Raising the front end of a 76 d-100 2wd

[MrPD]

Anyone have any ideas on how to raise the front end of a 76 d-100 2wd? I would like a little more clearance between the tops of the tires and the fenders. I was told to try new heavy duty shocks or maybe original stock shocks. I do have heavy duty shocks on the front and over loaders on the back. I am not looking to do a lift on the front but just something that might give me a 1" or 2".


-PD

[Speed Dragon]

3/4-ton springs.

[sgillett]

Hi Speed Dragon,
We have a '77 Warlock and it had a little (car) spring put in the driver's side.
We were thinking about putting a pair of 3/4 ton springs in it to raise it just like you said. Will any year spring fit ('72 to '87)?
Thanks
Scott

[Speed Dragon]

As far as I know, yes. I haven't seen any difference in them. Vans will work as well.

[sgillett]

Thanks! good info!
Scott

[MrPD]

Speed Dragon-

Why is it that 3/4 ton springs will lift the truck up higher? I am guessing more heavy duty springs right? Do I need to grab anything else with the 3/4 springs (spring isolators)? Will it fit right into the same space as my current springs? Do I have to adjust anything upfront before or after I put the 3/4 ton springs in? Does it throw off anything as far as steering alignment ect .... ? On the vans, will any year or type of van springs work or do I need to find a specific one? I am going to goto the J yard and I know they have some 80's 3/4 ton trucks and quite a few vans. Sorry for all the dumb questions.

Thanks,
-PD

[Speed Dragon]

Yeah they're stiffer. They should go right in, only difference I've heard off in the front ends on these trucks is that the 1-tons have different lower control arms. So 3/4-ton stuff should right in the half-ton. You may need to have it realigned, I doubt it but I'd have it checked anyway.

Vans should work from 71 up to probably at least 93, probably even newer too.

[62savoywagon]

The 3/4 springs should do the job or find out if there is a snow plow spring set out there. I believe that these are the same thought. My son had a 82 1/2 ton dodge, then put a 400 in it. Front end saged, so they ended up puting in a plow package spring. It leveled the truck up real good and handled even better.

[MrPD]

I went to the junk yard and took alook around, so here is another stupid question .... how can I tell if the dodge truck I am looking at is a 3/4 ton (# lug bolts)? They had some 80's trucks that have the side emblem of ram 250 but couldn't see or find anything about 1/2 or 3/4 ton. Also had some vans that also said ram 250 (I believe), they were full passenger vans with 3 rows of seats. Any thoughts on if these will work to give me the 1 - 2" lift i am seeking? What identifying marks should I look for? From what I look at they look like the same size and diameter as the ones I have on my truck right now. I just want to make sure that I am getting the right springs so I don't put in the new ones from the junk yard and find out it is the same height.


Thanks,
PD

[MrPD]

I was told that getting the coils from a junk yard might not be the best because the coils could be weak or " tired " so thinking that I would maybe like to go with brand new coils instead of ones from a junk yard I was calling around the local dodge dealers, and no one carries the front coil springs for the older dodges. The only place I found was 4 wheeler but it was for 94 and newer. Summit has some by moog. Still might try my luck at a junk yard but still don't know the answers to my previous post.


PD

[Speed Dragon]

250 or 200 signifies 3/4-ton. Some 3/4-ton vans had 5-lug wheels. All 3/4-ton trucks and most vans had 8-lugs.

[needa440please]

Is not a spring a spring?
For when it's sprung,
a sad song is sung.
Is not a spring a spring? :)

[MrPD]

Speed Dragon-

What do you think about getting the springs from the junk yard and the chance that they could be " tired " or weak springs? I guess I am asking is what do you think the odds are? Is there a way to check like any visual indications maybe? (probably not I am guessing)

PS I just looked at my springs and the passenger side still had the tag, it said 34 I don't know what the right is or should be. Could you tell me what numbers to look for and as far as numbers vs strength (stiffness) or ride?


Thanks again,
-PD

[Speed Dragon]

I'd say you got a good chance of getting good springs. 3/4-tons almost never break springs, or wear them out. Half-tons will, but not 3/4-tons usually. And no, there's no visual check. The way I look at it, if you do get a bad one, you've saved enough over buying new ones that you can afford another :) I've always used junkyard parts, and had good luck mostly. 'Course, me and my dad run a junkyard too :D

I don't know about the tags, usually they're long gone.

[MrPD]

Speed Dragon-

Well I got out to the junk yard today and found a couple of the trucks missing again, they crushed them. I did find a 1990 ram 250 van (I believe it was a full size conversion van) and took the coil springs out of it. On the passenger spring it had a tag that said 90 or 98 and it had some writing inscribed at the top of the springs (both have the same numbers) it says 986P 019. So is this what I was looking for? Thanks for your help with this.

PS Will the truck " ride " any different with these van coil springs, like a rougher ride?

-PD

[Speed Dragon]

I don't, like I say, I don't much on the part #'s. I do know that they should fit, and it may be a little rougher, but probably not much. The rear springs have more to do w/ the ride than the fronts, as there's not much weight in the back.

[1985power_ram]

or you just can spend like $20 and get 3 inch coil spacers