Body Lift Q's

BigBody · #1 (**permalink**) 01-06-2006, 06:13 PM

I know msot people don't advise one. But, I have a 77' F-150 4x4 I just put a leveling coils and new shocks in front and I just wish I had the truck another 2 or 3 inches higher. I don't want to buy suspension lift and have the leveling kit go to waste.

I know lots of mods are needed to make eveyrhting function properly but it should be a good learning experience.

My Q's are...

In one of the psot I was reading about body lfits someone mentioned that there is a kit that comes complete wiht all new linkage, and etc... Is this rue? Link?

My friend has a 78' or 79 f-150 and he oput a 3 inch body lift on his and all he had to do was move the radiator. I looked it over and everything looked fine. Why did his work out so easy?

Is there a good tech write up on a body lfit install somewhere?

The floor in the cab of my truck has been pacthed. The access holes are covered up. Whats the best plan of attack for those? Also, the bed has a spray on bed liner covering the 6 botls in the bed. Whats the best way to get to them? Just lots of hours scratching off the liner?

I think thats all the questions. Sorry for the long post. Oh, and I will install new body mount bushings when and if I decide to attempt this.

Thanks,

Kyle

kauaid · #2 (**permalink**) 01-06-2006, 06:29 PM

i can't help you with the how to, but i have seen what a body lift can do to a truck. a friend of mine had the bolts from the body lift bend, and the spacers shifted when the cab shifted from flexing while climbing a muddy hill. ripped wires and hoses. i know you must have heard stories of why body lifts shouldn't be used on trucks that go offroad.

D

havi · #3 (**permalink**) 01-06-2006, 06:42 PM

the bed bolts need to be replaced, but a quality kit should include all the proper bolts. An extension rod(flat) is used for the C6 shifter. I removed the fan shroud and left the rad. where it is. I snipped a little more sheet metal off the cab floor where the tcase shifter hole is. rebent the brake lines to the master cylinder. loosened the filler neck on the bed and slid the hose parts down a bit. redrilled the rear bumper mount brackets, and fabbed the front bumper to clear the grille shell. using concrete blocks and a bottle jack, I lifted the cab and bed up just enough to slip in some short chunks of 2x4's. until it was level, then slipped in the body lift parts and lowered each end back down. Wasn't real hard. I did it 13 years ago and haven't had a problem since.

BigBody · #4 (**permalink**) 01-06-2006, 06:45 PM

I know I've heard stories of the good and bad. But, I've got one on my 1990 Bronco and I've had no problems with (I didn't install it). My friends have not had any either. Not saying problems don't occur, but not really wanting to get into the goods and bads. Thanks for warning me. I am aware of the risk but I am willing to take them. Just looking for answers about the process.

Thanks,

Kyle

hatemakings/n · #5 (**permalink**) 01-08-2006, 02:43 AM

I got the Performance Accesories brand for my truck in a 3" lift. I had to cut 75% of the bolts because they were rusted stuck. I also got the daystar poly mounts at the same time. Just get a sawzall and cut through all the bolts you can't take off with a breaker bar. I was also rebuilding the motor at the same time so I had the front clip off already.
"The floor in the cab of my truck has been pacthed. The access holes are covered up. Whats the best plan of attack for those?"

Are you refering to the two panels on the firewall that give you acces to the front cab mounts or the two mounts in the back of the cab? If you are refering to the two panels on the firewall I went ahead and removed the front inner fenders and there were two panels right there but that may be extreme for your case.

"My friend has a 78' or 79 f-150 and he oput a 3 inch body lift on his and all he had to do was move the radiator. I looked it over and everything looked fine. Why did his work out so easy?"

I left my radiator attached to the core support and just got a flexable upper and lower hose that fit then I went with a twin electric fan from a mid 90's Probe that I got for $40 at the local yard. A few more dollars and I got a relay and custom made brackets for it. Less then $100 for a twin electric fan that does the job just fine in 115* temps.

"Also, the bed has a spray on bed liner covering the 6 botls in the bed. Whats the best way to get to them? Just lots of hours scratching off the liner?"

Can you get to the bottom of the bolts with a sawzall or die grinder? I would try cutting the bottom off then using a punch and pop the rest of the bolt back up through the hole. The body lift will have new nuts and bolts for it. Don't be affraid to cut the old ones just make sure you don't cut your fingers at the same time.

It took me about a day to do the body lift so make sure you have a weekend to spend on it just in case something doesn't go as planned.