Here is the scoop

I just bought a 1978 F100 Ranger 2wd a few weeks ago. The previous owner put a Procomp 3" lift on the front or so it seems. The springs are blue and the shocks are white with blue boots. No identifiable parts numbers i can find so that's my best guess. Its running 31" BFGs on it right now. Its got that "California rake" higher in the front than the back.

My plan is to get back to stock height or slightly lower as cheaply as possible. Ive found stock springs in the boneyard so right that seems to be the best bet.

Are there any ways to maybe do a 2/3 drop without spending a ton of money is my first question. I am planning to eventually buy some 18" wheels and decent street tires with better than that "rubberband" style sidewalls. Its still a truck and some times curbs get in the way hehe

If i use the stock springs and get back to original ride height can i still use the 31"s without rubbing is my second question. The reason I ask that is I can't buy the 18"ers and street tires just yet. I have to keep the 31s seeing as how thats all I have for now.

I'm trying to plan this evolution in chronological order to spend the least amount of $ with as little as possible "trial and error" type stuff.

This doesnt seem to overly complicated but I dont have any truck driving friends to bounce ideas and plans off of.

I know I can count on y'all, the forum has never let me down!

 

*BUMP* If I get the cast of my hand by this weekend; I'll be getting this truck a little lower to Earth one way or another. But these are some vital questions my friends. Here at Camp Pendleton they've got a real nice auto hobby shop so it is no prob for me. I need to get lower before the stroker goes in! Any suggestions is greatly appreciated

 

Man you picked the wrong truck to lower on the cheap. The I beams are a pain because once you alter the height in any way you have camber issues out the ...you know. Good thing is there is aftermarket parts available to do it right, but they are a lil costly. My opinion is to put it back to stock height for now, so it will still drive right, then buy your wheels and tires, THEN lower it to what you want. I did a bag job before on an S-10 and set it up for the stock size wheels, now I decided I want to tuck 22"s so now it all gets thrown out the window and I have to do it all over again. What I'm saying is get the rims first so you only have to lower the truck once. Then again if you put a set of 18"s on it with even a 50 series tire it will lower the truck some right there. Heck you could run 22"s and it would still lower it some...thatd be sweet. The diameter of a 22" wheel with a 30 series tire comes out somewhere around a 28 or 29" tall tire. I say go 20"s and still be plenty streetable.

 

Thanks bMark. I really appreciate it. I know there has got to be tons of 2wd lowering threads but none of them really touched on the fact that my truck has a lift on it with these larger offroad tires as of right now. I definately don't want to "slam" it at all. Just a little lower or stock. Either is fine with me.

I can't afford the nice 18" wheels and street tires just yet so I have to make due with the 31s. That is why I'm posing these questions.

When I bring the truck back to the stock ride height will I still be able to use the 31s until I'm ready for the big wheels and street tires?

I want to remove the lift springs and shocks now to attain a lower stance(stock is totally fine) and still be able to use the 31" BFGs until my bank account says its okay to go get some nice street wheels and tires.

 

Yeah you should be able to get away with it. My dads old '74 F-100 2wd had 31"s on it with stock suspension. And if they do rub a lil at full turn it wont hurt anything as long as its not something sharp/ pointy that will physically cut the tire. Out of the 12 cars/trucks I've owned in my life, only one didn't rub something somewhere at full turn left or right.