I'm about to restore my 76 F250 , does anyone know the stock rear spring height , I added extra springs and spacers years ago and have no idea how much lift it gave me. I'd like to put new shocks on but they want to know how much I lifted it. Just the measurement from the axle to the top of the springs would be great !

 

2wd or 4x4 ?

 

Highboy/lowboy?

 

2WD lowboy

 

Can anyone with a stock F250 2wd measure their rear spring s from the top of the axel to the top of the spring stack and post it here please?

 

Cab is in primer , few more parts to seal with truck bed paint and then paint and assembly. getting excited

 

Sorry you haven't been able to get the answer yet. I don't have one though, so can't supply one either!
Even if my 350 wasn't slightly taller to begin with, it's been sitting with a thousand pounds or so on the rear springs for the last 20 years of it's life, and I'm sure is no longer at stock height anyway.

For comparisons to come though (hopefully) what does yours measure. What about the top of the axle tube to the bottom of the frame rail instead?

Good luck. Be great to see it with new paint!

Paul

 

Thanks Paul that measurement would also work. I'll be sure to post some pics. The way things are going it won't be till spring.

 

I've got a 73 2WD but currently the bed is off of it getting painted so I know my measurements won't be much use to you. But if you still don't have an answer in about 3 weeks when it's done I'll measure for you then. Good luck with the paint and progress

 

The bed being off will make it easier all I need is the height of the stack of springs from the top of the axle to the top of the springs where the u-boats hold them to the axle. I can do the math from there.

 

Ok well for the first time I've noticed these "blocks" between my spring pack and I can't believe I haven't noticed them until now. I have a Marti report on my truck and it also has Auxillary Rear Springs and Heavy Duty Springs so I don't know if that pertains to this block in the pack or not. Either way here are my measurements maybe Bill will chime in and see if this block is factory or if it pertains to the spring options that were installed on my truck at factory.

 

I think GreenBean was just concerned about any height difference that the lack of the bed weight would cause. Not a lot maybe (since the bed isn't that heavy to begin with) but a legitimate concern in a case like this.

What kind of math will you do? This had me curious since you first mentioned just the height between the axle and top of the spring pack. And is why I mentioned axle tube to frame dimension instead, because that's your lift comparison. There's more to our vehicle heights than just the thickness of the leaf pack.
When you added the block, did you modify the spring? If you did nothing else, then the block IS the height of your lift. Any additional spring thickness does not necessarily equate to the amount of lift at the body. Other aspects, such as length, thickness and arch of the individual leaves and the packs might make measuring just the thickness of the pack null and void.
But if you've got some easy way of measuring and figuring height, let's hear it! I'm very curious how it turns out.
Thanks

Regarding buying shocks though, what brand are they and do they give dimensions? With almost any shock you can measure between the upper and lower mounts with the vehicle at ride height and get a very usable shock that will work fine under 90% of conditions.
You just want it to fall "somewhere near" the middle of it's travel, but that's not critical and which way from the middle might depend on the vehicle. If it's a light duty truck that carries lots of heavy loads you might want the shock slightly shorter than the middle of it's travel so it does not bottom out before the bumpstops come into play. If you're building a flexy off-roader then you might spec the shocks slightly longer to accommodate some extra extension/droop travel before they top out. As long as the bumpstops have been modified as needed too.

Good luck. Curious what you end up with and how long they are compared to a stock replacement.

Paul

 

ok all good points. Years ago I took two sets of springs, one from a 150 one from a 250 and combined them with a spacer block to look similar to the photos above. I assumed that if I had the measurement of the original springs subtracted from my new stack of springs that would give me my lift. I see your point about arch , when I went to buy shocks because the original ones were overextended they told me they couldn't get me the right ones without the amount of lift I put on the truck. maybe the distance between frame and axel is the way to go since I'm also using a heavy duty flat bed. I had to go to a specialty truck shop to try to get shocks because part stores go by model only not dimensions. Oh A big thankyou to you Greenbean I'll let you know what I come up with !

 

how did the bed turn out ? I decided to wait for yours to get done and go from the axel to the frame. if you can get me that measurement when yours is back together I would be in your debt.

 

I'll measure her this afternoon!