I agree 100% and believe that we share similar thoughts on this.

 

Will stock 99-04 SD springs create any lift? I don't want to go big, just want to see the dentist less.


Sorry but here is my take on the Highboy name.

To me this is a Highboy:


My wife's Highboy


This is not a Highboy it is a 76 F250, plain and simple. But it is a Dentside.

 

This is a very loaded question with many variables:

Which 99-04 SD springs would you be using? Many different codes and rates were available. Which year truck would they be going on? Probably would not see any lift or any values from using any stock SD front leaf, and if they were used under a 73 to 77 F250, they might actually lower the truck or rest right on the bumpstops.
Fresh stock leafs do not ride all that bad, they ride rough after years of fatigue, and cheap fixes. Add-a-leafs, or salvage yard repairs can create an ultra stiff leaf pack.

 

Exactly why can the first two be refered to as 'highboys" and the third one can't? They're both just affectionate, descriptive, unofficial nicknames for specific models of each particular item, probably going through the same stages of origin, common usage and acceptance as the nickname given to the 73-77 F250 4WD. Why can't we use it for our trucks? And if there are two, why can't there be three or four or even a hundred? It's not hard to know when a person is refering to which one. On this forum for instance we can pretty much be guaranteed that no one is going to be asking for furniture repair advise. No confusion there.

And by your reasoning the first can be called merely a 32 Ford roadster and the second just a dresser drawer.

 

I have been thinking about re arching my springs to get my Hiboy standing tall again... I was also thinking of geting 4' of lift out of the rear springs and getting rid of the axle twist blocks that are in the back of the Hiboy...

IMO the Hiboy as is looks almost perfect at factory hight with 35" tires they fill the wheel well nicely and the truck has a nice well rounded look...

As far as articulation goes...



You tell me this is stock with 35's....

 

Oh almost forgot even with the 30+ year old springs I hauled a 4600 lb gun safe with only 3" of suspention drop...

 

thanks f320, how big of a tire can I run stock-no rub?

 

You asking about a bone stock truck?
Stock 73 to 77 trucks with fresh springs can fit narrow 37's, but i beleieve that they will rub when fully articulated, so 35's are safe.
77.5 to 79 trucks require some lift to clear the same 35" tires.

 

I've re-read the bulk of this thread, and feel I need to back up a step - and take my hat off to 75F350 for the modufab work he's done with the newer springs. This thread is definitely good for a FAQ sticky, etc.

I'm curious as to whether or not that spring swap from the SD by necessity adds lift to the front. I realize they're longer and have to avoid hitting the rails.

Mounting the extended cab on my truck required a 4" lifted front clip and box, and I'm not looking to make the rig much taller than it already is with 30" tires.

Running more weight to the rear and using the lighter Big Six for power let's my truck handle ridiculously well. It was a benefit I didn't consider when I did the swap. This thing takes highway off ramps with any 1/2 ton, and responds very well for a 5800 lb truck.

-but having said that-

The truck currently uses 7 springs up front, all with tapered diamond edge, and decent sizing. It handles the plow gear like a champ, front end doesn't drop at all.

I'm wondering if I'd benefit from at least the front SD swap, if not for lift and off road capabilities, but just for a better ride when empty? A straight axle is a straight axle....

 

If you have or are having good luck with your current set up then I might be afraid to mess with success. Sounds like you have a good thing going.
My motivation behind the SD spring was because I could not get a kit to conform to my specs, and custom leaf builders wanted to build things their way, and not mine. After careful consideration, I found what I was looking for with regards to dimensions and spring rates. With little understanding at the time, curiosity got the better of me, and after a couple years of practice, I have found some combonations that are effective.
Mostly luck really.
Unortunately, much of this was just trial and error. Yes there was some error, but most of the bugs are worked out. Now, if variables deviate from my combo, then I really have zero data, and cant say whether a particular combo will bring the same success or not.
I recieve many PM's almost daily, asking about stock leafs, and V codes, X codes, etc, and to be honest, I have no idea. This would once again take some trial and error.
I have offered services to anyone in my area that is willing to try. I even have stock V code springs, but no one with a stock truck that would be willing to try.
Until we can actually install more springs, and undoubtedly make mistakes, we cant learn. So I share what little knowledge that I have.
Fortunately, my truck drives very well, and works extremely well off road. I can still tow with very good stability, and the truck does not roll too bad for such a soft suspension.
The springs are starting to go away up front, so it might be time to start all over again, lol.
These old trucks are fun to work on, and sometimes good old experimentation can be a positive thing.

 

So i want to run 4" SD front springs but do i need to modify my front shackle to make it fit properly or can a move the rear one. Will i still get my four inches of lift if i don't modify the shackle. Just trying to get things straight before i comit.

 

im gunna put in the 4in SD spring too. im making a drop bracket in the front (drops about 2") and makin longer shackles probably 6-6.25. ill guess and check and see what works out. im hopin to get around 5-6" lift out of it. nothin to huge. for the rear im gunna go the shackle flip usin the stock front rear hanger and see where that leaves me.

 

I have a 74 Highboy, and am having a local shop do a few things to it, such as put a Skyjacker 4" lift on it. The description says the ride is softer, so the design is probably more modern than stock, and hopefully because it's a kit designed for this, easy to put on.

They say you can put 37's or possibly 38's on with the factory suspension, but of course this also depends on the width of the new tire, and the backspacing of the wheel. With my 4" lift, I'm only putting 37x12.5x16 Super Swamper TSL's on it (I saw a pic online somewhere of a highboy with 4" lift and 38x12.5's like you're talking, and think that's what I should have chosen). I probably could fit much taller on there, but I'll start with this because I don't want to prevent full suspension articulation.

I'm also doing other things at the same time (can anyone say...credit card!), and swapping the front low-pinion D44 for a 79 D60, and the rear D60 for a 14 bolt, crossover steering, as well as a few other things.

I always like 75F350's threads, and I'm pretty new to these trucks, but my advice is get a Skyjacker 4" lift kit. At least you don't have to try to figure out how to make it work on the spot, but can just bolt up the parts...and it is supposed to ride better. That's my 2 cents. Cheers.

 

So did the skyjacker kit actually lift your truck? I heard that the 4" lift basically just replaced all the factory stuff and kept the truck at the stock ride height.

I'm interested in knowing how that went and what it looks like.

 

I'd like to know too. The shop that's doing the work is going at a really slow pace, which is good for both of us...I pay only a little at a time, making it easier for me. I expect it to be put together in December.

I wish I could find the link, but there was a picture on here somewhere of someone who put the same Skyjacker kit on their high boy, and it lifted it 4", so I hope that's what happens. If not, I like the stock high boy ride height, and just want the tires not to interfere with steering. We'll see...