Fornt Suspension Upgraded

[sb4boys]

I just purchased a 68 F-100 ranger SWB that had been stored in a barn for 17 years. The body is in great shape with some surface rust. It has a 360 with 3-speed manual trans. I want to upgrade from drum to power disk breaks and add power steering. Based on what I have read, I would need to change out the suspension? Since my knowledge is limited in this area, I would like some advice on what avenues are available and if a new suspension is required.

[67mann]

This is a great read and pretty straight forward
http://www.fordification.com/tech/discbrakes01.htm and http://www.fordification.com/tech/powersteering.htm

This seem's old school now , with all the crown vic upgrades

[lennyp]

from Massachusetts.

[colnago]

I just converted my '67 F250 from drum to disc. I did not change any suspension parts. In fact, I even kept the original spindles. The only things I swapped in were the brackets for the calipers, dust shields, calipers/pads, rotors, and the hydraulics. I did not swap spindles, beams, springs, shocks, etc. Everything bolted or slipped right on. Some guys find it easier to pull it all out from a donor truck. I wanted to see how much I could keep from my truck, and was able to keep everything but the parts specific to the brakes.

I haven't done the steering yet, but probably will later this year. I'll need to make mods for the larger Saginaw steering box (shorter steering column and different motor mount), but again won't make any changes to the suspension. Mind you, mine is an F250, but the F100 should be similar. Some guys swap in the front end from a Crown Vic, but that's not necessary.

Oh, by the way,

Joseph

[sargentrs]

I believe the F250 was available with either front drums or front discs so that's why you were able to swap so easily. The F100 never had disc available until '73 so it's not quite that simple. At a bare minimum you'll have to swap the spindles from a '73-'74 with disc. I found a set of '74 spindles on Ebay. Had the king pin bushings replaced while I had it apart. The swap was easy. '73-'74 used the same king pins as our trucks so the spindle is a drop in replacement. You'll also have to find dust shields, I bought mine NOS from Green Sales and Miller Obsolete, a few years back. Once you get to a '75 model year, there starts to be differences in the king pins and I-beam bores so it's just easier to grab the whole front suspension than swap out just those parts. http://www.fordification.com/tech/Ibeamsspindles.htm

[colnago]

Yes and no. Disc brakes weren't available until '68. That being said, everything bolted up to my '67 with no mods necessary. But that's an F250, not an F100.

Joseph

[sargentrs]

Good info Joseph!