opinions and ideas

[TRAILBINDER]

been searchin for ideas on lifting an fullsize ih for a while, and now i just want to ask, what would you do??? 3 link,4 link, radius arms, coils, coilovers, leafs, quarter elliptic??? just askin personal preferences and general knowledge from people with more experiance than me. just so you know its a 75 ih 150, goin on chevy 1-tons(one day, hopefully very soon) i run trails, will probly try and go to fordyce and the con with it. was plannin on keepin it streetable, but yall know how that goes. i have some okay fab skills. i have fabbed lots of crap on previous rigs. it is gonna have to be on a budget, as im only 19, livin on my own. I have ideas as what i COULD do with it, like link the rear and use ford coils to keep it on the cheap side. just askin opinions on what i should seriously look into. thanks

[Diesel Smoke]

been searchin for ideas on lifting an fullsize ih for a while, and now i just want to ask, what would you do??? 3 link,4 link, radius arms, coils, coilovers, leafs, quarter elliptic??? just askin personal preferences and general knowledge from people with more experiance than me. just so you know its a 75 ih 150, goin on chevy 1-tons(one day, hopefully very soon) i run trails, will probly try and go to fordyce and the con with it. was plannin on keepin it streetable, but yall know how that goes. i have some okay fab skills. i have fabbed lots of crap on previous rigs. it is gonna have to be on a budget, as im only 19, livin on my own. I have ideas as what i COULD do with it, like link the rear and use ford coils to keep it on the cheap side. just askin opinions on what i should seriously look into. thanks

You're 19 and on a budget. You'd like to keep it streetable. I'd say your best bet would be to keep the leaf spring setup and just run some non IH leaves. The second choice would be coils in the front and leaves in the rear. There really isn't much sense in burying a project like this trying to get it set up for a coilover or quarter elliptical set up. Sure if you have the time and the skill, I'd say go for it. Start out small then build from there. You can always do coilovers or leaves later as your skills and budget progress to that point. Simple works on a small budget.

[Brandon]

your well on your way to being the standard IH owner - thinking of starting something that will take you 10 years to finish ;)

KISS....

[Rock Tractor]

Run some Cheby springs, and keep it simple.

[SSGTWC]

I have throw in keeping things simple also.

[R290]

Having been there, I would go for making the truck very dependable. Good/new rubber for a start on the lift. If one tons are in the future, then everything needs to lean that way.

[ihochad]

I think that most of us would agree, keep it simple. Leaf spring suspensions are dependable, cheap, and easy to repair/modify compared to the other options. They are also usually more streetable than home brewed coil springs for some highbreed set up. Plus it is a truck, why not keep it functional as one. Meaning towing, hauling and things that trucks do.

[tsm1mt]

I wouldn't lift it an inch.

I need to get the pics off the camera.. I've been doing some testing on my '74 150, but with an eye towards my '72 1110 Travelall.

Anyhow.. 36s fit just fine.. and 42s should fit (IIRC with slight rubbing or no rubbing) with NO LIFT.

More than 42s and you're going to hit the firewall for sure.

At least on a 74/75, you could push the axle forward a bit to gain a little more room - on my '72, the oil pan gets in the way and I'd have to change to a rear-sump pan and a bunch of other stuff.

So anyhow.. keep the stock suspension, cut the fenders, and put 42s on it and laugh at your friends with 12" lifts to fit 42s.

Spend the "lift" money on a pair of lockers, instead.

If, after that, you're still set on a lift..

Build a shackle hanger to go in the rear set of holes at the back of the front springs where the strut-rod goes for a 2wd 74/75 A-arm setup.

That should let you run Chevy springs up front. Figure on getting 2" less lift than the advertised amount for a Chevy - at least on the 4-6" springs you should net 2-4".

[TRAILBINDER]

thanks for all the replies. big lift isnt what im after, but maybe 4-6". the front springs are just too short, and they are fallen apart. i did some research and found that 2wd dakota rear springs have a great length/pin location for what im after(they measure 23/33" by 2 1/2" wide, using a 1/2" bolt)they would be great for the front, i was just askin because i was thinkin of runnin the ford coils cause i can easily get ahold of stockers, 4" lift coils, and 8" lift coils for cheap, and it would solve some steering issues in the front, and do pretty well out back. i also thought of doing a quarter elliptical setup, because i've helped do one on a jeep of my buddys, and its not to hard, and it flex's amazing. i do understand the K.I.S.S. method of things though... and thats probly the route i need to go for now. thanks very much for all the replies.

[Diesel Smoke]

thanks for all the replies. big lift isnt what im after, but maybe 4-6". the front springs are just too short, and they are fallen apart. i did some research and found that 2wd dakota rear springs have a great length/pin location for what im after(they measure 23/33" by 2 1/2" wide, using a 1/2" bolt)they would be great for the front, i was just askin because i was thinkin of runnin the ford coils cause i can easily get ahold of stockers, 4" lift coils, and 8" lift coils for cheap, and it would solve some steering issues in the front, and do pretty well out back. i also thought of doing a quarter elliptical setup, because i've helped do one on a jeep of my buddys, and its not to hard, and it flex's amazing. i do understand the K.I.S.S. method of things though... and thats probly the route i need to go for now. thanks very much for all the replies.

Sure you can get the coils cheap, but how much money are you going to invest getting them on your truck? If they are cheap, get them anyway and gather the stuff for the swap. I have partaken in and seen too many eternal projects and hate to see another on start up. I think Tom has about the best advice yet. Fits well with my "lift little cut lots" metality.