Looking for 1" body lift

yellowrosefarm · #1 (**permalink**) 03-13-2003, 12:33 PM

'78 F250 supercab 4x4 w/460. Does anyone know of a supplier for a 1" bodylift? I want to put a 19" fan in and currently the shroud/ upper rad neck sit about 1" too low. (there's extra room at the bottom) I need to replace the stock body bushings anyway so thought I would go up a little at the same time. I know I could redrill the rad bracket or support but would rather do it with the bushings if possible.

DPW · #2 (**permalink**) 03-13-2003, 08:46 PM

Don't know where you can buy a 1'' body lift, but you can make your own. I made a 1'' body lift out of aluminum round stock. I had a blacksmith cut 1'' pieces out of 3'' dia. round stock for the cab and radiator support, and 1'' pieces from 2'' stock for the box. Drill the proper size hole in the center of each block. Put the 1'' spacer on the frame, then install your new bushings. Worked for me.

Torque1st · #3 (**permalink**) 03-14-2003, 06:27 AM

Re drill the radiator support!!

Do you know how many hours you are going to spend cussing those body mount bolts and moving parts????

yellowrosefarm · #4 (**permalink**) 03-14-2003, 09:59 AM

I know it is a lot of work to put the new bushings in, and to make matters worse, last fall I had the seats and floor pans out exposing those very bolts. I was pressed for time though, with snow coming and this being the only 4x4 I have to get to work, I didn't do the bushings then. The real problem I'm trying to solve is that the 460 overheats at idle. (even when it was 10 degrees outside) It's not just the gauge either, we're talking boiling water here. As soon as you start moving, it cools right off and in normal driving the needle never moves. When we had the 8 inch sleet storm and I was in 4 low with the pedal to the floor trying to get up the drive, it also overheated after about 15 minutes of that. I have checked the timing and the radiator (3 core), and replaced the 5 blade fan with a 6 blade 17" flex fan. I was just thinking if I could get more flow with the 19 maybe it would help. I'm not sure of the internals although the PO did put a "cam" in when he rebuilt the motor. I've been told by others that it is possible to put the intake or head gaskets in backwards or upside down and cover a cooling passage, but I really don't want to go there if I don't have to.

Mike W · #5 (**permalink**) 03-14-2003, 08:39 PM

If it overheats at 10 degrees, I would look at other things. Maybe get your radiator rodded out, check the water pump.

Torque1st · #6 (**permalink**) 03-14-2003, 09:13 PM

A worn out fan clutch can also cause that problem. But you state you have a flex fan. When did you put in the flex fan" Those things don't work worth beans.

When a vehicle is moving the motion of the vehicle thru the air forces air thru the radiator. When you slow down in traffic a fan is required. This would explain your problems.

fordenator · #7 (**permalink**) 03-14-2003, 09:29 PM

hey for a lift try a hockey puck they're around an inch. i've used them for replacing my rad support monts and that was about 6 years ago.

yellowrosefarm · #8 (**permalink**) 03-18-2003, 03:19 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I know I need more flow, that's why I'm trying to put the 19" fan in there. I think it will work, if I can get the shroud centered.

yellowrosefarm · #9 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 07:42 PM

I redrilled the radiator and support 1" higher and cut off the low hanging part of the shroud under the top radiator hose. I riveted a piece of 16 ga galvanized metal in place of the now missing piece. Once everything was bolted up, the 19" big blade fan was centered up nicely with about an inch all around. I ran it today with the temp here in the 70's and let it idle while I was waiting for the people at Lowes to help me load a new washing machine. ( a long time) The needle never got above the "N" and I could hear the new fan clutch cutting in and out. So I think that solved the problem. It just wasn't getting enough air flow through the radiator at idle with the 5 blade stock 17" or the new 6 blade 17" flex fan. While I was working on it I found the lower radiator hose had 2 rubbed places on it where it had been resting on the front cross member so I replaced that too. Now to see if I can get the A/C going.

Torque1st · #10 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 08:55 PM

Usually when you have problems with heat at idle or other slow speed maneuvers with no problems at speeds over 40, the problem is the engine fan. Either a bad fan clutch, a missing shroud (or the wrong size), or an aftermarket flex fan, is the problem. We see this all the time here.

The 17" five blade stock fan should have been more than adequate to cool your engine at idle unless there is another problem like a faulty auto tranny, or bad ignition timing etc.

Sounds like you did a good job on the shroud.

fordguy76 · #11 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 10:27 PM

you can find a body lift in any 4wd magazine. performance accessories has them. thats the company performance accessories. just search around for it. good luck