how much lift
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
It depends on if you like your fenders or not, but a 6" lift will clear them, but you won't have much room for flex.
Really, half ton axles aren't going to like those 40" tires, and stock gears, and engine won't turn them off road worth a darn.
You might want to consider putting some bigger axles, gears, and do some engine work to turn those 40s with out breaking somthing, or consider down sizeing. You should be able to get by with 36 easy, and if you take it real easy some 38s would work.
I have a 6" lift and 36s and 4.56 gears with plenty of room for flex on my 1/2 ton Bronco, but I know some 40s would fit, just I would start to rub the fender if it flexed to much, in which case, I'd pull out the sawzall and start cutting.
Not trying to talk you out of anything, but just letting you know what to expect.
Really, half ton axles aren't going to like those 40" tires, and stock gears, and engine won't turn them off road worth a darn.
You might want to consider putting some bigger axles, gears, and do some engine work to turn those 40s with out breaking somthing, or consider down sizeing. You should be able to get by with 36 easy, and if you take it real easy some 38s would work.
I have a 6" lift and 36s and 4.56 gears with plenty of room for flex on my 1/2 ton Bronco, but I know some 40s would fit, just I would start to rub the fender if it flexed to much, in which case, I'd pull out the sawzall and start cutting.
Not trying to talk you out of anything, but just letting you know what to expect.
4wd Low
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
I have 38.5" Boggers on my truck and I only have a 4" lift. I did have to trim the front of the front fenders a bit so they wouldn't rub when I turned, but it's barely noticable. I've had my truck flexed with the back tire tucked and had no rubbing issues.
I have a friend who has a '79 on 40s and He's got a 6" suspension with a 3" body. I can't remember if he had to do anything to the fenders to fit the tires though, he may of had to bend the fronts of the front fenders in a lil bit.
I have a friend who has a '79 on 40s and He's got a 6" suspension with a 3" body. I can't remember if he had to do anything to the fenders to fit the tires though, he may of had to bend the fronts of the front fenders in a lil bit.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,277
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From: St George, SC I-95
Ive got 38.5s on my 79 250 with a 4" lift and about 1 1/2" of fender trimming. If the truck didnt already have a 4" lift when I bought it I would have gone with a 6" lift and less trimming.
What MBB said x2. Once you put on tires bigger than 35 or 36" other factors start coming in to play. About 2/3 of the 79 150 4x4 trucks came with 351Ms which are IMHO the biggest dog engine ford has ever produced in (read carefully) stock form. It can be made into a very capable and powerful motor. Some have even made 6-700hp. Another option is bolting up a 400 or 460 to your bellhousing. Both can be built with more HP for less money than a equal 351M . Also probably 2/3 of the 79 150 4x4 trucks had 3.50 gears. This simply isnt enough gear. You should have at minimum 4.56 gears but 4.88s would be better. Axles would be next but I dont listen to my own medicine and still run a D44 in the front. I dont play as hard as I want because I dont want to break axle shafts and ujoints......Think about that also.
Best of luck!
What MBB said x2. Once you put on tires bigger than 35 or 36" other factors start coming in to play. About 2/3 of the 79 150 4x4 trucks came with 351Ms which are IMHO the biggest dog engine ford has ever produced in (read carefully) stock form. It can be made into a very capable and powerful motor. Some have even made 6-700hp. Another option is bolting up a 400 or 460 to your bellhousing. Both can be built with more HP for less money than a equal 351M . Also probably 2/3 of the 79 150 4x4 trucks had 3.50 gears. This simply isnt enough gear. You should have at minimum 4.56 gears but 4.88s would be better. Axles would be next but I dont listen to my own medicine and still run a D44 in the front. I dont play as hard as I want because I dont want to break axle shafts and ujoints......Think about that also.
Best of luck!
Elder User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 636
Likes: 1
how bout a 79 f250 with a 400 and 4:10's on a 3" BL and 6" susp. lift would it clear 40's just fine? on 15's or 16's?
the motor will be getting done over the winter hopefully, but ill add the lift etc while the motor is out.
also what company(ies) do you reccomend and shock setup? will i need a longer driveshaft with 6"
the motor will be getting done over the winter hopefully, but ill add the lift etc while the motor is out.
also what company(ies) do you reccomend and shock setup? will i need a longer driveshaft with 6"
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
The 79 F250 w/3" body lift, and if you added a 4" suspension lift, would clear 40" tires good enough. 4.10 gears is alot better than 3.50s, but with a stock engine it isn't the best combination. But you did say you'd be doing some engine work, so you could pull it off with out any gear work.
The D60 rear can take the 40s, but the front D44HD isn't much stronger than a 1/2 ton D44, but if you take it easy 40s shouldn't be a problem.
I think skyjacker is a good quality lift company, and I'd use there nitro shocks too(or Rancho RS5000s, same quality).
The D60 rear can take the 40s, but the front D44HD isn't much stronger than a 1/2 ton D44, but if you take it easy 40s shouldn't be a problem.
I think skyjacker is a good quality lift company, and I'd use there nitro shocks too(or Rancho RS5000s, same quality).
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New User
Joined: Oct 2006
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i plan to rebuild my motor for more power any way and i will get some stronger axles and defrent gears this truck is being totaly rebuilt any way.Rick
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Elder User
Joined: May 2006
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Originally Posted by MBBFord
The 79 F250 w/3" body lift, and if you added a 4" suspension lift, would clear 40" tires good enough. 4.10 gears is alot better than 3.50s, but with a stock engine it isn't the best combination. But you did say you'd be doing some engine work, so you could pull it off with out any gear work.
The D60 rear can take the 40s, but the front D44HD isn't much stronger than a 1/2 ton D44, but if you take it easy 40s shouldn't be a problem.
I think skyjacker is a good quality lift company, and I'd use there nitro shocks too(or Rancho RS5000s, same quality).
The D60 rear can take the 40s, but the front D44HD isn't much stronger than a 1/2 ton D44, but if you take it easy 40s shouldn't be a problem.
I think skyjacker is a good quality lift company, and I'd use there nitro shocks too(or Rancho RS5000s, same quality).
so if i swapped out the d44 for a d60 front i wouldnt have any issues besides a lighter wallet? and possibly jump up to 4:56 since this truck wont see much if any highway
edit#####
i also have Air Lift brand HD bags on the rear so i would have to remove these is adding a susp. lift correct?
Last edited by kilog55; Nov 14, 2006 at 09:40 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
Yes a D60 could handle 40s very nicely, but since they are hard to come by, and make your wallet feel like a feather, you might want to look into just putting some 35 spline chromoly axle shafts and stronger joints on your D44HD.
If your going to do engine work anyway, I wouldn't want to spend the money to regear since you already have 4.10s, and only go to 4.56s. If you had to swap internals out due to bigger shafts, then yes you might as well bump it up to 4.56 or even 4.88.
If your going to do engine work anyway, I wouldn't want to spend the money to regear since you already have 4.10s, and only go to 4.56s. If you had to swap internals out due to bigger shafts, then yes you might as well bump it up to 4.56 or even 4.88.