Rear Shackle Flip on F250

[79FoMoCoF250]

Anyone on know how much lift you get from a rear shackle flip over. (best I can figure is 3.5 inches) I want to eleminate the stock block lift which is 3 inches. Don't want to invest my time if my truck ends up low in the ass.
P.S. anyone do a 1/4 elliplce to the rear of their fullsize (outboard springs)Pics?

[JimL]

You will get approximately -2" of lift. Yes, negative lift. That is if the F250's are like the F150's and Rangers with the shakle which sits below the shackle hanger(attatched to the frame) and above the spring. The shackle flip will situate the shackle above this mount (and under the spring-similar to Chevys) and with all other factors constant you will lose approximately the same height as the length of the shackle. You will in turn gain more articulation and a better ride.

[WhiskeyTango]

You will gain as much lift as per how long your shackles are. I did this on my truck and to provide 6" of lift my shackles are about that long. However I am now going to use a stock Tacoma shackle and throw that in the mix as well for a dual shackle setup to give my current shackle about 60 deg. resting sngle and have the extra droop from the donor Taco. Hopefully when I rig it all up I can get some pics up.

[AZFord4x4]

Originally posted by JimL:
<STRONG>That is if the F250's are like the F150's and Rangers with the shakle which sits below the shackle hanger(attatched to the frame) and above the spring.</STRONG>

Huh?
I've been around Ford trucks for quite a while, & have never seen a rear that wasn't a tension design (shackle goes up from the frame mount) What Ford trucks have you seen a factory compression shackle on?

[JimL]

Originally posted by Fullsizes Rule:
<STRONG>Huh?
I've been around Ford trucks for quite a while, & have never seen a rear that wasn't a tension design (shackle goes up from the frame mount) What Ford trucks have you seen a factory compression shackle on?</STRONG>

Rangers for one (positive), and I'm almost positive on the F150's (newer ones maybe? as in 92+??) though I can't say for sure. I'm almost positive that this was the setup on my Dad's '92 F150 and I'm not sure either way what the setup was on the older ones.

Like I said above, my post really only applies if the leaf spring sits below the shackle which I wasn't sure of on the F250's.

Sorry, I was under the impression the 250's (and other Ford trucks) were of similar design. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

[ 09-24-2001: Message edited by: JimL ]

[JimL]

Here is the setup on a Ranger minus the shackle, but you can see where it goes:

Setup after shackle swap on Ranger:

This setup reduces the amount of lift by about 2"

BTW, these are NOT my pics or my truck.

[ 09-24-2001: Message edited by: JimL ]

[AZFord4x4]

well damn, ya learn something new every day.
Just went out & looked under my girlfriends Ranger & sure enough they're compression shackles...
Here's one for you Jim <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0">
Guess I should just stick to fullsizes... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[79FoMoCoF250]

My Truck comes stock with a tension shackle
I want to go to a compression shackle, so i will get a lift not a lower out of it.

Are there any stock vehicles with leaf spring that are the same length and width as an f250, I want a softer spring. F150 spring are the right length, but they are about 3/4 of an inch narrower.

[JimL]

Originally posted by Fullsizes Rule:
<STRONG>well damn, ya learn something new every day.
Just went out & looked under my girlfriends Ranger & sure enough they're compression shackles...
Here's one for you Jim <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0">
Guess I should just stick to fullsizes... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Well, you my friend were correct as well. I checked a newer (mid '90's) F150 today and the shackles are in tension as well. I was mistaken. I too learned something today. Guess thats just one more reason to buy a full size...to learn more about them! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Have a <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0"> on me!

[JimL]

Originally posted by 79FoMoCoF250:
<STRONG>My Truck comes stock with a tension shackle
I want to go to a compression shackle, so i will get a lift not a lower out of it.
...
</STRONG>

Now that we've got that straightened out, after flipping your shackles, I'm not sure how much lift you'll get, but you can then use Chevy (or maybe even Fords since I just learned that they too are originally in tension) lowering shackles to give you the same amount of lift that they claim will lower the intended vehicle. They work both ways, but depending on whether your shackles are in tension or compression will either raise or lower the vehicle's rear end. Just another tidbit I thought I'd throw out there.

[Gordon]

don't forget to adjust your pinion angle after all the flippin.