got a 40 ford pickup which i bought already rodded. after owning it for a few years, im considering taking it apart and kinda updating it. it currently has a ch***is engineering 4" dropped axle and the ride quality leaves alot to be desired(especially here in the northeast). i was considering installing a ch***is enginerering mustang 2 front end , but before i take that leap i was wondering if anyone out there could suggest how to improve the ride quality of the dropped axle. ive been told to try adjustable front shocks that allow me to adjust compression and rebound along with maybe removing a leaf from the front springs. any suggestions out there?
Nice Truck ..I Love 40 P.U.s...before you cut it up and spend lots of money, try putting rubber strips between the leaves, and yes some good shocks..The rubber is an old trick, and some good shocks help almost any ride...
I use this setup under a lot of pickups and I generally find that a couple of things need to be done to improve ride quality. First, if you are using a stock spring they usually can stand to have two or three leaves, sometimes more, out of the stack. This means take shortest leaves out of the stack, re***emble and test drive. The stock spring usually has eleven leaves, I've dropped as many as 6 already to get the truck to ride nice. When you get where you want it, cut the leaves to a uniform 6 1/2" and put them back on the top of the stack to preserve ride height. The stock trucks were built to haul weight! As mentioned above, when you have the spring apart, (be careful!), thoroughly clean and paint the leaves and put some type of spring liner, I like the poly stuff with the edge on that I get from TCI, before you re***emble. My favorite shocks on '40's pickups are the ones from Pete & Jakes. Just their regular rod shocks. Cheap and valved just right. You didn't mention what type of locating link you have, stock bone, split, four bar, but there's things you can do to each that will help considerably. Well set up, a straight axle will rival an independent in both ride quality and handling and it won't feel like your driving a Camaro. Good luck and feel free to PM if you would like any particulars.
I'm using Pete & Jake's shocks, a monoleaf spring, stock steering, stock wishbone, ECI brakes and a 4 inch droped axle in my 41. Rides and drives nice.
I have a 4" dropped axle and Posie Super Slide spring in my coupe and like the ride just fine. I do need new shocks and am considering coil over adjustable to level the side to side. In the old days I think they called it the "bachelor lean". My '41 truck has a Mustang ll front end and I like it just fine also. It steers and handles quite well as you would expect independent suspension and rack and pinion steering to do. Would I dump $2K into a Mll when I could spend $200 on shocks and spring liners? No, I would suggest trying springs and shocks. If you still don't like it, you're not out that much to go with the Mll. Just my .02 cents.
I would really try a good set of shocks first. CE's shocks aren't any better than the pete and jakes. Do a search for bilstein here on the hamb. Also check to make sure that you are not bottoming out on the factory axle snubbers in the front. The stock ones are really tall. As a side note, I have found in most cases that ride quality issues come from the rear in most hot rods. I am going to ***ume that the rear is parallel leaves, if so a good set of shocks will help immensely back there as well. Donny
You can experiment with your straight axle and get as good a ride as a Mustang front will give.I have had both and will not do another Mustang.Kinda like subframing in a way.Just my 2 cents cause i am more traditional than most.But,to each his own.
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