The front hanger from a 2 wheel drive is about 4" lower.


Original Hanger.




What I used.


You can see the difference in the drop. I am going to make a support for the bottom of that hanger to tie back to the frame though.

 

On the rear of the spring the change is is about 6".


Original set-up.




Now.

The jack is from Harbor Freight, works just as good as my Craftsman and was a third of the cost.

 

I might have asked this before, but where did you get your sandblast cabinet??

Baja

 

Are those 2 1/2" wide leaf springs? I went through that whole hanger swapping and all on my f250 4x4 with a short bed you got to watch how far back you move the hangers or you will run out of frame rail since it's shorter then a long bed. Now I got to redo my rear suspension all over since I lifted the front more. I have zero complaints about that floor jack I'll gladly buy another one at a 3rd I the cost of a "quality name brand" one.

 

Crazed, I shop there all the time. The key is just remember what you are doing and look at what is there. I bought my sandblasting cabinet from HF, my portable 40lb sandblaster, engine crane, gantry crane, engine stand and many hand tools. I am the first one to say I love all my Craftsman Tools, but HF has a lot to offer.

 

I may go out and work in the garage on Sunday. Saturday is supposed to be a high of 20 with a wind warning. Don't think I am going out the door.

 

Got to play with the truck today.

Front Springs removed.




Got the manual steering box removed too.

Had to cut the drivers side front spring bolt.

 

Also got some of the Frame Cross Supports from the 2 wheel drive cleaned up.

Supports




Cross Bar


Hope to use this to replace parts of the High Boy support.

 

Once I had the front springs out I was able to look at the replacement bushings I have. They are from Energy Suspensions and the entire old bushing has to be removed including the thin outer shell. I was able to get one of the old bushings removed and left the shell in and the new bushings will not fit, not even close. I only lost the one bolt as all the others loosened and slid out without trouble. I am going to build a new front spring mount that is stronger and has a receiver built in. Might attach a couple of rings for tow points.

 

Orich and I was disgussing this bushing gig on another thread. He suggested using a chisel and a hammer to pound that outer shell down like a shape of a "V" as I recall. Then grab that with an air chisel and cut out the outer shell.

 

That will get done later. I have the following things to get done,
1) Remove the transfer case.
2) Finish mocking up rear suspension.
3) Weld up Old Rear Suspension holes.
4) Mount 1979 Power Steering Box.
5) Replace Frame cross supports that are thin from rust.
6) Sandblast Frame and paint.
7) Then comes the fun part of re-assembly of the frame some the cab can come back in to be worked on.

 

I was hoping to use the rear-end out of the parts truck but found out today that it is a 3:73 and not the 4:10 that I need. The one out of the 4x4 has seen better days, so I think I will disassemble both and use the best parts to make one great one.

 

Kick new bearings in there. IMHO. No questions or worries later. And a in general note, Ring and pinions have to be set up (shimmed) because of the variance in carriers or housings. Not genuine Ford gears. So if you change gears sets keep the shims that carrier had. It will end up close if not spot on.
Of course check the pattern to make sure. Gears are a lot easier to manufacture in bulk and once they cool being the same. Not so much so with cast iron carriers or housings.

 

Thanks JEFFFAFA, as always great input. The 4x4 axle has some deep rust on the axle tubes where the lower U-Bolt supports have been since 1970. I am thinking about changing to the 2 wheel drive set-up that flips the U-Bolts around so the ends point up.

Lower right corner you can see the U-Bolt pointing down.




U-Bolt Support on the 4x4.




2 Wheel drive U-Bolt set-up.

 

I started disassembling the front spring packs. I plan on cleaning the leafs and coating them with EZ-Slide Graphite Paint then re-assemble. I have new center pins and spring clamps. Just need to see if Tractor Supply near me has the paint in stock.