I just purchased my first truck and my first Ford ever. I sought out and bought a 1983 F150 with 4 speed manual transmission, 300 inline 6, and 4x4 with lockout hubs. I specifically wanted that combination. The truck is actually in pretty decent shape. It has been resprayed (not very well) but it's more or less going to be a farm truck for me.

I need to replace the floor pans. That's an inexpensive and simple job to do and I can tack them in place with my mig and then I'm going to bedline the entire interior floor and firewall.

I'm also planning on installing some bucket seats with built in seatbelts since the belts in this truck don't lock when pulled out quickly like slamming on the brakes and also because I want head restraints.

At any rate, the suspension on the truck is tired. I've already searched and read up on front and rear springs for the truck. It looks like I'll be going with Moog CC844 springs on the front and F250 leafs on the rear. I have a few questions, however.

I read that stock front shocks work with the CC844 springs. I have the quad shock option. Is that still the case? I intend on replacing the shocks as well, so should I go with a longer shock anyways? Can I use the same brackets and only put a single shock on each side even? I need shocks (2 or 4) to go with the CC844 springs. Please recommend some that aren't too pricey.

For the rear springs, what years F250 springs am I looking for? I also need shocks for the rear. I currently only have 1 shock on the back passenger side and none on the driver's side. I see the bracket on the driver's side of the axle (8.8) with a bolt going through it, but no shock and no shock mount on that side of the frame. Rock auto sells shock mounts for about $8, so unless it's something really odd to do, I'm going to put one on the driver's side so I can have a shock on both sides of the rear axle. The rear end hops around on a bumpy road and the stock springs are soft. I don't want to slip a leaf into the stock spring pack. I'd rather replace the whole spring packs. For U-bolts, do I buy new F150 U-bolts for my year truck or get F250 U-bolts?


Here's a picture of the truck as she sits in my yard. It's got 31's on it and I rather like the look.

 

Welcome to FTE.

Kinda sounds like questions for Diesel_Brad...

 

I just took a peek at my rear leafs to see how many I had. I have 4+1 leafs. I'm missing the back half of leaf #2 and #3 on the passenger side!!!

Did some more research and I think I'll buy the 2" thickness springs that are 4+1 and raise the truck 2". The common part number for them is 43-695. $155 from Rock Auto, but significantly cheaper from other vendors.

Now to figure out shocks...

 

I have the duel front shocks as well i run the Rancho 9000xl shocks on my truck. They fit trucks equipped up to a 4 inch lift like mine.