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Old Feb 12, 2010 | 10:22 AM
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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.
 
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Old Feb 12, 2010 | 12:09 PM
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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.
 
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Old Feb 12, 2010 | 12:35 PM
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From: Faibanks Ak.
Thanks I'm just getting my mind set on and an upcoming project.
 
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Old Feb 12, 2010 | 12:58 PM
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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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Old Feb 12, 2010 | 01:56 PM
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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.
 
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Old Feb 12, 2010 | 03:20 PM
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Even with 2" of spring "sag" highboys still set up pretty high and have a good stance, springs built to oem highboy specs will clear 37" tires.
 
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Old Feb 12, 2010 | 08:15 PM
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az4x4bronc
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Originally Posted by AirSmitty
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
Thanks for the low down on this. I just bought one on line. The drag link I have on my 77 F250 is stock and running at its limit.
 
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Old Feb 12, 2010 | 09:43 PM
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From: Faibanks Ak.
Originally Posted by montana_highboy
Even with 2" of spring "sag" highboys still set up pretty high and have a good stance, springs built to oem highboy specs will clear 37" tires.
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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Old Feb 12, 2010 | 10:57 PM
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so if i put new "highboy" springs on a 77.5-79 it will net approx 4"??? is this with the taller pre-77.5 blocks also or will the older blocks add more than the 4"????
 
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Old Feb 12, 2010 | 11:45 PM
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No....you'll only get 2 inches of lift. Everyone exaggerates. Nevermind the blocks, the rear springs do NOT interchange.
 
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Old Feb 13, 2010 | 12:06 AM
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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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Old Feb 13, 2010 | 12:17 AM
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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.
 
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Old Feb 13, 2010 | 12:57 AM
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From: Big Sky Country
Originally Posted by bewford
so if i put new "highboy" springs on a 77.5-79 it will net approx 4"??? is this with the taller pre-77.5 blocks also or will the older blocks add more than the 4"????
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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Old Feb 13, 2010 | 01:40 AM
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From: Faibanks Ak.
Originally Posted by HillbillyDeluxe81
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.
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.
 
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Old Feb 14, 2010 | 08:02 PM
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is the only problem with the pre 77.5 springs the width? what about eye the eye length? i have a set of 73-77.5 spring hangers and shackles can i just swap those over and use the pre 77.5 springs?
 
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