Junkyard Lift Question?

[Steve796]

Hey all,
Over the last few weeks I have been picking up on post regarding a cheap lift using coil springs and leaf springs from an older F150. I have a 92 4.0 4x4 explorer and I was wondering if there has ever been a write up of anyone doing this and if there is a how-to for the entire procedure front and back? If not, I am willing to take some ideas for both and then document the whole process and then post it with pictures. I'm only looking to get about 2 in. out of it since it will be a daily driver.
My ultimate goal is a trail rig. I am located in Ridgecrest CA which is right in the middle of nowhere unless if you have off road vehicles. Then you have pretty much an unlimited playground.
BTW, this forum is by far the coolest place to find info.
Short Story,
There was a explorer for sale at the local home depot parking lot for $1000. Test drove it and pointed out that a couple of the window motors would spin but no up and down by the window itself. Also the 4x4 would not activate. No lights what-so-ever. Came home did a little research, joined the forum, saw some how-to-post regarding the problems listed above. Bought the explorer for 900 since the owner had just realized the 4x4 no longer worked... Got it home, went to autozone, got gear plugs and vaccum hose, pulled the window motors, all plugs were crushed, replaces them, windows work great, pulled shift motor, plastice sleeve crushed, used vaccum hose, put back together, 4x4 works great. All in all, this forum has already saved me more than I could imagine and I am very thankful for all those who put the time and effort into this to help others. Because of this, I am going to take a little bit of my time and document what i do and post. Keep up the good work everyone. Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year.

 

[awdsixbolt]

last time i looked wich was along while ago there was a ton of write ups on the coil seat spacer lift from the f150 but probly would have to search for awhile as the links are probly way back in the search files.

 

[ranger-93]

i think the coils do give a little bit thinking around 1.5'' +/- some?? (someone correct me if need be)

idk about the leafs tho...possibly look into longer shackles like warrior shackles?

 

[ragajungle]

Hey all,
If not, I am willing to take some ideas for both and then document the whole process and then post it with pictures.

There are a ton of write-ups on lifting a ttb(twin traction beam) but I haven't seen anything where anyone has used F150 leafs - but I can't see why it couldn't be done with a little fabbing. You could just go to the JY and load up on add-a-leafs

 

[SuddenDeath]

This is what you would need to do, in the short form.

Go to the junkyard. Find a 1980s-1996 F150 with the 5 leaf rear leaf pack. You find those easiest on trucks with towing packages or heavy duty suspensions. Nab those springs.

Take the centerbolt out of the leaf pack. Toss the main spring, the one with the eyes on it. Remove your leaf springs from your explorer. Remove the centerbolt and toss every spring but the main spring. Now put the F150 springs on the Explorer main spring. That should give you about 1.5" of lift.

Now, you can either do the F150 coil spacer lift for a full 1.5+/- " of lift OR you can do what I did to my X before I went SAS.

Grab a set of 2" lift spacers for the front, the big poly pucks that sit under the springs. They're about $130 for the two online, but they're worth it. Install those up front instead of the F150 coil spacers. Get yourself some nice bar stock steel and build yourself two new rear shackles (your shackles are probably toast anyway) and measure so they're about 1" longer from bolt hole to bolt hole than the stock ones.

It's always safe to be a little longer in the shackles than it is to be shorter, a truck that is ass high is always better looking than a truck that is ass low.

If you need any more information, I'll post up pictures and all for ya.

Edit:

Theoretically, you could get yourself some stock 60-70's bronco coil springs and put them in there. The Early Bronco coil springs are softer than the explorer springs, but they're built to handle the weight of a V8 so they're longer. I'd do some research, but if you can junkyard a set of stock Early Bronco springs I'd try it. Maybe a set of Early Bronco 2" lift springs? I'm not sure, don't quote me on this idea if it doesn't work

 

[Steve796]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'll give this a shot as soon as I can find some 31's to put under there to. Wife just wanted to know what I wanted for christmas so I'm trying to figure out what I need.
Thx again.

 

[tweakedlogic]

f150 springs gave me 2.5" lift. If you do this then buy the Moog 4* camber cams $45 each. Currently I have home made shackles for the rear. But I'm going to install some Chevy 53" springs soon.
With the stock radius arms and F250 shock towers, I have right at 15" of front wheel travel. Which is more than I hoped for. Not a write up, but my thread is here.
http://explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=283732&highlight=f150+springs