Flipping I beams, to get more lift

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » December 30, 2008, 6:15 pm

I have been thinking of this for a while now.... Garbzs told me it could be done back in June, but did not elaborate on the subject. Can any of you shine some light on whats involved in doing this? or if it is possible at all?

Thank's Guy's

don morris II · Post by **don morris II** » December 30, 2008, 7:01 pm

slick4x4 · Post by **slick4x4** » December 30, 2008, 7:18 pm

......

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » December 30, 2008, 7:21 pm

Heard of guys doing this to get a 2WD pre-runner look to their truck. Seems like it would be a booger to align those upside down beams tho

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » December 30, 2008, 7:26 pm

The Desert pre-runner look is what i am after! I just dont feel like sending 1500 bucks to Autofab for there kit. It is nice enough for the money, But still.... 1500 is more than i wanna spend.

Fanatic · Post by **Fanatic** » December 30, 2008, 7:32 pm

How about lift blocks like the F 100XL
of course this pic is sans motor

62galxe · Post by **62galxe** » December 30, 2008, 7:41 pm

0n my 76 i used 3/4 ton coils cut down 1 coil.with the truck sitting on its wheels the alignment will be way off.what i did was heat the center of the beams with a torch till the wheels were straight.this raised it several inches.

Hawkrod · Post by **Hawkrod** » December 30, 2008, 7:44 pm

Yeah flipping I beams for lift is common and works but I don't have all the details. I do know you will have to go to a big truck alignment shop afterwards to have the caster and camber reset (and they will groan when you roll in!). You also need to switch beams from side to side when you flip them. Hawkrod

Here is a picture from over on FTE (it is a direct link per the Supreme Court ruling regarding deep linking, I promise Ken won't liike it but is legal! Anything that makes him mad is okay with me! LOL):

http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery ... 35.520.390

62galxe · Post by **62galxe** » December 30, 2008, 8:35 pm

hawkrod it says access denied

soultron · Post by **soultron** » December 30, 2008, 8:45 pm

I was hoping to see the picture too. I thought of this exact thing today while driving for two hours.

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » December 30, 2008, 9:03 pm

Access denied! I even tried to copy and paste it and did a search over on fte, but came up with nothing

There is a place here in Tucson that can prolly re-aline the front end Called Arizona spring.
And yes they would Grumble about it i'm sure!

This raises another question? would I have to flip over the spindles, Or, would swapping from right to left cure the problem of the steering links being on the front side instead of behind? ya get where i'm going? Hope so.

Do you Guys think it would be safe?

just want around 4 to 5 more inches of lift.

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » December 30, 2008, 9:09 pm

Sorry, I missed your comment about side to side, Thanks

I think it would work, i'm thinking of doing this to my 65

eaglefan · Post by **eaglefan** » December 30, 2008, 10:37 pm

I would opt to extend the pivot point of each beam the 4 to 5 inches and put in taller coils before I would flip the beams. And yes you would have to flip the spindles if you do flip the beams. I really feel that trying to keep the beams the way that they where intended would be your best bet so extending the mount would not really affect the beams it would just raise your height to where you want it to be. By the way don't forget about using longer brake hoses or moving the originals down to compensate for the height change. Good Luck Randy

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » December 30, 2008, 10:46 pm

Randy, What about the trailing arms? I think they would be at an exterme angle. BUT!! I just removed the spring buckets and pivot brackets from my parts truck and thought that with a little fab work i could make a pivot bracket extensions to get a few inches that would bolt right up to the stock location. who makes taller springs? or what truck would have them that I could get them from.

any thoughts?

eaglefan · Post by **eaglefan** » December 30, 2008, 11:21 pm

I must have had a brain fart you are correct the trailing arm mounts would need to be moved down also because if you didn't it would really mess up the caster in the alingment. I still think that if you can move the mounts down you would be better off. Later Randy

Hawkrod · Post by **Hawkrod** » December 30, 2008, 11:22 pm

Sorry about the picture, I guess you need to be logged in to see it. flipping teh axles gives ground clearance that other methods do not provide. It really is not rocket science except you will have to have the front aligned by a pro. The steering linkage is a minor issue as you can use bolt on steering arms and stock linkage and you don't have to mess with the mounting as the springs and strut arms stay in the same place. Hawkrod

another picture, this one from a thread on the Ranger Station:

eaglefan · Post by **eaglefan** » December 30, 2008, 11:26 pm

I probably should read everything that you wrote before responding! how about making a spacer to use on the top of the coil? Or check out some of the off roading sites taller springs have got to be out there. good luck Randy

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » December 30, 2008, 11:35 pm

Thanks for the pic Hawkrod, I think i am gonna give it a try!

Randy, Check out the autofab link.

http://www.autofab.com/5lift.htm

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » December 30, 2008, 11:49 pm

the big truck shop here will do twin i beam alignments, but they add like 50 bux to the price. i looked into that when i cut my springs on the 68. so i figure any semi truck shop worth their salt can do that for you.

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » December 31, 2008, 10:23 am

Bill...

Do a search on F T E and this will come up on flipping beams.

I read that post years ago there around 2001 from some Alabama dudes doing it.

When flip and switch side to side it needs correction for the castor angle.

I will be doing something similar but with long lower a arm and short upper, Long travel coil over...Some wheel base, frame, full cage and body modifications.. and a few other things...Wicked 300 six and tremec...and at least two feet to the rockers.

Sounds like fun in the sun and dunes......

Garbz

Flipping I beams, to get more lift

Flipping I beams, to get more lift

front end lift

you ars right

springs