I've got an 89 F-150 reg cab long bed 4x4 that I want to put some 265/75R16 tires under so it sits where a modern truck sits. I don't want/need a 4" lift and was looking for alternative ways to lift the truck an inch or 2.
Looking at my brothers Super Duty I think the coils might work in the front, maybe some F250 springs in the rear to set it where they'll clear.
Anyone ever tried this?

The plan's not to go too wild on this truck- I have a pretty well built Jeep already on 36" IROK's for a play toy but need the bed space for hauling stuff.
Some flavor of stroker for the 351- tires and some 16" wheels to hopefully clear a bigger brake caliper- front and rear limited slips- 8k winch on the front (looks like I'll be building a bumper for that)- and then some modern niceties in the cab (PW/PL/AC) and some bucket seats.

 

Did you want to lift the whole truck, or just lift the front enough to level it out?

I've been considering picking up a leveling kit here:
1980-96 Ford Truck/bronco - Lift Kits - 2" Lift Kits

 

the plan is to replace the whole 20 year old tired suspension with something a lot less tired.

 

if your trying to relpace it all, hell just put the 2'' lift coils up front, and a block in the back, and you will need to get new shocks if your lifting the front end up a lil. i just put the 2'' rough country coils on the front to level it out and im sportin some 31's. i think it looks pretty good.. you will be suprised what leveling the front can do... heres mine after the level

 

Sharp looking truck, Fish.

 

great info on the coils. The rear needs a lot more then a taller block, those leaf packs have been road hard and put away wet. This truck lived 18 years on a farm in North Dakota being beat and held together with duct tape and bailing wire.
If I can find a 2" lift pack I'd run that, but I'm betting that 3/4 ton stuff will do the trick

 

I installed 2 Inch coil spacers from summit racing only problem as you can see in the photo i had to install NEW camber bushings sleeve to fix the MAJOR + Camber. (no shop wanted to tackle this task and $$$$ for labor so i did it myself!)This was the hardest part i had to pop the knuckles off to get the old sleeve out got the new 1-1/2 degree sleeves installed and she now sits PERFECT!!! .... While i was in there i did u joints ball joints and wheel bearings... Still ended up costing more than i wanted... You might be able to toss some f-250 2x4 springs, however these trucks will always be a pain when it comes to not droping the axils with a real lift so good luck!!!

 

Oh man, don't tell me stuff like that Donnie. If it's that big a PITA I'm liable to swap in a solid D44 and stick it on 35's..... what parts are there to a lift on these to correct for this camber? drop brackets for the axle or radius arms? couldn't be all that difficult to sort out could it?

 

well you could just do a add a leaf in the rear...that would probally be the cheapest.... i still havent installed them new camber bushings in my truck...their still sitting in my glovebox waiting to be installed... the shop that i took it to couldnt get em out. they do make a removal tool for gettin those bushings out...i believe summit or jegs has em.. downside is they are around 90 bucks for the tool.

 

OTC Tools 7588A - OTC Ford 4WD Caster/Camber Sleeve Pullers - Overview - SummitRacing.com
here's that tool for gettin out them bushings

 

fish that tool didnt work for me they were rusted in --had to drop the knuckles then they poped out. i wish you luck with your white truck gettin it all aligned it can be done... My 86 has a 6inch lift yes it has drop axil brackets and radius arms drop brackets AND pitman arm drop bracket...
My green truck has 31*10.5*15 btw

 

really? i have heard that this tool is the one that will do the damn thing as far as rusted in bushings go...u are the first one that i heard of that didnt have any luck with this puller. in the future i plan on doing a SAS with a 6'' lift... it will be sittin on 35's.

 

Im sure the tool MIGHT work if you have STOCK sleeves my green truck were changed at sometime in its life to some stupid design the stock puller just would not work with... Here is a picture of how my one side sleeve looked when i got it out.... it was totaly broken!!

 

ya...mine are still stock