Hey guys/gals
I thought I would start this thread to show yall what I've been up to lately. Im lifting my truck by doing a shackle flip in the rear and getting 'like new' 2 inch lift coils for the front.

Truck stats:
1979 F150 Custom 4x4 swb
460
C6
Holley 4 barrel carbuerator
460 Performer high-rise intake manifold
Edelbrock air filter
Dual glasspack exhaust
30 inch tires
Dana 44 front axle
Ford 9 inch rear axle
3.50 gears

I bought the truck a couple months ago for $1300. She's my first 4x4.

Here's a list of things I've replaced:
new Tires
carb. rebuilt
thermostat
chrome thermostat housing
4 inch air filter
valve cover gaskets
new battery
power stearing pump
and p/s hoses
in-line fuel filter

I also got the oil pan gasket, transmission pan gasket, front and rear axle gaskets, but haven't gotten around to that yet.

Here are some pics that I've been taking over the past couple weeks to get ready for the lift..











I just used a wire brush to get the surface rust off. Planning on either repairing the core support or getting one from a j/y.


Next off is the fenders..




Then the hood and inner fenders..




Removed the A/C . I didn't have the compressor anyway.
I gotta weld the hole up.


Then off came the bed. I'm still wire-wheeling the frame.






Here's the before and after I partially wire wheeled the shackles just to see the condition of them..








That was yesterday. Today all I had time to do was get the rear wheels off and put her on jackstands. More pics to come as I make progress. I usually work on her everyday. Tomorrow I plan on dropping the tank and start cutting the rivets off holding the leafspring hangers on. Let me know what y'all think and if you ever see anything I'm doing wrong please let me know.

 

As far as progress, nothing really worth taking pics of.
Gas tank is off, tires are off, and the shocks are unbolted.
I broke two 3/8 inch and one half 1/2 drive ratchets tryna get the damn shackle unbolted from the hanger. I even used my dremel with a wire brush attachment to clean the threads out and soaked the bolts with WD-40. Still no go.
Any suggestions?

 

BLUE WRENCH!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Been thinking of that. I might be able to get a cheater bar on the end.

 

Soak it with SiliKroil (or PB Blaster, liquid wrench, etc) for a day, then try again. You should really be using a breaker bar for a huge heavy bolt, not ratchets! a 1/2" drive, 2' breaker is essential when working on old rusty trucks! (so is putting a big pipe on the end!)

My second choice is an impact gun on one side, and a big wrench on the other. This'll work better if you've already soaked the bolt with penetrating oil.

If you're planning on replacing the shackle bushings, then I'd say hit the end of the bolt/nut with a torch and get them glowing red hot. Let them cool, then just take them off. If you're going to re-use the bushings, don't do this (it'll burn them up!)

If all else fails, then an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel works wonders, I've heard.

-Brad

 

Let all the bolts you are going to take loose soak with Break Loose oil. Soak them 3 or 4 days. Worst case, use a torch and heat up the bolts. Then they will come off.

 

Thanks for the advice guys!

I took a trip to Atlanta today to get the 2 inch lift coil springs.
Scored them for 75 bucks on Craigslist. They're off a 79 Bronco.
They look pink in the pic. But there actually light red, and rust free.
Imma scuff them up a bit and repaint them gloss red.

 

Nice score. Working on putting 4 inch oils on mine. Just dont let them slip and hurt ya lol

 

Are you doing a thread on yours?

 

hope you didn't drive too far for the coils, thats only about $15 less than new.

 

Where at?
I looked them up and found them for about $80 a piece.

 

well nevermind someone on ebay used to have them for $90/ pair. I don't see them on there anymore. JBG has them for $140, but thats a good bit more. Coil Springs, 1-2" Lift Pair New

 

You do know about moving the rear schackle hanger forward, and just not flipping and reinstalling in the same holes right?

3/4 dv sockets/breaker bar with 3 ft cheater pipe, or a smoke wrench the nuts off.

Work on the botton bolt first cause the top bolt will not push out cause the frame will be in the way. And you might as well use the smoke wrench cause the bushings are probably worn out and will not like having the bolts removed.

Any chance you want to sale your front chrome push bar?

 

I'm going to start a full build thread soon. Any chance you would sell your bull bar? PM me.

 

Why will I have to? To get the correct angle of the shackle?