lift /big tires-terribble handling

[hillbillyhighboy]

Hello, I have a 70 highboy with 3 inches of body and 6 inches of suspension lift with 40 inch tires. It handles terribble as expected I guess. But is there anyone out there who has acheived safe handling with a big truck like this and if so how? Would anti sway bars be a good idea? Thanks Josh

[heep70]

and to the forum. Have you checked to see how loose or tight the steering components are? Shocks new/old. Swaybars will help, but you loose the articulation when 4xing. What type of tire are you running? Radials as you know handle way better the bias-ply. My first thing to check is all the steering components. Check to make sure you have the correct drop pitman arm.

Hit the Welcome Mat when you get a chance and we love to see pics.

[flyboy2610]

I'm not much help with lifted trucks, but I would like to extend a heartfelt "Hi, howahya, and welcome!"
Stop by the welcome mat and tell us about yourself.
Include some pics of your truck if you have them.
We love pics here!

[cobraF100]

hillbillyhighboy,

heep70,

Hit the Welcome Mat when you get a chance and we love to see pics.

[customcrewcab]

welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pat67shorty]

High steer conversion.

[hillbillyhighboy]

I'm glad to find a bunch of friendly people, thanks for the warm welcome. I will try to get pictures of my truck on here sometime soon. I have no scanner and I'm relatively computer retarded. I currently have dick cepeck tires on the truck (on there when I bought it). Thinking of radial tsl super swampers(any advice on the most agressive yet handles ok to drive the steets tire would be great also). The steering column does have worn out parts and I think that is most of the problem and I'm working on that. I can grab the steering shart and move it an inch any direction. So I took it to a mechanic and he told me the steering box would have to be angled to compensate for the body lift. He said get a whole new colum a power steering pump and a steering box and bring it to him. So I wandered around in a junk yard trying to find these thinks, not knowing what parts would jive together I still havent gotten it fixed. Then I took it to another mechanic because it the truck started vibrateing terribley while engaged in gear. This mechanic replaced all my u joints and my main driveshaft and also the transmission mounts I belieive. He still has it and is replacing all the seals and bearings in the front pumpkin. He said the angle of the steering box is fine because the u joint in the steering rod compensates for the angle? I forgot to mention it doesnt have power steering and I am hopeing to get it. I am not experienced in mechanical work, but always dreamed of being able to do my own work. So now I am trying to pay mechanics to get the truck on the road so I can enjoy it sometime soon. Then after it can be driven I want to start out with small improvements on my own. This forum has me very excited to try to do something because now I can get help. I really havent been able to drive it because the steering was so bad when I bought it. Sorry for this giant pile of confusing words I have typed. I will get this out of my system soon, this forum is just a great find for me please bear w/ me. '' and no I 'm not a woman''

[heep70]

Ya, you should diffinitly rebuild the steering column or replace it with something better. Did you try to find a u-joint for the intermediate shaft yet. They discontinued them. I found one that fits its a "Precision 861" used on PTO shafts. I built me a new intermediate shaft using a slip joint from a newer F250 and the yokes from my origonal shaft and a parts shaft. I now have u-joints in both ends and it is solid. Pic below.

If you are going to drive this on the road I would go with the TSL Swamper Radial or the SSR. http://www.intercotire.com/site29.php The others are more for offroad and handle terrible on road special when aired down.

Man, how do you turn the steering wheel with the big tires and armstrong steering?

[hillbillyhighboy]

Thanks for the pic and tire info. The play with the steering shaft actually is right where it comes through the fire wall. I should probably do what you did w/theshaft anyway to save on future repair. Should I rebuild the manual steering column or swap for a column out of a power steering equiped truck and try to convert everything over as ford intended. Or do you think it would be better to use the manual steering stuff and try to make a simple hydrulic pump addition using the manual steering set-up I have? And about my drop pitman arms that I dont think I have. Are these ones curved down like a forged twist? My friend had mentioned this to me and showed his chevy to me awhile back. Mine where straight I believe (truck in shop still). Where would I get these at ? Thanks again its greatly appreciated, Josh P.S. Steering it sucks but I'm only 22 an can deal w/ it to ride high in my old ford ''still sucks though''

[heep70]

You should check with your local 4x4 parts shop. I know Skyjacker makes several lifts for our Fords. Either you need the right pitman arm or extend your drag link.

Here is one way to convert to P.S. (below) I did this one. It works really well, but I only run 33s and locked in both ends. You can also install the 73-79 Saginaw boxes. F.O.R.D. is presently doing his. In my opinion its up to you which column you want to run. Anything will work. Where there is a will there is a way. I still have my stock column. I may one day switch to a tilt, but who knows when that will happen.

460 Crew is also another person to talk to about cross over P.S. steering.

F250 4X4 P.S. Conversion Article

[hillbillyhighboy]

Thanks I'll check it all out. Josh

[460 crew]

Welcome Hillbilly. You definately need pics of your truck up. Your column is a pretty easy fix with the new bearings in there and a few other pieces. With those 40in tires I dunno how much I'd like the manual steering. I just had the 33's when I got mine and decided on the PS conversion. My kit included a bourgeses shaft and 2 u-joints for the ends and you cut it to fit your truck. My conversion used the 2wd ford PS box and fits in there nicely. After I decided I wanted to run bigger tires than the 35's I have on there nowand the Skyjacker 4in lift and maybey a dual shock setup,so I'd have to put together a crossover setup. If you are interseted in all my sources for either conversion PM me. Remember to do the crossover steering you'll have to do the PS conversion 1st to get the pitman arm under the frame and not parallel with it. Another option is the bolt on ford PS assist ram setup, With a rebuilt ram and new hoses I think it might hold up pretty well. If interested in this deal I have pics of it installed and have 3 setups laying around. On your tires the TSL and SSR's would be great and another Interco selection is the Radial Irok I havent heard anything bad about em yet. Also the Nitto Mud grapplers look like a nice tires and beefy looking.Most important thing is to weigh all your options and don't try each one to decide or you have alot of extra parts laying around.