72 F250 2wd auto.
I want to lift my truck but dont know if body or suspension would be best. I dont do to much off-roading, but do some. I need front springs already so was thinking about a sus. lift, but cant find on for '72, only '73 and up. I want to go with 33x12.50R16.5 tire and would like plenty of tire room under fenders. And for rear; blocks or larger springs, witch is best?Any info will be hulpfull. Thanks

 

About 2 weeks ago I changed my front coils and shocks along with radius arm bushings on my 2wd Camper Special. Got the coils from Eaton spring (not a plug but they are a nice product) They listed two different lengths for my GVW (not sure why, maybe for the regular 250 and camper special 250). It lifted the truck front to almost the same height as the rear (maybe a two inch difference front to back with the back being higher). I had a front camber problem as a result and had to get the i-beams bent to fix it. It was not a big deal in my case but all I am saying is be carefull and research what you are going to do closely. I know there is a company that make a lift kit for a 2wd drive ford of this vintage but I can't rember the name of them. I do remember it was some big time cash. I suggest doing a search. This site has some real good info on it from people that been there and done that.

 

autofab is the name of the company. (probably) $2500.00 + for a four inch lift on a 73-79 F series.

 

if you wanna stuff 33-12-50s on your truck get the spring spacers that go in between the springs thats what my 72 F-100

 

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Apr-02 AT 10:38 PM (EST)]I have a 3" front and rear lift kit from Off Road Distributors (ORD) on my '72 2WD F-250. The front kit consists of straight (rather than s-shaped) I-beams, and the rear uses aluminum spacer blocks under the leaf springs. I run 33x12.5x16.5 All Terrain tires all around without any clearance problems. Lots of people think my truck is a 4x4.

The I-beams are modified from stock by cutting out the s-curve and then welding in a straight section. Even though ORD makes these things for Baja desert racing, I was worried about strength. However, I have had no problems even with a heavy camper on the truck.

You will also have to have the steering arms on the spindles bent up to keep the tie rods going through the middle of the slots in the radius arms. ORD did that for me as part of the cost of the kit.

The one problem I had with their kit was that the springs were too long. I just sent them back for a credit and used my old ones. They sag a little bit, but the truck looks cool with a slight negative camber, and my tire wear has been great.

I put it this kit on about my truck about 10 years ago, so I don't know if ORD is still in business. They used to be in Lemon Grove, CA.

My truck is a very late '72, and ORD said that I actually needed a kit for the '73 to '79. However, the I-beams they sent have a D2T number on them.

The kit cost about $600 ten years ago.

Jay

 

Autofab Offroad Trucks

 

I will be putting the 5" autofab on my F350 2wd with 35x12.5R18 Toyo MT tires.

65-79 Ford 2WD 5" lift
This image shows our 1965 to 1979 2WD "twin I beam" front suspension 5" lift kit. price start at F100 $1400 , F250 $1500 , F250/350 with the tall coil bucket $1650



Todd

 

ya when you lift or lower a vehicle ALWAYS go with NEW springs, and with twin beam, you need new ibeams to keep it safe. i had 33's on my stock 72 when i bought it, and it fit perfectly. i would also do a body lift if you want more clearence. never understood why you'd wanna offroad a 2wd, makes no sence to me, anyway just my 2 cents

 

oh, and dont use aluminum spacers, you ever see wut happens when they break? plus it'll bend your spring in an s shape and then you'll need new springs anyways

 

I have 33" tires on stock also... but I would like more clearance with a bigger tire hence the 35" and its 3" high in the rear so to level is 5" in the front and 2" in the rear. Could get the autofab 3" kit that will just level out the truck but that doesnt offer the tierod either...

Todd

 

the 3 inch kits comes with the tie rod. im thinking about going with it.

65-79 econo lift

 

hey guys how much lift can I do before needing new i beams? I would prefer to do a suspension lift to gain some height. I have a flexomatic rear suspension and its is worn out. Would I be better off going with a modern leaf set up with over loads and lift blocks.

1970 f250 2wd reg cab LB 390/4speed

 

The autofab lift actually has a jig they heat up your I-beams and bend them... I believe if you put any lift on the front you will have to change the I-beams somehow to compensate so that your camber and castor angles are good or you will wear out tires. I will be just putting a 2" block in the rear for the time being but will be putting a pickup camper in then will take it to a scale and get new springs for that weight and to level it.

Todd

 

I found a link to a members gallery that he had fabbed up new torsion bar brackets and extended his torsions bars anyone remeber who did this? I lost the link.