79 F-150 4x4

My problem is this: I need to replace my pitman arm for a steering upgrade I'm doing and I know I'll be adding a 4" suspension lift in the next 6-9 months. Currently the truck has fully stock suspension. If I buy my drop pitman arm now to anticipate my lift, will it work with my stock suspension? Alternatively, if I must buy a stock pitman arm now, will it work when I get my lift or will I have to upgrade to the drop pitman then?

I want to do the lift right so I'd prefer to get the drop pitman now if it will make the lift handle better.

Thanks!

 

Only use the 4" drop pit man arm with the 4" lift.

 

I was afraid that was going to be the case. So that means, unless I buy the lift now too, I'll be buying a new stock pitman (or used if I can find one I guess) and then buying a drop pitman when the lift comes (unless someone has a better idea).

 

You can buy the drop pit man arm one week or two in advance and buy the lift later.
Are you planning on drop radius arm brackets or the 4 degree C-bushing with your lift kit? Bronco grave yard sells the extended braided brake lines from frame to axles.

 

finding a used stock pitman arm should be a peice of cake, call around local shops, post wanted adds on different web forums

 

I have a stock pitman arm off of my 79 Bronco, and it should work all the same on a 73-79 1/2 ton 4wd. If you are interested, either ask about it on here, or email me at mbbaquet(at)hotmail(dot)com .
I'd mostly just want the money to cover shipping, and that's it, be glad to help out.

 

Just to say it would be the 7 degree c bushing that he would want for a 4" lift, and if he had a 6" lift, then he would need 7 * c bushings, and either extended radius arms or radius arm drop brackets.

 

Here what Energy System, the maker of the C-bushing recommends, and then you can decide. It depends on what company you buy the C-bushing from.

C-Bushings, Radius / Strut Arm Bushings, Track Arm Bushings; Superior performance polyurethane materials assure longer lasting alignment settings than stock rubber components. Additionally, stock bushings do not provide the correct geometry for coil spring Fords with lift equipment. This causes problems associated with road wander.

ENERGY C-Bushings are available in 2, 4 and 7 degree postiive caster, for stock and lifted suspension configurations. Recommended usage for C-Bushings is 2 degree offset for stock to 2" lift, 4 degree Offset for 2" to 4" lift, and the 7 degree offset for more than a 4" lift. http://www.energysuspension.com/pages/fdt3.html

 

1975Ford, Bronco grave yard sells energy suspnesions c bushings, and have a chart on there site, stating 7 * for 4" lift, or 7* and radius arm drop brackets for 6" lift.

 

MBBFord, go check the energy system web site as I have posted, It show it 4 degree offset for a 4 inch lift. When I purchased my 4" lift for my 1975 F150, from Desert Rat Off Road Center, they sold me the 4 degree. I been to Bronco Graveyard and seen what you mentioned. But, I have gone to the source (Energy Systems) and they are quoting it differently. I have seen and heard, from other sources, and they also mention the 4 degree with the 4 inch lift.

 

I have had a 1978 F 150 4x4 for about 8 years. I had a set of 4" Skyjacker coils on the front of it until last year. I was using stock pitman arm, stock radius arm brackets, 2 degree C buchings, and a drop on the track bar. I never had a drivability problem what so ever. I made my own track bar bracket so that it was as parallel with the drag link as possible, to avoid having bumpsteer. This truck has been airborne numerous times offroad and wheeled pretty hard with this suspension setup. I drove it on the street everyday back and forth to work two summers ago while I was working on my other truck with no problems. I know they always say to use a drop pitman arm for a 4" lift, and maybe you should, but I don't think it would be necessary. The stock one should work with the 4" lift. You can always get one later if you do have any problems.

 

1975Ford, I saw what you were talking about, and that's fine. I was just stating what I saw.

 

I have done some exteme fourwheeling, weekend events such as , baja racing, getting the truck air borne on a regular basis, mud bugging, hill climbing, rock climbing, fourwheeling in 4 feet of snow, I done about any kind of four wheeling mentioned on those four wheeling magazine. I found through trial and error what works and what does not work for extreme fourwheeling. I've tore up axles, shock, shock towers, motor mounts, drivelines, cracked axle housings, motor mounts, fenders, but those 390 FE engines and NP 435 trans, NP 205 transfer case can take the beating.
I had my truck setup with just a 4 inch lift and not all the extra components, because I was trying to save a buck and people also told me I didn't need those parts. Sure the truck will run, but it ain't going to be running at its optimum 4x4 performance. I replaced the C-bushings and radius arm bushing, track arm bushings and notice some improvement, I replaced the pitman arm and notice some improvement, anything you do will improve the 4 wheeling performance of your vehicle.

Do your 4" lift Kit right the first time and you will not be messing with it later on and will be ready to tackle and fourwheeling and street driveability with glory. Lift kits have impoved over the years. Jeff Bronco's Graveyard has some nice lift systems, to name a few, 4" Standard Flex Suspension System (Item # 23870 ), 4" Super Flex Suspension System (23880). These systems include everything to setup your truck for some serious 4 bying. Superlift and Rancho also sell the complete system. Your leaf spring on your truck probably have a wear groove on the leaf due to salt/ rust /dirt grind and will also need to be replaced. These system include brand new leaf and are better suited for fourwheeling then the 3" block some kit include for the rear axle.
what type of fourwheeling are you planning?
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1975 Ford F150, 4x4, 4 inch lift, 390 FE blueprinted
1976 Ford F150, 4x4, lifted, 360 FE 30 over
1975 Ford F250 highboy, 400 cid blueprinted
1978 Ford F150, 2x4, 5 speed, 302 cid
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Buck

 

I was wondering what your opinions are on the radius arm drop bracket verses degreed c-bushings? I'm planning a 4-6 inch lift and am not sure which way to go.

 

All you need are 7 degree c bushings for a 4" lift, but if you go to a 6" lift, then you need the radius arm drop brackets and 7 degree bushings.