What to do...

[85_Ranger4x4]

My 302 swap is done, and it didn't do my /--o-\ alignment any good. My old springs were shot before the swap, and the extra heft hasn't done it any favors.

I need to get the thing aligned anyway, roughly how much would a set of coils out of an Explorer lift the front if at all?

But, my 235/75-15's are in great shape. After all the $$ I put in the swap I am not really wound up to dump a bunch in the suspension and tires just yet so I don't want to go very high.

 

[The_Dealer]

just use some washers. measure the spring length sitting, then jack up the front to where your tires are right, then remeasure spring length. subtract old length from jacked up length and thats how many inches u need, divide that by 1/4" and thats how many washers u will need per side

hope that helps you out, thats what most people do

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

With 26 years and 140k miles on them (and hopefully many more to go) it probably wouldn't be a terrible idea to change them. These feel kinda mooshy with the extra weight, and this thing is guilty of the typical "Ranger Lean" pretty bad. It feels like it needs more spring.

$66 for a pair of brand new 4.0 springs, I think I will probably give it a whirl. After revising my search criteria I have found that they lift about the same as Explorer leaves... 0-2" on a stock less than 4.0 truck depending on how whooped the original springs are. Dunno how a 302 std cab first generation compares with a 4dr Ex, but a little extra height never hurt.

Then down the road when I want to go up I can add washers to these.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have got the springs ready to go, they seem pretty simple on their own to swap.

But are different alignment eccentrics usually required for such things or is there enough adjustment in the stock ones?

 

[legoms013]

Depends. Sometimes you will need different bushings if the change is drastic.....but somtimes not for example if you added 1 or 2 washers you wouldn't necessarily need new bushings.

If they only marginally got the alignment in spec originally (evident from the alignment shop's print out) then you probably will need new ones.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The alignment has been off for a long time. Since I didn't drive the truck a whole lot and I knew the swap would change things I didn't really worry about it.

I am going from shot 2.8 springs to new 4.0 Explorer springs, dunno really what the difference in height is going to be between them. I would assume it is really going to matter how things come out with new 2.8 springs and a 2.8 vs new Explorer springs and a 5.0.

I would rather change the essentrics beforehand if I have to rather than pay to have it done there though.

 

[legoms013]

A really savvy person might be able to estimate what bushings you will need BEFOREHAND, but

for the average individual like myself predicting which ones to use will be hard.

However, you could throw an adjustable set under there and hope to gawd that the alignment shop's in your area know how to work them.

Around me, no alignment shop can work the adjustable ones, and so I am stuck to pay for new ones almost everytime I go in (which isn't a whole lot, but it adds up).

In practice, with enough time, and a few simple tools you can figure out which ones you will need by STARTING with zero degree bushings and measure the castor....and camber....and before that, toe.

 

[RavoHimself]

more than like you wont see any extra lift. it should actually probably put you right about at stock height so you should have to change anything else beside the springs.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

more than like you wont see any extra lift. it should actually probably put you right about at stock height so you should have to change anything else beside the springs.

That would be great, 3"BL and 31's would suit me perfectly. I might just wing it and see how it goes.

 

[RavoHimself]

that seems to be a good lift/tire ratio for gen 1's. it makes them look beefy yet still on a small enough tire that they wont float over every puddle