Torsion Bar's and Lifting
 

I have a 1998 F-150 4.6 4X4 non-off road package. I want to lift the truck and wandering can I do this by cranking up my torsion bars, if so how much? If not, why not? I understand that this will only effect the front end and that will have to add blocks to the rear. Also are there any problems with doing this?
Thanks.

Tony D

Hello,
You can lift it by adjusting the torsion bars but I would not lift with them more than an Inch or so. Any more than that and you might as well kiss your nice riding truck goodbye. It also puts tremedous strain on the bars which are not designed for lifting the truck that much. I know someone that have tried to get 3 inches by cranking them down and one of them snapped a couple days later. I recommend if you want more than a inch, you should go with a body lift.

See Ya, Scott

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97 F-150 Black, 4x4 XLT ext.cab,sb,w/Offroad Package,
4" Suspension lift, 3" body lift,
4.56 gears w/LS,
Flowmaster 50 Series w/ duals out rear,
36x14.5x16 Parnelli Jones Dirt Grip tires,
16x10 Eagle Alloys 589 wheels,
Pre-Runner Bumper w/KC Daylighters,Steel Horse Billet Upper and Lower Grilles,
Westin nerf bars,
Pro-Comp Front Skid Plate,
Summit Aluminum Diff cover,
Rancho 9000's and remote,
Lift Lips,
Lighted FORD logo,
K&N Filter,
Superchip,
Bosch Platinum +4,
TransGo Shift kit,
Clear corner lenses,
Altezza style Tailight covers,
Bug shield,Tinted windows
Sony ES Mobile head unit,Sony ES Mobile changer,MTX Thunderform sub,Boston Acoustic Pro-Series up front, Polk in rear,PPI & Coustic Amps,Alpine Alarm

Check it out at:
http://hometown.aol.com/squanto804/scottwebpage.html

All that plus you will lose down travel.

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My Ride: 1998 F150 4x4 Lariat Supercab Flareside 5.4L in Oxford White/gold, ORP, Tow Package, 3.55 Gears.

Modifications: K&N FIPK, Stepshield door sill protectors, Performance Accesories 3" body lift, Lift Lips, Gabriel Gas Ryder LT VST Shocks and Daystar front anti-sway bar polyurethane bushings.

Photos at: http://www.communicomgroup.com/jmtruck

Thanks guys. I really want to lift the truck but I dont know how I want to do it! A body lift looks O.K. I guess, but shows to much of the frame and a suspension lift is to darn expensive! Any thoughts and which way would you go.

Tony

I will say go with the body lift. I will be as soon as my tire swear out. I looked into going with a suspension lift and it looks to me that it is just a bunch of spacers. You don't get new springs with most kits and you keep your tortion bars as well. If I'm going to put 1500 into a suspension system I want beefier springs and no blocks and ball joint spacers.
The whole reason I want a lift is to run a bigger tire. All I want is a 315/75/16 (35x12.50). I can do this with a 3" body lift for a lot cheaper. And I will keep my nice ride, plus I will use the money I saved from going with the body lift and put new gears in 4.56.

Just my rambling thoughts.

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97 4X4 Flareside
4.6 5-Speed
Superchipped
ASP underdrives
Airaid
Dynamax headers
Borla Cat-back
Clear corners
5% Tint
285/75/16 BFG All terr.
16x8 AR Baha's
Rancho 9000's

Soon to come:
3" Perf. Acc. body lift
w/lift lips
315/75/16 BFG KO's
4000K bulbs

Any GOOD pictures that show the lift installed, a profile shot is O.K.,etc. As for the kit, which one to get, cost and where from?

Thanks

Tony

In my case this is how much the cab steps help hiding the frame. New tires will be here next week.
http://www.communicomgroup.com/jmtru...ody-mods01.gif

http://www.communicomgroup.com/jmtru...ody-mods04.gif

Hope this may help you in some way. For more pictures of my truck with this body lift go to my site.

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My Ride: 1998 F150 4x4 Lariat Supercab Flareside 5.4L in Oxford White/gold, ORP, Tow Package, 3.55 Gears.

Modifications: K&N FIPK, Stepshield door sill protectors, Performance Accesories 3" body lift, Lift Lips, Gabriel Gas Ryder LT VST Shocks and Daystar front anti-sway bar polyurethane bushings.

Photos at: http://www.communicomgroup.com/jmtruck

[This message has been edited by JMTruck (edited 11-06-2000).]

[This message has been edited by JMTruck (edited 11-06-2000).]

[This message has been edited by JMTruck (edited 11-06-2000).]

Hey JM very nice. I think I'm sold. If you don't mind what's the cost?

Tony

Torsion bar lift, front 4x4 only:

tools:
tape measure
1/2 socket wrench
wd40 or pentration oil
18mm socket

Get under the truck. In about the middle of the doors there is a crossmember. If you look at each side you will see 2 bolts there. That is how you adjust the bars. Lube them up with the oil or wd40.

First check your tire pressure. Make sure each tire has equal pressure in it!!!!

Second, measure the top of the wheel well directly thru the center of the wheel. Do this for both sides and mark the measurements on paper. Also measure the same thing on the rear. Now if one side is lower than the other, you can adjust the lower side. Basically 1 full turn of the adjustment bolts is about 1/2" of lift.

Once you get each side level up front, then crank the bars in 1/2 turns until the front is about 1/2" lower then the rear. After each 1/2 turn, bounce on the front bumper about 2-3 times and measure. Do not exceed 3 turns on the bolts or more than 1 1/4" lift in the front. This will create excessive angles on the CV joints and cause premature wear!!!!

After that, drive the truck and check the measurements again side to side. You should have an alignment done on the truck after this for maximum tire life since increasing the A-arms above level will create a toe-in situation.

Remeber that with body lifts, there is a chance that your body will fly off your frame in a accident, it's been known to happen with 3" body lifts. Just make sure you get bigger bolts with your lift kit than you have from the factory.



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Never let your schooling interfere with your education --Mark Twain

AH-64MTP

I bought the kit for $123.00 from JCWhitney like three or four months ago. But many dealers sells it.

I did consider the safety factor when installing the body lift and let me tell you this is a great kit. Very well done and in the process we keep the cab safety cables in place.

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My Ride: 1998 F150 4x4 Lariat Supercab Flareside 5.4L in Oxford White/gold, ORP, Tow Package, 3.55 Gears.

Modifications: K&N FIPK, Stepshield door sill protectors, Performance Accesories 3" body lift, Lift Lips, Gabriel Gas Ryder LT VST Shocks and Daystar front anti-sway bar polyurethane bushings.

Photos at: http://www.communicomgroup.com/jmtruck

Thanks guys looking forward to sending some pictures

Tony D

Here is my truck just leveled enough with cranking the torsion bars. Looks ggod to me but who am I...steve

Remember this is basically a free mod.

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http://www.my-f150.com/steveo/dsclear2.jpg

• -1999 Ford F-150 Supercab Flareside ORP
• -4.6 Liter V-8, Auto, 3.55 LS Rear
• -Deep Wedgewood Blue
• -Flowmaster Delta Flow Series 40 single 2.5" inlet w/dual 2.5" outlets
• -Two 18" Adcar Stainless Steel Exhaust Tips
• -Lund Lighted Moon Visor (painted)
• -Lund Interceptor Bug Guard (painted)
• -Deflecta-Shield Window Rain Guards (painted)
• -Delecta-Shield Slotted Tail Light Covers (painted)
• -Manik Grille Guard
• -Ford Factory Cab Steps
• -Extang Soft Bed Cover
• -Yellow Under Car Strip Lights
• -Ford Lighted Ovals Front and Back
• -Tinted Windows (5% totally illegal)
• -Pioneer P725R CD Player w/Flip Face Head Unit
• -Superwhite Headlight Bulbs (from Online Store)
• -K&N Air Filter
• -Air Box Silencer Removed
• -Tail Light Modification
• -Lots of Blue Wire Loom Under Hood
• -Cranked Torsion Bars to Level Truck Out

In Loving Memory of Craig W. Menth Sr. Maltese Cross Fire Memorial Sticker

http://www.my-f150.com/steveo/coollogo_com.14723664

http://njf150truckclub.homestead.com/index.html
www.my-f150.com/steveo
steveo@f150fanatic.com


[This message has been edited by steveo (edited 11-10-2000).]

[This message has been edited by steveo (edited 11-11-2000).]

I'm going to try it. Thanks

Dear Steve O:

If you'd resize the picture of your very beautiful truck to something that will fit on a normal screen the rest of the text will shrink back to also fit a more normal screen.