1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

How to lift 86 F350 2WD

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 01-12-2018, 01:50 PM
mark460's Avatar
mark460
mark460 is offline
Mountain Pass
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Houston USA
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
How to lift 86 F350 2WD

Has anyone here lifted a 80-86 F250-350. I found the following kit:

http://www.rockymountainsusp.com/lif...html?c=308&i=0

Is the best most inexpensive way to lift this truck?
 
  #2  
Old 01-12-2018, 02:24 PM
82_F100_300Six's Avatar
82_F100_300Six
82_F100_300Six is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,839
Received 16 Likes on 11 Posts
Nothing about that looks inexpensive. $800 and $400 more not included. You might check for a 4x4 kit on Craigslist etc. Can't be that different. I see blocks, j-bolts, front coils, radius arm drop downs and stuff. Alot of people use rough country and have a nitpick here and there but it works.
 
  #3  
Old 01-12-2018, 02:41 PM
mark460's Avatar
mark460
mark460 is offline
Mountain Pass
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Houston USA
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
yeah, that kit isn't cheap. I checked online at Rough country and they only have kits for a 4WD of that year model. I do need to keep my eyes open for a used kit
 
  #4  
Old 01-12-2018, 03:24 PM
crucialprospect's Avatar
crucialprospect
crucialprospect is offline
Elder User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 928
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
My "cheap" lift kit consisted of f-superduty 2wd front springs, drop pitman arm and rear 5" blocks. However, this was 4wd with leaf spring fronts.

is there any interchange to a coil front suspension you may be able to piece together? Rear blocks are typical, and the drop radius arms are also necessary to keep everything aligned, same with pitman arm.

Sorry if this doesnt help, but just throwing out the possibility of another application that may have the front coils you are looking for.
 
  #5  
Old 01-12-2018, 03:26 PM
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Franklin2 is offline
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 53,620
Likes: 0
Received 1,676 Likes on 1,355 Posts
I would call one of the 4x4 lift kit manufacturers, and ask them why a 4x4 kit would not work on a 2wd. I don't see why it would not work. The 2wd axles and the 4x4 axles bolt in basically the same spots on the frame.
 
  #6  
Old 01-12-2018, 03:47 PM
crucialprospect's Avatar
crucialprospect
crucialprospect is offline
Elder User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 928
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
The picture showed front coils, the f250 and up used front springs. If indeed it is coil sprung with a-arms, are you suggesting converting to a front leaf spring setup?
 
  #7  
Old 01-12-2018, 04:02 PM
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Franklin2 is offline
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 53,620
Likes: 0
Received 1,676 Likes on 1,355 Posts
Originally Posted by crucialprospect
The picture showed front coils, the f250 and up used front springs. If indeed it is coil sprung with a-arms, are you suggesting converting to a front leaf spring setup?
I totally missed that his truck is a f350. Ignore my previous post about the suspensions being the same. When he said 2wd I just instantly thought f150 while it was plainly there he has a f350.
 
  #8  
Old 01-18-2018, 01:44 PM
mark460's Avatar
mark460
mark460 is offline
Mountain Pass
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Houston USA
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
The more I look at this, I think it would be best to just find a 4WD F350, either as a donor truck for mine or if its in better condition, swap over my engine into the other truck.
 
  #9  
Old 01-18-2018, 02:29 PM
82_F100_300Six's Avatar
82_F100_300Six
82_F100_300Six is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,839
Received 16 Likes on 11 Posts
Originally Posted by mark460
The more I look at this, I think it would be best to just find a 4WD F350, either as a donor truck for mine or if its in better condition, swap over my engine into the other truck.
I hear ya i have a 1980 Bronco 300 six/np435 and hate not having a truck bed. I keep looking for a transplant recipient and not having any luck.

Bullnose trucks once plentiful and cheep. No rust. Not true now.
 
  #10  
Old 01-18-2018, 02:39 PM
mark460's Avatar
mark460
mark460 is offline
Mountain Pass
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Houston USA
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
82_F100, What kind of truck are you looking for? I don't know what part of the country your are from, but I've seen a few for sale in Texas.
 
  #11  
Old 01-18-2018, 02:45 PM
82_F100_300Six's Avatar
82_F100_300Six
82_F100_300Six is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,839
Received 16 Likes on 11 Posts
I just need an 80-86 that will take a ttb np435 and a big six without the body mounts being shot. I'm kinda scared of 85 and 86 cuz wierd stuff started happening.
 
  #12  
Old 01-18-2018, 02:54 PM
mark460's Avatar
mark460
mark460 is offline
Mountain Pass
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Houston USA
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I was just searching early today. Here are a few.

https://houston.craigslist.org/searc...auto_year=1986
 
  #13  
Old 01-18-2018, 03:01 PM
82_F100_300Six's Avatar
82_F100_300Six
82_F100_300Six is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,839
Received 16 Likes on 11 Posts
I think my next beater is gonna be an early 2000s 4x4 250 with the 5.4.
 
  #14  
Old 01-18-2018, 05:00 PM
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Franklin2 is offline
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 53,620
Likes: 0
Received 1,676 Likes on 1,355 Posts
Originally Posted by 82_F100_300Six
I think my next beater is gonna be an early 2000s 4x4 250 with the 5.4.
With the oddball 7 lug rims? Not saying they are bad, just letting you know it's different. The f250hd had the regular 8 lug metric pattern that year.
 
  #15  
Old 01-19-2018, 11:46 AM
82_F100_300Six's Avatar
82_F100_300Six
82_F100_300Six is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,839
Received 16 Likes on 11 Posts
Thanks Franklin no sir I don't want any tweeners. I thought what you are describing was the interim 98 where they didn't have any of the new 250s or 350 bodies yet.
 


Quick Reply: How to lift 86 F350 2WD



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:02 AM.