Hello all. I am attempting to lift my 76 highboy. The problem I have come across is that no one seems to make lifts for my truck. The thing everyone keeps telling me is that I need to rework my steering box. I had thought about converting to full power steering but I want to keep the truck as close to stock as possible. If anyone knows of a way to lift with out screwing with the steering box and such please let me know. Thanks

 

Welcome to the site;

Lifts for these trucks are almost the same from year to year. The later 77.5 to 79 trucks use the same front springs, but the rear springs are wider on the later trucks. The lift numbers are not quite the same, but the kits can be used.
There are several kits available for early trucks however.
You made mention that you want to keep the truck stock, but you are also lifting it. Modifying the truck by kifting it does require some additional upgrdes. You steeriing box itself is not such a concern, but the drag link that contains the control valve does become an issue. Depending on how high you decide to lift the truck this link will be a little short. This means that the turning radius will be limited, and the angle of the arm will be greatly increased. This additional angle tends to bind the steering, and often results in bumpsteer.
The fix is to lift the steering arm on the knuckle itself.
Converting to power steering is probably not the fix for this if you decide to keep the "push / pull system". The push pull system is part of the problem here, aand converting to power steering does little to solve the related problems associated with this style steering design. The real fix is to convert to a crossover style steering. This style will connect the steering box to the pass side steering knuckle, and eliminates many of the steering issues related to lifted trucks.
This is a fairly dedicated upgrade, and will require some fabrication.
You can run a fairly good sized tire under your truck with minimal modifications. How high do you want to go?
Here are a few pics of a saginaw power steering conversion, and crossover steering using a Dana 60 front axle in a 74 F250. In thse pics you will also see the use of 8" super duty front springs to obtain enough lift to clear 39.5" tires. Should clear up a few questions
Image of saginaw power steering conversion - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

 

I am wanting to clear 39.5 tires, depending on how much lift is needed, will do. I am currently running 35 at stock height. I have a 79 f-150 donor and one thought i had was to swap front ends then just put the 3/4 ton knuckles on the half-ton front end, and swap over the drag links and steering components. The 79 has a 3" suspension lift that i thought i could just carry over to the 76. But if its compatable after the front end swap im not sure. Any thoughts? What is the easiest way to lift the steering arm on the knuckle? Im looking to lift without too much fab work, but if some is needed then can do. But trying to avoid if at all possible.

 

but doesn't a highboy have a stock 4 inch lift to start with hence the name highboy? I saw an 89 F250 with a 4 inch lift running 44's

 

Technically yes, but Ford didnt make highboys in 89. There is no possible way i can run 44's on a stock highboy. Thanks for the "help"

 

You really have to look at the differences between the 1/2 ton and the 3/4 ton suspension. You will aslo have to look at the steering. Your 76 uses a push / pull design, and the F150 uses an inverted "T". These use entirely different steering boxes.
While we are on the subject of different stuff, we should mention that the F250 uses leaf springs and the F150 uses coils. While the swap could be pretty cool, it would be really veryy difficult.
If you attempt to try to clear the inverted "T" steering on the leaf sprung truck, know that the drag link will try to hit the pass side leaf spring during full lock right turns. This will be a problem only after you swap out the boxes. The F150 box will also have some clearance issues with the driver side spring. Since this box's pitman arm faces foward, it will have to placed very far back to permit the swing of the arm.
Tires that size are not that easy to fit properly.
I have had to run 8" BDS Super Duty springs in the front of my 74 to clear 39.5" tires.

 

Highboy stock 4" lift? I thought that was the factory height, 4" lift would assume that it was taller than a standard F250 4x...........

 

Are you running rear springs in the front? The only BDS springs i can find are for half-ton and only go up to 6". Thanks again for the help.

 

Front springs belong in the front.
We should try to resolve many questions here. There is a giant misconception that early trucks have a 4 inch lift kit from the factory, and this is not true. This is simply the factory heigth, and nothing more. Any lift figures from this baseline is just this,,,,, a baseline.
A lift kit designed for an early truck that states 4 inches of lift will only net 4 inches over stock heigth. Thats why they advertise 4 inches of lift. Too many guys try to exadurate figures because there is a lift block (from the factory) and try to imagine that because this truck sits taller than another, might be something special, and all of a sudden start to add all of the imaginary lift numbers together and achieve a truck with 14 or 16 inches of lift with 35 inch tires.
Scott, made it pretty clear back in reply #7 that stock trucks were just that, stock. Anything above and beyond this heigth would only be equal to the amount that the truck increased in heigth, not the overall value that makes an owner feel better.
As an example:
Many guys get great pleasure in thier statement that they have 20 inches of lift, and have decent clearance for 40 inch tires.
I would suppose that between the 4 inch block, and the additional 2 or three incher that a particular kit came with, combined with a little larger tire diameter, might equal the lift figure. I am also confident that these inflated numbers are far too often created to make owners feel better.
Seems like guys trying to create a bragging advantage by having bigger lift numbers.

76High:
I left a link to my photobucket. The pics should show you front SD springs with part numbers, and a decent explaination of how to fit these under your truck. You can refer back to post #2, and cruise the pics.

 

76High......Check Skyjacker...they still carry a 4" kit for the "High Boys",that's the biggest over the counter lift you're going to find without going to custom leafs!
A 4" suspension kit and a 3" body lift will give plenty of clearance for 39's......that's what I ran on my old 76 F250 and I never had the tires touch the fenders,and I jumped everything I could find !!LOL

And what 75F350 was referring to was that the 99-2003(or 2004?) SD front springs WILL fit the older F250 and 350's.



75F350........some of us DON'T have to "brag" !!

 

Not sure if it makes any difference to y'all but I am lifting the 75 Highboy and if you are looking for springs I can vouch for a company in Michigan (Grand Rapids) called AB Spring. I ordered 10 inch lift springs for my truck and all points and purposes I come in at $200.00 per spring. These guys are a lot cheaper than buying a whole kit and you get the room you need. You don't get stuck with shocks from a one option kit or alternatives. If you would like more info let me know.

 

As far as the steering. Using a steering block on the drivers side knuckle will help if you retain the stock steering. Otherwise if you want to run an integral type box (which I am working on for my 76 Crew) consider using a crossover type steering from Sky Manufacturing. I'm using a 78 F150 4X4 box with 80-96 internals (which allows the pitman arm to point backwards). Of course some modifications to the frame are required. Good luck!

 

Please let me know what you know about this company. Website? Thanks

 

Bumping this thread just so you know that I searched, lol.

I recently inherited a 74 F250 (high boy) 4x4 and wanted to fit 35's or possibly 37's on it. Wondering how exactly I would go about doing so. I've seen some lifts, but am confused as to what they contain? Are they only rear blocks?

Do you all swap springs from earlier model trucks? What mods are required for this?

 

35x12.5s will fit with the stock height. Some can get away with 37s but its hit or miss. Usually if you want to go over 35s, you'll have to lift it. So knowing this do you still want to know about the lifts? It's a lot to type...lol

Oh and welcome to FTE! Always good to have another Texan around.