lift kit questions !
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
lift kit questions !
hello all i'm new to this forum as well as off roading. I have a 86 F-150 4x4 that has the 302 under the hood. and I want to lift it and run some 35 inch tires.
I'm thinking about going with a 6in lift but i'm not sure what brand. I'm leaning toward skyjacker or Tough country are these good lift companys ?
i dont know how to install lift kits and dont have a good place with a vehcile lift to installl the lift kit either.
so what i want o know is what is a good 6in lift kit to buy that wont cost too much and that is easy to install. i also want a working lift kit that will let the axels articulate(sp)
thanks in advance
I'm thinking about going with a 6in lift but i'm not sure what brand. I'm leaning toward skyjacker or Tough country are these good lift companys ?
i dont know how to install lift kits and dont have a good place with a vehcile lift to installl the lift kit either.
so what i want o know is what is a good 6in lift kit to buy that wont cost too much and that is easy to install. i also want a working lift kit that will let the axels articulate(sp)
thanks in advance
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,871
Likes: 0
From: Coutts Canada
You can clear 35x12.5's with a 4" lift and the proper amount of backspacing on you truck (i fit 35's on my f-250 with just the right amount of backspacing).
diddo on sky jacker and superlift, but be sure that you get the extended radius arms though, that way you will get the full benefit of the 6" lift and the TTB front,. and this will help with a bit better articulation, also if you wantgood rear articulation, ditch your factory block when you do your lift and go with a shackle flip in the rear.
diddo on sky jacker and superlift, but be sure that you get the extended radius arms though, that way you will get the full benefit of the 6" lift and the TTB front,. and this will help with a bit better articulation, also if you wantgood rear articulation, ditch your factory block when you do your lift and go with a shackle flip in the rear.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
...Welcome ford_mudd_runner, to Ford Truck Enthusiasts! Please read the Guidelines, it will help you to navigate through and understand this site.
Enjoy FTE....and
JOIN CLUB FTE -SUPPORT THE FORUMS!
…..See you on the boards.
Enjoy FTE....and
JOIN CLUB FTE -SUPPORT THE FORUMS!
…..See you on the boards.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
thanks guys, I thoguht i could clear 35's with a 4in lift too. because i have 31's on it now and thats stock. there is room for 32's or 33's stock too which i will get and thhen later on i will buy the 6in lift and fit what ever tires i can with it. you think 38's will fit ? i have a probelm with the tire width. my 31x10.5x15's rub alittle on a steel line in the fender wheel in the front so i need to do something with that or get some off set rims.
anyways is it easy to install a skyjacker lift without having a hydralic lift to lift the truck so i can work on it ? and it's all just bolt in stuff right. iImean i can weld and all buy perfer not to if i can keep from it.
also will the stock gears pull 35's ? and if not is there any aftermarket gear companys that make gears for these trucks ?
thanks again
anyways is it easy to install a skyjacker lift without having a hydralic lift to lift the truck so i can work on it ? and it's all just bolt in stuff right. iImean i can weld and all buy perfer not to if i can keep from it.
also will the stock gears pull 35's ? and if not is there any aftermarket gear companys that make gears for these trucks ?
thanks again
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,871
Likes: 0
From: Coutts Canada
3.5's can pull the truck but its going to be a dog, a set of 4.10's work good, and you canscore a set of those from the wreckers for cheap, and in your truck swapping gears is easy as the front pumpkin is similar to a nine" (removeable 3rd member) and you can just swap out the entire rear axle too (lke swap out to a 9" with 4.10 over your 8.8 that odds are is what you have in the rear).
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
From: Spokane WA
I would def regear with that 302. My 390 pulls 35" with 3.50s just fine, but I'm gonna regear someday anyways. I would have a long time ago if it wasnt for that granny 1st off road, the single speed dana 21 bites.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
hmm sounds like i need to call up a few people and go to the junk yard too and see what i can find.
thanks for the help
thanks for the help
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
ok, i'm going to buy the 6 inch stage 2 skyjacker lift. but i need to know if there is anything i need to know about it. like will anything be out of line after i install it ? such as the driveshafts ?
how will the truck turn and handel with the 6 in lift kit ? is there any advantage with the 4in lift over the 6 inch kit ?
also can you buy the skyjacker hydro shocks by themselves because i have the dual shock set up on the front of my F-150 so i will need 4 front shocks and 2 rear.
thanks for the help !
how will the truck turn and handel with the 6 in lift kit ? is there any advantage with the 4in lift over the 6 inch kit ?
also can you buy the skyjacker hydro shocks by themselves because i have the dual shock set up on the front of my F-150 so i will need 4 front shocks and 2 rear.
thanks for the help !
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 851
Likes: 0
From: Longvalley, SD
You may need to lengthen the driveshafts if you wheel much, you will need a drop pitman arm to get the steering back to normal. The suspension will more than likely be stiffer than the stock setup. An yes you can buy the shocks separately. If you have bottle jacks and jackstands and common tools you should be able to do the lift yourself.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
hmm, i dont know how to go about lengtheing the driveshafts. is there anywhere that can do it for me ? or is it nesscary ? I will be off roading only on the weekends and only 2-4 times a month
. just mudding not realy an trails or hills or rocks or anything. so for that kind of off roading do you think i will need to get longer drivshafts ?
if i'm not mistaken the skyjacker kit comes with the drop pitman arm. if not i will besure to buy one.
i have bottle jacks,floor jacks and jack stands and alot of tools. so i think i'm set as far as that goes.
. just mudding not realy an trails or hills or rocks or anything. so for that kind of off roading do you think i will need to get longer drivshafts ?
if i'm not mistaken the skyjacker kit comes with the drop pitman arm. if not i will besure to buy one.
i have bottle jacks,floor jacks and jack stands and alot of tools. so i think i'm set as far as that goes.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 851
Likes: 0
From: Longvalley, SD
About any drivetrain/4X4 shop could lengthen your driveshafts, I would look in your yellow pages and just call around. With 6'' of lift I would lengthen the driveshafts if i were you. Sounds like you have plenty of tools for the operation.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
would it be hard to lengthen my drive shafts ? like could i cut a piece out of a old drive shaft and splice into my driveshaft and then weld it up ? or woul it be badly out of line ?
and yeah i think i'm set as far as tools go but if not the High school has lots of tools in the machine shop !
and yeah i think i'm set as far as tools go but if not the High school has lots of tools in the machine shop !
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 0
From: Rep. of Texas
You could do that. however, you probably have alum driveshafts...do you have a spool gun if you use mig? or do you tig or stick?
Which ever way you go, get them professionally balanced...
To do it, make sure you get the EXACT piping to fit inside the old driveshaft. DOM tubing is probably a good idea as well. Id section it in the middle and slide in a section with the desired increase length + 1 1/2 ft (for the inside of the shaft) and then drill holes through the shaft. In the holes I would plug weld the inner shaft.
Which ever way you go, get them professionally balanced...
To do it, make sure you get the EXACT piping to fit inside the old driveshaft. DOM tubing is probably a good idea as well. Id section it in the middle and slide in a section with the desired increase length + 1 1/2 ft (for the inside of the shaft) and then drill holes through the shaft. In the holes I would plug weld the inner shaft.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
hmm. if i did it at home i would be using my arc welder. but if the shafts are alum then i'll take it to school and do it in machine shop because i'm not going to but those $13 a pound alum rods for the arc welder.
No i dont have access to a spool gun but i do have a regular old mig running flux core. and have a regualr mig running gas at the high School. but when i sign up for more welding classes at the local college i will be able to use a spool gun.
i have can get my hands on a tig but i have never used a tig so i could have my machine shop teacher do it for me.
it will most likely be easier ( but not cheaper) to have then made buy a local company or the KNR machine shop up town.
thanks for all the help.
No i dont have access to a spool gun but i do have a regular old mig running flux core. and have a regualr mig running gas at the high School. but when i sign up for more welding classes at the local college i will be able to use a spool gun.
i have can get my hands on a tig but i have never used a tig so i could have my machine shop teacher do it for me.
it will most likely be easier ( but not cheaper) to have then made buy a local company or the KNR machine shop up town.
thanks for all the help.