79 Ford Lift question

[406 YJ]

OK guys. This isn't my first post and I know that there is a search button but I'd rather ask people who have done it or know something about this. I bought a 79 F250 reg cab 4wd today. I bought it for a mud/Farm truck. Anyhow....I want to be able to run my wheels and tires on it and need to add about a 6" lift to it I'm thinking to clear the 36's on the front. The back is no prob. since it is a flatbed. What is the best/cheapest way to get this dude lifted. I know the simple line would be blocks and springs. but is there something you harvest springs out of? I found some lift kits for it on flea bay for over a grand. Fawk that. I have 500 in the truck. Help me poor boy this but make it to where I can still hop it up on blacktop.

Thanks in andvance!!

Todd

[4XFORD]

Originally Posted by 406 YJ

OK guys. This isn't my first post and I know that there is a search button but I'd rather ask people who have done it or know something about this. I bought a 79 F250 reg cab 4wd today. I bought it for a mud/Farm truck. Anyhow....I want to be able to run my wheels and tires on it and need to add about a 6" lift to it I'm thinking to clear the 36's on the front. The back is no prob. since it is a flatbed. What is the best/cheapest way to get this dude lifted. I know the simple line would be blocks and springs. but is there something you harvest springs out of? I found some lift kits for it on flea bay for over a grand. Fawk that. I have 500 in the truck. Help me poor boy this but make it to where I can still hop it up on blacktop.

Thanks in andvance!!

Todd

4" of lift will clear 36s easy, my '79 F-250 is lifted 4" and has 35s with miles of room.

Best budget lift would be front springs from a '76 or early '77 F-250 and a rear shackle flip. This should give you about 3"-4" depend on how much the Highboy springs have sagged (if any) and where you locate the rear spring hanger. Ditch the sway bars. You could accomplish this for under $100 plus new shocks.

Spend a few bucks and fix the steering. Bump steer sucks on these. Convert to cross over steering with an arm mounted on the pass side knuckle, new pitman arm and drag link. That should cure it.

[greenbomb]

i'm interested in what people have to say on this. i am also lookin for a cheap lift in my 78 f150.. but i want the full 6".

[Ak_F250]

Originally Posted by greenbomb

i'm interested in what people have to say on this. i am also lookin for a cheap lift in my 78 f150.. but i want the full 6".

The only thing yours has in common is a shackle flip for the rear. F250's have leaves up front.

If its just a beater, pull the splash guard things out of the wheelwells and trim to fit. I had a pos '79 F150 that cleared 36's with no lift and a little trimming. I tossed a pair of 550 coils on the front just for grins before it fell apart. They netted it a few inches.

[406 YJ]

Originally Posted by 4XFORD

4" of lift will clear 36s easy, my '79 F-250 is lifted 4" and has 35s with miles of room.

Best budget lift would be front springs from a '76 or early '77 F-250 and a rear shackle flip. This should give you about 3"-4" depend on how much the Highboy springs have sagged (if any) and where you locate the rear spring hanger. Ditch the sway bars. You could accomplish this for under $100 plus new shocks.

Thanks for the info! As for geting spring out of a 76' what is dif about them over the 79's? I'd have to guess the springs on this truck are toast. The guy used it to deliver round bails of hay for the past 20 yrs. When I go to taking springs out of a 76' do I get the front and rear springs or just the front? Did you run any kind of blocks for your lift or just a spring change out? Thanks again for all of your help!

Spend a few bucks and fix the steering. Bump steer sucks on these. Convert to cross over steering with an arm mounted on the pass side knuckle, new pitman arm and drag link. That should cure it.

I can get away with running the stock tie rod right?

[BUZZARD217]

trim the fenders. done.

[HalfFastFord]

I ran 38s on my 79 with only 4" of lift and very minor fender trimming.

[4XFORD]

Originally Posted by 406 YJ

As for geting spring out of a 76' what is dif about them over the 79's?

The pack is 5 leaves instead of 2 and they have 3"-4" more arch.

Originally Posted by 406 YJ

When I go to taking springs out of a 76' do I get the front and rear springs or just the front?

Front only, the rears are 2-1/2" wide, your truck has 3" wide springs.

Originally Posted by 406 YJ

Did you run any kind of blocks for your lift or just a spring change out?

For the cheepo lift you'll need to leave the 4" factory block. If you want to take it out then you'll need to use 4" lift springs to get it back to factory heigth then do the shackle flip to get 4" of lift.

For a shackle flip you have 3 choices:

Get a rear spring hanger from the front of the rear spring of a Ford with 3" wide rear springs. Say '73 to '85, year is not important. Remove your back rear spring hanger and install the scrounged one. Or:

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/...kit-p-281.html


http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/new...uct.php?id=180

Originally Posted by 406 YJ

I can get away with running the stock tie rod right?

Yes, and if it won't see the hiway much it's not totally necessary to go crossover steering, just gives it better road mannners.

[f250rollinon37s]

run superduty leafs in front, they fit with little mods ( hangers need a little bigger bolt )

but they are a mostly bolt on, i think they give an inch or two.

but used lift spring should be easy to come by

[superd02]

the two inch leveling springs would be plenty for 36s. i run 35s on my 78 w/no lift -no rubs

[406 YJ]

Small change of plans. I just scored some 38.5" boggers. They are new. What spring setup do you guys suggest for this setup? I'd rather not have to hack up the fenders if I do not have to

[superd02]

you can run a 40 with a 4 inch but thats cuttin it close. get some 6 inch fronts, and ditch the block in the back and run an 8 inch rear.

[406 YJ]

Where do you guys score your 6 or 8" springs? In my searches the springs are crazy expensive.

[superd02]

i bought mine from the local 4x4 shop, think they were bds springs, 6 inch were 212.?? a peice and the 8 inchers were 241.??

[cslimfu]

i have 4" on my 78 f250 and am running 42's. the lower trim line is a great guide for trimming the fenders. the only rub is the front cab mount if i am turned just right and hit a good bump. if you pm me youre email address i will email some pics

[TroyM]

if you want cheap and don't really care.... a 3'' body will clear 35-36'' tire on that truck

[Loki89t]

Originally Posted by 406 YJ

Small change of plans. I just scored some 38.5" boggers. They are new. What spring setup do you guys suggest for this setup? I'd rather not have to hack up the fenders if I do not have to

I used to run the 38.5 Boggers on my '78 with a 4" lift. I had to trim the very front of the front fender opening. Other then that they cleared fine and didn't rub on anything.

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[406 YJ]

Originally Posted by Loki89t

I used to run the 38.5 Boggers on my '78 with a 4" lift. I had to trim the very front of the front fender opening. Other then that they cleared fine and didn't rub on anything.

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Thanks for the pictures. That gets me pumped to see what it will look like. Are you guys running your stock dana 44 fronts? Any upgrades as far as shafts etc? What gears are you running with the 38.5? I have a 60 ford front out of a 79 and a 14 bolt rear. I don't want to put them under this truck as I'm not thinking I'll need to since it will be in the mud. But the other axles have 5.38's in them. I hope to hear that most are sticking with their 44 fronts. The guy I got it from put 3.56's or something like that in the axles a year back to "help it on the highway". I'm going to have to re gear and just wanted to see what others are doing. That trim isn't bad. I was thinking I would have to do more triming than that. It looks good not like some hack job. Once again thanks for all the help guys!!

Todd

[cslimfu]

when i ran 38's and my stock 44 front, it broke constantly. it would tear the ears off the inner and outter shafts at the u-joint. the money i spent on that i would of been way ahead to go to a 60.i finally did then went to 42's and that was too much for the 60. now am changing out to rockwells. all of this in the mud and pretty much only mud. 4.56's limited slip rear(no detroit in the 60 rear the shafts break enough) lock rite in 44 front, then detroit in 60 front.mild 460, t-18, 205.

[1978f250sc tc300 4x4]

78.5 f150 no lift fitting 38.5 gumbos
they rub but i unbolted the back of the fenders so when i do flex it they just bulge out.

[406 YJ]

Thought I would throw up a few pics of the jewl I ran out to his farm and took some pictures of it today. Part of the deal was that he wanted the 351 out of it for another truck. I'm in the process of building up a 302 to over 350 HP so that's what will be going in it. I scored the motor for free. It was out of a 78 boat so it's a marine 5.0

[cslimfu]

if youre building a mud truck on anything larger than 33's, either put a huge stall and auto or even though it was free, find a 460 for $100. i know its hard to pass up free but, even with the price to buy a 460, trust me and the next 25 people who post the same thing...... try to find a 460, 350hp from a 302 is expensive and 300lbs tourque is weak. a stock 460 w/215hp will have 375lbs.plus there is always potential left in the 460 but, the 302 is balls out.you can get a 557 stroker kit for under a grand ( ebay, search 557 stroker) but, thats just my two cents worth. just wait you will get a couple more dollars of the same input. i've been there and messed up too, thats how i know. if you have any doubts on what i am saying, goto mud, then scroll down to "what motors yall runnin" there are pretty few under 400 cubes and alot over. and still a bunch over 500

[4XFORD]

[QUOTE=406 YJ;9368009]I'm in the process of building up a 302 to over 350 HP so that's what will be going in it. I scored the motor for free. It was out of a 78 boat so it's a marine 5.0[QUOTE]

You know a 302 is not a bolt in right?

The engine in there is a 351M, it has a big block bolt pattern bell housing. To fit a 302 in there you'll need engine towers to the frame, new trans and/or bell housing.

Check this, he swapped in a 351W, (same as a 302): http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...148&highlight=

[406 YJ]

[QUOTE=4XFORD;9370536][QUOTE=406 YJ;9368009]I'm in the process of building up a 302 to over 350 HP so that's what will be going in it. I scored the motor for free. It was out of a 78 boat so it's a marine 5.0

You know a 302 is not a bolt in right?

The engine in there is a 351M, it has a big block bolt pattern bell housing. To fit a 302 in there you'll need engine towers to the frame, new trans and/or bell housing.

Check this, he swapped in a 351W, (same as a 302): http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...148&highlight=

I am happy you told me that. I would have been pissed to find out that they didn't match up after going to all the trouble.

[406 YJ]

OK. So I thought I would poor boy it and use the springs that were in it be it with a reversal or add a leaf etc. But I can tell you they springs on this truck are shot. The guy hauled round bails with it all day every day. I'm going to have to get some new springs for it. I know there was a post about tallboy springs. But those are not easy to come by and are all kinds of old as well. Help a brother out. I just can't bring myself to drop 1000$ on a lift for a truck I gave 500 for. And if I am going to drop that kind of money I don't want to lift it too little. Would a 6" lift be over kill for 36's? I have 100's of them and think they would look good on the truck. I hear talk of 99-04 springs working on 79 f250 low boys?

Todd