Lowering My '69

[3West]

Looking for shops with the knowledge and equipment to properly bend the stock i-beams on my truck and re-establish the correct front end geometry as I want to lower the truck without shelling out for expensive aftermarket parts. Needs to be within a reasonable driving distance of south central Oklahoma. Thanks, Ed.

[red_67f100]

You can do it the expensive way which involves ordering all new lowering components....

Or...you can do it the cheap way and do a "Mexican drop" as they call it in my region . This is often done at muffler shops and all they do is raise the truck with their lift, pull out the torch and heat up the springs. the springs will become shorter and thus lowering the front. After the correct level is reached they stop heating the springs and let them cool off a few minutes. After this you will need to do an alignment to correct the camber. After that it should look pretty badass however the ride may be a little bit more bouncier but still decent. If not you can always put in some better aftermarket shocks. This is the way my bump was lowered but it was like that already when I bought it.

[ultraranger]

You can't shorten the springs on an I-beam suspension without causing major camber angle problems with the front wheels. (Tops of the wheels will lean inward).

The only way you can make a significant drop is to install lowering beams or, install a completely different front suspension such as a 2003-2011 Crown Victoria front suspension.

Heating the coils also causes the springs to lose their temper. The springs will continue to sag more over time.

[fy549]

Crown Suspension-Made in the USA-Lifetime Warranty-Guaranteed not to sag--2'' front suspension Lowing Spring Drop coil kit #353420--$130.00------and yes you will have to have your beam bent.-Carry your truck to a shop that lines big truck they can fix it right---.alot of the car alignment centers don't know how to bend the beams on theses trucks and get them right.

[red_67f100]

That's correct guys. I was a little off on the camber issue, and its because I remembered that on my 95 f150 I used camber adjusting bushings but I guess that doesn't work on bumps.

[3West]

Thanks for the replies. After some digging around, I've found some info on how i-beams were bent back in the day by alignment shops. The process isn't overly complicated, just requires a good sized hydraulic jack and a couple of capable anchor points. Don't know exactly when I'll get to doing it, but I'll try to post the process once done.

[derbydad276]

I cut 1 &1/2 coils off mine and lived with the extra camber don't heat springs with a torch you'll be sorry

[3West]

I would never heat the springs. How was the tire wear?

[fy549]

I cut 1 &1/2 coils off mine and lived with the extra camber don't heat springs with a torch you'll be sorry

do you have any pictures how you cut them

[BobbyFord]

I cut 1 &1/2 coils off mine and lived with the extra camber don't heat springs with a torch you'll be sorry

do you have any pictures how you cut them

Cut-off wheels are the preferred method...> http://www.dewalt.com/tool-parts/abrasi ... w8062.aspx