I have a 1979 ford f-100 2wd, longbed, and It sits unleval. I was planning on buying a set of new coil springs, and a good set of nitrogen charged shocks. Any pictures of a truck with new coils and shocks? I still plan on adding a brush guard(not a little "push bar", but a full grille guard with headlight guards), and i know this would add like another 100lbs to the front, and make it sag even more. In your opinion, do you think that new coils and shocks would help even it out a little? If that will not help level it out a little, what about the autofab 3" econo lift? I am happy with the height of the truck, just want it level. Any info or pictures???? Thanks!!!!

 

Also, on the rear, i have some "heavy-duty" shocks with springs on them...i think gabrial load warrior shocks. Supposedly, they add like 1/4-1/2" of lift to the rear...if i replace these with a good set of nitrogen charged shocks, will i loose any height??

 

Since no one else is chiming in I will. My choice is to go for the autofab lift, but then again I like lifted trucks better than stock...
Try doing a little searching around for "new front springs" or something similar on here to see people's stories of replacing springs. From what I recall a lot of time the stock replacement springs don't really add much more ride height - maybe 1/2" or so. If you are really looking to level the truck this won't help much. You'll probably find a few pics in doing a search as well.

As for the rear shocks I really highly doubt they add any ride height at all. Unless they are SUPER stiff they won't add any ride height. When I bought my ranger years ago there was a pair of those on the back of it - they didn't do crap and went in the trash can right away.

 

go with the lift or use F250 springs, but you may end up needing to lift the rear a little to level it out.

 

I dont know it it will work, but a local junkyard has about the same year f-250 2wd. If i take the twin traction beams and springs, will they bolt up to my f-100 with no problem? Would i gain any lift?

 

Also, I know this is prolly a stupid questian, but how do you remove the traction beams? I think the inside end is held on with one bolt, but what about where it attaches to the knuckle thingy? I have looked at mine, and i dont understand how it would be removed. Is it a "king pin? How are they removed?

 

Also, will the stock f-100 knuckle, brakes, tie rods, spring tower and all that stuff work with the f-250 traction beams and springs? Will i need anything else?

 

Any info or tips would be appritiated, hopefully i will go get the stuff on monday!!

 

Will they bolt up - yes.
You miight want to verify if F-250 coils will actually lift your truck before you grab them... I'm not sure they will do much aside from having a heavier spring rate which will make your ride stiffer. NOT something these trucks need IMO.

Note - some heavier duty F-250's did have the tall coil buckets and therefore taller springs, but the wind at the top of the spring on these is different and they won't go into your stock buckets unless you cut off half a coil or so. Even then if you used these tall springs you'd have to get your beams bent to correct the camber. Putting the F-250 beams on will NOT correct this.

The beam itself has 2 screw in caps with grease zerks on them - at both the top and bottom of the kingpin. This is right where the spindle/upright pivots on the beam end. You need to unscrew each of these and then remove the set pin for the kingpin (in the middle of the beam right at where the kingpin goes through. With the set pin removed you can pound/press the kingpin out and the spindle will come off. The kingpins may be very hard to get out!


Knuckle (spindle/upright) is a maybe. Some heavy duty F-250's had 1" kingpins whereas all F-100's were 7/8" kingpins. The 2 won't swap. If the trucks both had 7/8" kingpins then yes you can swap the spindles/uprights - but be prepared to possibly do new kingpins and bushings.
Tie rods should be the same length, etc. Only difference I could see is maybe the F-250 stuff is slightly larger dia. I don't think so though.
Spring tower (coil bucket) I explained above. Pics of the 2 different styles are below.

A couple other "side notes" that should be mentioned. IF for some reason you swap beams (there is NO reason to in this case) keep in mind that the kingpins should stay with whatever spindles/uprights they originally came with. Also the set pins for the kingpins should stay with the kingpin they originally came with.

Standard (low) coil bucket



Tall (heavy duty) coil bucket




So after all that I'll sum it up and say - don't waste your time with the F-250 thing. I think you'll be pretty disappointed.

 

but would the f-250 springs lift or level the truck? And if so, i figured i would have to get my beams bent. Instead of getting my beams bent, wouldnt the f250 beams fix that problem?

 

did you not read my post? I amswered all of the questions you just re-asked...