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Leaf Spring question...

Old Jul 18, 2011 | 10:02 PM
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Leaf Spring question...

I have a 74 F250 4X4... You know the spot in front where the leaf springs bolt on? I need to get some kind of a drop kit so i can lift my truck 2-2.5 inches so i can drop the steering gear box back down to the original position...

I have a 78 front end on it and the leaf springs were in the way of the arm that comes out of the steering gear box so the gear box was bolted on higher and now my steering isnt very smooth and has screwed up a couple other things....

So i need to lift the truck using what i think is called the front shackle??? Is this right? If someone had a pic it would help

Where do i get these parts?
 
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Old Jul 18, 2011 | 10:06 PM
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I need to drop the leaf springs from the part where the springs are bolted on in the driver front of this pic!

1974 f250 lift image by TheMadScientist_1 on Photobucket
 
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Old Jul 19, 2011 | 08:54 AM
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From: Graham, Wa.
Originally Posted by SuperDuty93
I have a 74 F250 4X4... You know the spot in front where the leaf springs bolt on? I need to get some kind of a drop kit so i can lift my truck 2-2.5 inches so i can drop the steering gear box back down to the original position...

I have a 78 front end on it and the leaf springs were in the way of the arm that comes out of the steering gear box so the gear box was bolted on higher and now my steering isnt very smooth and has screwed up a couple other things....

So i need to lift the truck using what i think is called the front shackle??? Is this right? If someone had a pic it would help

Where do i get these parts?
I did the same thing on my 74' by installing a D60 out of a 78' and didn't have any problems. Although I also took the power steering box out of the 78' and installed that at the same time and held the arm just under the frame rail for clearance. Did you use the leaf springs from the 78' when you made the axle swap or leave the 74' springs in? The 74' springs leave a lot more clearance.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2011 | 12:06 PM
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are the springs just wore out?
 
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Old Jul 19, 2011 | 04:38 PM
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Here's a custom one I made on my '74. I've seen lots of "easier" versions built...




Keep in mind you don't want to drop the front of the leafs only, unless you re-do the leaf spring pad orientation on the axle. Your pinion angle is effected by this...
 
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Old Jul 19, 2011 | 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by daningraham
I did the same thing on my 74' by installing a D60 out of a 78' and didn't have any problems. Although I also took the power steering box out of the 78' and installed that at the same time and held the arm just under the frame rail for clearance. Did you use the leaf springs from the 78' when you made the axle swap or leave the 74' springs in? The 74' springs leave a lot more clearance.

I didnt do the change out. The guy b4 me had it done.... So i somehow need to get 2in of clearance between the fram and the leafs so i can drop the box back into the original place...

As Vic_V8 says ( are they worn out?) Nope.... Sits almost factory.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2011 | 09:38 PM
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Buy a small lift kit or make up your own drop solid spring mounts hey chasetruck when dropping your front of your leafs down with a custom front solid leaf mount can the pinion angle be set back in the right angle by using longer shackles in the rear to make up for the front being dropped?
 
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Old Jul 19, 2011 | 10:14 PM
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From: spotsy va
i did a power steering swap on my 75 highboy n used a 79 350 steering box n the pitman arm comes out under the frame rail n still leaves u room
 
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Old Jul 19, 2011 | 10:40 PM
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Originally Posted by shookdaddy
i did a power steering swap on my 75 highboy n used a 79 350 steering box n the pitman arm comes out under the frame rail n still leaves u room
I dont have the money to keep replacing parts. Im taking it to ORW tomorrow and see what they can do. (CHEEP)

I have a list of things to do to it that is costing me a fortune:

Seat Belts
40 Gal rear gas tank
Rims
Tires
Rhino Line
Paint Removal
New Paint

Im doing the primer my self
 
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Old Jul 19, 2011 | 10:48 PM
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From: spotsy va
i understand working on a budget i did all the fab work my self n i might have spent $150 bucks to do my swap but thats cool man maybe they can come up w a solution for ur problem
 
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Old Jul 19, 2011 | 11:30 PM
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I had Sky-Manufacturing do my brackets
 
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Old Jul 19, 2011 | 11:33 PM
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Originally Posted by vic_v8
I had Sky-Manufacturing do my brackets
So what did they do? And do you have a pic of it?
 
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Old Jul 20, 2011 | 12:30 AM
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Originally Posted by SuperDuty93
So what did they do? And do you have a pic of it?
it was for a chevy, but will bolt right on to a high boy, it's made for 6".
 
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Old Jul 20, 2011 | 12:34 AM
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Wow. cool kit.... 6" is to much for me. I need 2-2.5. Thanks for the pic tho
 
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Old Jul 20, 2011 | 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by crazed87bronco
hey chasetruck when dropping your front of your leafs down with a custom front solid leaf mount can the pinion angle be set back in the right angle by using longer shackles in the rear to make up for the front being dropped?
Yup - my "bracket" dropped the leaf mount in the front 1" over stock to accommodate the extra weight the cummins will put on the thing. I made my shackles 1" longer overall as well.
 
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