Hey all,

Kinda new here (already have 5 posts), glad I found a forum for us FORD folks.
I own a Shortbed Ford - 2005 FX-4 with a 6.5 bed and a 5.4 Triton.
Truck's basically stock except for a brush guard with four - 8 inch Hella off-road lights and a Century cap that I bought second hand for $60 (cap actually came off a Chevy), but it fits my SUPERIOR Ford just fine, color even matches!
As soon as it's daylight again, I'll take a picture with my phone and send it on in.
I'm wanting to lift it about 2 inches (can't lift it more than that, my wife's 5'1" and on crutches) and put some 35's on the original 18 inch rims, any advice about who makes a 2 inch lift or who makes inexpensive 35's?

Right now, I'm running LT255/70/18's instead of the factory size of LT275/65/18 because I got 'em used and was able to buy 5 tires for $475 ($100 per tire on the deck and $75 for the spare), does anyone know how much the different size will throw off my speedo (I know all about aspect ratios and the like, just not good with calculations).

Anyway, just wanted to say hi and ask my questions, thanks

 

Hello

I have basically the same truck, 05 FX4 but have the 5.5 bed. Just last fall I added a 2" level kit to the front made by AS (Autosprings). there are a few different level kit options out there and it does make a difference in apperance. I think I have a picture in my galllery of it.

the tires I run now are 285/60r18. just a slight difference from stock. I'm not sure of the total speedo differnce maybe 1-2 mph but I have a programmer and corrected the tire size. there are many speedo calibration or conversion calculators on line where you can type in current size and desired size and it will tell you how much the speedo will be off.

Hopefully this is of little help.
Good luck

Capt

 

Question for you. Did the AS 2" kit actually lift it 2" or was it more or less than that? I'm wanting to level the front of mine but I don't want to end up with the front higher than the rear and don't want to raise the rear at all. Just curious if the AS spacers are a true 2" lift.

 

2" is exactly what I got on my truck with the AS. I measured the rear of my truck to center of wheel wells and figured out the difference when measuring the front. The spacer itself was not 2" but a little less. I guess the way it works it turns out to be correct. I've been happy with it but I think my mpg's went down a little.

 

Thanks for the info. Mine is 3" higher in the rear on the driver side and a little more (3.5 or 4") on the passenger side. I'm just trying to decide if the 2" will be enough for what I want or if I should do the 2.5".

 

I thought about the 2.5" but I did a bunch of research and it sounds like there are more problems associated with it. Puts more stress on parts.

Just by doing the 2" it looks like a different truck to me. Also depends if you put a lot of stuff in the bed or tow anything.

I waivered back and forth but didnt want to sit nose high so I pulled the trigger on the 2". Just my opinion though.

 

That's actually very helpful. I didn't think about the added stress on the other suspension components, and I definitely don't want it to be nose up. I don't tow often and the heaviest thing I'll probably be hauling fairly regularly is a couple dirtbikes. If that changes, then I'll probably add airbags to the rear.

 

Was going to do the spacer thing for a 2" front lift, but then saw the spring/strut assembly, and decided to go that route. More money, but after pulling the old ones, saw how soft they were. Not a bad job, took a little more than 2 hrs. Raised it exactly 2". If you lift it, you have to get it realigned.

 

Just installed bags on the rear of my 05 with the 2" spacers on front. 10 lbs psi doesn't change stance of truck, but with some weight in bed, or boat hooked up, 30 or 40 psi keeps it level. Install was a breeze, just under 2 hrs.