Ok...I admit I may have erred in shortening the frame of my 1986 f250 4x4 ,6.9 diesel, 4 speed to accommodate a '30 Buick body. yes , it's a rat rod. The problem is the ride is horrible. Anyone have suggestions before I rattle my fillings out? I did air bag all 4 corners thinking it would soften the ride...nope!

 

You don't have 80psi in the tires do you? Drop that down to something like 45-50psi front and 35-40psi rear.

 

thanks I'll try that!

 

Is the front still on leaf springs? I've read that the solid axle front ends ride better with a reverse shackle kit (moves the shackles from the front of the spring to the back). I'm guessing the shortened frame/rat rod body weights less than a full F250, too, so that won't be helping the ride any if it's got original suspension in there (assuming your air suspension is more the helper type, not completely rebuilt with links).

Also, I really want to see this thing. Do you have any pictures of this beast?

 

Runs on diesel and veg oil, rear mount radiator, fog machine under drivers side running board.

 

cool looking ride,good luck on the a smoth ride

 

The bags are possibly just adding to the problem with the stock (oversprung by a LOT for your application) suspension still intact. I’d try running a single leaf in the front, and pull a couple in the back, and see how it is then. That, and get axle weights, air the tires down accordingly.

 

That's quite the critter! And yeah, like JakeHan said, you've got less weight than stock and more spring, no way that's helping matters. Good luck!

 

How did you mount the cab to the frame? Did you go with some poly bushing type material? I'm (probably incorrectly) believing that the buick is far more rigid and has less body flex than a modern cab.

 

Can you give us a a profile shot? Wondering how it sits, in relation to front and back. A softer spring is your only option, but you don't have much to work with since you're stock ride height. A custom setup (changing location of spring perches) for a longer spring would help as well, but again, not easy since you don't have a lot of playing room at stock ride height.

 

TTB front leaf springs are some of the stiffest out there and that body has to weight 1000lbs less then the original truck, so your way over sprung. You need springs, and shocks, matched to the weight of the vehicle. IDK what would be a soft enough leaf spring without going custom. Personally, I'd lose the leaf springs and convert to a coil sprung TTB front off a F150, you'll probably need lift springs to keep the f250 height, then do a shackle flip in the rear and lose the factory block, the rear will stay the same height but be softer. Then get adjustable shocks to dial in the ride.