Relocating leaf spring mounts

[mrtleavitt]

I'm shortening a '74 shortbed by 2 inches in order to make it the same length as my '69. But I'm really worried that if I don't shorten the passenger side the EXACT same length as my driver side then the truck won't drive straight. For those of you who have done this or something similar (like lowering a truck) what has been your experience? If it's off by a quarter inch will it be noticeable? How about if one side is higher by a quarter inch will it be noticeable to the naked eye? How can I go about making sure they are exactly the same?

[FORDification]

I'm confused....you've titled this thread "Relocating leaf spring mounts" but then you ask about shortening the frame. Which route are you planning to take?

Simply relocating the rearend several inches forward (by moving the springs' frame mounts) is by far the fastest and easiest way of getting the rear wheels centered in the wheelwell. There's no reason why you can't get the rearend parallel to the frame. Just use several different reference sources for measuring, like holes in the frame. Keep in mind that the rearend is suspended on rubber bushings, so there's always going to be some flex...a tiny bit one way or the other, and it's inconsequential.

[fordman]

you just want to make several measurements from the same poimt on both sides like from the rear of the frame to the first mount. and then the other side the same way.

[mrtleavitt]

Ya sorry, I guess I did foul up, I'm shortening the wheel base by relocating the leaf spring mounts. I'm not actually shortening the frame, my bad. But thanks for the info, I never thought about the fact that being on bushings they will flex. I'll line them up best I can and see how that goes, I guess I can always move them fairly easy since the hard part is done with grinding out the rivets.

[ares360]

post some pics if you can, I think I will be doing this soon.

[mrtleavitt]

ya, you bet. I'm going to post the whole project in about a month so keep an eye out for it.

[ares360]

oh, I will be posting pics of how I did in a month.

[zakt]

I actually had my frame up on jack stands (leveled the frame side to side, front to back) then plumb bobed from points on the frame to the floor and marked then could measure from there for both sides to get straight... just thoughts (contours on the frame and brackets etc can be in the way to get a good measurment both sides)

Todd