Highboy springs
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
Highboy springs
I have read before that some members have swapped in highboy springs into the 78 or 9 frames. My question is what all needs to be changed other than the springs themselves, anything on the steering.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 330
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From: Newhall,CA
You'll probably be fine because it's only gonna lift in 2-3 inches. they recommend a drop drag link. My truck came with a 2 or 3 inch lift and it had one of these installed:
Skyjacker Suspensions SDL250 - Skyjacker Adjustable Drag Links - Overview - SummitRacing.com
When I lifted it 6 inches I added a drop pitman arm to the equation:
Skyjacker Suspensions FA325 - Skyjacker Pitman Arms - Overview - SummitRacing.com
I remember my drop pitman arm being about 92 bucks a few years back, so shop around you might find them cheaper than summit's $110.
You might be able to get away without some kind of steering mod. The pitman arm would just be operating at a non-favorable angle.
Skyjacker Suspensions SDL250 - Skyjacker Adjustable Drag Links - Overview - SummitRacing.com
When I lifted it 6 inches I added a drop pitman arm to the equation:
Skyjacker Suspensions FA325 - Skyjacker Pitman Arms - Overview - SummitRacing.com
I remember my drop pitman arm being about 92 bucks a few years back, so shop around you might find them cheaper than summit's $110.
You might be able to get away without some kind of steering mod. The pitman arm would just be operating at a non-favorable angle.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,261
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From: Big Sky Country
If you had a set of fresh NOS highboy springs they would net you about 4" of lift and you would definitely need a dropped pitman arm but a set of used highboy springs are only going to net you about 2" of lift (depending how beat they are) so you may get away without needing any steering mods.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
LOL I have over 400,000 miles on the springs in my highboy and it still sets up high and has a good stance and way over 300,000 of those miles it had a 6.9 setting in it.
But for this project I will likely have new ones built to the highboy specs.
But for this project I will likely have new ones built to the highboy specs.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 188
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From: South of Tucson
You'll probably be fine because it's only gonna lift in 2-3 inches. they recommend a drop drag link. My truck came with a 2 or 3 inch lift and it had one of these installed:
[url=http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SJA-SDL250/?rtype=10]Skyjacker Suspensions SDL250 - Skyjacker Adjustable Drag Links - Overview - SummitRacing.com
[url=http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SJA-SDL250/?rtype=10]Skyjacker Suspensions SDL250 - Skyjacker Adjustable Drag Links - Overview - SummitRacing.com
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Post Fiend
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From: Faibanks Ak.
Yea when my highboy was younger I ran a set of 37's on it. I would get a little rub when it was in a pretty good twist.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
Well I have never measured the difference, but my comepletly wore out highboy with a 6.9 and a heavy and a few hundred pounds in the bed sits higher than my 79 without a motor in it or a bed on it and it has new front springs. lol I was looking at the 79 today and don't have any faith in those springs handling a 6.9 at all.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Hattiesburg, MS
I would like to see these completely worn out springs. So far.....no one has been able to show me an original, un-modified, spring to support their claims of ride height. Every one has been modified....whether the owner knows it or not.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Big Sky Country
Approximately 4", certainly in the 3-4" range, as for the rear springs the pre 77.5's are 2.25" wide and the post 77.5's are 3" wide so as already mentioned the blocks will not interchange.
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Post Fiend
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From: Faibanks Ak.
Well I don't know that they are comepletly wore out, but it does ride smoother than it did 30 years ago,and has over 400,000 miles on it. And around here there are some that the original owners still own.