Silly question regarding leaf springs
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Senior User
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Silly question regarding leaf springs
I am in the middle of stripping my '79 F-250 4x4 down to the frame to do a restore. My question is how many leafs did these things come with stock? I only have 2 leafs on the front and the rear only has 5. Does this sound correct? This is a 1979 F-250 Ranger 4x4 with the 400. Previous owner SAYS it is an XLT..but I dont know about that one. I remember my '75 F-250 4x4 (which I believed had a very mild lift) had atleast double that many springs in the rear and if memory serves, a faily big stack of them in the front...or was that done for the lift? I am just wondering, because if someone took these out in an attemp to lower it a bit (if thats what would lower it in the first place). If its supposed to have more, then I definetely want to fix that while its all torn apart. I am considering a mild lift on mine (if there is such a thing) as long as it doesnt get too involved or force me to start modifying everything else!! Thanks in advance for any help.
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Kempner/Waco, TX
The earlier truck you speak of had more leaves to help with the lift, but the front springs were also curved so they had an arch and that also helped. It was like that on F-250's from 67-76 I believe.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 896
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From: Bothell
My stock 1979 F350 4x4 has 2 leafs in the front and 5+1 (+1 is the overload spring) in the rear. It sounds like you have the correct stock setup. Earlier 4x4s (pre '77.5 "high boys") had 4 or 5 leafs on the front.
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Thanks all for the replies. Guess the next question is whether to lift it or not. I need to do some research on that one I guess. I was thinking 2-3 inch lift maximum. But only if it isnt a big expense and only if its fairly straight forward and simple...ha-ha.
Fleet Mechanic
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From: Southern California
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SuperDuty93: So how much in total is it costing you? Please excuse my prying into what may be personal business, but I am just trying to figure out if I really want to do this, and cost has a big impact on my final decision. By the way, I am in Salem, Oregon...not far from Portland Oregon which probably has some decent spring shops like you are describing.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Southern California
SuperDuty93: So how much in total is it costing you? Please excuse my prying into what may be personal business, but I am just trying to figure out if I really want to do this, and cost has a big impact on my final decision. By the way, I am in Salem, Oregon...not far from Portland Oregon which probably has some decent spring shops like you are describing.
Also, im going on vacation and im going to portland at the end of my trip on the 13th
Would love to see your truck if thats possible. PM me if so
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Well...you could certainly see it. But as I said before, I am in the middle of a frame off restore so that being said it is in the process of being stripped to the frame!! I currently have the front fenders, apron, core support and the motor out.Rear bumper, towing package, exhaust and tanks are also out. My truck is becoming this "pile" of parts along side my house! Working on the bed now. All the bolts are completely rusted so it is proving to be challenging but hopefully it will be off tomorrow. Still not sure how I am going to get the cab off!!
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Joined: Jun 2011
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hey mr ranger79, where working on very similar trucks and are both doing frame off resto's. Insted of taking the cab completly off mine i just moved it back to where the bed was... than moved it forward when i was done cleaning and painting, check it out.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: The Shenandoah Valley
Some of those thicker spring packs also were only 2-1/2" wide where as many of the thinner 5 leaf stacks were 3" wide makiing up for the few leaves with wider stronger leaves and less friction between fewer leaves. Also makes for a slightly stouter main leafe and eyes.
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Feets: I wish I had that hoist set-up!! I like the idea of just sliding the cab back and forth...good call. I think I will try that. I haven't figured out how in the heck I am going to lift the cab in the first place. I have a cherry picker, but I don't think it will go nearly high enough. I did use it to pull the bed off and it worked great, did that by myself.
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
You can use the cherry picker to pull the cab, pull your doors and use the lower seat belt bolts for the rear attachment point and run a heavy ratchet strap around the lower front corners and thru the cab.
I have only seen a pic of the trick on here, but it looked like it worked easy enough.
I have only seen a pic of the trick on here, but it looked like it worked easy enough.
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