Hey Ya'll, i need some advice/opinions on the best way to go for a slight lift (2-3") on my 97 F250 ext. cab 4x4 (Truck currently has 285/75r16s on it with a trimmed bumper). A Dana 60 will be going in sometime in spring of next year but for now i am getting all the maintenance done and body work. My reason for asking about the lift is i will be purchasing a new set of tires and my trucks needs new shocks (dont want to buy them twice) and i would like alittle bit of lift before the D60 goes under it. From what i have gathered the tuff country 2.5" lift isnt the greatest (if your running the kit let me know your expierence as from what i have been reading its hit or miss) so what i was thinking is... Go to the leaf spring shop and get a add-a-leaf put in the front and rear (or a 3" block?) but will i need drop brackets? if so what brand? I have heard some people say if you put a add-a-leaf up front it will wear the springs out really quick sense the leaf springs act somewhat like a torsion bar. Is there any "kits" for what i am looking for from a quality manufacturer? The truck is a road truck but it does see 1500-2000 pounds of weight in the bed every other month (hence the add-a-leaf in the rear). Ride quality isnt a big issue as i honestly dont think my truck rides that bad inless i go over a huge bump. Is there any good quality kits out there similar to the tuff country kit? The goal is a slight lift as i would like the run 305/65r18 or maybe a 325/65r18 when i get new rims. My budget will be roughly $800 (I will be doing all the labor myself) as like i stated i am trying to stop my poor girl from rotting and setting alittle here and there aside for the D60. Any advice, suggestions, opinions is greatly appreciated!

 

A D60 will give you 2" over a stock f250

in order to clear 325/65/18s you will need 4" of lift

 

So with the add-a-leafs up front and the rear, when i go to swap the D60 in i swapped the rear blocks for 3" f350 blocks i should be good to fit 325s if need be? What do you think is the best route to go in my situation? My goal is to have this stance...

So i dont want to have to much lift when the D60 gos under it... as i dont plan to run any bigger tires then a 325/65r18.

 

Also could i run the shocks for the stock height truck with the D60 under it? (When i was checking out shocks on Oreillys website for Ranchos it said 0"-4" lift so ?)

 

On my 96 I did a full add a leaf with 2.5* camber bushings and I was able to stuff in 315/75/16's on the stock Alcoa rims. My only problem is they rub the springs if I cut the wheel all the way, but that is caused by the offset of the rim not the lift. all in all I spent like 250 on the front and 140 doing the back with super duty f350 blocks and a new set of custom U bolts. I'd say I got 2.5 to 3 inches of lift and I have plenty of room to go on the shocks!

 

You do NOT want to use the F250 springs with a D60. It will ride like it has NO SUSPENSION. F350s have 4" blocks.

I forget what that truck in the pic has.

Here is my F350 with U code front springs with a 2.25" Precision Metal Fab RSK and B code rear springs. 325/65/18s on 18x10 wheels

 

No drop brackets? Any issues with getting it aligned? And are they the shocks for stock height? Great looking truck btw!

 

Wow that would be the ideal stance! What would your suggestion be? I wanted to get the truck "Prepped" for the D60 so come spring i can just toss her in. Do i have to wait to run the superduty springs? I prefer the ride to be alittle on the stiffer side. Like i said i would like to raise it about 2"s now so when the D60 gos in it will sit perfect with 325/65r18s (I dont want them crammed in there but i dont want a mile of wheel well space either.

 

No drop brackets for mine, since I did the bushings it was fine but I should have done a 3* on the drivers side instead of the 2.5* the tires sit how they should now. I'm not sure if 325's would be able to be stuffed in there the 315's are tight but it is a good cheap alternative to buying a 700 dollar kit

 

I believe they are stock height shocks, previous owner put them on right before I bought the truck, 3k ago

 

Let me say it again. Using F250TTB springs w a dana 60 with be like riding on NO SUSPENSION. F250 springs are rated @ 2700lbs. f350 springs are rated @ 2200lbs

SAVE your money and do it all at once or you will be spending double to money

 

Gotcha, i am hoping to pick up a D60 here soon, rebuild it, and then acquire the springs and such as i go but i wanted to see if there was anything i could do to "prep" it before it goes in. Now its just finding a D60 around here thats not junk...

 

Too bad you were not closer, I have 3

 

Throw some OFD zero rates on the front springs till you swap in the D60. It didn't give me much lift, but it did level the truck out and did not require anything more then adjustable bushings to align.

 

Sorry, older guy here trying to get re educated with some of the newer terminology. What is OFD?

Thanks, Bill