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I just purchased a 1964 f100 shortbed 1/2 ton which was my first vehicle purchase from my dad back in 1978. I've been reading many different forums and utube videos on the best way to build my truck and since crown vics are so very readily available I think that is my best option for updated suspension. I have a powerplant and transmission but that is about it...I need updated suspension but would like to lift the truck not lower it, is using the CV my best option?
Just a thought here. Depending on how much higher you want the truck to ride, it could be as easy as a simple tire & wheel swap. a 16x6 or 16x7 wheel in the 5x5.5 bolt pattern should be easy to get. Now number comparison time...
215/75r15, diameter of 27.7 inches
235/75r15, diameter of 28.8 inches
215/85r16, diameter of 30.4 inches
235/85r16, diameter of 31.7 inches
If the truck has 215/75-15 tires, switching to a 235/85-16 tire picks up 4 inches in tire diameter, which means the truck should be sitting about 2 inches higher. The 215/75-15 does 729 revolutions per mile, the 235/85-16 does 636 revolutions per mile, so a speedometer gear swap would be needed.
Compared to the old inch measurement method, a 7.50-16 is basically the same size as a 235/85r16. If I recall correctly the original tire should have been a 6.70-15 or a 7.00-15, which roughly works out near the 215/75-15 metric size.
As with any tire size swap, always need to check your clearances with fenders, suspension parts & etc.
Lifting the a 2wd truck seems a bit odd but to each there own. The easiest way I could think of is new solid front axle that doesn’t drop the front end. Kinda like a gasser. A 64 should already have a solid axle up front so it should be a easy swap. You say you don’t need to modernize the front end so that should be an easy almost bolt of deal.
You can get one from Speedway for $1,200 and it will give you disc brakes.
