Will stock SuperDuty springs give my Highboy a lift? If so how much? What is the benefit of using these springs, better ride? Cheap? I need around 2" of lift on my '71 F250, will these do it? I heard about this in a round about way. Has it been done? What is the deal?

 

A stock SD spring is a neg arch spring. Installing a neg arch spring will not lift your truck your truck.
How does the 71 front spring differ from the 73 to 77.5 f250's?

 

The pickup is actually on a mid'70s frame, the wheel base is 2" too long for the body. So I would have to use some SD lift springs to lift it then?

 

I see, we are actually talking about a 73-77.5 frame. I remeber your truck now Scott.
You will have to use some sort of lift spring. Anything over a leveling kit will provide lift. Should look into 4 inches or more. Couple of things you need to know. The stock highboy hangers will not accomodate the military wrap leaf found on a Sd spring pack. Option, remove the second leaf so it fits, or install a later model hanger, or even use a SD aftermarket hanger. Using the aftermarket hanger will mean that you do not have to modify the spring bushing to fit. Use of the later model hanger will require some frame modification. When I installed the SD springs on my truck(s) I just removed the military wrap leaf. Allowd almost a full inch of additional flex.
How high do you want to go? what tire do you want to fit?
In my gallery is a pic of the 74 (not 75, look identical though) with a BDS 6 inch front spring. Actually had to remove one additional leaf to bring it down a little. It was too tall, but it clears 39.5" boggers, and uses every bit of a 14" stroke shock using custom mounts. Top of the shock mounts way up in the fender, as high as it can go.
Pm me if you need additional pics.

 

I just want to run 35"-ish tires, I think it needs to sit a bit higher than it does now just to look the part of a highboy (for some reason I remember them sitting higher than this in the memories I have coveting the ones I saw as child). It would also need to be taller to clear the taller tires when turning, the 285/75/16s that are on it now rub. I mostly want the smoother ride, if that is one of the pro's of the swap. That thing is pretty stiff compared to my shortbox coil sprung '69 morphadite w a 4" superlift on it.

What did you do for power steering?

 

what superduty spring are you talking about? no they are pos arch... i have 2 sets at the shop. now my OBS front springs are neg arch.

they will not bolt in. you will have to move the mounts around and your center pin will push your front axle forward an inch or so.

you might gain an inch or two of lift but it depends on the condition of your current springs.

and i cant remember but i believe the front springs on the highboys are 2.5" wide... the SD springs are 3"

i bet you could run 35's now with no lift! i have known folks to do it with no problems!

-cutts-

 

Highboy front springs are 3" wide. The rear springs are 2.5". I have 2 set layin in the yard. I agree fishy he should be able to run 35s no prob. The only thing he might be worried about is cause the frame is longer then the body. Maybe fenderwell issues?

 

Man fish, I dunno what springs you have laying around but mine are flat as can be, without weight on them. Heak an aftermarket 2.5" leveling kit barely has any arch to them. regardless the stock HB spring is a little more arch than the 2.5 inch super duty spring anyway, so a stock one will not provide any lift for a 73-77.5 truck.

 

huh... strange. i have 2 sets one set of v-codes from a 2002 F250 and the other is a set of x-codes from 2003 Expedition. both have pos arch.... no they arent pos by a whole lot, but they sure arent flat

-cutts-

 

The tires rub on the steering arm and are awfully close to the front of the fender. The '67-'72 body has smaller wheel-well openings than the later '73-79 body. That is why I don't believe they will fit. I just want a couple of inches and a smoother ride.

 

We moved the bed back one inch on it, but the real issue is in the front. There isn't much room. If Scott used less backspacing, then it would probably rub the fenders, unless the tires were really narrow.

Are the SD springs softer riding than the TTB era springs?

 

yes they are softer... the TTB era springs are thicker to help battle the twisting force that the TTB applies when the suspension cycles.

-cutts-

 

Gotta stay away from that TTB stuff, not sure about the engineer behind that one. New trucks shouldn't go down the road at an angle like it is in a drift.

Got the parts this weekend to put the ram assist power steering on it, got them for free, only way they are worth it. Just for temporary till I can scrounge the parts for a cross-over setup.

 

They are parabolic... (meaning with the weight of the vehicle they are supposed to sit almost flat).

As I am sure you gents know full well, it is to get almost no shackle movement over highway bumps, and no longditudal axle movement...

 

i have a 73 f250 highboy and i have a set of 2000 superduty 6'' front springs does anyone know what i will have to do in order to use these, i know i will have to do som fab work but i dont know exactlyand what size rear springs i will have to use in order to match the front or even just come close.