heavier duty suspension

[Klutch]

Its been a while since I was on here but I'm making plans 4 my truck. Eventually im going to do a V8 swap with it cuz I'm sick of blowing the 4.0's lol but right now im doing my lift. My question is, will the lift be able to support the v8 properly since its heavier or should i get heavier duty coils?

 

[Cali_Xploder]

What spring maker, how tall?? What beam pivots, how much drop?? What kinda spring rate, progressive or single rate? What v8, 4.6, 5.0, 5.8??


I am running a "blown up" 4.o in a 4 door exploder with about 5"s of lift. I am running 4" beam pivots, and 240 ppi coils. They're skyjacker coils for a heep cherokee, in stock ex buckets. This set up works great with the 4.0...

How ever, with a 5.0. I would bump the spring rate to around 280-300ppi. I know everyone swears the 5.0 is almost as light as the 4.0.... I could care less, I would up the spring rate.

I personally, would also look for a progressive spring if I was to up the spring rate. E.B. coils come to mind. They have a firm rate and still are soft enough to travel well. If those prove too soft for the v8 swap, then I would next go with full size springs of the 78 -79 1/2 ton vintage... I am gonna stop before I offend anyone... I am just a noob after all.


Post some photos of what ends up happening!! We all love a good photo..., or 3. ~grin

 

[Klutch]

lol to tell u the truth idk alot about the spring rate or any of that, right now im looking at doing just a 2 inch lift cuz thats all i can afford, but the V8 would either be a 302 or a 351 small block. eventually I'd go with like a 6" lift but thats not going to be until the V8's been in for a bit. would u have any suggestions coils for the 2" lift for now? ive got the truck all torn apart and ready 4 the new coils at my shop in school, so i could just have them shipped there. if EB coils work then ill just drop those in cuz I'd like to do the SAS from a EB eventually too. I've got big plans just need the money to do it lol

 

[Cali_Xploder]

If you want cheap and 2"s of lift... I would check around for some 4" explorer coils and raise your stock coil buckets 2". You could more than likely get away with new coils for around $160. Some of the explorer lift coils are fairly stiff, I think more than enough to handle the weight and torque of a 5.0. You would probably need to run the 2.75 deg alignment shims, but that would get you 2"s of lift on the cheap. Cheaper yet, search around for the f150 coil seat install. I saw it on here somewhere, but I think it's good for 1 or 1.5" of lift, You would still likely need some alignment shims. At least for the drivers side.

If you are serious about that v8, I would look for an f150 with the 5.0 and grab all the parts from one truck. You can find them super cheap, and they will have all the parts you need right there. Would likely need to make or purchase motor mounts, I don't really know, never stuffed a v8 into an rbv before. I am thinking about it though.

I remember reading that a 5.8 will contact the heater, and a 4.6 is wider and taller... I can only imagine the bunny fart that would be. Supposedly it's been done though.

Anyways, I am rambling...

 

[rhauf]

i'm doing an essex v6 (mustang engine) swap into a first gen right now... i'm using it with an AOD trans. the height and width of my v6 is almost identical to a 5.0, so what i've learned will apply to you also.

first i've learned that you need to enlarge the tunnel a little for the trans..
second, i hadto remove the heater box entirely (valve cover is sitting right in the middle of where it used to be) i also had to remove the a/c compressor from the mustang engine. on a 5.0 you're oil filter may conflict with placement of the steering box so you're probably need an oil filter relation kit. also i'm moving down the X member 4 inches to make room for the oil pan (this will also move down the axle pivot's 4 inches which is required for lift i'm doing anyway)

it's not an easy swap at all, and with the added length of the v8, you may need to be creative with you're radiator (move it forward where the a/c rad was or something)

it's a big pain, i've been working on it for about 4 months now, i would consider myself a fairly experienced fabricator/builder, and i have a friend (who has a lift and is very good with metal fabrication) helping me with it.. it's coming along, but very slowly, and it's turned out to be a ton of work with many complications. i also had to relocate the battery.

as for you're original question, i suspect if you use aluminum heads/intake, etc on you're v8 it will weigh similar to the v6. you may need to adjust camber slightly but i wouldn't expect it'd be far off.

just curious, why do you keep blowing 4.0's? my '93 has the 4.0 with 220k miles on it.. and i'm not easy on it at all.. i tow an 18' flatbed trailer with it, and have towed other trucks on that trailer regularly.. and i'm not afraid to floor it up hills (at near redline rpm) i dont mean sissy floorin it either, i mean pedal hard against the floor, for as long as it takes to get up the grade (several minutes, half hour, whatever). i couldn't be harder on it if i tried, and it's been fine.. what did you do to blow yours?