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I have 78 f-150 4x4 and there are , about 3" blocks on the axles already, they have the bump stop on them. i was wondering if i want to put about a 2-3" lift on it can i stack the new lift blocks under the existing blocks, if not then what should i do (i.e. get taller blocks that equal the height of the two shorter blocks)?
It certainly not a good idea. However, I'd be a hipocrite if i said not to do it. Because my rear has a 4" & a 3" block stacked up, its been that way for a long time too. I would not block a front though. Im planning to do something about it this fall though. I did box the top plate in though & retightened the U bolts a few times until they relaxed.
Every article I have ever read about suspension lifting has said absolutely do not ever stack blocks at the rear and absolutely never block the front of a leaf spring suspended car or truck.Sounds like good advice to me.
"bowties in the rearview mirror"
Sure you can. The way I see it, if the lift kit companies think it is safe, and the government hasn't made it illegal, then you can do it. However, do I think it is optimum, no.
Get an add-a-leaf, or set of lift springs, or at the very least ONE taller block and get rid of the one that's in there now. Do it right or don't do it all. There is no reason that you HAVE to lift your truck, so since it's an issue of WANT rather than necessity, do yourself and everyone else on the road a favor and lift your truck safely and properly. If you don't have the money, don't lift it.
I had stacked blocks on my 78 F150 460 4x4 up until last week. The P.O. put them on about 15 years ago. Until he sold it to me, he plowed snow with it every winter. I've also wheeled the truck for 3 years without a single problem.
I know everyone says it's not a good idea and not safe, but it's been done for at least 30 years and I have yet to see a failure DIRECTLY related to stacked blocks.
If all you want to do is raise it about 3", flip the rear shackles. I took the extra blocks out and filped mine last week. Very simple and FREE (aside from the bolts). If you don't want to flip the shackle, you can have my old blocks.
I am with you. I don't think it is optimum, but perfectly safe and legal as long as it is done right. They will last for years with no problems. You do have to keep checking them to make sure the u-bolts don't loosen up, or they could shoot out. I am going to make a shackle flip for my truck to get rid of all the blocks. One thing I think helps is that the rear springs are stiff, so there isn't much axle wrap. I haven't had problems yet, but I think there are better ways to lift a truck. Ted
You're right about the u-bolts, too. Keep checking them especially if you're gonna be off-roading. Mine started loosening up because the plate on top of the axle is rusting apart and bending. That caused the axle to wrap a little and actually bent the perch on the axle.
So it looks like that stacking blocks is not a good idea, if i dont stack them and use the ones that come with a kit, what should i do about the bump stop the is on the factory blocks. should i just not worry about a place for the bump stop? help!
My rancho kit specified to stack them and put the one with the bumpstop bracket on top, so the bumpstop would still reach it. To recap, it goes springs, factory block, rancho block, axle. Hope this helps.