1988 Bronco II Virginia Trail Build

[RumPunch]

No went with the Duff add-a-leaf the springs came from Advance down the street. This was an ordeal from 6 months ago or more.. Initially gave me shackles when I ordered springs. So now I get to fight them over getting my money back and try to find the correct springs. @ecgreen I know you installed new springs, do you by chance know where/what you bought? Going back on the hunt for parts again..

 

[ecgreen]

No went with the Duff add-a-leaf the springs came from Advance down the street. This was an ordeal from 6 months ago or more.. Initially gave me shackles when I ordered springs. So now I get to fight them over getting my money back and try to find the correct springs. @ecgreen I know you installed new springs, do you by chance know where/what you bought? Going back on the hunt for parts again..

I honestly can't remember where I ordered them. I think it was general spring. Not sure though. I am guessing that most leaf springs are mad by the same company or companies. Maybe check out rock auto?

 

[Uncle Gump]

So you measured the main leafs eye to eye and they're 12 inches shorter?

I wonder what the hell those even fit on.

 

[RumPunch]

Eyeballed it I mean 10-12” shorter. New springs ordered from Rockauto. Should be in next week. Now I’ll have to fight for my $ back from Advance.

State of the BII as of now..

 

[RumPunch]

Didn't get any time this weekend but planning to fit a squat/bench rack in this garage as well and came to the conclusion tires mounted on wheels take up less room then separate. So had to roll one over to the truck... I like it. Ordered a 5th from a junkyard in NY but never called back about shipping, need to follow up on that today.

 

[RumPunch]

Well small accomplishments. Got 4 of the tires mounted. And a broken fuel filter housing on the 84 F150.

 

[RumPunch]

This James Duff kit continues to disappoint me. Finally got the correct doings, now their add a leaf doesn’t fit between any pair correctly. Wear it does fit it falls directly on the rivet holding the the spring clamp in place.. very poor engineering across the board. Hind sight Sky Jacker kit all day long. Guess it’s time to break out the torch.

 

[RumPunch]

Well modded the springs, well one of them, and got it in the truck. Hoping to get both sides done the back bumper installed and then load it to take to a friend's and finish the lift. That would be the first time it's left my road in nearly 2 years. Had NO clue this would drag on this long but progress is still, slowly, happening. Not sure if this is the "amount" of lift I was thinking but it looks to clear well and setup seems to match so I'm happy. New springs and hardware and Diff 3" add-a-leaves.

Also my 5th wheel showed up. Car-part.com is great for sourcing through pictures.. found this looking for an axle for a 75-79 Ram(5x4.5 lug pattern).

 

[RumPunch]

Current situation... Thank goodness for 3/4" tools

 

[Uncle Gump]

Even those don't always work... fire can be your friend.

 

[RumPunch]

She's broke free! Just a lot to ratchet that big ol thing. We're getting there.

 

[RumPunch]

Vacation to Cedar Island with the girlfriend and her son this week coming up then this is getting loaded up to finish the front lift at a friend's with a car lift and then just have to remember how the dash goes back together

 

[RumPunch]

Well as of now it has the gasser look.. rear springs all in. Finally.. although I torqued the passenger side to spec of Duff's instructions and can visibly tell hardware is stretched so guess I will get wth them next week and get some new u-bolts... The saga continues.

 

[RumPunch]

So after installing the rear lift I noticed the ubolts were bent... These are ubolts supplied by James Duff and came with instructions for torque values. I have NEVER torqued a set of ubolts in my life have always run the 1/2" impact with 120-150+ psi until the socket stops( I have probably installed 100+ lift kits). Never seen a set bend.. But since this project is my first true personal project I decided hey, I have a 1/2" torque wrench(which is calibrated and accurate) and have time so let's play by the instructions sent. 20,40,60 then 80lb ft in a crisscross pattern then recheck at 50 miles 100 and periodically. So I cut off excess( as in instructions) and torqued to spec. Dropped the right side on the ground and did the left. Started looking and damn they're bent... Maybe torque is wrong.. Called Duff and was told "Sorry we have a case on this and yours was sent out with wrong specs. File a warranty and we'll get you new ubolts shipped with new torque specs!" I asked how long and was told don't know.. so I filed warranty and started waiting. The next day I received an RMA label with instructions to "Send the old ones back, as soon as we see movement in tracking we will send you a new set". I responded to the email asking if they really expected me to pull the old bent ubolts out and DOWN the truck with an unknown wait time for new. Explained their insane gesture and my unpleased experience with the American Made company ( who clearly outsources ubolts from the CHEAPEST vendor they can find). I didn't hear a response for 2 days. I then replied all again asking for a response. The following day I was sent an apologetic email with we are sending you new ubolts you will receive tracking this afternoon. The NEXT day I got tracking. Today (3 days later) I got my ubolts. Low and behold they are the EXACT same as the first set, including instructions. So I took some more of my hard to find time to replace the crap ones on the truck. Cut them to length and swapped over, used Loctite copper antisieze and started torquing (watching ever so closely). Just as a reminder first spec is 20lb ft. So I set my wrench and started. Click click click click all good. Twisted it up to a whopping 40 lb ft( these are 1/2" ubolts) click click..... Oh look they're bent. I had no intention of complaining or digging the "Best in the business" made in America company when I ordered a $2500+ dollar 3" lift kit for a 1980's vehicle.. In short I will be sourcing ubolts from a local hardware facility and I will NEVER do business with James Duff again. I plan to call tomorrow and hope to return the entire system prior to installing. I would go back and get a Skyjacker get in an instant. I hope this saves others the heartache because I know that ladder listed plan will never work for full money back. Even though the front is not installed. The service, shipping, and quality have been some of the lowest I have ever received. What a waste...

First set

Second set(torqued to 40lb ft)

Instructions

 

[SPUDLEYDORIGHt]

Thank-you for the thorough explanation of your experience w/ Duff. I had been looking at some things on their site and now have decided to go elsewhere. Sorry that you have to go though this.