ok so the weather is gettin better and im gonna start the 4wd conversion on my 79 f-350. i need to know if anyone makes a bolt on shackle setup for the back of the front springs. id use the factory setup but id rather have somethin to bolt to the underside of the frame so as not to get into all the measuring. i have a field full of the 4wd 1/2 nd 3/4 ton trucks. if anyone knows of a better way to convert let me know. and im not to good to use the 150 coil front setup if anyone knows how to do that either

 

the shackle mounts throgh the frame. i believe you need to get that bracket. otherwise its bolt on.

now gettin the correct shackle angle is a bit trickier but it can be done. i dont have time to explain it tonight, but i will later if i have some time

-cutts-

 

Two small problems with hanging a shackle under the frame.
The shackle will be rather short, and will limit travel, and have a negative effect on ride. Also by doing so, it would require an equal amount of modification to the front hanger to drop it low enough to match the rear of the spring so caster, and pinion angle is not so poor Wthout extending the front hanger, a serious shim would have to be installed under the spring to regain proper steering geometry, and the angle of the shackle will still be wrong.
It is common for 2x4 to 4x4 conversions to use a hanger kit from a Super Duty, ( front leaf springs too) , and drilling / plasma cutting a hole in the frame for the (factory 79 4x4) shackle pivot. This is easy to measure, with little effort, and offers great, clean factory looking results.

 

is that why all the older trucks are setup like this?

-cutts-

 

I thought the same thing at first, but I think he means having the "frame" mounted bushing mounted on the bottom of the frame rail instead of "in the middle" of the frame, like my 79 250 4x4.

 

ok i got all the stuff i need to do a factory shackel in the rear i just figured it would be difficult to measure for it. i have a 83 4wd 250 i was lookin at last night and the front springs mount the opposite as the 79. on the 83 the shackle is in the front and the springs mount solid under the cab mount as the front frame rails on my 79 are open the same as the 83 i figure the 83 system would work and with much less fab work. it takes a shackle that is similar to the rear end shackle. it has a bolt trhough bracket on the front. with a seperate piece rivited to the frame holding the shackle. anyone familiar with this setup and would it be strong enough with the shackle on the front?

 

With the shackle in the front it'll ride alot rougher than the other way.....don't do it.

There are kits to convert the 80-98 250-350 trucks to the rear shackle type, no kits for other trucks to go the other way.

Put the shackle on the "south end" where it belongs.

 

ok so i have no idea what im gonna do right now this is all looking complicated i read last night of another way to do the conversion so im gonna start a new thread and see what happens

 

lol man whats complicated about it? its just some measuring and patience!

what can we help you with?

-cutts-

 

I agree with cutts here. Nothing tough about it. Patience is the hardest thing to find. Heak they even make those silly tape measures that have all of the written increments for those that can't read a real tape. That cracks me up! LOL.

 

well the front of my frame is the same as the highboy. it has the mount holes for the spring mount braket in the front that goes all the way across but i cant seem to find that mount. if i could get it the only thing that is holin me up is shacle placement. im just worried i wont get the holes in the right place and itll be out of line