So I bought this rust box in Rhode Island a month ago, and moved to North Carolina. It's a 2002 ff150 supercrew 5.4 with 161,000 miles. I thought I got a good deal on it, I paid $1,500. I haven't found work yet, so money is tight (non existent), but I'm doing what I can with what I have. I have zero mechanic abilities, and very limited tools. I've never attempted to work on any of my last 3 Ford trucks or any vehicle for that matter. The truck is being used as a dual purpose work truck/family vehicle. I have a lot of ideas I want to do, bit it's gonna take me a while. Here's how she looks as of now:

 

Rust...

 

So yesterday after I took those pictures I did a few modifications that I learned from Reading here on the forums. First off the zip ties on the throttle cable was a phenomenal idea my truck has so much more power now. Although I decided against using zip ties because I didn't like the idea of the plasticalthough and potentially breaking. I went to Lowe's and bought some aluminum cable crimps. The package came with two different sizes and styles I used one small barrel and then filled the rest with three washers to make it exact fit. the barrel opening was too narrow so I drove it out with a 5/16 drill bit, slit everything on and crimped the barrel tight.

 

I also decided to try the controversial torsion bar leveling. I put the truck up on jack stands and gave each torsion bolt a few rotations. I lowered the truck back down and found that I only gained about a half an inch in height. So I jacked the truck back up and tighten bolts bolts all the way. Now I know I'm not supposed to tighten them all the way but by doing so I was only able to achieve about an inch and 3/4 lift and from center hub to wheel well I'm only at about 23 in or so. why was I not able to achieve the height that most of you are and is it okay that I Max them out considering I'm not above the 24 and 1/4 recommended maximum height?