salans7 Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Shaun - I'm not likely to take their recommendations with any amount of salt. They don't know and don't know they don't know, and that's hard to fix. Anyway, I'm starting to come to the conclusion that I may have to piece this together. And, while that's not the way I'd like to go, it does open up some possibilities. For instance, if it doesn't come with springs or the track bar, then I think that I could use SuperDuty springs. And, Sky has the PanHard/track bar for $100 for poly bushings and $120 for Heim joints. Am I right about this? And, I got the email. As said, I'll follow up. Thanks! They have two different kits, one for OBS springs @ 52" in length, and one for Super Duty springs, which are 56" in length. You can't mix and match the kits, so you will have to determine which spring you would like to run and buy that specific kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted May 16, 2019 Author Share Posted May 16, 2019 They have two different kits, one for OBS springs @ 52" in length, and one for Super Duty springs, which are 56" in length. You can't mix and match the kits, so you will have to determine which spring you would like to run and buy that specific kit. Got it. While the SD kit is more money, is there any reason other than that to shy away from it? I think I located and SD to get the springs from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salans7 Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Got it. While the SD kit is more money, is there any reason other than that to shy away from it? I think I located and SD to get the springs from. The good thing about the Super Duty kit is that it includes the lo-pro shackle hangers and shackles which will correct any funky shackle angles you might have ended up with otherwise. You also get the best riding springs, so it's really a win-win. It's more than likely the kit I'm gonna go with since Super Duty springs are more prevalent in lift sizes. Plus they're cheaper. Be forewarned however that you may have to trim your front bumper if you're running a stock one instead of the Warn bumper. But if you still have the Warn, you might be okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Shaun - I'm not likely to take their recommendations with any amount of salt. They don't know and don't know they don't know, and that's hard to fix. Anyway, I'm starting to come to the conclusion that I may have to piece this together. And, while that's not the way I'd like to go, it does open up some possibilities. For instance, if it doesn't come with springs or the track bar, then I think that I could use SuperDuty springs. And, Sky has the PanHard/track bar for $100 for poly bushings and $120 for Heim joints. Am I right about this? And, I got the email. As said, I'll follow up. Thanks! Gary remember that in addition to the panhard bar you need the bracket that bolts to the cross member you need to replace. So, you'll need to get that cross member from a 350 or buy the bracket from Ford or aftermarket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted May 17, 2019 Author Share Posted May 17, 2019 Gary remember that in addition to the panhard bar you need the bracket that bolts to the cross member you need to replace. So, you'll need to get that cross member from a 350 or buy the bracket from Ford or aftermarket. Shaun - I'm running the Warn bumper. I might change at some point but it isn't going to be to a stock bumper as I have the winch. And if I change it'll be one I design, which will take into account the spring mounts. But thanks for the Warn-ing. Jim - Is that the bracket for the panhard bar? And are you saying I need to get a cross member from a 350? Or, I think you may be saying that if I get the cross member from a 4wd 350 it'll have the bracket. And if not I can buy it from Ford or aftermarket. Ok, I think I see a plan emerging from the fog. I have feelers out everywhere, but unless one of them hits pay dirt with a whole truck or at least every component I need, then I'll: Get the cross member from the local salvage Pick up a D60 axle and tie rods Buy F350 SuperDuty springs for a D60, and I think I have a pair located at the same salvage as the cross member Buy the Sky SuperDuty kit Add the bracket if the cross member doesn't have it. Buy a drop pitman arm Does that sound like a decent plan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 Shaun - I'm running the Warn bumper. I might change at some point but it isn't going to be to a stock bumper as I have the winch. And if I change it'll be one I design, which will take into account the spring mounts. But thanks for the Warn-ing. Jim - Is that the bracket for the panhard bar? And are you saying I need to get a cross member from a 350? Or, I think you may be saying that if I get the cross member from a 4wd 350 it'll have the bracket. And if not I can buy it from Ford or aftermarket. Ok, I think I see a plan emerging from the fog. I have feelers out everywhere, but unless one of them hits pay dirt with a whole truck or at least every component I need, then I'll: Get the cross member from the local salvage Pick up a D60 axle and tie rods Buy F350 SuperDuty springs for a D60, and I think I have a pair located at the same salvage as the cross member Buy the Sky SuperDuty kit Add the bracket if the cross member doesn't have it. Buy a drop pitman arm Does that sound like a decent plan? Gary, Your post I was replying to was asking about using a 460/IDI cross member from a 250. In that case you would need the bracket because 250's have pivots and no panhard mount. The pitman arm from a 350 might work. At least it seems to for some that install an RSK in their 350 trucks without installing lift springs. So my thought was 'buy a wrecked 350. all the parts are there. But 250->350->RSK is looking like ~4" and the 250 pitman arm is not going to work with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 Shaun - I'm running the Warn bumper. I might change at some point but it isn't going to be to a stock bumper as I have the winch. And if I change it'll be one I design, which will take into account the spring mounts. But thanks for the Warn-ing. Jim - Is that the bracket for the panhard bar? And are you saying I need to get a cross member from a 350? Or, I think you may be saying that if I get the cross member from a 4wd 350 it'll have the bracket. And if not I can buy it from Ford or aftermarket. Ok, I think I see a plan emerging from the fog. I have feelers out everywhere, but unless one of them hits pay dirt with a whole truck or at least every component I need, then I'll: Get the cross member from the local salvage Pick up a D60 axle and tie rods Buy F350 SuperDuty springs for a D60, and I think I have a pair located at the same salvage as the cross member Buy the Sky SuperDuty kit Add the bracket if the cross member doesn't have it. Buy a drop pitman arm Does that sound like a decent plan? When you showed the hacking of Big Blue's cross member, and then David found the $1250 eBay one, I thought... Gary dislikes the 250 ride and hopes to take this truck off-road, the engine is already out... heck he could buy a trashed F-350 and fix all these issues at once while it is already apart. I never intended to lure you back down the rabbit hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted May 17, 2019 Author Share Posted May 17, 2019 Gary, Your post I was replying to was asking about using a 460/IDI cross member from a 250. In that case you would need the bracket because 250's have pivots and no panhard mount. The pitman arm from a 350 might work. At least it seems to for some that install an RSK in their 350 trucks without installing lift springs. So my thought was 'buy a wrecked 350. all the parts are there. But 250->350->RSK is looking like ~4" and the 250 pitman arm is not going to work with that. Ahhh! Dawn. Marble Head. Got it. I agree that a wrecked 350 is the best of all worlds. Shaun put me onto what MAY be an '89 350 flatbed dually for sale. It is on ebay, but the listing's heading is about the front axle, while the pics are of the truck itself. So I need to understand if they are selling the truck or just the axle. I've sent them an email to understand. However, here's what I can decode from the certification label: - Model code K = 1989 - F384: 11,000# GVWR C&C - Engine code G = 460 - Trans code M = 5 speed OD, and supposedly the Mazda R2??? - Axle code 65 = 4.10 Ford Would the hubs on a C&C be the extended ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted May 17, 2019 Author Share Posted May 17, 2019 When you showed the hacking of Big Blue's cross member, and then David found the $1250 eBay one, I thought... Gary dislikes the 250 ride and hopes to take this truck off-road, the engine is already out... heck he could buy a trashed F-350 and fix all these issues at once while it is already apart. I never intended to lure you back down the rabbit hole. I do absolutely dislike the ride. And given the lack of articulation in the front end, this thing won't do very well off road - and be painful doing it. So, I eagerly followed you down the rabbit hole. Maybe something will come of this, and maybe not. But one thing I've learned about me is that I like to learn, and this has been a learning exercise, for sure. To quote the book: The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well. Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly..... ...when suddenly, thump! thump! down she came upon a heap of sticks and dry leaves, and the fall was over. Alice was not a bit hurt, ... So now I have a bit of knowledge about axles, springs, SAS's, etc. Perhaps I will use it on Big Blue, but maybe not. In any case, I'm not hurt a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 Ahhh! Dawn. Marble Head. Got it. I agree that a wrecked 350 is the best of all worlds. Shaun put me onto what MAY be an '89 350 flatbed dually for sale. It is on ebay, but the listing's heading is about the front axle, while the pics are of the truck itself. So I need to understand if they are selling the truck or just the axle. I've sent them an email to understand. However, here's what I can decode from the certification label: - Model code K = 1989 - F384: 11,000# GVWR C&C - Engine code G = 460 - Trans code M = 5 speed OD, and supposedly the Mazda R2??? - Axle code 65 = 4.10 Ford Would the hubs on a C&C be the extended ones? The hubs on any dually would be extended. Because the rims are offset enough that running them back to back in the rear separates them enough that the rims and tires don't rub . This is also why a dually has narrower tires than the 235/85-16 we pickup guys think of as 'pizza cutters' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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