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5spdman's slow and cheap XLT build

I've ran the same Lincoln I have at one of my jobs with hardwire and gas was less than impressed. Was nice for spotting sheetmetal together but penetration just wasnt the same.

You're a better man than me, no way I could walk away from those sitting in a box, LOL.
 



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Well, I'm getting closer to walking to them and getting them out lol....I'll just leave these here to explain...

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Now I'm pickin up what you're puttin down, LOL. Whats your plans on the radius arm drop brackets? Not sellin thise by chance are ya?

Plans are, I won't need them and they'll be up for grabs...
 
























Hey is this going to make the ride extreamly rough. With the heims you have no give at all right.
 






Hey is this going to make the ride extreamly rough. With the heims you have no give at all right.

No give, but I'd don't want my beams moving forward or backward...the old bushings don't give all that much either...all the give is in tires and suspension...

The hiems will just allow for better range of travel...
 






The way to go in my book, but for those of us who just dont have the $$ for everything at once and have to do a little bit at a time. going the route that Caleb has on the whole thing is about as light on the wallet as you can make it and still get out for some wheeling. So hard to be patient sometimes though!!
 


















Gearing up for Friday...still looking for some tall jack stands to keep the front end up while doing the coils and shock towers, but got the last step to the hiem brackets done...

This was Monday evening:

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The top left bolt looks a little goofy because it wasn't fastened...there's a second layer behind the frame that sticks out and, for starters, the bolt wasn't long enough and I managed also to drill where it comes back to the frame, leaving an offset...that will be addressed...

And now for how I leave the brackets tonight until the weekend:

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PAINT!!! :bounce: Bring on the weekend!!
 






BTW, what exactly were the springs you ordered? I see a sticker for BDS, are they specifically for explorer/ranger? Thought I almost had my hands on a used 4" kit here locally but I got beat to it. Then the guy that did buy it sends me a message asking if I still wanted it. Come to find out it didn't have the axle beam drop brackets!! Just coils and radius arm drop brackets. Trying to find those beam brackets is tough, at least for me, haven't found anything so far.
 






I posted a link to the site...they were labeled as Ranger/BII 6" lift coils, but as we know, a lot of RBV parts are interchangeable...everything measures up the same but height...

Sucks about the brackets...need some made? Lol
 






I posted a link to the site...they were labeled as Ranger/BII 6" lift coils, but as we know, a lot of RBV parts are interchangeable...everything measures up the same but height...

Sucks about the brackets...need some made? Lol

I dont know if making axle pivot drop brackets is a good idea? I thought about getting a set out the junk yard and extending them and bracing and gusseting the crap out of em, but then I keep thinking there's probably a reason I haven't seen anyone else do it. LOL. How much lift are you at in the front right now? How much more is it going up? Or were these springs just to replace some bad ones? Whats your plan to keep camber under control if it is going higher?
 






I dont know if making axle pivot drop brackets is a good idea? I thought about getting a set out the junk yard and extending them and bracing and gusseting the crap out of em, but then I keep thinking there's probably a reason I haven't seen anyone else do it. LOL.

I saw some one on here that made some themselves, but they didn't put a ton of effort into it, just threw some pieces together, welded, and then threw more beads over to "strengthen" it....wasn't received well by others, it was ugly, but apparently it has held together...I'd probably put a lot more effort into it than he did, but I was kidding...don't have the time! At least, not now...

How much lift are you at in the front right now? How much more is it going up?

Front lift at the moment is 5" (4" coils and a 1" spacer). With moving to extended RA's and the F250 shock tower mod, I figured I should get a spring that is going to give me a compression and extension length that will compliment the previously mentioned mods...through some research, I went with a spring the provided the proper lift (or with a little extra in this case), provided a soft ride, and was flexy...

Whats your plan to keep camber under control if it is going higher?

The beam pivot points are as high as the cam bolt will let them go, so in theory, if I adjust them down with a longer spring on, it'll keep it close to good without having to adjust much...I have Moog adjustable camber/caster bushings to help dial it in again once it's done...call my uncle once it's done, put the truck on the alignment rack, and we'll be in business!
 






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:mad: :thumbdwn: :mad: :thumbdwn: :mad:

It is coming along though...should be done tonight...more than likely without the F250 shock towers for the time being...
 









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Alright...it's late, I'm tired, but I've been meaning to update this since this weekend, so most of this will be pictures, but I'm here for comments! :D

Friday night:

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Saturday:

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I was tired of working in the rain by 10pm, so I got the arms and springs on and left it like that...Sunday afternoon I got the shocks and sway bar hooked back up...

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Sits with the back lower now, so I posted a quick message on Facebook concerning lift shackles, got two replies with Warrior shackle schematics and....

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Just finished the second one earlier and they're getting some paint applied. Should have them on late tomorrow evening and an alignment is coming Thursday morning to take care of the camber and crazy caster! More pics will come (still have to do the shocks...this weekend?)
 






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