Lowered the front of the Uni today............

Post by **Greg D** » July 11, 2007, 3:38 pm

Pulled 2 leaves out of the springs #s 3 & 5 as you count down from the top of the spring pack. Dropped her about 2 1/2 or 3" looks much better now. I also put some chrome acorn lug nuts on the wheels with a few new coats of a brighter red paint. I'll post some pics a little later. Lol, may need a new avatar now too.

ABA · Post by **ABA** » July 11, 2007, 5:15 pm

Damn, just made me wish my '65 had a straight front axle. I want mine dropped so bad a can't stand it but can't afford the dropped I-Beams at the moment.

jeffw · Post by **jeffw** » July 11, 2007, 6:22 pm

hey greg,, you got my total attention with that drop,, how exactly do you pull leaves out??? what tools would I need?? is there any extra to buy??

Post by **Greg D** » July 11, 2007, 6:49 pm

I have been soaking the U bolts and the one that holds the spring pack together with PB Blaster for a few weeks. They all came right off. I took the nuts off of the U bolts 7 let the axle down (had the truck on jackstands of course) removed the little half leaf that cushions bottom outs, took out the spring pack pin (vise grip on the pin to hold it while I took the nut off of the top). I just used a copper hammer I have to slide the clips out far enough to pull out the 3rd leaf down the 5th leaf was loose just from removing the pin, I moved it back further to support the new # 3 leaf. Then I just put it all back together less the 2 leaves I was removing. I picked the 2 leaves I removed so that the load on the springs was not too concentrated in one spot, we don't want any broken leaves. I can probably get some pics pretty soon too. Best way to do this is to have new main leaves with reverse eyes made, I will do this as soon as I can. Part of the reason for using this temporary measure was I wanted to soften the ride of the truck abit as much as I wanted it lowered.

shawns fords · Post by **shawns fords** » July 11, 2007, 9:53 pm

Greg I did the same thing, only removed one leaf instead of two, I spent alot of time cleaning up them old springs, now that I have a good stance I will take them old leafs in and have the new springs made to fit.

Post by **Greg D** » July 11, 2007, 9:53 pm

Shawn, I am going to do something similar, I'll have the spring shop base my new reverse eyes on these springs. The 2 newest pics on this page.
http://fordtruk.com/forums/album.php?user_id=292

shawns fords · Post by **shawns fords** » July 11, 2007, 9:58 pm

thats a nice stance, mine is still alot higher in the front than yours,
I actually like it with a little bit of the old 60s Gasser Drag car look

Post by **Greg D** » July 11, 2007, 10:29 pm

Thanks Shawn, it actually shows the rake abit better in person I think, just didn't seem to show as much in the pics. It had a lwb F100 XL thing going, lol. Made me go Hmmm at first but I originally wanted a early 60s lowered street custom look so I have decided to stick with my plan.

mikecarson · Post by **mikecarson** » July 12, 2007, 6:14 am

Drop in a 390, that lowered the front of my 62 about 3 inches,

Post by **Greg D** » July 12, 2007, 6:19 am

No FE here Mike, if I don't rod the 6 (which I can put a T-5 behind), I will drop in something else I can put an overdrive tranny behind. Setting her up as a daily driver too. I will be storing the Stangs in the winter.

Gary Seymour · Post by **Gary Seymour** » July 12, 2007, 6:38 am

Greg,

You gained 2-1/2" by removing springs. About another 1-1/2" by reversing the spring eyes maybe?

Did you leave off the short spring that cusions bottom-outs?

Did you have to bend steering arms at 2-1/2" drop?

thanks

Post by **Greg D** » July 12, 2007, 6:44 pm

I put the half leaf overload back in. I think that it not only cushions bottom outs but also keeps the leaf from sticking in a negative arch position. I pretty much didn't mess with anything else. I haven't gotten the reverse eye main leafs yet that will be a little while.

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » July 12, 2007, 9:24 pm

That stance looks good. I like the axle center lines to be right at the bottom of the body.

I think you will find that the ride is going to be a bit mushy. Have the Spring shop make the new spring with the same spring rate as the full pack, only with the arch of the modified pack.

Post by **Greg D** » July 12, 2007, 9:48 pm

Dan, softening the ride was one of my goals for doing this. It was also the main reason I didn't just wait to get new springs made, I want it softer NOW!, lol. I coulda waited to get it lower, lol.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » July 12, 2007, 10:22 pm

Greg. Sob if that ain't a decent rig now .. thought we was losing you when you went mustang loony, like i did Brickilin. be hey we's still here... and improving every day for the most part.

Dang if that Bricklin ain't the most fun you can have with your pants on tho

Z-MAN · Post by **Z-MAN** » July 12, 2007, 11:32 pm

Nice stance greg

fmartin_gila · Post by **fmartin_gila** » July 13, 2007, 7:39 am

Something to be aware of. You may have to trim the second leaf if you go to reverse eyes. you lose the support directly under the eye.
Fred

Post by **Greg D** » July 13, 2007, 3:44 pm

Thanks for the kudos guys. Fred, I thought of the possibility of that too. the ends of the second leaf are real close to the end of the stock spring. I may have whole new springs made or just swap #2 for #3 in the new pack. Now to just get the fuel system issue sorted out so I can actually enjoy driving it.

six-two · Post by **six-two** » July 13, 2007, 9:47 pm

WOW! It is stuff like this that made me join this forum in this first place. Greg D-Thanks for explaining everything so well, this gives me the confidence to lower my sixty-two uni. And it's cheap too. THANKS! Nice truck by the way...

___________________________________six-two

Lowered the front of the Uni today............

Lowered the front of the Uni today............

drop

lowered the uni