Hey guys. I was looking into converting my 78 into 4WD. Its a F100, so its a F150. I am going to this cause as I slowly broke down my 75 Frame I came to find rust out the YING YANG! So I am going to use this truck frame and stuff now. I am doing a cummins setup, and I have all the 4WD components from a High Boy (AKA I got a divorce transfercase to use) But I dont wanna have to dick with the whole removing the front cross member to go 4WD... Thats when I remembered in OFF-ROAD Magazine there was a cummins which they did coil overs on. So I got to thinking and reading..

In that time I found out 3 link puts less stress on the frame and components. So I been reading and I found a article from 4WD Mag and read it, so I now have more of a idea. And I found a few articles on 3 link as well. I am just wondering if anyone on here has done it?

Now I want to remind you guys, my setup is going to be for offroading. Its going to be driven and probably do some pulling so I plan on my front springs to be stiff, and probably have a few sets of limiter straps.

But I wanna see what others have done so I can get a idea of what I should do, and how to go about it. Again I got a divorced t-case I am going to use!

Thanks guys

 

Not sure how a 3 link puts less stress on the frame & components.

Other than that I don't have much to add, aside from coilovers and a link system sound good to me. I had wanted to do that on my '74 crew but was too lazy as I had way too much else to build on the truck already.

 

Well I will keep you all informed on it when I start. Cause I am going to keep my front cross member, so its goign to be a fun one, hope this all comes out real well. So can give you guys some templates

 

In case ya missed it, 4WOR converted an F150 from 2WD to a 4x4 using a three-link and King coil overs.

Read for inspiration: 1979 Ford F-150 4x4 & Off Road Project Truck - 4Wheel & Off-Road

 

Thats where I got my idea, just well you know there isnt any technical info in the article, and I think I can get away with not notching my engine crossmember. (Since I wont be doing any extreme flexing) So I am still looking for more technical info so I can read and get a idea of what I should do. I think I may use my moms Jeep as a base for mine, since I dont need a ton of movement. Trucks just going to be driven to work and pulled occasionally. I just hope to get it all to work. Lol since its getting a cummins and a Eaton FS5202 lol

 

Well, OK.... What type of technical info are you looking for?? Parts sources, DOM link wall thicknesses..?

You have at least 220V MIG welder and know how to use it, right?

 

I have a full machine shop(Two lathes, mill machine, drill press, etc), and a Stick, and MIG welder at my disposal. I am wanting actual info I can use to I know how to get measurements to correctly place my links so I can drive this thing on road. I plan on running a 35 inch tire. So I want to figure out the correct lenth of my links so I can use my 35's, at the same time I know this will give me enough room between my diff pumpkin and the crossmember. I do not want to have to experiment 50 freaking times to get this going. And with the 'help' I get from all these knowledgable people, I am slowly getting ready to junk my 70's ford's and buy a 2nd Gen Cummins truck, so I can drive it and build the cummins I have now and switch them out. I got places where I can buy DOM pipe, and HEIM ends, and all the such I need information so I am not going into this blindly.

 

Arrightee then.... Forgive me for asking but I don't know you nor every aspect of your resources. There are many in here that seem instantly over their head with their great ideas. Looks like yer set up.

"Actual" info? Hmmm... lemme work on that. But with custom work.. it tends to be just that - custom.... so there's no book on it.

 

you are asking for a lot Cowboy. Custom measurements for a custom setup?? Especially on something like this that very few have done...??
This stuff will vary from truck to truck based on builder and driver preference as well as what the truck is being built to do.

Sounds like you want a short cut answer to something that usually takes a bit of time & effort with suspension cycling to figure out what will work best being most of that "time & effort".

Having a decent background in building stuff I could look at the article HIO posted & go to town figuring out what I needed to along the way. In fact I looked it over yesterday & already have a good idea of how I'd go at a build like this.

That being said - as for HOW to measure the thing - well, just go out & look at your truck & then look at that article & compare a bit. Doing this a couple times SHOULD give you a good idea of general lengths & mount locations.

Personally though I'd probably go more to a radius arm & coilover setup than a 3 or 4 link if you want something a bit easier. The truck already has radius arm mounts on it. Then if you don't want the work of custom mounts for the coilovers you can even use the coil buckets that already came on the truck as well. This way works & would be fairly "easy".

If you still want to go after the 3 link then there is a link calculator floating around somewhere online. I don't have a link for it, but have seen guys use it multiple times. A link MIGHT be found on pirate4x4 - not sure.
Whenever you do find it though play around with lengths & mounting points a bit to figure out upper vs. lower link lengths, etc. You might very well have to do it "50 freaking times" but it will at least be online & easy vs. the old skool way of mock up, cycle the susp., make changes according to what you saw & repeat til you get what you like.

If just buying a dodge and running it will satisfy you, then by all means have at it. It unfortunately seems we here won't be able to make you happy unless we lay everything out for you, which is darn near impossible to do without pulling your truck into my shop & building it for you.

 

What is so hard about getting the equation to do something right? I mean if everyone here acts like a engineer it should be possible. I am not asking for the measurements I want to be able to know my measurements are right. And the old skool way is good if you have the time and money. I don't have the time and I don't have the money. Most of the time this stuff has equations to it, you know like equations used when building trailers? So you know where to place your axles and such? When someone comes and starts helping me take care of my 83 year old grandma, and all this stuff. Maybe you all would understand I dont want it handed to me, I want hard fact information so I can do this in a timely manner. But alas, no one has a damn idea what there doing, and to make everyone fill great, I have scrapped my dents, and am buying a dodge. I dont have time to dick around, and I have lost faith in the Ford community. Help, more like, lets just repeat what we have seen and read. So thank you for me losing faith in the one enthusiasm I had. A moderator can kindly lock this thread.

 

You can't be serious? these guys were being as helpful as possible, to the best of their knowledge, the person who doesn't seem to know what they're doing seems to be you my friend

 

Good god man...
Don't know how else to say it, so I'll just say it over again. Lengths & mounting points VARY based on vehicle use & driver & builder PREFERENCE. Find the online calculator I mentioned... forget it - I'll be uber nice & even take the 10 seconds to google it for you!
Hey - look what I found!!!!
3 & 4 Link Calculators - JeepForum.com

So yeah - play around with that to get what you want, double check your measurements and go.


Or not. This "engineer" is done helping.


there is also always the other option you seem to be going towards. So yeah, good riddance. Good luck in the dodge community