I have a 97 x-cab 4.2 4x2 that rides like a lincoln. All that I want to do it level it off and get a fat set of 33's 10.5 or 12.5 what ever will fit. When I do this will I loose my comfortable ride? I dont plan on doing any extream (rock climbing)off roading at all. Maybe some puddle jumping, but that would be it. what would be the best way to go, a spindle, or a spring? How much are these anyway? Thanks for letting me dive into the knowledge jar, it is appreciated.
Jeff


[This message has been edited by F150Degrees (edited 12-06-2000).]

 

If you don't want to change the ride, go with the spindles and blocks. Essentially, all you're doing that way is raising the vehicle height.

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-JonC-
*Silver 2000 4x2 F150 Supercab
*4.6L Triton V8
*BFG 285/75/16 AT KO's
*16 x 8 Panther Custom 108's
*K&N GenII FIPK
*Custom Cat-back w/ Flowmaster 50 Series
*Fabtech 6.5" "Ultimate" suspension lift
*Smittybilt nerf bars
*Extang Black Max soft tonneau
*Clear corners
*tint/vent visors/air deflector
(no, I did NOT get stuck in
the accessory dept. at K-Mart!)

 

I second JonC, you will be able to fit your 33s under a spindle lift. Good luck!

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'98 F150 S/C 5.4 V8 4x2, Aggie maroon, spindle lift, blocks and leafs, Rancho RSX shocks, Airaid filter system, Pro Comp 305/70/16, AR Baja 16x8, Dynomax duals, and some other stuff

 

Jeff:
The ride does change, even with the spindles, because the bigger tires weigh a lot more than the little 255' or 235's that the trucks come with. If you go to a tire store and put a 285 or 33 in. tire side by side with a 255, you will notice the big difference in weight between the two. Unsprung weight makes a big difference. If you change the A arms and springs, the new springs are stiffer. If you change the spindles, you retain the old springs, but either way you will need better shocks to have a better control of the heavier tire. I am very pleased with my spindle lift, and the way it rides. If I had to do it all over again, the only thing I would do different is use Rancho 9000's instead of the 5000's I got.
Hope this helps.
Roberto

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'97 F150 XLT SC, 2WD, 4.6 Auto
* 3" Bullseye spindles
* 2" Superlift angled blocks in rear
* Rancho RS5000's
* AR Baja's 16X8
* Gorilla locknuts (all 20 lugnuts are locknuts)
* 285-75-16 Firestone Wilderness AT III's
* E150 "Triton V8" emblems
* Donmar Sunroof
* Sony CD player
* SuperChip
* K&N Filter
* Bedliner
* Weathertech Ventvisors
* Ford locking gas cap
* Delta aluminum toolbox
* Putco shorty chrome bedrails
* 4:10 US Gear ring & pinion, complete with gear whine.
(It's the Turbo, Son, it's the Turbo!)

 

Thanks for all the input guys, that helps out alot! I think that I will end up going with a spindle lift. Now that we have that established, Uhmmm, What kind do I get? and I don't need a 3 inch spindle. Do they make a 2 inch?

Harleyrider, here I thought I was the only one on this board from Columbia SC. Well damn it is a small world after all. In fact I work in Cayce/West Columbia. WOW I found a friend!!! Relax I'm not the cable guy. PS NICE BIKE!!
You might have seen me around town, I would be that black blurr that you saw go by blarring the loud music. One day I'm going to post some pics. Maybe today. It did just get washed.

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1997 F150 4.2 4x2 X-CAB Flareside Black
With all of that out of the way, lets get to the good stuff:
STEREO: Special thanks to Josh & Popps @ www.radio-active.org
I'm going to change my whole set up.
Under D'Hood:[*] Only a K&N filter.
Its lame, you have to start somewhere right? Trust me, I dream BIG.
On D'Skin:[*] Bug Deflector[*] One Vent Visior, other fell off[*] windshield sticker for www.radio-active.org [*] Hyperwhite headlight bulbs[*] Clear quarter & back glass for an even tint. Thanks Progressive![*] Custom door dings from some A$$HOLE in a parking lot on both sides.
LINKS:
www.radio-active.org
www.roadarmor.com I said I have big dreams right?
www.nookie.com

 

Ever consider a body lift? ride will stay the same( no suspension mods) you will be able to put the bigger tires on.Just a thought

 

Hey I live in that town! Welcome aboard or should I say into the jar. All I have had are 4x4's since about 1984 so I can't answer the ? you asked but any spring that is taller is going to be more rigid, therefore affecting the ride quality. A lowered spindle only would not affect the ride as you are just lowering the attachment point. My thoughts!


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2000 Lariat 4x4 Supercab
Black Clearcoat
Flowmaster 50 series SUV using original tailpipe
K&N Filter
CamLocker Aluminum Toolbox
Tinted Windows
Vent Visors

A.R.E. 'Z' series bed cap

1999 HD Softtail Custom
Cobalt Blue
Lowered and Chromed to max.

1995 Long Haired Chihuahua (Best security system on the market)

Check it out at:
http://www.harleyrider.webprovider.com/index.htm

 

Hey F150Degrees,
Whats your email address? There are a couple guys here in town on the board and several around the state.
Not to offend you, but if you are a black blur with the 4.2, you haven't passed my black 5.4L recently.
There is a guy in Forest Acres on this board , 54regcab, that has a system as well. You two may hit it off.

 

L, I did think about a bodylift, but it seems like a COMPLETE pain in the a$$ to do. Plus my frame rails are not pretty enough to go showin off. Kinda like a fat girl in a really short skirt. There are some things I just dont want to see. Maybe I would change my mind if I saw one in person and got the up close and personal view. Plus at this point I really only want to level the thing off. Thanks for the thought though.

Harleyrider, None taken, I am a firm beleiver in it's not what you drive (to an extent), but how you drive it. As for meeting others in the area on this board, I'm always up for that. Feel free to drop me a line: jeffery_holt@hotmail.com

------------------
1997 F150 4.2 4x2 X-CAB Flareside Black
With all of that out of the way, lets get to the good stuff:
STEREO: Special thanks to Josh & Popps @ www.radio-active.org
I'm going to change my whole set up.
Under D'Hood:[*] Only a K&N filter.
Its lame, you have to start somewhere right? Trust me, I dream BIG.
On D'Skin:[*] Bug Deflector[*] One Vent Visior, other fell off[*] windshield sticker for www.radio-active.org [*] Hyperwhite headlight bulbs[*] Clear quarter & back glass for an even tint. Thanks Progressive![*] Custom door dings from some A$$HOLE in a parking lot on both sides.
LINKS:
www.radio-active.org
www.roadarmor.com I said I have big dreams right?
www.nookie.com

 

Yes, they(body lifts) are a complete painin the butt to install(count on at least 8 hrs).If you go w/a 2 inch body the frame isn't that visable. Add nerf bars and you really can't notice the frame.There are some pics of this in the owners gallery.
What gearing does your truck have?when the 33's go on, there will be a noticable power loss with the v-6. I know I have one.I did notice a little just moving up to 265/75 (I have the 3.55 rear end.A 4.10 would be nice.($1,100, got to love a 4x4)

 

Ok, not to look like a complete idiot but how do I find out what gears I have?

 

The only prob with the body lift is that it doesnt level out the truck. IF you wanna keep the good ride dont buy the AT's..the BFG's have stiff sidewalls and all the goodies that make the tire so damned good, just the ride suffers and im at 35psi (rated to 65)...i have a friend with an f150 on bridgestone duelers...the street tires rated for M+S and it rides like a baby 275/70/16, except it looses the cool aggressive look. I have a set of westin nerf bars and it hides the frame underneath.

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Things to come: coil spacers, 4.10 gears, Grill
ilmagill@aol.com For Pictures :
www.geocities.com/ilmagill

 

Get the code off the door and there's a site that can probably tell you. They know all the ranger codes!

Worst case is we jack up the rear, put a chalk mark on a rear tire and on the drive shaft, turn the rear tire 360 degrees and count how many time s the driveshaft turned. Won't be exact but will tell you if if in the 3 or 4 range of gears.

Call me!

 

A legitimate question here....Adding 4X4 to a truck purchase is anywhere from 2,000 - 3,500 dollars. Why are there people spending the money for a body lift and bigger tires on a 2wd truck when you can just spend the money initially and get 4X4?

I can't make sense out it. I am not belittling the choice, but help me understand the cost benefit of this.

 

2000:
I have a 4X4. I own three trucks. But not needing the 4X4, its just extra clothes in the hanger. This is the second 4X2 that I lift, and I absolutely love it. My 4X4 stays parked by the side of my house, while I baby my lifted 4X2. I don't have to put up with the slightly higher insurance that my 4X4 has, or the gas mileage, either. And don't tell me that it is not worse gas mileage, I know better.
It is a matter of preference, we lift them for the same reason that some other folks lower them, or some other folks hot rod them,
in short, because we can. Because we like to tinker with them, we enjoy working on them.
Key words: Preference, Choice.
I hope this gives you a better insight into what makes us tick.
Roberto


------------------
'97 F150 XLT SC, 2WD, 4.6 Auto
* 3" Bullseye spindles
* 2" Superlift angled blocks in rear
* Rancho RS5000's
* AR Baja's 16X8
* Gorilla locknuts (all 20 lugnuts are locknuts)
* 285-75-16 Firestone Wilderness AT III's
* E150 "Triton V8" emblems
* Donmar Sunroof
* Sony CD player
* SuperChip
* K&N Filter
* Bedliner
* Weathertech Ventvisors
* Ford locking gas cap
* Delta aluminum toolbox
* Putco shorty chrome bedrails
* 4:10 US Gear ring & pinion, complete with gear whine.
(It's the Turbo, Son, it's the Turbo!)