i want to lift the truck 2" higher. i can go with a 6" block in the rear, but whats the easiest way to do the front? new leafs with 2" more of arch?

 

I take it you have an F-250? If yes than new front springs with would be the easiest and best way to do it. If you put a 6" block in the rear I would recommend a ladder/traction bar setup. You could also look in to new rear leafs or add a leafs. My 2 cents

 

Add-a-leaf in both spring packs.

 

Would this work on the front AND rear leaf springs?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/add-a-leaf-...=d51375y1973j1

 

Or I found the full length add a leaf for the front at summit racing. Superlift p/n 2049

 

I'm a half-tonner so forgive my "ignance".. how about longer shackles for the front?

 

messes with pinion angle if you don't drop the front spring pivot point as well.

 

I would call your local spring shop! I Called one around me and they will arch the old ones for $80 a spring. New springs are $140 a piece up front. That's probably the route I will take. Mine is sagging in the front from good ol' laws of gravity and a big block.

 

Chase, are there kits to drop the front spring bolt? I found superlift kit #2049 for the front add a leafs for $100. And kit #2150 for the rear for $91. Both are long springs. Would these work?

The truck sits at about a 1 to 1-1/2" rake.

 

Ohhh I understand what you were saying about the front spring bolt drop...that was in response to shackles. I should be ok using add a leaf to not worry about pinion angle correct?

 

1st off - what year truck is it? 78/79 F-250/350's are easier to lower the front leaf mounts on than the 73-773 ones.


Before I get into that though I'll answer the question above.

Yes an add-a-leaf can do it, but it will up your spring rate making your ride stiffer. As whistle1516 said - your calling a local spring shop & see what they can do. While they can re-arch them for you be warned that if they arch them more than the original/stock arch they will semi quickly sag back down.

I'd possibly look at the 2" lift pack BDS makes for the super-doodie/exursion. While I've read the SD leaf packs lift our old trucks higher than they do for the SDs - I'm not sure by how much.

As for the rear - I would run a different leaf pack rather than a 6" block, but that's me. If you don't use the truck for heavy hauling much a lift pack for a F series up to 96/97 (96 F-150, 97 F-250/350) can be used. Keep in mind these aftermarket leaf packs are typically for looks or off road use & not hauling a full load in the bed. They are softer for a better ride & more flex, not stiffer so you can haul a bed full of 90 lb. concrete bags back from homedepot.


On my '74 F-250 crew cab I wanted to compensate for the extra weight of the cummins in the front end which I have been told lowers the front about 1". To gain this inch back I lowered the leaf pivot points. I dropped the front one when I made this new cross member with hitch mount & recovery points. There are much easier ways to lower the points (searching here will pull up a few pics/ideas) but I was beefing up this area anyways so adding the 1" drop wasn't much more work.
It's not 100% done in this pic but you get the idea.


Next I made these shackles - they are 1" longer than stock. They're also stronger, lighter & look much cooler IMO



Last I took my stock springs to Deaver Spring (my local spring shop which happens to be well known & makes lots of lift & race leaf packs for many trucks) & had Jeff check the arch on them & put them back to spec if need be. Turns out they had sagged about a 1/2" so he put them back in spec. I also had him add the teflon slider pads between the leafs. They drill each leaf & put in little pads/sliders like in the pic below (internet pic - not my leafs). These pads help soften up the ride a lot. I also had the guys put new bushings in the springs while they had them.