4" F150 springs? and clarification on F250 shock mounts.

[tweakedlogic]

so I found these. the are 4" lift springs for 79 F150.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-Fr...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item5ad84158b8

I want no more than 4" of lift. I will never run larger than 33s. I was thinking that I could install these springs and get 4" without a body lift and have a softer spring for flexing.

the listing above does not give spring rates. i'm worried that they will either be too soft and sag down to 2" or be too stiff and limit my travel.

What do you smarter (than me) guys think?

I went to the junk yard the other day for my upper spring mounts from a f250. I was looking at them and they seam to be identical to my Explorer mounts with the spring bucket and everything. am I wrong? are they higher? wouldn't that move the spring bucket up too? Effectively lowering my lift?

 

[cmhaah06]

The diameter of the f250 spring is about three inches, I believe. I dont remember where I read this, but I did read you can modify the stock bucket to make a EB coil work. The f250 spring is just about an 1/8th" bigger than the EB coil. I guess you might be able to make it work if you bend the tabs back more. Good luck, post pics and a detailed how to.

 

[tweakedlogic]

I think you mis-understood.
I want to use the 4" lift springs for the f150 and the f250 upper shock mount. It looks to me that the shock mount is identical to the Explorer. and i'm worried that the springs will either be too soft or too stiff. I was wanting some input.

 

[FROADER]

I don't know the answer to your question, but since the F-150 is heavier, I'd imagine the 4" lift coils for one would be pretty damn stiff for an Explorer.

Just an FYI - Anything over 2" and you won't be able to align it unless you have drop brackets (a lift kit).

 

[tweakedlogic]

glfredrick stated in this post that he used 4" lift springs from an f150 and they sagged.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1563873&postcount=15

then, 3 years later, he was mentioning the truck in another post, he said they were softer because of leverage with the longer axles. Plus I think the F150 is lighter than an SUV with seating for 5.

So I'm a little confused. He is a long time member and I ahve read several of his posts and he seems like a smart guy. Smart guys usually confuse me.

I don't really want a body lift. if I have to I will do 2". So I was thinking that 4" softer springs may sag about 2". then the F150 spacers and I have enough to clear 33s.
I would rather have 4" lift springs only, but I don't want any drop brackets as i consider this a bandaid that will break at the most inconvenient time. pitman arms don't bother me though.

I'm also going to do a 4" SOA by mounting the front spring eye in the reinforced frame rail. Because I don't like shackles either.

I'm basing my lift on glfredrick's and the few that have followed him. Partly because money is tight, (motor swaps and gears are expensive) but mostly because It's a reliable way to increase travel that will do what i need it to do reliably.

I have already the coil spacers and stock springs from a 2wd 1995 F150. I have a set of shackles, but i don't plan on using them. I have a 3" lift that has been sitting my my shop for over 3 years now. I'm thinking I'm going to run the pieces through the wood planer to cut them down. I've already bought front shocks with 14" of travel. I almost had the F250 upper shock mount, but like I said it looks the same and didn't want to toss $30 for something i didn't need.

So I'm looking for front springs, front upper shock mounts, sway bar disconnects, something to replace the stock overload springs, extended brake lines, rear shocks, and gears. I have a guy that can TIG weld DOM tubing to my radius arms to lengthen them, just need to figure out how long to make them.

I fear I have rambled too much.
Is the F250 upper shock mount like mine?
has anyone used 2" or 4" lift springs from an F150.
If so, how was the ride and what was your net lift after settling?

Thanks

 

[Maniak]

Here is our Explorer spring bucket with the f-250 shock mount (with shock installed)

Both ends of the shock are "eye" type mounts.

EDIT: I found a picture of the mounts when we got them. You can see how they are just welded on/next to the coil bucket.

~Mark

 

[tweakedlogic]

Thanks Mark. I guess since i was looking at the 250 with it's own spring bucket it looked like ours. Thanks, you cleared that one up.

I like your paint too. I was thinking of painting mine too, but I'm worried it will drag out the project. it's Spring, and my Rx7 will not be taking my canoe anywhere. so I need to wrap this up in the next couple of weeks.

 

[4X50 Exploder]

I almost had the F250 upper shock mount, but like I said it looks the same and didn't want to toss $30 for something i didn't need.

Is the F250 upper shock mount like mine?
Thanks

I found the type of bolt on’s you are looking for were only on the Heavy Duty F250s that I came across in the Bone Yard.

The rectangle style that Maniak has welded to a cut up explorer bucket are part number E5TZ 18183A through the dealer.

I got mine off a 1997. I found a 2003 that had a similar set up but the plate area that bolts to the frame was a diamond shape.

I started cutting my buckets last night. I'll take some good measurements and pics before durring and after...

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280125

 

[tweakedlogic]

As to the shock mount question. I think I must have been looking at a newer 250 and that is why I was confused. the 97 spring mount looked nothing like the one I got today.
Well today i went to the yard and picked some springs from an 89 F-150, shock mounts from a 97 F-250, and a spare tire carrier from an 88 BII.

it looks like these springs are a little taller, maybe two inches. They are about 3" longer than the stock X springs while holding them beside them on the truck. So it looks like I might get two inches.

I thought about some springs from an 88 Bronco, but I had a really hard time removing them and the place was closing. Maybe I'll be able to go out there tomorrow. I'm not sure that I can even get them to fit due to the lower spring perch, but I'm sure i would get some lift from them. They look pretty soft though.

I'm still interested in 4" lift springs from an F-150 or XJ.

Can someone clarify or suggest shocks that will fit with my new shock mounts? I can't afford Procomps right now. so it's going to have be some take offs or at least OE replacements.
It is difficult for me to pull the thing apart and install the shock mount with out the shock ready. I have to be able to pull it out of the shop when i go home. so i can't install it and measure travel and what not.
Thanks

 

[glfredrick]

the F150 springs from a 79 are actually lighter in load capacity than the Explorer springs because that year truck had an straight axle. The spring rate on the Explorers is over 500#, while the F150 is around 350-400# at best. They work well, but are softer. Make sure you shock well.

I ran them on mine for years -- worked good, but didn't give much lift. Of course, I was not running lift springs.

FYI, the longer the lever arm, the less spring it takes to hold up the truck. A straight axle is a longer lever arm than the TTB by about a third. It is not the overall weight or weight capacity of the donor truck that makes for the spring rates -- it is the length of the axle, and with the TTB under an Explorer, the length of the axle is no more than about 36" compared to the 67 or so inches of the F150. Pure physics at work. Longer lever means less work, equals less spring rate, even though the truck is larger and heavier.

Best thing is to just try a set and see how they do. Springs swap easily and no harm done if you don't like them. Springs are not a "never look back" modification.

 

[4X50 Exploder]

...Can someone clarify or suggest shocks that will fit with my new shock mounts?
Thanks

Check out the spec. sheet from Rancho. I would think other manufactures have these available too. Rancho Specs.

The shock you pick is going to have to be based on your lift/flex. When researching my conversion, I was told to check the stuffed (Compressed) length without the spring in place and the axle up against the bump stop.

I just finished modifying my first bucket and I welded it up for an additional 8" of height over the stock bucket. I think that most of the Explorers that are doing this mod go with a little less because of clearance issues inside the fender.

 

[Maniak]

I looked at how long my current shocks were (compressed and extended). I then measured how much higher the shock mount was and added that to both my extended and compressed lengths.

I then tried to get a shock that had more extended length and less compressed length. That way I'd have more travel in the shock area so if I did anything in the future to get more travel I could keep the same shocks.

I used the rancho catalog to see specs and went from there. Once you find one that matches what you need you can search the rancho catalog to see if that shock you picked matches something for a specific vehicle application. In my case it didn't. For 4" lift with the f-250 shock towers "I" went with Rancho 999012 shocks which are 19" compressed and 32" extended.

~Mark

 

[tweakedlogic]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the help and info.

 

[glfredrick]

I know that valving and weight ranges on shocks can vary, but I'd suspect that any shock of the length required for our use with extended buckets will take care of business. I've never worried much about exact specs on shocks like that for casual trail use. They all seem to work okay, and if not, swap them out for a different set. Part of the fun of hot-rodding is to figure out stuff that works without breaking the bank.

Pull shocks from the salvage yard for testing. Only cost about $5 a pop. You'll probably spend more than that on beer or coffee money while you're doing the job. Then, once you find a set that works, you can order the higher $$$ new heavy duty models.