Hey all,

I am helping a friend lift his CCLB Welding Rig 4 inches. He has asked me to source the lift kit and I figured it would be best to go with a PMF RSK. That being said I’m piecing the kit together and had a few questions for you guys that have done one already. He wanted to go 4” and I’m suggesting the 4.5” kit. Should we just go 3.5"?

I’m wondering what additional accessories to the actual lift kit I need to get. I suggested we get an add a leaf for the rear as well and add about an inch in block height. He had all his gear/welder/ tanks in the bed and typically is sitting on the overloads, and is part of the reason why we are lifting it.

Anyways, I typically only do spring lifts and ditch blocks entirely but that is not the route we are going, he wants to use the stock rear springs with an add a leaf, and larger lift block. Can't Afford new leaf packs all the way around. With a lot of weight in the back off the shelf packs typically sag within a year or two and we are not having custom packs made, yes its the correct way but the expensive way and neither of us crap 20 dollar bills. I suspect I’ll just order the lift block from PMF. Also I’m curious what I will need to keep the front end happy. I assume a drop bracket equivalent to lift height and an adjustable track bar. Will we need new brake lines? I assume new shocks as well. Drop Pitman arm too..

I usually don't lift larger trucks, I have only built moon buggys/jeeps which require a lot more than these trucks. Please add any comments you may have in stuff we will need to order to do the job correct. Alignment once complete is a given....

Here is my list:

Front:

Shocks (2)
4.5” kit
SD leafs (U,V code)
SS brake lines?
Drop Pitman Arm
Drop Bracket
Adjustable track bar
U bolts

Rear:
Add A leaf
Shocks (2)
Blocks (What Size? 5") That's huge! Ordered from PMF
U bolts
SS Brake Lines?

 

Maybe your best bet would be to call Trevor at PMF and talk to him but my guess would be that the 3.5" kit will give you the amount of lift that you want and perhaps a little bit more.

I have the 2.25" kit and measure 25 3/4" - 26" from center of my hub to the wheel well. I gained 4" of lift by swapping a d60 and the RSK and using v code springs on my 250.

 

Sounds like he needs air bags instead of a lift. I would not put more blocks in the rear. I would do a shackle flip. For the front i would go with the v codes. They are rated higher than u codes.

 

I agree with Gabe, a heavier rated spring or air bags. If he is riding on the overloads all the time, a lift isn't going to change that if he is still going to use the same rear springs. I'd took into the F450 or 550 rear springs.

 

Hey guys I’m in full agreement with you over the bags. He is simply wants to get a bit more height out of it due to being on ROW most of the time. The sagging rear just needs to be corrected while we do it. After talking with him again I think we are only going to go with a 2.5” kit so we can utilize the almost new shocks he just purchased, and not have to extend brake lines. That in itself saves 430 bucks off the expected 1300.

I agree with you all on bags, but he doesn’t want to use them due to a poor experience with them in the past. It’s not my truck so I am doing what I am asked and only providing suggestions. I will see if I can find a set of 450 or 550 rear used springs in Denver, I doubt it though.

If the front is going up 2.5 and there is a 4” block from the factory under the rear, what do you guys think for a new rear block? 6” and an add a leaf do the trick if I can’t find a new set of rear springs?

I guess if it sags down the road in a year or two we can throw bags under it. Or the money saved on shocks and brake lines can pay for them.

 

Also, I assume SD rear leaf packs are not a direct fit? Only 88-97 450 packs will work?

 

I believe the SD rear springs are the same length, but the spring bolts ar larger on them, so the springs perches have to be drilled for the larger bolts. Darin installed F550 SD springs (I think it was) on his truck, and IIRR that is what he had to do.

 

SD Spring Packs are a direct fit. F/C/B code doesn't matter, as far as length goes.

You will have to drill out the perches/shackles for SD bolts as they are larger.

Also as far as your shackle goes you can run a SD shackle (has to be ground down a bit), clearance your stock shackle, cut the 2nd leaf in the spring pack, or reverse the direction of your stock shackle and not fool with any of that.