Yet Another Lift Question
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Yet Another Lift Question
I have a 77 f-150 4x4 with 33's. They rub if u flex or hit a good bump.
I'm planning on using this truck for mud and some rocks. I plan to mini-spool front and rear just for cost/efficency. I plan to stick with 33's for a while but I suppose I could be persuaded to go to 35's eventually.
Would a 4 inch kit be my best bet? Would 4 inch clear 35's even at full flex? What can i do to increase flex? Is it cheaper to buy a kit or individual parts? Whats the bare minimum parts I'd need?
Thanks,
Kyle
I'm planning on using this truck for mud and some rocks. I plan to mini-spool front and rear just for cost/efficency. I plan to stick with 33's for a while but I suppose I could be persuaded to go to 35's eventually.
Would a 4 inch kit be my best bet? Would 4 inch clear 35's even at full flex? What can i do to increase flex? Is it cheaper to buy a kit or individual parts? Whats the bare minimum parts I'd need?
Thanks,
Kyle
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Well, it depends on your budget. If you are truly cheap, homebrew a shackle flip for the rear, drop the coil buckets in the front, and weld the gears front and rear. I wouldn't advocate any of that, but it could be truly cheap. Personally, I would recommend a 3-4" kit, complete with shocks. I also wouldn't spool the front, but buy a lockrite for the rear. If you are going minispool, then weld it and save the $$. I got my 3" rancho with shocks from desert rat for $350. Rough country is also cheap. Prices raise from there. Skyjacker is good but costs lots. Maybe check the galleries and see what other F150s are running. You can visualize your truck that way, and see what kits they used. Hope this helps
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From: Spokane, WA
A 35" tire is only 1" closer to the fender than a 33" so it doesn't take much. I agree with Ted, 3-4" is plenty. If you drive it on the street spools are not the best idea (or welded diffs, same concept) as it can be hard to turn and eats up tires. If it's strictly an offroad rig I'd weld the carrier as Ted suggested. For offroad performance you'll get a lot more out of a shackle flip than you will just a set of leaf springs so that's not a bad option. It will also increase flex a great deal, look at my galleries for pics. I'm all for dropping the coil buckets too. Some people like it and some don't . . . if you don't want to do that you can get coil springs for under $100 and then either get shocks or move your shock mounts.
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The idea of a shackle flip sounds good. Anyone on here make a kit they sell? What all is involved in this process? What parts are needed?
I'm not familiar with dropping the coil buckets and etc??? I'm guessing the involves cutting and welding? What about steering.. any issues? Need drop pitman arm or anything still?
I'm going for the cheapest but most effective. This truck will be off road only.
LMK! Thanks for opinions guys! Keep them coming!
Kyle
I'm not familiar with dropping the coil buckets and etc??? I'm guessing the involves cutting and welding? What about steering.. any issues? Need drop pitman arm or anything still?
I'm going for the cheapest but most effective. This truck will be off road only.
LMK! Thanks for opinions guys! Keep them coming!
Kyle
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Look at Ivan's galleries for shackle flip stuff. Yes there is kits, but people also use the front hangar to do it. As far as the steering, you will probably have some small issues. I am using the 77 "y" linkage, and with 3" lift, it is adjusted out as far as I can, and still is slightly out of alignment. I can barely notice it on the street, and offroad it is fine. I plan to eventually build a 78-79 style steering, either with stock parts, or chevy ends. Just have to see. Anyway, something to consider.
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What if I went with a 3 or 4 inch rancho or something but went with long travel shocks, would this give me some pretty decent flex? What makes or breaks good flex? I was once told shocks... is this correct?
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To a point, yes. However, that being said, mine flexes well enough with just a bolt on kit that it hasn't had a tire in the air during normal wheeling. By normal, I am talking about washout ditches about 2 feet deep at most, small ledges about 18" and of course gravel roads and such. If you are going to do more than that, then maybe a custom suspension is for you, but the coil fords flex pretty good without any real mods.
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Post Fiend
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From: Spokane, WA
Shocks dampen movement of the vehicle and that's it. If your shocks aren't long enough they'll stop the flex of the truck (or you'll destroy a shock trying) but other than that they have no impact on flex. Flex will be determined by the softness of your spring and your shackle angle in the case of a leaf spring. Up front, on an F150, the coils flex well but the radius arms are typically the limiting factor there. Longer radius arms will help but won't be necessary for only a couple inches worth of lift.
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http://store.4wheelingplus.com/prodd...7%2D79H&cat=63
What all is this kit missing? Drop pitman arm and brakelines? Can a more complete kit compete with that price?
LMK.
Kyle
What all is this kit missing? Drop pitman arm and brakelines? Can a more complete kit compete with that price?
LMK.
Kyle
Post Fiend
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From: Spokane, WA
Yeah, pitman arm and brake lines are all that's missing. Personally I wouldn't use the rear blocks. A shackle flip would do the trick or a couple hundred $$ would get you new rear leaf springs. Double stacked blocks can pop out and tend to create terrible axle wrap. The nice thing with the kit you linked is that it has the drop bracket for the trac-bar.
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I have a 78 F-150 4x4 with a Skyjacker 4" lift "system" . I run 35" M/T's with no clearance problems whatsoever. I have pretty much beat the crap out of it, off-roading, before I get the body work done. I have never had anything rub or bind up.
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The one thing about a dropped pitman arm is that the 77s had that goofy tie rod pitman arm. That is why I was saying I am going to swap. They don't make a drop pitman for that style. While not superior, the "y" steering doesn't steer THAT bad. however, like I said, lifted, it can't be adjusted enough. As far as brake lines, I would buy nice long ones, like for a 6" lift. I got mine from inlinetube.com. They custom made them to my specs. They are plenty long, and give me room to add a little more lift if I want to down the road.
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Years ago I lifted my '79 F-150 6" to fit 36" TSLs. I went with the Skyjacker Softride kit. In addition to the kit parts (basically just 4 springs and shocks), I had to buy: adjustable track arm, drop-pitman arm (needed both to fix the alignment - dropped arm wasn't enough), radius arm drop brackets, C-bushings, brake hoses. Probably a couple of other things I can't remember (I did this 15 years ago).
The 36" Swampers filled the wells beautifully. It was funny... from a distance the truck didn't even look big... until got next to it and the hood as at eye-level and folks in normal cars next to it were looking at the frame...
Now having done it, I wouldn't do it again. For an all-around truck - especially an F-150 you plan to off-road a lot - 4" with either 33" or 35" tires max . Eventually the 1/2 ton axles will be the weak point.
Now if I had an F-250/350 and a bunch of $$$ to build a toy, I'd go all out: 6" lift, 3" body lift, 3" cut-out flares. Fits 44's like they were meant to be... A guy local to me had this exact truck... wish I could have bought when he sold it 10 years ago... I love looking at pictures of Ivan's truck... brings back memories...
The 36" Swampers filled the wells beautifully. It was funny... from a distance the truck didn't even look big... until got next to it and the hood as at eye-level and folks in normal cars next to it were looking at the frame...
Now having done it, I wouldn't do it again. For an all-around truck - especially an F-150 you plan to off-road a lot - 4" with either 33" or 35" tires max . Eventually the 1/2 ton axles will be the weak point.
Now if I had an F-250/350 and a bunch of $$$ to build a toy, I'd go all out: 6" lift, 3" body lift, 3" cut-out flares. Fits 44's like they were meant to be... A guy local to me had this exact truck... wish I could have bought when he sold it 10 years ago... I love looking at pictures of Ivan's truck... brings back memories...
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Hey guys, this lift is suppose to be a Christmas gift. Is it possible to get an entire kit with everything I need? I'd like to just have all the parts and be able to install it over Christmas Break.
If I go for a 3 inch suspension lift, would I need a drop pitman arm or those extended brake lines? I also do not want to double stack blocks. The truck has a brand new factory drop pitman arm.
Bascially if there is a kit that fits that bill, I'd appreciate it if someone would send me a link
I checked out desert rat but they don't show any for old fords.
Thanks,
kyle
If I go for a 3 inch suspension lift, would I need a drop pitman arm or those extended brake lines? I also do not want to double stack blocks. The truck has a brand new factory drop pitman arm.
Bascially if there is a kit that fits that bill, I'd appreciate it if someone would send me a link
I checked out desert rat but they don't show any for old fords.Thanks,
kyle