Cheap lift for a 1987 F150?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 409
Likes: 3
lol define fit ready 1 3/8 bolt with zero tolerence or .0001 will not fit in a 3/8s hole of a tolerence of .000001 but a 3/8s bolt will fit in a 1/2 hole corect ? so the tire of corse will not fit stock 35 inchs which is why i a said you have to lift it wether by the body or suspention you have to lift it im not sure but i think the max tire stock you can fit is either 31s or 32s i have 31x10.5s on mine they fit stock but i beilve to get 35s on you will need to lift it 3 or 4 inchs wether the body or the suspention its the same thing
Upper Middle Class
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,628
Likes: 15
From: Wyoming County, West Virginia
lol define fit ready 1 3/8 bolt with zero tolerence or .0001 will not fit in a 3/8s hole of a tolerence of .000001 but a 3/8s bolt will fit in a 1/2 hole corect ? so the tire of corse will not fit stock 35 inchs which is why i a said you have to lift it wether by the body or suspention you have to lift it im not sure but i think the max tire stock you can fit is either 31s or 32s i have 31x10.5s on mine they fit stock but i beilve to get 35s on you will need to lift it 3 or 4 inchs wether the body or the suspention its the same thing
89 F150 300I6 4 speed 4X4
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 124
Likes: 1
From: williamsport, PA
i have never put on leveling springs so this is just a guess. but i am a mechanic and unless u want to get seriously hurt i would suggest letting the pressure off those coils REALLY SOW!!!!!i cant stress that enough. what i would do is to follow joes advice but instead of just unboltin the springs i would put a floorjack under them after puttin the frame on jackstands and slowly lettin them down after takin the bolts out. once again i have never done this and i have never taken enough time to look at my suspension. so maybe joe is right but i dont know. i would just hate to hear a fellow ford lover gettin hurt tryin to make his truck look good. i would do more research before attemptin this project.
89 F150 300I6 4 speed 4X4
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 124
Likes: 1
From: williamsport, PA
ok you can fit with stock setup 31s!!! i have it on my truck keep in mind from there 33s is only one inch more so a 1 inch body lift will be like 31s so if you want 35s thats 2 inchs from 31s clearence so you only need a 2 inch lift kit so a 3 inch lift kit will be plenty
89 F150 300I6 4 speed 4X4
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 124
Likes: 1
From: williamsport, PA
yeah but what your saying by lifting the suspention will give more clearence wrong it is exactly the same wether you lift the body or raise the suspention its exactly the same 4 inch body or 4 inch lift will do the same for the tire size thats what im trying to prove and no your right on the 49 inch tires on one reason cause of the fender opening but if you lift the truck high enough so the tires are completly under than yeah you can have what ever you want ever see a monster truck before see how big those tires are but yet the body is so small hmmmm why is that my point is to this is that wether you lift the body or the suspention they are equal just think about it for a sec ok the distance still increases the same in fact if anything lifting the body is better for biger tires why because you dont change the distance the tire and shock changes so in theory the tire dosent go as high and yet the body is still raised up cause when you raise the suspention you change the distance the wheel travels but with body you dont change any of that you just move the wheel opening up higher
raduis arms! so if you buy aftermaket rims with different offsets i THINK you could go up to a 33. i bought aftermarket rims and now i can fit 32s stock. its all about the raduis arms dude!lol. move them and i bet you can fit 33s stock. not garunteeing anything but thats just a thought. oh yea, almost furgot, you guys fighting made me tink of a song. " why cant we be friends, why cant we be friends?" hahahaha.lol.
Upper Middle Class
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,628
Likes: 15
From: Wyoming County, West Virginia
my tires have NEVER rubbed the radius arms... but the offset on my rims aren't the same as factory lol my tires stick just a tad bit out the sides of the truck (just enough for it to not pass WV inspection).... thats why every year, i put my buddy's factory rims and tires on my truck for a few hours.... and then i drive to get an inspection sticker.... the garage is always like wtf, why do you have a lift? i always tell them its factory.... i tell them that so they think im stupid as hell and don't know what im talking about lol thats why i don't have a modified MVI sticker!! HAHAHA its illegal, but just so it works lol
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 318
Likes: 6
From: Devine, TX
i have never put on leveling springs so this is just a guess. but i am a mechanic and unless u want to get seriously hurt i would suggest letting the pressure off those coils REALLY SOW!!!!!i cant stress that enough. what i would do is to follow joes advice but instead of just unboltin the springs i would put a floorjack under them after puttin the frame on jackstands and slowly lettin them down after takin the bolts out. once again i have never done this and i have never taken enough time to look at my suspension. so maybe joe is right but i dont know. i would just hate to hear a fellow ford lover gettin hurt tryin to make his truck look good. i would do more research before attemptin this project.
89 F150 300I6 4 speed 4X4
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 124
Likes: 1
From: williamsport, PA
I've swapped coils in 2 f150s and pulled some from a ranger (same suspension style). If you jack the truck up, and put it on frame stands, once the shock is off, at droop, the i-beam will actually be hanging from the spring. From there, you just jack up the side you are working on to take the weight off the spring, then unbolt the retainer clip at the top. Then you can lower the arm. No real reason to lower it slow, the coil isn't going to come flying out out at you dangerously, its bolted to the i-beam as well.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 318
Likes: 6
From: Devine, TX
ok. i didnt know that. i have never had to take out a coil spring from this suspension style. i think maybe its the McFearson strut type. but yet again im not lookin to start trouble with anyone. just tryin to offer a little help. but like i said i never tore the front end apart on a F-150( thay all last to long. lol) so im just tryin to offer help based on what i do know from other cars and trucks.take it easy guys and sorry if i angered anyone.
I knew exactly what you were referring to when you were talkin' about the spring thing. I've done springs and struts on a few cars. I wasn't tryin' to talk down to you or anything, just giving some information from personal experience.
89 F150 300I6 4 speed 4X4
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 124
Likes: 1
From: williamsport, PA
ok. thanks. after reading all this i decided to put 2.5in. coil spacers in the front of my truck and 2in blocks in the rear. gotta get it runnin first again though.lol.