Reverse Shackle Lift ???
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Senior User
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From: Colorful Colorado
Reverse Shackle Lift ???
Good afternoon!
Just a quick question. I ran across an earlier thread where someone suggested buying a reverse shackle kit from Sky Manufacturing in Oregon. The kit is $135.00 plus $15.00 shipping...but they (Sky Man) say that it would not work on my 1977 F-150 4x4 that was made in 10/76...because the frame is different then on the 1978-on trucks, something about having to weld an additional spacer. measure, algebra, geometry--blah blah....
I looked through the forum but could not find a direct answer to the difference in frame sizes...but anyway
My Question is why would any of us spend $150 on new hangers when we could just flip the OEM hangers we got for about $5 in new bolts? Is there advantages or disadvantages to getting the kit? Any advise or opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks for your time,
Grizz
Just a quick question. I ran across an earlier thread where someone suggested buying a reverse shackle kit from Sky Manufacturing in Oregon. The kit is $135.00 plus $15.00 shipping...but they (Sky Man) say that it would not work on my 1977 F-150 4x4 that was made in 10/76...because the frame is different then on the 1978-on trucks, something about having to weld an additional spacer. measure, algebra, geometry--blah blah....
I looked through the forum but could not find a direct answer to the difference in frame sizes...but anyway
My Question is why would any of us spend $150 on new hangers when we could just flip the OEM hangers we got for about $5 in new bolts? Is there advantages or disadvantages to getting the kit? Any advise or opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks for your time,
Grizz
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From: Quesnel, BC, Canada
sky RSKs are for 86-97 F350s that have a solid axle and front shackle. Can be fitF250s with TTB in conjunction with pivot drops.
You have a coil sprung front end. No shackles in it. Now If you mean shackle flip kit for the rear then as long as the opening for the spring is a hair over 3" then it will work fine, you just have to make sure the spacing, left side to right side, is the same as the front side of the rear springs. Make sense?.....and IF you are infact talking about the rear you can flip the shackle brackets you have but you might not necessarily get as much lift as the sky kit.
You have a coil sprung front end. No shackles in it. Now If you mean shackle flip kit for the rear then as long as the opening for the spring is a hair over 3" then it will work fine, you just have to make sure the spacing, left side to right side, is the same as the front side of the rear springs. Make sense?.....and IF you are infact talking about the rear you can flip the shackle brackets you have but you might not necessarily get as much lift as the sky kit.
Posting Guru
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From: Quesnel, BC, Canada
ok so its a shackle flip....you can flip the shackle brackets on your truck, just grind the heads off the rivets, pound em out, flip em, install grade 8 hardware. Youll get about 3" lift.
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From: Murray
Just remeber to make sure nothing will hit after you do the flip by compressing each side w/ a floor jack... if you decide to do it...pud is right....you can flip them yourself but always make sure you have the bolts torqued down nice and tight.
-Chris
-Chris
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From: Colorful Colorado
Dennis,
the website states all ford trucks 1978-?
I called and spoke to them yesterday and did confirm that it is for F-150's and Broncos...
3" is all I am really looking for, I have been kind of disappointed with the selection out there and the prices for what you get. I am not interested in blocks in the rear, no interested in adding a leaf, I figure with 4" coils in front, new shocks I can get a 3-" inch lift for about $200
http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/ford1.htm
is the site for the RSK, the one for $135
the website states all ford trucks 1978-?
I called and spoke to them yesterday and did confirm that it is for F-150's and Broncos...
3" is all I am really looking for, I have been kind of disappointed with the selection out there and the prices for what you get. I am not interested in blocks in the rear, no interested in adding a leaf, I figure with 4" coils in front, new shocks I can get a 3-" inch lift for about $200
http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/ford1.htm
is the site for the RSK, the one for $135
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Must be a frame measurement application then.
I thought only the pre 77.5 F250 4x4's were a narrower frame ..not the F150's.
I thought only the pre 77.5 F250 4x4's were a narrower frame ..not the F150's.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: La Crosse, WI
I just did the sky shackle kit on my 79' F150. I have also done the stock shackle flip to it prior to the sky brackets. I have also done the shackel flip in the rear of my 79 F350 CC with the stock parts.
The stock bracket flip will not lift your truck all that much, maybe 2~3" max. It's a lot of work for that amount of lift if you ask me. That is why I went with Sky because their bracket puts your leaf eyelet far below your frame for a VERY aggressive lift. The brackets from them did require a tiny bit of ginding to clear my bumper but otherwise they were fantastic build quality. They are 10lbs each and very stout.
Sky is quite backordered on the brackets right now so unless you wanna pay for next day air they take 2~3 weeks to get. I paid the extra money, I am much too impatient.
I have included some pictures for you so that you can see the new position of the leaf springs. You will also have to set your driveline angle after the flip.
stock shackle position:
stock shackle flipped and moved forward:
Hope this helps, enjoy
and the install of sky's kit:
Hope this helps!!
The stock bracket flip will not lift your truck all that much, maybe 2~3" max. It's a lot of work for that amount of lift if you ask me. That is why I went with Sky because their bracket puts your leaf eyelet far below your frame for a VERY aggressive lift. The brackets from them did require a tiny bit of ginding to clear my bumper but otherwise they were fantastic build quality. They are 10lbs each and very stout.
Sky is quite backordered on the brackets right now so unless you wanna pay for next day air they take 2~3 weeks to get. I paid the extra money, I am much too impatient.
I have included some pictures for you so that you can see the new position of the leaf springs. You will also have to set your driveline angle after the flip.
stock shackle position:
stock shackle flipped and moved forward:
Hope this helps, enjoy
and the install of sky's kit:
Hope this helps!!
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From: Colorful Colorado
hey Mark,
Do you have more pictures of your fab work? Side views, off the truck, etc..etc
KAO--thanks for the pictures, much more helpful than some of the other images I have seen.
Do you have more pictures of your fab work? Side views, off the truck, etc..etc
KAO--thanks for the pictures, much more helpful than some of the other images I have seen.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
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From: Louisiana
The sky kit will give you 3" lift... They claim 4.5", but it's only 3"
If you use the stock shackle and flip(shackle flip)it, then you'll get 3" also.
I hate blocks, but used 3" blocks on my 79 only b/c I didn't want to drop my gas tank, b/c it's the big 33 gallon tank with skid plates and I didn't have room to do it unless the tank was out the way.
You shouldn't have that problem, so do the shackle flip.
If you use the stock shackle and flip(shackle flip)it, then you'll get 3" also.
I hate blocks, but used 3" blocks on my 79 only b/c I didn't want to drop my gas tank, b/c it's the big 33 gallon tank with skid plates and I didn't have room to do it unless the tank was out the way.
You shouldn't have that problem, so do the shackle flip.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,483
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From: Tulare U.S.A.
I have the same sky kit and I have a 74 F100 4x4 and the kit will fit. I havent put it on yet but I have checked it and Im sure it will fit. I also have a 73 F250 Highboy and it wont fit that. The diffrence is not just the narrower frame on the F250 pre 77&1/2 but the springs were narrower.
Heres what you need to do if youer not sure if the sky kit will fit, go and mesure your sprimg width if its three inches your good their. If its two and a half inches it wont fit. Then measure your frame width if its 37 or 38 inches (Icant remember which) to the outside of the frame rails at the rear bumper the kit will fit. If your frame is like 34 inches it wont fit.
Leadmic
Heres what you need to do if youer not sure if the sky kit will fit, go and mesure your sprimg width if its three inches your good their. If its two and a half inches it wont fit. Then measure your frame width if its 37 or 38 inches (Icant remember which) to the outside of the frame rails at the rear bumper the kit will fit. If your frame is like 34 inches it wont fit.
Leadmic
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 516
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From: La Crosse, WI
Originally Posted by MBBFord
The sky kit will give you 3" lift... They claim 4.5", but it's only 3"
If you use the stock shackle and flip(shackle flip)it, then you'll get 3" also.
I hate blocks, but used 3" blocks on my 79 only b/c I didn't want to drop my gas tank, b/c it's the big 33 gallon tank with skid plates and I didn't have room to do it unless the tank was out the way.
You shouldn't have that problem, so do the shackle flip.
If you use the stock shackle and flip(shackle flip)it, then you'll get 3" also.
I hate blocks, but used 3" blocks on my 79 only b/c I didn't want to drop my gas tank, b/c it's the big 33 gallon tank with skid plates and I didn't have room to do it unless the tank was out the way.
You shouldn't have that problem, so do the shackle flip.
I suppose everyones truck is different but I got waaaay more out of the sky kit than th stock shackle flip. I just did both lifts, stock first and wasn't happy with the 2.5~3" of lift I got out of it....soooo on the same truck I put on skys kit and got at least an additional 3" on top of the stock lift. Got so much more in fact that I had to dissconnect my rear brake line and get a longer flex hose. I also now need 26" shocks at ride height.
So now my F150 has a pretty good rake I need to level out the front.....I think I am going to get Cage's new lift with progressive coils.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
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From: Louisiana
Thanks!
Wow, I've talked to a couple of people that did the sky kit, and they said they only got 3"(don't know what they did different)....
How much does cage won't for those progressive coils?
Saw them in last issue of 4wheeler or Peterson's...
IF you get them, let us know how they perform.
Wow, I've talked to a couple of people that did the sky kit, and they said they only got 3"(don't know what they did different)....
How much does cage won't for those progressive coils?
Saw them in last issue of 4wheeler or Peterson's...
IF you get them, let us know how they perform.