BTDT too. :)
I cut my original "rubber bumpers" down to about half their height.
Mine rarely "tops out" since I have the heaviest Ford springs I could find.

Ford put a heavier spring on the passenger side because the engine ain't in the center,
it sits over to that side a little bit. (did you know-ed that already? ;)

Also added some spacers to make up for the "old spring sag" which put the suspension
into Ford's "ride height spec"...

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/spacer1.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/spacer2.jpg

I like modifying/fiddling with stuff. ;)
The gears are from two air cooled VW transmissions.
The ones on the ground are a pair very similar to the ones I put under my springs,
just a ~1/8" thinner is all.

The sorry sucker was -never- straight! :/
(bought the pickup new)

The driver's side was always lower so I got another set of springs and used the heavier spring
from the set so they are both the same size springs now. Straightened the sucker right up!
And has remained straight after a few years. Believe it?

Anyone can do the same.
Check yours for being "square with the ground".

-------------

This is how I mounted my Rancho damper, it also shows my modified lower shock mount...

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/damper&shock.jpg

Cool post, Ken. :)

Also never thought I'd find a "pickup lowering" thread cool. ;)

Alvin in AZ

 

thats great alvin, just goes to show the old shade tree ingenuity. JNT

 

This is how I mounted my Rancho damper, it also shows my modified lower shock mount...

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/damper&shock.jpg

Alvin In AZ

Can I ask you to explain a little more what you did with the Rancho Damper and shock mount

 

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/damper&shock.jpg

I had bought some very clunky hardware to mount the Rancho steering
damper but couldn't bring myself to install any of that crap! :/

So, did it my way. :)
And returned that crap. :)

That picture shows where I drilled a 9/16" hole in the radius arm and simply
mounted the damper. What could be easier or better than that one? :)

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/damper.jpg
(should of cleaned the power steering oil off before taking the picture huh?)

The tricky part was mounting the other end to the tie rod.
I welded mine... but only along the top and bottom of the fixture.
(the way a fish plate is welded to a frame)
It's made from junk steel I had.

For a couple years it was only fastened to the tie rod with two screw-type
hose clamps and never gave me any trouble but I wanted it welded.

The cool trick to making the fixture is to weld the ear (with the hole in it)
to a whole piece of 1" black pipe and only when you are satisfied, slice it
open so it can be put on the tie rod.

I'm not recommending the second one.
Especially welding it in place.
One thing about it no longer being adjustable is there is a limited amount of
travel in the damper and it's tricky to get it to not "bottom out" on either end.

My particular steering setup has more travel than yours because I modified
that too. My 4x2 133" F150 steers sharper than new. ;)

I better not go into those modifications here, those are for the owner to figure
out for themselves. You can do it. This dumb guy did it, you can too. ;)

Alvin in AZ