The Ford Barn

fordor41 · 08-12-2018, 11:06 PM

I have a 1960 ford fairlane 500 coupe that was lowered before I got it It has 4" lowering blocks in the rear and the shackles are hanging down. It looks like the shackles should be up with the spring eye just below the frame. anyone know for sure how they should be orientated?

KULTULZ · 08-13-2018, 02:44 AM

It would be easier to visualize if you provided a photo. It's hard to say what was done.

dmsfrr · 08-13-2018, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KULTULZ

It would be easier to visualize if you provided a photo. It's hard to say what was done.

What I'm picturing in my mind looks pretty scary.
Flipping the shackles and using 4in lowering blocks are not the best ideas, and they'd likely cancel each other out for ride height change. ???

.

KULTULZ · 08-13-2018, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmsfrr

What I'm picturing in my mind looks pretty scary

Yeah, me too. I thought I was going to see these-

But I now realize he meant the shackles had been reversed. Very bad for the main leaf but was common practice in the day to temporarily restore ride height with a weak, sagging spring (or a cheap and easy way to jack one up ...

).

56sedandelivery · 08-14-2018, 09:33 AM

come on fess up. You didn't use those back in the day.

dmsfrr · 08-14-2018, 11:22 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 56sedandelivery

come on fess up. You didn't use those back in the day.

1971 Mercury Comet, G50 x 14 rear tires and air shocks

.

KULTULZ · 08-14-2018, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 56sedandelivery

come on fess up. You didn't use those back in the day.

... alas ...

My brother had a '57 that he decided to raise with 2 X 4's one day. Took it on the street for a burnout and the blocks came flying out.

No use being one if you can't act like one...

56sedandelivery · 08-14-2018, 06:41 PM

I have one better. Back in the days when the gasser were hot I did my 57 over to look like one. Straight axle up from then took the front springs and put them in the back to level it out. While it looked cool it rode like a tank. I did weld the springs in the back to the axle and frame so never had them come flying out.

fordor41 · 08-14-2018, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KULTULZ

Yeah, me too. I thought I was going to see these-

But I now realize he meant the shackles had been reversed. Very bad for the main leaf but was common practice in the day to temporarily restore ride height with a weak, sagging spring (or a cheap and easy way to jack one up ...

).

That's how I assumed the springs should be. Shackle up

fordor41 · 08-14-2018, 10:30 PM

I found a pic of the car that I bought from a few(?) yrs ago. It was a correct ride height. By the time I got it, it had been lowered 4" F & R. I assume someone played with the rear springs and assembled them wrong and the 4" lowering blocks was their way to correct it. Surprisingly it handles and drives great. Only problem is the frame is so low I can't get a jack under it! It appears they heated the front coils to lower the front

08-12-2018, 11:06 PM	#1
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,568	1960 ford rear shackles I have a 1960 ford fairlane 500 coupe that was lowered before I got it It has 4" lowering blocks in the rear and the shackles are hanging down. It looks like the shackles should be up with the spring eye just below the frame. anyone know for sure how they should be orientated?

08-13-2018, 02:44 AM	#2
KULTULZ Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: IN A GALAXIE FAR, FAR AWAY Posts: 7,386	Re: 1960 ford rear shackles It would be easier to visualize if you provided a photo. It's hard to say what was done. __________________ ***** "Last Sunday, I caught him makin' eyes at Idell Bushey durin' preachin'. And I know what they do up there in the hills when they say they're possum huntin'. They're just sittin' around the campfire, drinkin' hard cider, hittin' each other on the shoulder and hollerin' 'flinch!'." ― Charlene Darling (Daughter of Briscoe Darling)

08-14-2018, 09:33 AM	#5
56sedandelivery Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Arkansas Posts: 578	Re: 1960 ford rear shackles come on fess up. You didn't use those back in the day.

08-14-2018, 06:41 PM	#8
56sedandelivery Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Arkansas Posts: 578	Re: 1960 ford rear shackles I have one better. Back in the days when the gasser were hot I did my 57 over to look like one. Straight axle up from then took the front springs and put them in the back to level it out. While it looked cool it rode like a tank. I did weld the springs in the back to the axle and frame so never had them come flying out.

08-14-2018, 10:30 PM	#10
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,568	Re: 1960 ford rear shackles I found a pic of the car that I bought from a few(?) yrs ago. It was a correct ride height. By the time I got it, it had been lowered 4" F & R. I assume someone played with the rear springs and assembled them wrong and the 4" lowering blocks was their way to correct it. Surprisingly it handles and drives great. Only problem is the frame is so low I can't get a jack under it! It appears they heated the front coils to lower the front