1960 ford rear shackles

fordor41

fordor41

Well-known member
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 said:
It would be easier to visualize if you provided a photo. It's hard to say what was done.
Click to expand...
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. ???

.
 
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dmsfrr said:
What I'm picturing in my mind looks pretty scary
Click to expand...

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


370377


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 ... :o ).


370378
 

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  • Leaf Sring Adjustable Shackels.jpg
    Leaf Sring Adjustable Shackels.jpg
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  • Suspension- RR 1957-59 FORD _2 - Spring Shackle.jpg
    Suspension- RR 1957-59 FORD _2 - Spring Shackle.jpg
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56sedandelivery said:
come on fess up. You didn't use those back in the day. :p
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... alas ... :cool:


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... ;)
 
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.
 
KULTULZ said:
Yeah, me too. I thought I was going to see these-


370377


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 ... :o ).


370378
Click to expand...
That's how I assumed the springs should be. Shackle up
 
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
 
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