Hello everyone!
Ok heres the situation, I bought my 98 extended cab 2wd F150 back in 2002.
The truck has survived 2 teenage drivers and now I am wanting to repair everything that it was put through! Basically I am very interested in lifting the truck and hopefully run a set of 33's under it. Due to a tight budget (and a wife that doesn't quite see the point) I am looking at a 3" bodylift and a 3" suspension lift. I have been looking at the rough country stuff due to price. Is this a decent brand? Also the truck currently has 2"drop coils in the front and has been rolling around on 20"rims.
So I am guessing that the rough country leveling springs would have to be installed as well. Now the rear end also has 3.08 gears, would these have to be changed to work with a set of 33's?
This is what I am looking at installing:

http://www.roughcountry.com/ford_2wd..._leveling.html
http://www.roughcountry.com/suspensi...t-kit_528.html
Along with the 3" body lift.
My apologies if I am posting in the wrong spot or if the links above don't work.
Thanks again guys

 

You only need about 3" of lift or so to clear 33's. If you do all that you'll be sitting at 8.5", that's a little much for 33's. And unless your doing the body lift yourself I wouldn't worry about, if your on a tight budget install is gonna be outta your range for it. And rough country is a decent brand but also check ebay for springtech lifts, it'll save you a little more and there good quality all of us who have them on here have had no complaints, other than the shocks they include don't last long but thats to be expected.

If they dropped the front of the truck, how did they drop the rear? The trucks already have some rake to them with the back higher so dropping the front would but it down really far.

 

Hmmm would 35's work with this better? But I imagine the gearing issue would really become a factor. Yes?

 

Well anyways is that Rough country 3" lift a decent one? And would my rear end be a problem?

 

And BTW that is a sweet looking truck!

 

Rough country is good, I added some more info to my first post. And yea you definitely would have to regear to run 35's, I'd recommend it to run 33's eventually. It's not something that has to be done right away but it should be done soon if you go with 33's. But if you went with your original plan you might be able to get 36's or 37's under there if you regear.

 

The rear has been returned to stock, originally had some cheap drop shackles on it, one was busted and actually had the leaf rubbing through the bed.

 

Geezus! Is it cheaper to buy an entire rear axla over the cost of regearing? I have looked at some of the other posts about regearing and my Lord 1500.00 bones to do so!
Wow!

 

Since you are 2wd it should just be cost of gears/master install kit and less than $500 to install

 

Phew!!! Now thats more like it! So what Gear ratio do you guys recommend? Planning probably going with 33s for now and maybe 35s in the future.

 

Since you have 3.08 gears and stock tires were 235/70/16 if I am correct, if you were to put 33s on then a gear ratio of 3.55 would put you back in stock rpm but 33s weigh more than 29s (stock size) so then you would probably want to go to a taller gear like 3.73 or 4.10. With 35s, a gear ratio of 3.73 would get you close to stock but again weight will play a part so 4.10s would put you close. Of course most would recommend 4.56 for 35s so hopefully someone else with chime in with experience on regearing from 3.08

 

Thanks alot guys!

 

Can gears and an install kit be purchased at the local parts store?

 

Most likely only at a differential shop. Most buy them online. What engine do you have?

 

Most places that can do the install can also get the parts for you, and I was quoted 450 for my install with parts.