Just offered a even swap on a 1959 f100 drop axle for my 64 f100 stock unit. Question is, will it fit? They look the same and I believe the width is the same. If not what will it take to make it work ?
Sounds like a can of worms. the axles may look the same but all the shit that bolts to then may be different. What are you trying to achieve with swapping the axles?
Well the 59 axle has a 3.5" drop. I've flipped the rear and have been waiting for funds to drop the front. I've heard the shock mounts are different too.
I was trying to look on droppedaxles.com for you (good information on sids site) but it wasnt working for me. Take a look at the factory drop of your 64 and compair it to the 59. Somtimes a 3" drop on one axle may be like dropping the other axle 1.5" when installed. When it comes to 57-60 for trucks there are 2 kinds of axles, straight and one with a smile in the center. The straight one is 1" lower than the smile one. When I dropped my truck it had the straight axle in it and I wanted to use the smile axle when I dropped it for some extra clearance from my oil pan. So I told Sid I wanted it 2.5" lower than stock with the straight axle and he told me I will have to go with 3.5" drop to get the same amount with the smile axle.
1957-60 Ford F-100 Pickup Axle http://droppedaxles.com/FORD_AXLES.html#TXTOBJ7D81431412F231 Top Axle: Original Stock Axle 53-1/2" Kp to Kp Middle Dropped Axle: 3" Over Stock Stretch Drop 53-1/2" Kp to Kp Bottom Dropped Axle: 4" Over Stock Stretch Drop 53-1/2" Kp to Kp Will drop any amount up to 3" overstock. ORIGINAL AXLE MEASUREMENTS 2-3/8" Kingpin Boss 53-1/2" Kingpin Center to Center 32-1/4" Spring Perch Center to Center 2" Wide Spring .859 dia. Kingpin Note: Some 57-60 Pickup Axles do not have dip in center but are same measurements. Both Dipped and no dip centered axle have Part# TAAK-3010 **Has no shock mount holes in axle. ========================================================== 1961-64 Ford F-100 Pickup Axle http://droppedaxles.com/FORD_AXLES.html#TXTOBJ7D81431413639D1 Top Axle: Original Stock Axle 53-1/2" Kp to Kp Bottom Dropped Axle: 3" Over Stock Stretch Drop 53-1/2" Kp to Kp ORIGINAL AXLE MEASUREMENTS 2-3/8" Kingpin Boss 53-1/2" Kingpin Center to Center 32-1/4" Spring Perch Center to Center 2" Wide Spring .859 dia. Kingpin **Has shock mount holes in axle. Can drop up to 3" overstock
Thanks for the pics and info. From those pics and looking at SIDS site, looks like they may fit. Need to check U bolt hole locations to see if there thee same. As far as shock mounts, I can work with that. Would spring perch be at a different angle?? Won't be till next week to see the dropped axle in person.
I recently sent an axle to sid to be dropped out of a 63 F-100. When it showed up sid called me and said it was actually a 57-60 axle, not a 61-64 axle. So yes they will fit, however I'm not sure if the geometry is still the same. The truck drove great with the 57-60 axle, and still drives great with a 3" dropped 61-64 axle.
So which axle do you have in the 63 now? What mods did you have to make if any?by looking at his site the overall dimensions are the same including the KP
The truck has a 61-64 axle in it now. Had to heat the steering arm and bend it down roughly 3" to get the draglink on the factory angle again. Before that it was crazy scary to steer. With the draglink moved down, it steers and rides nice. It's the one in front (white one). Flipped axle in the back, dropped axle up front. The blue one is my truck, flipped axle in the back, every second leaf removed and a C notch. The front just has a stock axle with every second leaf removed. It sits low, but rides like crap. The front axle is sitting right on the bumpstops. It has 6.95 - 14" tires on the front which make it sit low also.
Ok I love the stance of both trucks in the pics! I noticed Sid sells tie rod lowering blocks, wonder if with those if the steering arm still needs to be heated and bent? Lastly, with your drop axle did you go with a shorter front shock or still using stock height ones?
The white one has the drops on the tierod, they drop the tie rod low enough to clear the springs. Still has the stock shocks.
Just received email confirmation from Sid that the axle will fit! The shock mounts are the only difference. I checked out the axle yesterday and it looks good. I'll keep everyone posted on the progress.
you will need tri rod drops for your drop axel, you may even need to shorten your tie rod...with a drop axel, you will need to clear your pitarm from the steering rod/column. depending on your leaf springs you may want to consider changing them out for reverse eye springs, if you don't line up the center bolts on the leafs to the straight axel, may result in binding issues. newer rod leaf springs help alot with this issue...when replacing old parts with new its always good to replace the whole system, for instance, getting new plug wires and not new plugs...get the drift?
4rod thanks for your input. I have a set of tie rod drops and don't know about the other issues you spoke of. If I encounter them I'll certainly hit you up. What exactly do you mean about the spring center bolts lining up with the axle?
I emailed Sid yesterday, he dropped the axle for my '59 and I had found a few posts on here about using a caster shim. He replied that he installs a 6 degree shim in every install. NAPA #264-4119 Besides helping correct the caster it will also aid in lowering the steering arm off the spindle.
Salf- The center bolts with the drop axel may not line up with your older leaf spring center "pin," holes. They should but if your drop axel is not year specific the stock leafs may be a 1/4 inch off. Some Newer leaf springs are designed with the center hole moved forward 1-1/4 inch to center the tire in the wheel well. Alot of the older fords have the tire offset in the wheel well...specifically '53-56 trucks...its really more of a preference thing...hope that helps.
I have a '64 that I would like to lower as well. Gearhead Graphics here on the HAMB has a '61 unibody that sits great!! He has used a complete front suspension & cross member from a Crown Vic. Any thoughts on this?
Paul it up elpolako on here he designed a Dakota front end that would be great. Also check out slick60's.com and ask about CV IFS. There tons of treads in them.
Little update. I got the dropped axle and everything fits just fine. If you want to use stock 64 shocks you need to mount the lower shock mounts onto the earlier axle cause they are different. The 64 shock mount unbolts and you need to drill two holes in the earlier axle to mount them. No bigge. Here's the bad news. The lowered axle I was supposed to get was badly bent!! Owners son apparently struck a "curb" and bent it. So now my dilemma is put it all back together, have my original lowered by SiDS, or lowered springs. Probably put it all back together since I have no money$$ :/
Bent!! One end is bent way back and the spring pad on that same side is bent from the inside to outside of your looking at it from the front. I don't want the headache.
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