F250 front 4x4 leaf springs?

[zakt]

Here are my 68 F250 front leafs and I noticed I have that other leaf on top, dont think ive seen another with that? I assume that just stiffens up the spring....

[zakt]

you think it gives 1" lift, I might have to pull it then to get the stock height right when I order my new springs...

[1971ford]

I'm not sure, i would assume it helps hold the truck up more than a normal leaf pack. It looks sagged out though so i bet it wouldn't do much as is. I would guess that right now it gives .5-1" or so??

[zakt]

nope just need them to figure out the lift height I want and roll the truck around until I get the new springs then tossing them.

[zakt]

So will 8" of lift in the front clear a D60 differential if I leave the 2wd crossmember in ?

[Doug Comer]

Just a guess, but I would say yes.
Doug

[zakt]

so thinking then no reason to cut that 2wd crossmember out and swap it for the 4wd one... also thinking with the 2wd one closer to the firewall it might be easier to put in the 4wd gear box. I seen som cut up the 4wd crossmember to get a box in and then some cut the core support.... thoughts?

[mlheppl]

I just had to trim a touch (like 1/4" off of the core support to mount my steering gearbox. I would much rather trim the core support than the cross member. That's my

[zakt]

Im wanting to put a 95' F350 box (80-97 box??) in my 72' with crossover steering so have to see where the pitman arm runs when the axle is in to get that perpendicular to the axle drag link mount. I actually cut the whole frame side out of the 95 with the box mounting area so plan on welding that inside section in (this is just theory, havent checked it out yet )

[averagef250]

8" over highboy height springs will definitely clear the crossmember with any axle. That would clear some monster tires and ride like no suspension at all if you use leafs for that much lift.

The 4x4 front frame is boxed in, the 4x4 crossmember is a little nicer than the 2wd one.

I don't think the '80+ frame rail section is going to come anywheres close to matching up to the old frame design. You could put some stand offs in the frame and bolt the steering box to them.

[forrestbump]

May be off topic, but a guy I know converted a chebby 2WD crew to 4X4 using leaf springs, a GM front dana 44 passenger drop axle and kept the 2WD cross member.

His theory was that the 2WD cross member was much stronger than the 4WD version and would not crack from frame flexing like the 4WD cross member does.

He installed 8" lift front leaf springs. He also put lowered bump stops on the cross member just in case of axle contact.

The front axle never even came close to the 2WD cross member for what it's worth.

[averagef250]

May be off topic, but a guy I know converted a chebby 2WD crew to 4X4 using leaf springs, a GM front dana 44 passenger drop axle and kept the 2WD cross member.

His theory was that the 2WD cross member was much stronger than the 4WD version and would not crack from frame flexing like the 4WD cross member does.

He installed 8" lift front leaf springs. He also put lowered bump stops on the cross member just in case of axle contact.

The front axle never even came close to the 2WD cross member for what it's worth.

GM 2wd and 4x4 trucks are almost identicale. Ford 2wd frames are radically different from the 4x4's before 1979.

[forrestbump]

GM 2wd and 4x4 trucks are almost identicale. Ford 2wd frames are radically different from the 4x4's before 1979.

Thank You for enlightening me.

[zakt]

so my 8" lift will clear the engine crossmember so is it worth changing out for the 4wd one (do they actually crack on the 4wd?) going to run 37 o 38" tires...Yea I mainly saved the 95 steering frame section for info purposes.

[forrestbump]

No, the Ford 4X4 cross member is, by far, stronger than the GM, piece of crap, 'C' channel junk. I don't think I can ever recall NOT seeing a GM 4X4 front cross member that wasn't cracked from light off road use.

I think getting the 2WD cross member out of your F350 may be difficult, but not impossible.

The question remains "will the 2WD cross member clear the 4X4 front axle"... DEPENDS... if you raise your truck up as much as you've described, I'm "guessing" it should...just no guarantees.

If it were me, I'd gently grind out the puddle welds on the 2WD cross member, remove it and replace it with the 4X4 cross member.

The way I look at it is the engineers at Ford are a pretty smart bunch... they probably figured things out damn well, so don't re-invent the wheel, use what the Dearborn guys came up with.

My