Lift Blocks Legal??

[averagef250]

I'm not going to touch the lift blocks instead I'm gonna take the leaf packs off of my 72 Camper Special parts truck and combine some of its leafs with the pack on the highboy and make me a lift.

So let me get this straight here. Your plan is to take some low arch 2wd rear leafs that are 2 1/4" wide and mix them in with the 3" wide front springs under your F250 4x4? Yeah, that'll work super.

Camper special really means nothing suspension wise. The CS trucks got a front sway bar, some extra wiring and neat badge. They have the same springs as any other 2wd 250. F-250 4x4's use heavier rear springs, they're the same spring pack as an F-350 single wheel 2wd.

[FordTruck]

I'm not going to touch the lift blocks instead I'm gonna take the leaf packs off of my 72 Camper Special parts truck and combine some of its leafs with the pack on the highboy and make me a lift.

So let me get this straight here. Your plan is to take some low arch 2wd rear leafs that are 2 1/4" wide and mix them in with the 3" wide front springs under your F250 4x4? Yeah, that'll work super.

Camper special really means nothing suspension wise. The CS trucks got a front sway bar, some extra wiring and neat badge. They have the same springs as any other 2wd 250. F-250 4x4's use heavier rear springs, they're the same spring pack as an F-350 single wheel 2wd.

So it wouldn't work? I don't have an abundant supply of trucks,money and tools so I'm trying to make the best with what I got. I don't see why adding a couple of F250 to the 4x4 pack wouldn't raise it up if I put them all together and have them re-arched. I looked into the lift kit $700 and all it is is some front leaf springs with a little more arch.

[AlleyCat]

So it wouldn't work? I don't have an abundant supply of trucks,money and tools so I'm trying to make the best with what I got. I don't see why adding a couple of F250 to the 4x4 pack wouldn't raise it up if I put them all together and have them re-arched. I looked into the lift kit $700 and all it is is some front leaf springs with a little more arch.

I'd like to politely suggest that you put the idea of a lift on hold until your finances can afford it. A nice stock height truck would be far better than a lifted death trap. Spring leafs ( plys is the correct name ) are designed to work together as an assembly. Mixing plys of different widths is going to create stresses that the designers never thought of.

[72Highboy]

Ok here is my idea but I would only suggest that you do it if you had a friend that can weld and can trust his welds. Payment can be worked out like lets say a case of beer or an I Owe You.

Now the key here would be proper welds, bracing and guessets. The more strength the better. I am using Rattlecan's pictures of his build for reference. Now forgive me on my photoshop with the 3rd picture I was in a hurry.




This would work if you didn't mind on welding to your frame. You would have to calculate the difference between the front of the leaf spring and the rear of the leaf spring. To have the leaf springs sit right, this way you could retain stock leaf spring but still get some height. As for the rear you could spend that money you saved on the front and use it for the rear. Now this would be my idea, I have many friends that are certified welders and would be happy to weld this up for a case of beer and I have access to my school shop that has tons of scrap metal with different size's and thickness if this happened to be my situation. Now in your case you might not have any friends that are certi. welders or have and access to peice's of scrap metal but its just an idea.

The only thing that would consern me would be the two metal flat straps that are bolts to the frame and leaft sping. Those two straps would have to be definitly re-enforced. That would be your one weak link. Again this could be a bad idea but it was just an idea and also safety is the key thing here as stated above sometimes it better to be safe and save up for the proper stuff than to chance it.

[fordman]

actually that is how you are suppose to do the front lifts. not with blocks but by longer shackle placements.

[Redcap]

actually that is how you are suppose to do the front lifts. not with blocks but by longer shackle placements.

No, you are supposed to do a front end lift with the right springs.

[AlleyCat]

This goes back to the original question concerning the legality of lift blocks. IMO if it was a factory installation then the answer would be yes. There are quite a few makes/models of heavy trucks that use riser ( lift ) blocks on the steering axle. The big difference is the blocks are either forged steel or high alloy aluminum sandwiched between the springs and a forged steel axle verses a fabricated block on a stamped steel pad.

[FordTruck]

This would work if you didn't mind on welding to your frame. You would have to calculate the difference between the front of the leaf spring and the rear of the leaf spring. To have the leaf springs sit right, this way you could retain stock leaf spring but still get some height. As for the rear you could spend that money you saved on the front and use it for the rear. Now this would be my idea, I have many friends that are certified welders and would be happy to weld this up for a case of beer and I have access to my school shop that has tons of scrap metal with different size's and thickness if this happened to be my situation. Now in your case you might not have any friends that are certi. welders or have and access to peice's of scrap metal but its just an idea.

The only thing that would consern me would be the two metal flat straps that are bolts to the frame and leaft sping. Those two straps would have to be definitly re-enforced. That would be your one weak link. Again this could be a bad idea but it was just an idea and also safety is the key thing here as stated above sometimes it better to be safe and save up for the proper stuff than to chance it.

I thought about doing that I'm in welding classes to be certified at the local community college but I'm just not shure if I could get away with tearing down my truck in the middle of the weld shop.

[fordman]

actually that is how you are suppose to do the front lifts. not with blocks but by longer shackle placements.

No, you are supposed to do a front end lift with the right springs.

larger arches?

[AlleyCat]

larger arches?

Yes.

[rjewkes]

theres a reason that factory, and aftermarket lift kits use larger arched springs. and a reason why they are all the same width in the same pack.