suspension lifts
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 8
From: Gadsden Purchase
Originally Posted by Pickupmanx2
77 F-150 4x4 short bed, just put new 1 1/2" coils in the front, and now have 255/85-16s on 16x8 DC-1s, they are a 32.5" tire, by about 9", super fit and look. Nothing to the rear, just needed to get the front up, really saggin. New shocks, C-bushings, track-arm bushings, and radius arm bushings, fingers still hurt. Pics coming soon
But I don't understand the "put new 1 1/2" coils" part. :/
...1+1/2" in diameter?
Alvin in AZ
ps- if you guys haven't figured it out yet... I'm the dumbest guy on this whole website :/
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 8
From: Gadsden Purchase
Originally Posted by Matts72
Hardly... 
I've seen some real winners...
I'm sure he means 1.5" taller coils...
I've seen some real winners...I'm sure he means 1.5" taller coils...
First thing I noticed about factory springs is (stating the obvious here) when the springs are out of the vehicle the lighter springs are tall suckers and the heavy duty springs are short. All in an effort to make the vehicle sit at a certain height after the weight is put on them.
My pickup came with squishy light springs and the dealership changed them out to the heaviest in mid-'75. They tried talking me into something in between "these will make it ride like a lumber wagon :/" "That's what I want!
" "lumber wagon springs! "Years later I replaced the factory-engineered-that-way lighter driver's side spring (.725") to another like what was on the passenger side (.740") and straightened the old clunker right up.
With some determination and WD-40 (hey, it is good for some things
) I managed to slip 3/4" fuel hose over the top-coil of each spring.Don't know if that helped quiet anything or not. :/
Alvin in AZ
ps- I'll try to get some pictures taken today
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 8
From: Gadsden Purchase
Trying this post one more time...
You don't have to like any of my ideas.
My ideas are for me to like. Ok?
Take 'em or leave 'em it's all the same to me.
I'm happy as a railroader on payday with my new "lift".
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/spacer1.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/spacer2.jpg
The two gears shown aren't the ones I used but are a lot like them.
The two gears I used also had the side-flange like the two shown tho.
My "VW gear spacers" aren't going anywhere the rest of my pickup ain't going too. Believe it?
The hidden 3/4" nut (1+1/8" across the flats) just fits inside the gear's hole and also the lower spring-base just fits over the gear's side-flange.
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/coilspring.jpg
Can you see the purple paint on that spring?
That's what the Safford Ford dealership's head mechanic asked me in late 1975, then he said... "that means this is the stiffest spring they make to fit your truck"
Well he was mostly right. That spring is the weaker half of a pair and it measures .725" the other half of the pair (the one made for the heavier passenger side of the pickup) measures .740" and has yellow paint on it.
My pickup always sagged just a little on the drivers side so I searched the wrecking yards for any springs that'd fit my '75 F150 4x2 that were made of thicker "wire" than what I had. Came up with .740" as the thickest I could find and so just bought one. (you can see it in "spacer1.jpg")
I guess ford did that because the engine sets a little over on the passenger side but different sizes weren't needed for my pickup.
F150 360(FE), T18, PS, A/C and "mid-ship" gas tank. YMMV.
Anyway I slipped a piece of 3/4" fuel hose over the top coil of both my springs years ago then later changed that one out. Had more hose (had bought 3 feet) so slip the leftovers on the "new" spring and left that one the way it was. I don't know if it quieted anything or not. :/
Couple more of my crazy ideas...
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/zerks.jpg
No more messing around with having to oil leaf springs for this guy.
Don't tell me... let me guess... you never oiled your leaf springs, right? :/
Did that when I re-arched my own leaf springs, 10 pound sledge worked great on the 5/16" thick leaves but the 5/8" thick overloads needed something heavier, found a 16 pound head at my favorite used tool store in town (Kent's Tools) and put a handle in it.
Notice too the heavy overload spring is being held straight by the homemade spring clamp. The clamp was made from 3" square-tubing and held in place by a steel rod that's peened into a 7/16" hole that's heavily countersunk on both sides.
What do you think?
Glad I'm not -your- neighbor? :/
Alvin in AZ
You don't have to like any of my ideas.
My ideas are for me to like. Ok?
Take 'em or leave 'em it's all the same to me.
I'm happy as a railroader on payday with my new "lift".
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/spacer1.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/spacer2.jpg
The two gears shown aren't the ones I used but are a lot like them.
The two gears I used also had the side-flange like the two shown tho.
My "VW gear spacers" aren't going anywhere the rest of my pickup ain't going too. Believe it?
The hidden 3/4" nut (1+1/8" across the flats) just fits inside the gear's hole and also the lower spring-base just fits over the gear's side-flange.
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/coilspring.jpg
Can you see the purple paint on that spring?
That's what the Safford Ford dealership's head mechanic asked me in late 1975, then he said... "that means this is the stiffest spring they make to fit your truck"
Well he was mostly right. That spring is the weaker half of a pair and it measures .725" the other half of the pair (the one made for the heavier passenger side of the pickup) measures .740" and has yellow paint on it.
My pickup always sagged just a little on the drivers side so I searched the wrecking yards for any springs that'd fit my '75 F150 4x2 that were made of thicker "wire" than what I had. Came up with .740" as the thickest I could find and so just bought one. (you can see it in "spacer1.jpg")
I guess ford did that because the engine sets a little over on the passenger side but different sizes weren't needed for my pickup.
F150 360(FE), T18, PS, A/C and "mid-ship" gas tank. YMMV.
Anyway I slipped a piece of 3/4" fuel hose over the top coil of both my springs years ago then later changed that one out. Had more hose (had bought 3 feet) so slip the leftovers on the "new" spring and left that one the way it was. I don't know if it quieted anything or not. :/
Couple more of my crazy ideas...
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/zerks.jpg
No more messing around with having to oil leaf springs for this guy.
Don't tell me... let me guess... you never oiled your leaf springs, right? :/
Did that when I re-arched my own leaf springs, 10 pound sledge worked great on the 5/16" thick leaves but the 5/8" thick overloads needed something heavier, found a 16 pound head at my favorite used tool store in town (Kent's Tools) and put a handle in it.
Notice too the heavy overload spring is being held straight by the homemade spring clamp. The clamp was made from 3" square-tubing and held in place by a steel rod that's peened into a 7/16" hole that's heavily countersunk on both sides.
What do you think?
Glad I'm not -your- neighbor? :/
Alvin in AZ
