PLEASE HELP....

Questions about 4WDs and related topics

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72 Ford power
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PLEASE HELP....

Post by 72 Ford power »

Hey yall!

I need some advise. im going to put a 3" body lift on my truck. BUT....it is a standard 4 speed (NP435) 2 wheel drive. And if I raise the body...i will also raise my clutch linkage (duh) so i need to know what ALL I need to modify.

and also...will my bumpers fit? or...what do I have to do with that?

im 19...i got no pops..I need some help...I love Ford and I dont wanna mess mine up and desicrate it by accidentaily ruining the whole thing.
i kinda NEED a helping hand ond a heads up on what im trying to get my self into.


Thanks ALOT!
Regards...
Anthony
72 ford power
1972 ford F250 RANGER XLT! D.S.O.!, 3/4 ton "heavy" Camper special, with stock A/C, a 4 speed NP435 tranny and the stock (its an H code) big block 390 with a Holly 600 carb, my rear end is a dayna 60 with a 7 stack and an overload, all resting on top the stock rims, hub caps, and yes...stock tires, they are bious-plys!
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by 1968 royal ranger »

lots of problems your fan shroud wont fit eather
HAD A CHEVY,CHASED THE RUST ,CAME TO MY SENSES,BOUGHT MY FORD
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by fordman »

i'm not sure how it is actually done. but one way would be to cut the rod in half and thread it on both ends and get one of those turn buckle center the correct size and use that to adjust the rod with. i dont know what you would do with the fan shroud. maybe run an electric fan.
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by darrellj »

Maybe look at some pics before you do a body lift. I've done a body lift on a 95 pathfinder (and hated it after), and have seen lots of body lifted trucks.
The bumpers never seem to fit right. All the wires/brake lines/trans lines/etc/etc attached to the firewall need to be moved. On my pathfinder I had to extend the steering shaft. If the fuel tank is frame mounted the filler next needs to be extended. E-brake connections usually need to be modified. It just goes on and on.
The gap underneath looks **s.

Don't do it! As a newbie here I've been skulking around and seen a really nice 'pre-runner' set-up that might be a better choice (check out 1971ford)...

my .02

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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by papabug71 »

Body lifts are fine if done correctly. I have used body lifts on trucks & Jeeps for years & never had a single problem. As with anything in life, you get what you pay for. A quality body lift with all the necessary brackets, lines, gap guards will run you every bit of $400 bucks.

The biggest problem you going to run into on a bump will be the steering shaft. I dont own a 4x4 bump, nor do I intend to lift mine, so im not much help. Some of the other 4x4 members could help you better. Heep70 is the first that comes to mind.
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by knightfire83 »

I agree, the steering column to steering box connection is going to be a big problem with a 3" body lift.

On 2wd models such as yours, the steering box is very close to the cab and there is literally no adjustment to speak of to compensate without having the column at a very extreme angle " / "

All other items such as wires, linkage, and plumbing can be extended an additional 3". Custom bumper brackets or frame gap filler panels can be fabricated to compensate for the new height.

I would very seriously look into the steering problem before you start.
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by fordman »

oh 2wd. you tricked us. or me anyway. i read right past that. on a 2wd it is going to be twice as hard to do. than a 4wd. i dont know of any kits that will let you do a 2wd. the steerign column may be your biggest obstacle.
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by Redcap »

Why lift a 2WD?
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by FORDification »

Don't do a body lift on a 2WD....there's way too much to consider, with the steering being the main thing. It connects directly to the steering box, and lifting the cab brings the column with it, leaving you no way of connecting the two. At the very least, you'd have to shorten the steering column and fabricate some form of connector between the two with a connector shaft and a couple U-joints. But it would be a huge amount of fabricating involved with little to no benefit...so I'd have to strongly advise against this.

If you want your truck lifted, go with a suspension lift from AutoFab. (or actually get yourself 4WD!) ;)
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by 1971ford »

Redcap wrote:Why lift a 2WD?
Because it is hecka super sick
:D
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by Redcap »

1971ford wrote:
Redcap wrote:Why lift a 2WD?
Because it is hecka super sick
:D
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Your truck is a slightly different case and pretty much the only reason I can think of to even entertain the thought (and pain in the ass) of lifting a 2WD. :thup:
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by papabug71 »

Ryan, did you use a body lift of any kind, or did you go with suspension ??


I dont likely remember :?:
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by 1971ford »

Redcap wrote: Your truck is a slightly different case and pretty much the only reason I can think of to even entertain the thought (and pain in the ass) of lifting a 2WD. :thup:
Yep i would never lift a 2wd other than for offroad racing purposes (travel and tire clearance reasons).
papabug71 wrote:Ryan, did you use a body lift of any kind, or did you go with suspension ??


I dont likely remember :?:
No body lift at all. Front has autofab coils which apparently jacked the truck up 6 inches. Way more than i emagined but they are perfect for my truck. Once the beams are cut/bent soon and the rearend gets its new springs, it will sit just how i want it. Any higher and It will be too top heavy and any lower and I will have clearance issues.
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by fordman »

here is one thing i have thought of before and i thought of it again. if the 2wd truck had a saginaw power steering box. maybe you could use a manual steerign column to lift the cab off the frame a little bit enough to make both the manual column and the saginaw power steering work together. maybe it would work. maybe it wouldn't.
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Re: PLEASE HELP....

Post by 72 Ford power »

THANK YOU ALL!

seriousley....yall just saved me a whole bunch of tears....tantroms and cuss words! haha

id like to invest in a a pre-runner kit....like what 71 Ford did, but i cant do mine myself..i dont have the tools or the brains.

i seen that $800 kit thing and I thinks thats gunna be my route....its what I want, and what I need.

thanks again!

and....does ANY ONE know how to add friggin pictures!?

i dont have any "80x80" pixle pictures that do my truck justice...and i wanna show it off like yall :/
72 ford power
1972 ford F250 RANGER XLT! D.S.O.!, 3/4 ton "heavy" Camper special, with stock A/C, a 4 speed NP435 tranny and the stock (its an H code) big block 390 with a Holly 600 carb, my rear end is a dayna 60 with a 7 stack and an overload, all resting on top the stock rims, hub caps, and yes...stock tires, they are bious-plys!
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