Has anyone looked at putting the newer F-150 or 250 leaf springs under one of our trucks? I looked at my buddies 2010 FX4 and there are only 3 springs total, but someone have a much higher payload and towing rating than my truck.

I know the shackle, hangar, and other hardware would have to be transferred over, but do yall think its possible? What do the mad fabricators of this forum think?

Thanks for your time.

 

Yes we put a set out of a 99 250 in a 79 350 n it moves the front rear forward 3 in ur gonna need a new driveshaft

 

Do a search on highboy lifts or Super Duty springs in a highboy. There is a lift created by a member here(75F350) that is becoming quite popular. You use Super Duty springs in the front and Chevy rear springs (99-03?). There are a few other modifications to hangers, shackles and spring perches but everything is pretty easy and straight forward.

 

Ive read those and thats what gave me the idea of using F1/250 springs in the rear. Im guessing same concept applies and my question wasnt really worded correctly, as how its worded now is a dumb question.

I was trying to ask if they could be used and maintain stock height if the shackles, hangars, etc. were played with correctly.

 

I'm putting 64" springs meant for a Chevy on my trucks. The longer springs allow for a larger radius to gain the same lift height. This is part of what = a better ride. There are a lot more factors that go into it though like # of leafs in the pack, etc.

I'm running Deaver leaf packs on my trucks. 1 pack has 10 leaves per side and the other has 12.

The reality of it is the things are just leaf springs. What I mean by that is they are VERY basic and once you figure out the important details you can pretty much put anything on any truck and make it work.

Obviously you may have to get creative with hangers and shackles depending on what you choose, but it can be done...

Things to look at that are important when looking at leafs IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO NEW HANGERS are:
width of leafs. Many 2wd Fords have 2.5" wide springs whereas many 4wds have 3" wide.
Center pin location in relation to the front eye hole on the spring. This measurement is what locates your wheel in the wheel well. If you don't want to mess with/change your spring hangers - this is VERY important.

There is more and I could go on and on but that's the very basics for now.


And if you want to see what us "mad fabricators" do - have a look at the leaf install on my '74 supercab here:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...s-of-pics.html

Leaf spring install starts about page 12

 

I have thought about that before becouse new leafs are longer, and wider. So it does add up to a better ride, and payload.

There is one downfall as far as it is concerned to me is the weight difference between a new 1/2 ton to an old 1/2 ton. This maybe fine with a 1 ton since you would like payload capacity.

There is always helper airbags, and with them you can have the best of both worlds. This is the way I will probily go in a couple of years when I get more important things out of my way.

 

I guess I don't get the "concern" you have between new 1/2 ton and old 1/2 ton.

As for the newer leafs being wider - they are not. The Chevy 64's I am using are the same 2.5" wide as my stock '74 F-100 2wd and as my stock '74 F-250 4wd

 

yea as long as ur spring rate is close to the same as your stock one sor atleast a lil better ,i was telling someone else on here i have a 78 f150 i turned into a 4wd n it had doulbe stacked blocks in the rear which is a no no so i pulled some measurements n found me a set of 8in lift spriongs out of a 3/4 ton chevy n put in my truck i had to change the shackels out of a 83 f150 which bolted ryt in the old bolt holes so its very well possible to mix n match suspension stuff so keep lookn n find what u need good luck man