01 7.3l 2wd Ex. Wanting to run 40" military tires w/ 20" rim size on the LOWEST lift possible. Military tires are narrower than standard tire sizes, and I will be installing larger pocket flares on the truck as well to give more clearance. I have been looking into building a full custom air ride suspension out of semi bags, but at the moment I am trying to find the least expensive shackle suspension lift to allow that tire size.

 

I had a 24" lift with 46" tires on my 2000. The only issues I had with turning was rubbing my leaf springs at full lock with the 20" wide tire. I know it is not a direct answer, but it should help you narrow it down. Once you start going that high, the terms "least expensive" should no longer be in your vocabulary. Cutting corners at that height will just cause problems.

 

40" tires on a two wheel drive EX, sounds challenging!
Member Dubbs19s ran some huge tires on his 4X4 with minimal lift and cutout flares, maybe this thread will help some. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-build-up.html
This thread also discusses big tires and small lifts with cutout flares. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...es-though.html
And another from Icentropy. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...look-tiny.html

 

I have a set of 37x12.5x16.5 military tires I am going to run. How do you plan on balancing such large tires? Mine vibrate terribly and I even bought concentric hub balancers with no luck. I am going to try air soft pellets when I find the time to pull the wheels apart, as I am running the 12 bolt wheels. Any suggestions for what pellets to get and amount to put in each tire?