

    unclescooby
    Member
    from indy

    I've been so immersed in F100's over the years, never paid any attention to these. Big straight axle dodge pickup trucks (63-67 I think and probably later too). Any good way to lower these things? Internet search isn't turning anything up for me but I'm an idiot.
     
  2. ncranger05
    Joined: May 10, 2007
    Posts: 74

    ncranger05
    Member

    if its anything like my 56 im going to just do a spring under axle... or u could clip it if ya really wanted to get low
     
  3. Mattilac
    Joined: Oct 27, 2007
    Posts: 1,156

    Mattilac
    Member

    Straight axle I beams were in F100s all the way till '64 (my truck). I plan to flip both of my axles above the leaf springs. Hopefully get about a 6" drop...
     
  4. Plowboy
    Joined: Nov 8, 2002
    Posts: 4,278

    Plowboy
    Member

    Let the air out of the tires.
     
  5. ALindustrial
    Joined: Aug 7, 2007
    Posts: 852

    ALindustrial
    Member

    63-71 (sweptline era)... all had straight axles

    72 and up they had IFS
     
  6. gkgeiger
    Joined: Nov 28, 2007
    Posts: 767

    gkgeiger
    Member

    I'm not sure of the year of this one, but if it's the vintage your talking about contact member big dad and ask him what he did.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. tragic59
    Joined: Sep 16, 2002
    Posts: 766

    tragic59
    Member

    www.sweptline.org

    They've got a forum over there and members have used various methods for lowering their trucks. Everything from subframes to airbags and flipping the leaf springs under the axles.

    Real knowledgable group, and tend to embrace all owners. As opposed to being militant restorationists like some other online groups... (As long as you don't try to put a non-mopar drivetrain in your truck... LOL)
     
  8. tragic59
    Joined: Sep 16, 2002
    Posts: 766

    tragic59
    Member

    If I remember correctly, bigdad used a Corvette IFS out of a late model car to drop his. That truck is super-nice.
     
  9. Big Dad
    Joined: Dec 20, 2005
    Posts: 4,804

    Big Dad
    Member

    front .. www.fatmanfab.com .. IFS

    rear www.nolimit.net ..its the "fat bar" system

    No, real easy way to do it, no bolt on stuff .. , few have tried to cut corners and do some other stuff..Not sure how they drive


    One friend had www.eatonsprings.com re-arch some
    and first big bump, smashed his oil pan when straight axle hit it
     
  10. Big Dad, that's one of the nicest Dodge pickemups I've ever seen.!
     
  11. Big Dad
    Joined: Dec 20, 2005
    Posts: 4,804

    Big Dad
    Member

  12. lrs30
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 2,214

    lrs30
    Member
    from Kentucky

    A front loader bucket full of concrete work's wonders, try it. Or maybe a Volare Clip and a set Bags in the back..GOOD LUCK>>
     
  13. unclescooby
    Joined: Jul 5, 2004
    Posts: 5,005

    unclescooby
    Member
    from indy

    Thanks guys. I'm considering keeping the old crewcab around as my truck now but it sure looks like front clips are the way to go on this. Hoping that wasn't the case. Looks like flipping the axle causes bumpsteer issues that no one has corrected yet. At least...according to the links I've looked through so car. They really are ugly trucks as crewcabs but I think that is part of the charm. My 59 F100 is considered ugly too and I always loved her. Big Dad's sweet looking ride gives me a little hope.
     
  14. Big Dad
    Joined: Dec 20, 2005
    Posts: 4,804

    Big Dad
    Member

    Here is a photoshop of mine as a crew cab ..:D
    [​IMG]
     
  15. Big Dad
    Joined: Dec 20, 2005
    Posts: 4,804

    Big Dad
    Member

    And one more photoshop idea ..
    [​IMG]
     
  16. unclescooby
    Joined: Jul 5, 2004
    Posts: 5,005

    unclescooby
    Member
    from indy

    The bottom one is more of what mine looks like! It's an old Navy truck (not the department store). It's real solid though and it seats my whole family and maybe the dogs so I'd really like to build it. It runs but I just hate the stance, it's grossly underpowered and slow, and I'm pretty sick of the straight axles right now for something I actually drive. Looks like a front clip and rear bags is the way to go. I don't qualify as being a swept side though because mine is a step side.
     
  17. Big Dad
    Joined: Dec 20, 2005
    Posts: 4,804

    Big Dad
    Member

    I've owned several

    Took a little effort but at least now you can drive mine

    It has a 440 in it

    Need any parts, etc ..www.sweptline.org
     
  18. Sort of related....I just found this on YouTube :)

    <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5IUfNoR7LkI&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5IUfNoR7LkI&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
     

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