f150 coil ??? and my suspension plan

[59flatbedford]

ok so im thinking about doing a modular engine swap into my 89 ranger 4x4 ext cab. (yea i know its impossible but i dont care lol). any way i was thinking that to deal with the extra weight of the engine, maybe i could swap in f150 coils instead of the 6 inch skyjacker ones.

But i have some questions but first ill lay out my suspension plans. Im looking for about 4inches of lift front and rear. I was originally going to do a 4 inch skyjacker class 2 kit with 6 inch coils up front and deaver 64 inch lift springs out back with flipped hangers and belltech shackles. But know im thinking of using f150 coils (might swap in the right buckets) and then either use the skyjacker stuff or fabricate my own extended radius arms and brackets,(most likely skyjacker).

So now for the questions
1.how big of lift coils will i need to get 4inches of lift with f150 coils and buckets.

2. Are Explorer bucket any bigger than 2.9l ranger ones (could i swap in explorer spring bucket and fit the f150 coils better)?

3. what kind of ride would this set up give ( I realize it will be stiffer but my truck just kinda floats along the suspension is so soft right now so thats not a bad thing.)

4. um im sure there is a lot more i need to know but dont know what all it is so just through any good info out there i might need.

 

[4x4junkie]

I would think Skyjacker's coils would hold that up no problem, they aren't exactly "soft"...

What's the weight of the engine?

 

[59flatbedford]

well according to what i found a 5.4 sohc (yea i know it wont fit probably have to go 4.6) is about 525lbs. but with the bigger trans and t case im guessing that it will be between 200 to 300 lbs heavier than the 2.9l (about 400 lbs right) and 5 speed.

 

[4x4junkie]

That's not much different than with other V8 swaps. Go with the Skyjacker 6" RBV coils. They should come out right at about a solid 4" lift on that. And even if they don't, then it's only a matter of adding a couple washers under the lower spring seats to bring it up a little more.

 

[59flatbedford]

hmm ok maybe i wont have to worry about it. although my plans are still changing. now im thinking about doing cut beams instead of drop brackets so that might change things a little. but do you know what the spring rate would be on a set of skyjacker coils.

 

[4x4junkie]

SJ's 6" coils are right in the neighborhood of 415 PPI.

 

[59flatbedford]

oh hey thanks for responding with that little bit of info and 6inch coils are about 19inches long or so right.

 

[4x4junkie]

Unloaded, yes. With weight on them you'll need them to be closer to 14.5-15" for 4" of lift (which the SJ coils should come real close to if your total frontend sprung weight is ~2200-2400lbs or so)

 

[bobbywalter]

theres no issues weight wise with the 5.4...


and it will fit. but i would be droppin a ls in before a mod motor any day....i dont think i will ever have the kind of money to match a ls up power wise with a mod and deal with it when i bust it.

 

[59flatbedford]

ok well im looking into other options right now as im looking to possibly do cut and turned beams for 3 inch of lift so not sure what springs im gunna run. coarse i guess i could move i buckets to lower it an inch.