Hey all, got my 58 F100 styleside, and want to know how low can bring the back down without cutting the bed up? Anyone out there know? Got a 9" in the rear, still on leafs.. Am good to notch the chassis, just everything off the chassis at moment and trying to work out how low can go / how much to notch chassis whilst boxing it in...
I lowered my 56' by flipping the rear axle, lowered it about 5". It leaves me 4" of travel until the axle hits the frame. I am going to C-Notch the frame so I can have 4.5" of travel to the bump stop and 5.5" to the frame. I think the rule of thumb from what everyone here has told me is to C notch no more than half of the frame width, and then box it.
how much is the bed boxed off the frame? you might be able to add a couple inches to your notch notch
I have looked at my 57' a few times and from what I can figure so far is a 2" notch in the frame leaves 1" clearance when the axle is sitting in the notch. I run a 9" on leafs right now. I think I will do the 2" notch for suspension travel and that should leave 3" clearance at the pig at ride height. I cannot tell you how much drop because the leafs on my truck are not the stock units.
Cheers guys. The axle had been flipped already when torn truck down, but have put Jag IFS in, that sitting low, so needed rear lower. tlmartin84 have heard the same about not nothich any more than half frame, and don't have space under bed to put big C notch in without cutting. coolbreeze1340 cheers for the numbers, really useful, I know the leafs on mine aren't stock either! So a 2 " notch with bump stop should leave clearance on the Diff to bed? Will mock up and measure like mad, as really don't want to put big dent in bed floor, as taken ages to beat it out dead straight! The numbers give me a good idea of where to be looking... What are peoples thought on air assist shocks? Got a set off mustang, that are spare, thought might be useful if low on back and want to haul something in bed. OR are they more hassle than worth? Definitely don't want to bag it!
Really like the height yours is sitting at! How bad does it slap the bed? And does it dent it? Need to update the build album soon!
Thanks and right now any weight it touches the pumpkin and you can see the middle of bed dent out. I can stick my 16 year old finger between them both..
on a 53 we flipped the spring perches and crossed sides , had to notch and box the rear crossmember. see my picture #15 in my album.
From what I see in the picture I do not think that would work out on a 1957-1960 F100. It looks like the rear spring hanger would be into the bed. My rear shakles are flipped but I do not believe they stick that far up past the frame rails.
This is my 59 flipped the axle. This pic is pretty much the axle on the frame. I have larger tires so you could get it lower by running lower tires probably. The differential in this pic would hit the bed when hitting a bump so I don't think any lower than the pic you see without cutting bed or running lower tires.....I just bagged mine and have some pics on my page. WAY BETTER RIDE
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