How do you install a body lift?

[Jason94sport]

I tried a search didn't see anything specific.
1st gen. I'm confused. How do you get the bigger blocks between the frame & body? Do you need to lift the body off the frame some how? Where are the bolts & how do you get to each one? should all the bolts be taken off before the lift gets put on? Or can you do one mount at a time? Do you need to disconnect anything before hand? Do you need to extend any lines? Any special tools needed?

Thanks

 

[bipolarbob]

I don't mean to sound rude, but it sounds like you either need to get someone who has done one to help or have a pro do it. Judging by your questions you don't have any mechanical experience and probably don't have all the tools.This is an excellent write up, http://www.explorer4x4.com/bodylift.html
print it out to reference. The only thing I would add is spray all the bolts with penatrating oil every day for 2 weeks first paying special attention to the one above the tank.


And seriously, get someone to do it with you who has done one.

 

[410Fortune]

patience and beer

 

[glfredrick]

You DO need to remove all the body bolts and lift the body off the frame.

Most people do this with some combination of floor jacks and long blocks - some are fortunate enough to have access to a lift, which can raise the entire body at one time.

Like BipolarBob said ^^^ this is one of those jobs that if you have to ask, you are likely better geting professional help... The bolts are sometimes really tough to get out (Use PB Blaster on them for at least a week before hand!) and you WILL need at least 4 friends - if for no other reason, to have someone to punch when you get ticked off...

 

[Jason94sport]

I don't mean to sound rude, but it sounds like you either need to get someone who has done one to help or have a pro do it. Judging by your questions you don't have any mechanical experience and probably don't have all the tools.This is an excellent write up, http://www.explorer4x4.com/bodylift.html
print it out to reference. The only thing I would add is spray all the bolts with penatrating oil every day for 2 weeks first paying special attention to the one above the tank.


And seriously, get someone to do it with you who has done one.

Acutally I do have alot of experience & tools. Just not in lifting a truck in any way. I never saw any how to's on the process. I have few 4x4 shops willing to do the work in my area. The few shops around are jeep places & they rather not work on a Ford. The link helps

 

[dman726749]

www.explorer4x4.com there is a writeup on how to do it there

 

[metstalker]

good luck plan for a weekend and you should be fine i did it with my dad and all he really did was help me with the bumpers good luck

 

[dykzeulb]

I plan on doin this too ordered this kit... http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/...makeId-1000114/p-3121/c-10101/modelId-1001282

 

[glfredrick]

You guys will do fine if you print out those pages from this forum that detail the steps. Just make sure to take your time - do one side at a time, and be very careful. Jacking up a body can be a dangerous game, especially if you stick your arm between the body and frame and the the movement casues the jack to slip.

 

[Wagonized]

spray your bolts with a good penetrating oil 3 times a day for about a week before doing the lift.

i did this and still had to cut off 7 of the 10. wasnt the easiest job in the world but could have been a lot easier.

so far its taken 14.5 hours....after tomorrow i hope to have it finished up in 16 hours total. If all the bolts came out like they should have I could have done it in 5 hours probably

 

[yosh18981898]

If I ever get around to installing one, Im not even going to try to screw the bolts out, I'm just gonna give the air chisel a good workout

 

[metstalker]

no no you need the nuts from the old bolts so you might as well screw them out any way
but good luck in doing it

 

[yosh18981898]

Ha! reuse the nuts! It must be nice living in the south where things don't rust. After 13 hard salty winters, the nuts on mine are nothing more than shapeless mounds of rust. I'd just get new ones from the hardware store.

 

[Wagonized]

Ha! reuse the nuts! It must be nice living in the south where things don't rust. After 13 hard salty winters, the nuts on mine are nothing more than shapeless mounds of rust. I'd just get new ones from the hardware store.

me too....new nuts and i machined some 1/4 inch washers for the bottom...luckily my bushings were still ok.

Still have to re mount my rear bumper and figure out my can of worms e brake mess that i started. but the hard stuff is over for my BL.