Guy's,
I'm in the proces of purchasing a '59 f100.
This one is a project truck which is taken apart.
The original 6 cil is present and also a conversion kit with a 302 and autotrans.
Also a discbrake conversion is in the sale.
My questions are:
What to look for? (rust, ....)
How to lower such a truck that has leafsprings in the rear and front?
Not by installing ifs.
Is it possible to do a flip with the front leaf?
Is a drop axle a option?
I live in the netherlands (europe) and buying ifs and ship it is expencive for me.
I'd like to try a drop with the leafs.
Or has anyone else a option???
I'd like to lower it 3" at least.
Located this one in Belgium and is in a reasonable shape.
Found this one since a deal with a '66 went bad...
Help me guy's..
Do you know websites for this kind of trucks by any chance??
See Ya
Twan

 

Twan,
Welcome aboard FTE! I lowered the rear of my '59 by having the springs de-arced (see my truck's stance, aka "rake", in my gallery). As for the front, if disc brakes are part of the deal, your best bet would be to find an IFS for those disc brakes, or just get an IFS off a compatible vehicle from a junkyard. See the "suspension" thread near the top of this forum. There are a number of different IFS' that will work. It's definitely worth the read, then you can go hunt down any number of IFS' at a junkyard or salvage yard.

Always look for rust. Common places are at the bottom of the cab corners, the bed, and the undercarriage of course. Keep in mind a '59 is 45 years old, so don't expect to find or get a rust-free vehicle. Replacement patch panels are available from a number of sources, so even if there's some rust-through, it's not necessarily a deal-breaker in my opinion.

Keep us posted on the transaction and please fire-away with any questions you have.

Best,
Daryl
(aka, Butch n Me)

 

Daryl,
Nice truck you have!
But i'd like to know if it's possible top lower it without the ifs.
There are not many junkyards here in the netherlands.
So the easyest and cheapest way maybe is to install a flip kit?
What do you mean by de-arced??
I don't understand it.
Thanks
See Ya
Twan

 

De Arching the leaf springs means you remove the complete springs. Most suspension places can do this. De Arching means they restretch your original springs to lower the vehicle 1,2,and think 3 at the most inches. It's put on a machine that bends the springs to lower the body of the vehicle. It cost about $100 to do both springs.

 

Imlwr is correct about the de-arcing procedure and price. I don't know the technicalities of the flip kit.

Daryl

 

DS59- the flip kit is a little more complicated than the dearching method. In the flip kit, you have to unweld the rear end housing mounts and relocate the mount to the opposite side of the housing. it usually comes with new mounts for the rear end. What happens is the leaf springs are relocated to underneath the housing versus above it( the rear end housing now sit on the springs versus underneath). The flip kit will give you about 5-6" of drop without touching the leaf springs. With the flip kit you'll also have to c-notch the frame rails because the housing will hit it with serious bumps. Hope this helps.

 

Hope this helps.[/QUOTE]

Sure does! Learn something new everyday. Thanks much!!