I have 97' F150 Green 2WD Flareside truck with a 4.6L. I would like to lift the truck atleast three inches however being new to this I am unsure who has the best kit? Any recommendations? What do lift spindles do? Any body help me....also does anyone have pic's of their 2WD after it's been lifted?

 

silverback, I was planning to do the same to my truck. I researched and called around and it seem the best one out there is from Fabtech (http://fabtechmotorsports.com) You can either lift your truck with coil and control arm or spindle. I think http://www.4wheelparts.com/ and http://www.truckperformance.com/ has the bet price.

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1998 Red F150 S/C Flareside 4.6 Airraid, Flowmaster, Snug Lid, Speedliner, Piaa

 

Silverback,

If you want only a 3 inch lift, I suggest going with bullseye spindles. What Bullseye does is manufacture a new knuckle and mount the spindle 3 inches lower. I hope I'm using the proper names. You can then use a 1 inch block, or a mild add a leaf, or nothing at all if you like the rearward slope. The spindles will get you the lift you want without replacing additional factory parts. The fabtech kit involves swapping your front springs and upper a arms and cost more. As for the body lift, it is less expensive, but in my opinion it involves more work. I have the fabtech kit, the spindles, and a body lift on my truck and have installed all three myself so I can answer any install questions you might have. This coming spring, I plan on adding an additional 1 inch of body lift, (still legal here in CA.) and installing 38 inch **** Cepeks. (actually only 37 inches.) Check my profile for my pic. Hope this helps.

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99 F150 XLT SC 2WD, Fabtech Suspension, Bullseye Spindles, 3" body lift, Centerlines with 35" BFG Mud Terrains.

 

One more item that is supposed to be available the first of the year is a 5 inch suspension lift from Explorer Pro-Comp. Check their website from the Product Directory. They use 3 inch spindles and 2 inch lift coils. But they also use lower control arm drop brackets like the 4X4's. I guess that would help steering stability and ride, but you would lose frontal ground clearance. Just another option.

 

Hey Silverback,

I have the spindles only and I'm gonna do the body lift as soon as I get wheels and tires. (Hopefully Right After X-mas). I posted a pic of Patrico's truck to give you an idea ( I hope you don't mind Patrico ) of what you can do. Its also what I'm shooting for. I'm gonna try and run 35's with the spindle and body lifts. I recommend the spindles too. It took me and a buddy about 5 hours to do it but I could probably do it in about 3 now that I understand how to. I have a 1" block in the rear and the truck sits level. http://www.angelfire.com/la2/ccla

BTW, Hey Patrico how are you gonna fab an additional 1" body lift? just curious. And man is that truck gonna sit high !!!!
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98 F150 2WD,Bright Red, Regular Cab, 4.2, 3.55, 5 Speed, Superchip, 2 Superchip Decals (I Think They Add 5 HP Each), 3 Inch Bullseye Lift Spindles, Manik Grill Guard,Nerf Bars, Vent Visors, Fog Lights Mounted In Front Air Dam ,2 Kc DayLighters, Back Up Lights, Alpine CD Player, 2 Kenwood Amps, 10 Inch MTX Blue Thunder SubWoofer, Tinted Windows. And Coming Soon: 3 Inch Body Lift Kit, 16.5 x 9.75 American Racing Baja Wheels Wrapped With 35x12.5x16.5 BFG All Terrains



[This message has been edited by ccla (edited 12-05-1999).]

 

I don't mind at all, ccla. As for the additional 1 inch, I think I'm going to use 4 inch diameter steel round stock and have a 3 inch diameter circle cut out 1/4 inch deep so that it can cradle the existing plastic 3 inch block. The steel stock isn't cheap but I have a friend who has access to a metal shop. Of course I'll need a longer fuel hose and new brackets for the bumpers, etc. It will take some careful planning. I have a question about your grill guard. What are you going to do about mounting it when you install your body lift? Also I think 35's will fit fine with the spindles and body lift. You might have to trim a little plastic from the inner fenderwell, but that's no big deal.

 

Patrico, I think your right about the extra lift taking some carefull planning. You're much braver than I am. About the Grille Guard, I was planning on Making a new bracket to mount the guard to the frame. Kinda like an extension bracket. I was gonna use maybe 1/4 steel or Alum. I'm also planning on making a custom Skid plate from the front, At an angle from the frame down to the axles with holes in it. ( I'm sure you've seen what I'm talking about. Also thanks for the assurance about the 35's fitting I was gonna order them without knowing. If they didn't fit I was gonna have to save up another 800.00 for the Fabtech kit.

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98 F150 2WD,Bright Red, Regular Cab, 4.2, 3.55, 5 Speed, Superchip, 2 Superchip Decals (I Think They Add 5 HP Each), 3 Inch Bullseye Lift Spindles, Manik Grill Guard,Nerf Bars, Vent Visors,Air Box Mod, Fog Lights Mounted In Front Air Dam ,2 Kc DayLighters, Back Up Lights, Alpine CD Player, 2 Kenwood Amps, 10 Inch MTX Blue Thunder SubWoofer, Tinted Windows. And Coming Soon: 3 Inch Body Lift Kit, 16.5 x 9.75 American Racing Baja Wheels Wrapped With 35x12.5x16.5 BFG All Terrains

Pics @ <A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/la2/ccla
" TARGET=_blank>http://www.angelfire.com/la2/ccla
</A>

 

fordside...thanks for the reply....I have been looking on and off and most people have mentioned Fabtech as well for the 3.5 in lift. I think that's what I want but I don't really understand what bullseye spindles do to lift you 3 inches? What about the rear? I saw a pic ccla posted of Patrico's F150 and that exactly what I want ...that looks awesome.....he's got spindles only and is in the process of getting a b-lift. I hope Im correct stating that or otherwise I misunderstood.... Seen that pic?

 

ccla & Patricio,

Thanks for the reply....Patricio which did you install first the spindles or fabtech kit? When you went with spindles did it cause any prob's with your shocks etc...Im sure this sounds silly to ask but I am totally green here....
ccla the pics shown of your truck are spindles only correct?

 

guys forgot something....if you don't mind what did it run to install this stuff? I realize diff areas of the country it runs more or less but I'm looking for ballbark...I wanna do it just looking for the right one and the money gonna be the determining factor


Thanks

 

Patricio,

another green question how much or what was the total lift when you did the fabtech and spindles together?

 

With my current truck, I installed the body lift one weekend and the Fabtech kit and the spindles both on the next weekend. I didn't waste any time, the truck wasn't even a month old at the time. As far as shocks, you technically only need different front shocks with the Fabtech kit because the mounting points are extended due to the new coil springs. Spindles nor the body lift do this. As for the rear, with spindles or springs alone, you'll need one inch of lift in the rear and shouldn't require new shocks. However with the spindles and springs together, you'll be using about 4 inches of rear lift and will require longer shocks. But no matter what you do, replacing the stock shocks is a good idea because they suck.
I can't give you any install prices since I did all the work myself.
And the combined advertised lift of the spindles and coil springs is 6 1/2 inches. I never measured to verify this. But it is high enough for 35's.

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99 F150 XLT SC 2WD, Fabtech Suspension, Bullseye Spindles, 3" body lift, Centerlines with 35" BFG Mud Terrains.

 

I too installed the spindles Myself. And I'm gonna do the body lift myself. Labor would probably be almost as expensive as the parts. More so on the body lift. I knew nothing about cars until I got my truck and I had little problems doing the spindles. It's really not bad at all once you rent a ball joint puller! Good Luck

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98 F150 2WD,Bright Red, Regular Cab, 4.2, 3.55, 5 Speed, Superchip, 2 Superchip Decals (I Think They Add 5 HP Each), 3 Inch Bullseye Lift Spindles, Manik Grill Guard,Nerf Bars, Vent Visors,Air Box Mod, Fog Lights Mounted In Front Air Dam ,2 Kc DayLighters, Back Up Lights, Alpine CD Player, 2 Kenwood Amps, 10 Inch MTX Blue Thunder SubWoofer, Tinted Windows. And Coming Soon: 3 Inch Body Lift Kit, 16.5 x 9.75 American Racing Baja Wheels Wrapped With 35x12.5x16.5 BFG All Terrains

Pics @ <A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/la2/ccla
" TARGET=_blank>http://www.angelfire.com/la2/ccla
</A>

 

Guys,

Many thanks for your insight.....I am going to at the least add the fabtech kit.. and from there see how she looks.....If things are the way I want them then the spindles are next.....again thanks...


Silver

 

Iwould also suggest researching not only Fabtech Motorsports but also Camburg Engineering in Huntington Beach, Ca. I don't know their # but you could find it in a mag probably.