Lifting my 1979 F150 thread, with lots of pics
 

Hey guys/gals
I thought I would start this thread to show yall what I've been up to lately. Im lifting my truck by doing a shackle flip in the rear and getting 'like new' 2 inch lift coils for the front.

Truck stats:
1979 F150 Custom 4x4 swb
460
C6
Holley 4 barrel carbuerator
460 Performer high-rise intake manifold
Edelbrock air filter
Dual glasspack exhaust
30 inch tires
Dana 44 front axle
Ford 9 inch rear axle
3.50 gears

I bought the truck a couple months ago for $1300. She's my first 4x4.

Here's a list of things I've replaced:
new Tires
carb. rebuilt
thermostat
chrome thermostat housing
4 inch air filter
valve cover gaskets
new battery
power stearing pump
and p/s hoses
in-line fuel filter

I also got the oil pan gasket, transmission pan gasket, front and rear axle gaskets, but haven't gotten around to that yet.

Here are some pics that I've been taking over the past couple weeks to get ready for the lift..

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/12.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...N/100_0670.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/13.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/14.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/15.jpg

I just used a wire brush to get the surface rust off. Planning on either repairing the core support or getting one from a j/y.
http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/16.jpg

Next off is the fenders..
http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/18.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/19.jpg

Then the hood and inner fenders..
http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/20.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/21.jpg

Removed the A/C . I didn't have the compressor anyway.
I gotta weld the hole up.
http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/22.jpg

Then off came the bed. I'm still wire-wheeling the frame.
http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/23.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/25.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/26.jpg

Here's the before and after I partially wire wheeled the shackles just to see the condition of them..
http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...RDMAN/29-1.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...RDMAN/30-1.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/27.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...FORDMAN/28.jpg

That was yesterday. Today all I had time to do was get the rear wheels off and put her on jackstands. More pics to come as I make progress. I usually work on her everyday. Tomorrow I plan on dropping the tank and start cutting the rivets off holding the leafspring hangers on. Let me know what y'all think and if you ever see anything I'm doing wrong please let me know. :-drink

Only doing 2 inch springs in the front?


I've found taking a cut off wheel and cutting a "x" in the head and than cutting the remainder off with a air chizzel, and than use a puntch on the air chizzel, and knock out the rest of the rivet.

Thanks for the advice with the rivets.

Yea, I was only expecting to gain 2 to 3 inches in the back by flipping the shackle.

I've never lifted a truck btw.

Looks good.

Expect to also cut the rivets on the front hangers also. You will need to move it back 1.5-2" to keep the wheel centered in the wheel well. Another option is buying a zero rate block ~$40.

I thought of that but not sure I was gonna have to do it.
Pardon my ignorance, what's a zero rate block?

You really should move the front hangers to keep your shackle angle at about 20* but regardless you need to keep your tires centered in the wheel well

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/Zero%20Rates.htm

Ok. I understood they are for centering the axle and add an inch of height.

Do they go on the top or the bottom of the leafs?

Does any one have a pic. of them installed?

Imma probably just relocate the front hanger to center the wheels.

Am I gonna have to change anything else to accommodate for the lift?
Like brake lines, drop pitman arm, radius arms, etc?

I'v been told I need to get 2° C-bushings for the radius arms.
Is that correct for a 2 inch coil spring lift?

Bushings should be fine. If u go 4 inch or more up front you will have to change them.

Ok. What about the pitman arm?

Thanks for your help man!

Nope.

I you do a pitman arm, you have to drop the trac bar bracket too. You want to keep the drag link and trac bar as parallel as possible.

This may be a dumb question.

Is the trac bar the one connected to the drag link?

Look at my George v4.0 thread. I used them in the front to move my axle forward 1.5"

Trac bar runs from the axle to the Frame. Drag link is from pitman arm to the tierod.

Gotcha!
Thanks man! :-drink