Highboy Suspension
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4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Highboy Suspension
Hi FTE World!
My first post! I've been combing through this forum for a couple years and finally decided to make an account.
I've got a '67 F-250 2WD Camper Special and am getting ready to do a body swap onto a '71 4WD Highboy chassis with the help of a friend (more like I'll be helping him).
Anyways I was wondering if y'all had any recommendations for shocks? She will be my daily driver/adventure rig after this overhaul.
Thanks in advance!
My first post! I've been combing through this forum for a couple years and finally decided to make an account.
I've got a '67 F-250 2WD Camper Special and am getting ready to do a body swap onto a '71 4WD Highboy chassis with the help of a friend (more like I'll be helping him).
Anyways I was wondering if y'all had any recommendations for shocks? She will be my daily driver/adventure rig after this overhaul.
Thanks in advance!
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 303
Likes: 19
From: NW PA
Aves22
If you are not upgrading to new springs pretty much any shock of the correct length will work as they are sprung stiff so comfort is not something you will get from a shock upgrade. Keep in mind the cab will need two additional holes to mount the 2WD Cab to the 4WD chassis.
CStoyer
If you are not upgrading to new springs pretty much any shock of the correct length will work as they are sprung stiff so comfort is not something you will get from a shock upgrade. Keep in mind the cab will need two additional holes to mount the 2WD Cab to the 4WD chassis.
CStoyer
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 119
I put super duty front springs and f150 rear springs on my truck to get it to ride better. It was a significant amount of work. If I was doing it over I would consider having custom springs made by a reputable company like Alcan Spring. They will not be cheap though. A couple thousand would be in the ballpark.
You may want to get it swapped and drive it to see if upgrading springs is worth it to you. My truck could not be driven down a country road without a death grip on the steering wheel going 30 mph.
You may want to get it swapped and drive it to see if upgrading springs is worth it to you. My truck could not be driven down a country road without a death grip on the steering wheel going 30 mph.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 535
From: Chandler, AZ
What is you goal with the truck?
Custom modern springs will make a HUGE difference as stated above. I have Alcan custom springs on mine, love then but $1700 rear only. I did coil overs up front, same price.
Custom modern springs will make a HUGE difference as stated above. I have Alcan custom springs on mine, love then but $1700 rear only. I did coil overs up front, same price.
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4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Omicron,
Well I'm hoping since I'll have the 4WD chassis exposed it would be a little less work.
Do you mean that it would require further modification work?
I definitely don't have that kind of coin right now. Was hoping for something in the neighborhood of $400 - $600.
Well I'm hoping since I'll have the 4WD chassis exposed it would be a little less work.
Do you mean that it would require further modification work?
I definitely don't have that kind of coin right now. Was hoping for something in the neighborhood of $400 - $600.
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4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Smoky,
Goal is a comfortable and somewhat modernized daily driver with the capability to take her up the occasion forest service road to camp, or out on some stretches of BLM land. Would also like to road trip a 1000+ miles without feeling every bump in the road.
I just don't have Alcan spring money right now.
Goal is a comfortable and somewhat modernized daily driver with the capability to take her up the occasion forest service road to camp, or out on some stretches of BLM land. Would also like to road trip a 1000+ miles without feeling every bump in the road.
I just don't have Alcan spring money right now.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 119
If you use the stock springs you can always upgrade them later. There are tricks to rebuild leaf springs to ride better but I would be impressed if the rear 2-1/4 wide springs could be made to ride ok without 1000lbs in the bed.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 485
Likes: 51
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
I did battle born brakes front 99-04 super duty spring 67-77 highboy bracket and front-rear shackles. $460 bracket/shackles and price is all over on the springs, look for guys selling superduty dana 60’s and they might make a deal.
read LrrOmnicrons front springs thread and these other guys who’ve btdt.
Works well, straight forward swap. The heavier cummins Seems to not be squatting the front end and rides better than the Oe. I originally bought replacement Oe fronts from general spring and those britches squatted flat within a year. I’m guessing your closed knuckle d44 should bolt up to the leaf springs. I’m using the oe rear springs on a sterling 10.25 axle.
if you do this setup stay away from the 99 springs as it had an odd leaf wrap at the end which they fixed on the later years.
Put a little junk weight in the back and it’ll ride nice.
read LrrOmnicrons front springs thread and these other guys who’ve btdt.
Works well, straight forward swap. The heavier cummins Seems to not be squatting the front end and rides better than the Oe. I originally bought replacement Oe fronts from general spring and those britches squatted flat within a year. I’m guessing your closed knuckle d44 should bolt up to the leaf springs. I’m using the oe rear springs on a sterling 10.25 axle.
if you do this setup stay away from the 99 springs as it had an odd leaf wrap at the end which they fixed on the later years.
Put a little junk weight in the back and it’ll ride nice.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 251
From: North Pole, Alaska
You can refresh the action of your springs by doing this:
disassemble the springs, and clean them. Then smooth and file any burrs or rough spots. Paint them and coat the load bearing surfaces with graphite. Put strips of a vinyl material between the leaves and reassemble. This is what some of the old desert racers did.
disassemble the springs, and clean them. Then smooth and file any burrs or rough spots. Paint them and coat the load bearing surfaces with graphite. Put strips of a vinyl material between the leaves and reassemble. This is what some of the old desert racers did.
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