When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Im looking into lifting my flareside a little more from a 4" lift to a 6" lift. Im going to be using Deaver Superflex 6" coils up front, and in the rear I already have a Sky-Manf. shackle flip in the rear that gives 4.5" of lift with stock springs but instead of the stock leaf block, i reversed a 4" lift block and installed that instead. Im looking at a few rear-leaf options to go with the shackle flip:
1) Go with Skyjacker 2" lift springs and shave off 1/2" from the lift block to give me a solid 6" of lift
2) Remove shackle flip and buy 6" Deaver Superflex 10-leaf spring pack.
3) Keep Shackle flip and buy 4" Deaver 10-leaf pack and shave 2.5" off of the lift block for a solid 6" of total lift.
Has anyone ran deaver products? How well do they work off-road and what is the ride like?
I vote for option 2, as I agree with doing everything possible to eliminate the lift blocks - factory or not. In fact I am running lift springs on my 74 crew to try and keep the stock ride height, yet eliminate the factory blocks.
Going all leaf with no block won't totally eliminate chances of axle wrap - but it will greatly reduce them. Shock placement can help in this aspect as well...
Ive already got 4-6" Russel extended brake lines, and I have access to a guy who can make me a driveshaft. I think im going to try and get the 6" leafs and make that work out for me. Il be putting this stuff in after the rest of the truck is done, I can live with the 4" lift for now.
I live about 20 miles from Deaver's shop and I've been dealing with them for about 15 years. I've always had good experiences with them. Most recently I bought 2 pairs of leaf springs for my '75 Highboy when I rebuilt it after the big wreck. On the back I used their F79 springs which is a 6" lift pack for a '97 to '05 F150. They're awsome. With a shackle filp I eliminated the factory blocks and gained plenty of height. They are 6" longer than my stock springs were behind the axle so I had to move the rear shackles back. They flex and ride great, I highly recomend them. I also had to fabricate new hangers because the military wrap wouldn't fit in the old ones so I dropped them 3" below the frame in the process. I believe the '70's F150's already have the below the frame. My front springs were custom made to match and kick *** also. You can't go wrong with Deaver and Jeff at the shop is a wealth of info and always willing to help.
Got any pics of that setup? I didn't know the newer Fords went to that much of a longer spring. I was planning on using the deavers for a chevy (64" springs) for the additional spring length on mine.
I don't plan on doing a shackle flip on mine though, as I like the stock configuation better for ride height (lower ride height) and suspension droop reasons. In fact I planned on making custom shackles for the stock rear hanger so I can get an even lower ride height and more droop out of them...
Possibly something like this - but with a stronger drop hanger as I won't be double shearing the setup with the cage on the crew cab like this one shows
I don't have any pics right now but maybe I can work on it this weekend. I believe the new springs are 58" X 2.5" as opposed to the stock ones that were 52" X 2.25" and stiff as hell. We obviously have different objectives since I was going for height but the F79 is a nice, flexible spring that's under every late model F150 prerunner around here. A 64" spring sure would be nice though.
On the back I used their F79 springs which is a 6" lift pack for a '97 to '05 F150. They're awsome. With a shackle filp I eliminated the factory blocks and gained plenty of height.
How much height did you gain overall and do you think it was all from the shackle flip or the spring itself?
I am looking at doing springs on 2 trucks possibly. I will most likely be messing with chebby 64" springs on them, but for conversation sake and for the thread I'm open to looking at other springs and heights.
The 1st truck is my 74 crew cab 4wd (same ride height as a highboy). I am looking to eliminate the block by going to lift springs, but without raising the stock ride height - as the truck looks PERFECT on 35's stock. Maybe a 6" spring with a longer shackle (stock configuration - so longer shackle lowers it).
The 2nd truck would be a 2wd prerunner that I am contemplating building out of parts I have lying around. I'd want only a a small lift over stock on this one - so maybe a 4" lift leaf with a longer shackle (again stock configuration). This truck will also be on 35's
I didn't really gain much if any height from the springs. I got 3" from the shackles and hangers then ended up using a 1" block to level it. The springs were just right to allow me to eliminate the factory blocks. Check out my gallery, you'll see that it sits real nice over the 38.5's so the setup you're describing would probably work well with 35's. Keep in mind waht I said earlier about the military wrap not fitting the hangers. You're probably already dealing with that on the chebby springs since most Deavers are speced that way. Also the front eye on the F79's take an 18mm bolt which is not a very common size. I found them in stock at Mc Faddendale in Anaheim.
That is a nice looking truck you got there. A little high for my tast, but it does look good. I love the color!
below is the section...
Interseting steering setup as well. I have never seen a saginaw box set up like that. What did the bracket you used come off of?
Also - McFaddendale is good for most stuff like that. Also - if you don't feel like driving you can order it off of McMasterCarr.com and have it on your door step the next morning!!
Thanks, the height is partly what saved me in a head on with a honda on Ortega. As for the steering, the box and bracket are straight off an 80"s Dodge 4X4. Check for my name in another thread for details so as not to get to far .