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I can not believe you would dare come on this forum with some common sense. Good work! We think these trucks need way more than they really do. I have pretty much gone the KISS method for a few years. It works well. These trucks were already good to begin with.
@Ford Firefighter - thanks for documenting this conversion! I'm starting my own swap on an '87 F350 DRW, using a '90 kingpin Dana 60 and the Sky Offroad kit (RSK, Super Duty springs), and will have some questions along the way. First, I plan on running the stock 4" blocks on the rear diff. Do you have a recommendation on what leaf spring I should use up front if I want it to sit level? I don't plan to swap the rear springs, at least not at this point.
@Ford Firefighter - thanks for documenting this conversion! I'm starting my own swap on an '87 F350 DRW, using a '90 kingpin Dana 60 and the Sky Offroad kit (RSK, Super Duty springs), and will have some questions along the way. First, I plan on running the stock 4" blocks on the rear diff. Do you have a recommendation on what leaf spring I should use up front if I want it to sit level? I don't plan to swap the rear springs, at least not at this point.
Hey Scott! First off that sounds like an awesome conversion you have going!
- The 4” blocks off the 1 ton donor worked perfect for me as far as sitting level but I do not tow a lot. With a 1 ton load of feed in the bed, she was leaning back a good bit! So if you tow or you want the nose down for aerodynamics you might bump it up to 6” blocks.
-Front springs, I used X code from ATS, X codes mainly because I have a pipe dream of doing a 6door truck! But in hindsight I would probably bump it down a little. Going from a twin I-beam suspension to a solid axle Xcode springs is quite a shock! When we have 6 people piled in the cab it rides soooo much smoother which makes me think I am just a little too stiff on the springs.
I would call Jr at ATS and he can walk you thru the spring ratings and help pick out what you are looking for!
Especially if you do twin shock on the front you can have a pretty spineless leaf spring and decent shocks will take care of the rest! But softer springs will definitely lower the front end so if you go with softer I would do the 4” blocks and see how you like it. Adding 6” blocks is easy and can be done any time!
It is a lot of fun! I can’t say enough to research to death every aspect you can think of and every problem you can think of so that when it’s time to tear it apart you already have the knowledge in the head! I think that’s how som many of these trucks get scrapped because they tear into it and the first couple bumps they hit they have to blow the rest of the day on YouTube trying to figure out the problem! So yeah research is necessary!
Hey Scott! First off that sounds like an awesome conversion you have going!
- The 4” blocks off the 1 ton donor worked perfect for me as far as sitting level but I do not tow a lot. With a 1 ton load of feed in the bed, she was leaning back a good bit! So if you tow or you want the nose down for aerodynamics you might bump it up to 6” blocks.
-Front springs, I used X code from ATS, X codes mainly because I have a pipe dream of doing a 6door truck! But in hindsight I would probably bump it down a little. Going from a twin I-beam suspension to a solid axle Xcode springs is quite a shock! When we have 6 people piled in the cab it rides soooo much smoother which makes me think I am just a little too stiff on the springs.
I would call Jr at ATS and he can walk you thru the spring ratings and help pick out what you are looking for!
Especially if you do twin shock on the front you can have a pretty spineless leaf spring and decent shocks will take care of the rest! But softer springs will definitely lower the front end so if you go with softer I would do the 4” blocks and see how you like it. Adding 6” blocks is easy and can be done any time!
It is a lot of fun! I can’t say enough to research to death every aspect you can think of and every problem you can think of so that when it’s time to tear it apart you already have the knowledge in the head! I think that’s how som many of these trucks get scrapped because they tear into it and the first couple bumps they hit they have to blow the rest of the day on YouTube trying to figure out the problem! So yeah research is necessary!
Only been doing maintenance lately until I found this Lund visor on CL!
Turned out pretty nice for a Rust-Oleum job!
I’ve been keeping my eyes out for the later end of Dodge’s 8x6.5 Alcoa style wheels, they will allow a 12.5x35 without spacers or rubbing (each other)
I figure I’ll just have someone mill out the hub to the Ford hub size if it doesn’t happen fit perfectly 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Oh and I also got the windows tinted with that fancy ceramic stuff! 😎
My front springs (Super Duty X code) are installed with the Sky kit; should have the video posted on my channel in the next few days. Your thread has been a big help.
Finishing up the rebuild/refresh on the Dana 60 and hope to install it this weekend, depending on when parts arrive.
My front springs (Super Duty X code) are installed with the Sky kit; should have the video posted on my channel in the next few days. Your thread has been a big help.
Finishing up the rebuild/refresh on the Dana 60 and hope to install it this weekend, depending on when parts arrive.
Only been doing maintenance lately until I found this Lund visor on CL!
Turned out pretty nice for a Rust-Oleum job!
I’ve been keeping my eyes out for the later end of Dodge’s 8x6.5 Alcoa style wheels, they will allow a 12.5x35 without spacers or rubbing (each other)
I figure I’ll just have someone mill out the hub to the Ford hub size if it doesn’t happen fit perfectly 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Oh and I also got the windows tinted with that fancy ceramic stuff
Visor looks sweet. Been wanting to get one for my rig for awhile
Getting bigger wheels for a dually is a pain. I looked for quite awhile before deciding on the Alcoas i got now.
The ceramic is nice stuff too, I used that when I did my truck.
Thanks Brett!
Those straightforward SD Alcoas?
Or have you.... reinvented the wheel, like the rest of your incredible rig?!
XD
They're straightforward semi wheels. 10 lug and all.
If I hadn't already invest into rebuilding my axles, i wouldve considered doing an F550 axle swap or so. My truck currently runs adapters to mount 10 lug wheels onto the stock 8x6.5 pattern.
They're straightforward semi wheels. 10 lug and all.
If I hadn't already invest into rebuilding my axles, i wouldve considered doing an F550 axle swap or so. My truck currently runs adapters to mount 10 lug wheels onto the stock 8x6.5 pattern.
Interesting! I have a buddy that owns a big rig shop and comes across those all the time, I never liked the idea of having that kind of psi under my seat! But I suppose if you take care of them there's nothing to worry about!
Interesting! I have a buddy that owns a big rig shop and comes across those all the time, I never liked the idea of having that kind of PIS under my seat! But I suppose if you take care of them there's nothing to worry about!
I aired them down to like 80 psi. Rides alot smoother. That's the lowest they recommend running pressure wise. The tires should last forever with the puny weight of our trucks compared to a big rig.
Alright I sat this big girl on the frame at the ranch last week just trying to fill the feeder, so here we go!
T-Case and Tranny are out, needs a wash and fluid change then in she goes!
I’m posting as I go! Gotta love heavy equipment! Using a strap to yank it out works a lot better than the wiggle jiggle method! To the frame!
