1980 lift kit???
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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1980 lift kit???
I own a 1980 Ford Bronco. There aren't any lift kits availble for this year! I have read that it is because that the radius arm brackets were welded on, however my bronco's radius arms are bolted on. What is the deal here? Is the radius arm the reason for not companyies making a lift kit? If not, why do companies not make a lift kit for this year?
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
1980 was a transition year for the Bronco and F-series trucks. Some still had the solid Dana44 front axle like their 1979 older brothers. Some had the new TTB (Twin Traction Beam) articulated Dana44 front axle. The raduis arms were different between the solid axle and the TTB setup. This isn't the only difference. The two suspension setups are so radically different in their mounting that building a lift kit to cover all possible configurations for the 1980 model year would make it a cost prohibitive product from both the seller's and buyer's standpoint. This is where the difficulty lies. Can't sell a lift kit that will fit since both setups were available depending upon the date of manufacture. So, the simple option is to just skip that year.
Determine which setup you have and compare the components against a 78-79 model and an 81 or later model to make certain of any possible discrepancies or "interim" parts that may have been used. Based on that info, you should be able to order a lift kit for either an older or newer model and make it work.
Determine which setup you have and compare the components against a 78-79 model and an 81 or later model to make certain of any possible discrepancies or "interim" parts that may have been used. Based on that info, you should be able to order a lift kit for either an older or newer model and make it work.
Last edited by greystreak92; Jan 13, 2005 at 07:30 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 153
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From: NW Ohio
Wasn't there also an issue with the 80s with TTB having a different front cross member than later models? When I put the lift on my 94 I seem to remember something about adding reinforcement or welding something in place if the kit was used on a 80-82 model.
