Dropping the '69 tomorrow

[Randy Beck]

The truck looks great. Did you hit any snags along the way? Would you do anything differnt if you had to do it again. I'm planning on lowering one of my short beds next spring so any words of wisdom would help.



John

I would sudjest that you don't use the tie rod relocators from the DJM kit. You can't get a wrench in the relocaqtor to tighten the castle nut tight. Just by looking at pics, The AIM relocators look kike they are alot better design. That's my 2 cents worth.

[mk]

Keith actually mentions that very thing in the 'dropping trucks' tech article. The truck looks good, Randy. I'm dying to do this to my Merc. Did you swap master cylinders or at least take the residual valve out of the front circuit?


mike

[Randy Beck]

MK,
I replaced the original master cylinder with a new MC for a '73 F-100. I also used a power booster and the prop valve from a '73 parts truck

[boots]

Nice man, really lookin good.

[green70]

i took a grinder to a wrench in order to tighten the tie rod end,havent had any problems with the djm set up,be carefull if you decide to cut your springs,1 coil can give a pretty big drop,i would start with a half coil,you can always cut again but you cant put it back.....

[71 LONG BED]

Won't it hook up better with a little squat in the back? That's the way they did it in the 50's & 60's.
The truck looks great! It will look awesome leveled out too. I was just making a point, pleas don't be offended.

[SMF Speed&Custom]

Randy, when you took your springs out did you just use a jack and let them down slowly or did you use a spring compressor? I have stock springs in my 66 but for some reason it sits a bit lower than stock already but the camber is still too positive. I think a half a coil will solve my problem, I might go one whole coil. Sorry, not trying to take over your thread here.

[Randy Beck]

I jacked up the front end by placing the jack under the big crossmember under the engine. Removed the tires, unbolted the shocks at the top, removed the big nut at the bottom of the spring that is inside the coils, then removed the spring clip that is at the top of the spring. Once all of that was loose, I just pushed down on the i-beams and it falls right out. Just watch your toes, them darn coils are heavy!!

[SMF Speed&Custom]

So there is no tension on them when jacked up by the main crossmember? So no worries on a flying spring at my face huh?

[theskytoucher]

FYI That hurts real bad!!! I leaned that one from experience.

[71 LONG BED]

So there is no tension on them when jacked up by the main crossmember? So no worries on a flying spring at my face huh?

When I took the front suspention off of a '73 to get the disk brakes, I was afraid of the same thing. My father in-law insured me it wouldn't and he was right. Nothing happened. The spring just fell out.

[lightning_msd]

how much did that cost you for all of that with shipping, and the disc brakes? i would love to do that to my 67, ive been thinking about bagging it but im not sure. any suggestions?

[marz68]

The only suspension that you should worry about the spring shooting out is one that has upper and lower control arms.

[71 LONG BED]

When I put the lift on my Cherokee, I almost lost one!! Kind of scary....

[ezernut9mm]

truck looks good! so how was djm to order from? are they tech savy or just phone jockies? i'd like to get a set of shackles. i would guess they are a 2" drop by themselves judging by the part no.