Slick 60's

I am wrapping up the disc brake conversion on my '65. I got all the donor parts from a '78. The original suspension had a j-hook bolted through the i-beam that hooked into the crossmember. The beams from the '78 does not have these holes pre-drilled. Those of you that have done this conversion....what did you do to stop the suspension from traveling too far down, and allowing the coil spring to pop out of spring hat? I am considering drilling a hole in the beams, but I don't want to mess with the integrity of the beam....

Do you have a pic of what you are talking about? When I took my 66 apart and used the 77 stuff I don't remember seeing what you are talking about. A pic would help.

I think that I would drill the holes in the 78 beam and put the hooks back on, the other beams had the holes and held up fine.

Shouldnt the shock keep it from moving too far?

The shock will keep it in place and there should be a strap on the top of spring (2 3/8 bolts 9/16 heads on top of spring pocket) that keeps it aligned.


Johnny

Phil,
I believe the retaining 'axle J-hooks' you're referring to are called a "Front Suspension Lower Arm Stop" (Part# C5TZ-3A016-C, -D (RH & LH respectively), and are located mid-way along each I-beam front axle. Some of my information indicates that they were on '65-'69 4x2 F100/F250s and other info indicates only '65/'66. Either way, I wouldn't expect to see them on your '78 axles.

BarnieTrk

The j hooks are on the early I beam trucks, later Ibeam trucks use the small clip to retain the sping and I used those with my disc swap. Unless you air out your truck often I believe the shock will keep everything together.

Santi---I can get a pic soon, but I'm at work right now so I can't get to it to snap a pic...

Sixty6---during reassembly the shock does not keep it in place...the spring tends to slightly pop out of position.

fendermender---the spring hat for the '65 does not have any holes to indicate where I should be putting a strap. Do you happen to have any pics of the strap you are speaking of?

BarnieTrk---yes that is exactly what I am referring to. The '78 didn't use this arm stop.

Thanks for your help and insight guys!

Good to know. Hoping to do this swap in the near future.

Are you talking about these bolts?

Santi---that is what I'm lookin for! My spring hats do not have holes pre-drilled for a strap in that location. Thanks for getting that pic for me. Gives me a good idea on what I should do...what size of material is used for the strap on your truck?

I'm not sure what size of clip it is.. It is probably like a 16 gauge if anything.. The more advanced mechanics on this site can probably tell you exactly..lol.

I'm curious- did you swap the entire frame? Is that why you don't have the clips? Don't you still have the 65 with the clips on it?

Santi photo showes the clip bolts I was refering to, guessing they were added when the check straps were deleted.


Johnny

I just swapped the '78 front suspension onto the '65 frame. A buddy helped me tear down the '78 and he was the one that finished pulling the springs out, so I wasn't sure how they were secured. I still have the arm stops from the '65, but I would have to drill holes through the i-beams. I would rather make a strap like you have, Santi...

you could always just use a limiting strap like the off road crowd does. Doesn't have to be anything heavy duty. Cut up an old tow strap

Go back and get the straps off a donor and drill the holes.

Do not drill the axle. They retaining hooks were discontinued for a reason.

Garbz

I will add to waht has been said.

65 had the strap/hook bolted onto the I-beam, it hooked onto the crossmember when jacking the front end up.


The later models had the strap on the upper spring perch containing the spring.

I have never worked on a 66 but have pulled front ends off Of 73 and up.

The 73 and up I pulled had a nut holding the radius rod and the spring cup to the I-beam and then a washer thingie and another nut holding the lower spring to the spring cup.


Ricky.