lowering

[MoparKid340]

is it possable to flip the axel ontop of the spring to lower the front? and body ever tried it? looks to me like it should work.

[dodged200]

bumpsteer is a problem.

[MoparKid340]

could it possably work with a little fadracating?

[motomatt383]

hey Gary, do a little searching back thru previously discussed topics. the several in the group have done it. there's even a member who's done it that lives in martinsville, VA. the flip is pretty straight forward, but REengineering the steering to eliminate the bumpsteer prob, moutainmotorrobin & I discussed doing a cross steering setup like a lot of really lifted 4X4's do.
check it out, i'd luv to see someone works the bugs outa it. it would be a really economical way to put one in the weeds!!


matt

[slick]

Personally I think the easy way to avoid the bumpsteer issue is to bag the straight axle. I was going to do it, but deciced not to at the last minute that way you can lower it when you are just cruising or parked then air it up when you are driving

[MountainMoparRobin]

I haven't forgot, and I'm going to do it after we move out of the apartment, I'm going to use the gear box out of the Van as you mentioned for my visits to the pullnsave has helped my research to discover the van steering gear box is smaller than the early 80's trucks and IT SITS INSIDE THE FRAME RAILS, plus I'm going to stiffen the front, and drop the bad boy, not only will it be low, BUT SHE IS GOING TO CORNER BETTER THAN A SPORTS CAR, Watch me, this I promise will happen then its going out on the road to kick some @#%! YES YOU JUST GOT DUSTED BY A SWEPTLINE

[MoparKid340]

slick i think i might try that!
how low is it pancaked? and then fully inflated?

[JACKISBACK]

I FOUND THE BEST WAY IS TO GET 4X4 FRONT SPRINGS AND THEY ARE FLAT ... FITS RIGHT IN....

[MountainMoparRobin]

You are exactly right, 4x4 springs will drop them, for their isn't any arch to the 4x4 spring, isn't it also a thicker metal spring???? I'm going with them also droping it down further

[mopardwh]

You are exactly right, 4x4 springs will drop them, for their isn't any arch to the 4x4 spring, isn't it also a thicker metal spring???? I'm going with them also droping it down further

Yeah but how many are you taking out? Wouldn't the factory amount of springs sit higher?

[MountainMoparRobin]

no the factory packs are the same, the differance is the 4x4 springs have no arch because the axle sits below the spring, the same effect can be done by taking the existing springs off and go to spring company they will de-arch the springs for $30, if you take it in for them to take off the springs then add $180 per side, so its more cost effective to get 4x4 springs and put them on, especially for me because the thicker metal springs can take more of a "G" force

[slick]

I just pulled a couple of springs..It only aired up about 4 inches. It could actually go a couple inches lower, but I hadn't cut my u-bolts off and they were hitting the frame..

[MountainMoparRobin]

I could deal with that, infact that is about what I'm lookin for: fender sittin on the top of the tire I read on one of the Street Rod sites that you can drop them even a little further by turning the spring pac upside down, and they make a front perch that is one piece and solid, has a bolt go through the frame and they also sale a bolt pac that replaces the "U" bolts and has a rubber bumper, cost was $21.99, I need to measure the width of the 4x4 springs I'm puttin on and call the company to verify the width, then I may get a set

[MoparKid340]

i talked to the guys from airride technolegs at the goodguys show in charlet nd they talked like i could get a mustang 2 cross member put in bye a shop for under 400$ then i would have to buy a arms and all that good stuff wuill prolly get rather pricey but it should lay my fram on the ground.i think for now i might just bag the strait front axel unless i could find like a late 70s big @#% chrysler c body with a full frame or somthin.
iv ben thinging alot abou all this.

[motomatt383]

hey gary, if yur thinkin' about going to that amount of fab work, look into putting a Volare subframe under it, good ride quality, super low & adjustable torsion bars, so you can adjust the ride height.


matt

[MountainMoparRobin]

One draw back about the Volare is distance between the wheels is quite a bit shorter than ours.
MustangII front ends are made for our trucks by http://www.fatmanfab.com BigDaddy used there kit.
If you want IFS the easiest thing to do would be to take the upper and lower control arms off what ever, make your own crossmember, and weld on the upper mount, the frame stays exactly the same you just add the parts needed, but I'm staying with straight axle on this one

[MoparKid340]

o yea i was talking to a guy from fat man fab and he had told be about they had done a swepty before and it wasnts that big of a challenge

[MoparKid340]

wait!
baging a torchen bar suspension? how would u do that?
has it ever ben done before?

[JACKISBACK]

WHAT I DID WAS TAKE THE MAIN LEAF FROM THE 4X4 AND USE THE LOWER SPRINGS FROM THE STOCK SPRINGS ... IT MAKES IT ARCH JUST RIGHT ......

[hotrat62]

My 62 D-200 has a spring under on the front and back, and the body sits about 4-6 inches off the ground. Its a really easy swap, but it totally sucks to drive. This is because it has only about 1 inch of clearance under the front shock mounts. It also bumpsteers horribly. If youre just cruisin, and not drivin much, this swap would be the easiest thing to do.