Howdy all,

Been searching the site for a while now (and calling a couple of parts stores) without much luck. HELP!!!!

Want/NEED to know the height(s) of ~~presumably stock~~ front coil springs for a 1979 F-150 Custom 4x2, 351M, no a/c, PS- and it does have the quad shock set up. What is the ~in truck~ compressed size of stock springs? As it sits mine are 12" from cup button to cup bottom. I've never been able to find anyone that can tell me if this thing has been (suspension) lifted... I know its not a Hi-boy but it sits (a lot) higher than most 2wd of the same year__> and that was before I put on the 3" body lift. When I got this truck in '88 it came with 3" blocks in back but was raked pretty severely.

My current springs are sagging and was looking into a lift ((The CHEAPEST I could find Kit + Install was over 45 miles away and they want $2400!!!! without shocks!!!)). I'd REALLY like to do it myself but don't have the tools nor an additional hand to help. Napa, Auto advance, Kragen, and Pep Boys have all been useless when it comes to asking them questions. I asked compressed spring height and I got the ???? look, silence- and somewhere in the distance a criket crikked......

I'd like to know stock height~compressed and also for 2,3,4, maybe even 6" lift spring lengths~compressed. ANY/all help is greatly appreciated.

Saros7
472,000 miles on a
1979 F-150 Custom Stepside ((Yep, you read that right!))

 

I ran out and measured my '73 1/2ton 2wd. The coils are 12" from top to bottom - compressed height. It's a stock suspension and the coils were replaced about 8 years ago with stock replacements from NAPA.

The best way to lift a 2wd is with custom lifted I beams. Just adding taller coil springs will cause the wheels to be tipped out on the tops and they will wear and drive terrible.

Your 2wd has quad shocks in front? I'd really like to see some close up pics of that setup...

Marty

 

Thanks, I guess the front is stock.....
Sorry- not a 2 wheeler-'tis a 4x2(!). Only one I've seen in this area is mine; all the others I've seen are 2 wd__> Sorry for any confusion.

Anyone know how far I can push up the front without needing new C bushings. 2"? 4'?

 

4x2 is a 2 wheel drive - 4 wheels with 2 being drive wheels = 4x2
4x4 is wheel drive - 4 wheels with 4 being drive wheels = 4x4

If yours has c bushings, it's a 4x4. My measurements are off my '73 2 wheel drive, so may not be correct for your 4 wheel drive.

Marty

 

Ok, so now I'm confused over this 4x4 and 4x2...... didn't mean to confuse you/me/this thread_Help!

I've been told it differentiated FULL time 4x4 ((4x4)) and PART-time 4x4 ((4x2)) as 4x4 is/doesn't really mean squat unless you've got locking diffs (Posi, tru-lok, etc) As 4x4 means ONE wheel is getting power up front and One wheel is getting power to the rear; a 4x2 gets power only to one rear wheel unless you shift to 4wheel and then you're still only getting power to 2 wheels. REGARDLESS---> Thank you for measuring- 'tiz the only true/real world measurment I have besides my own.......

 

The way it is around here, 4x4 has a tranfercase with driveshafts to front and rear axle. And there are part time 4x4s and full time 4x4s. 4x2 has no transfercase and driveshaft to the rear axle only.

Marty

 

Ahhhh, Better description-
I like yours better-
So anyway, I have a transfer case.

~~Saros7

 

G'day Saros7, did you ever find out the standard spring height? I'm looking for the same information, for a 7/77 Australian 4WD. I'd imagine it would be the same as for yours.