Newbie question about Ford shock towers

[gturismo]

My rig is an 85 Runner with  4" front springs and 2" shackles.  I know some guys are running Ford shock towers and was wondering if I should check into it.  I'm new to this and would appreciate some advice.  Thanks!

[Skinny_Pedal]

what do u want to know. put them in

[Hyena]

If you run the right shocks then you will get more travel out of them.  I had 4 inch springs and 2 inch shackle and it gave me a little more flex.  they only cost about $25 for the mounts.

[gturismo]

Thanks for the input.  Guess I just wanted to know if the gain was worth it.  I think I will do it. 8)

[Uncle Jesse]

These are ford shock towers on my 84.  Mounted the bottom of them just about in the middle of the frame as far as height.  I've seen them mounted higher.  For the price, they are worth it.  Just remember to use some gusseting when you install them, as there is not much to them by themselves.

[Hyena]

mine.  with a rancho 5012 shock.  i mounted them lower so i didn't have to cut through the wheel well.

[gturismo]

Thank you both for posting the pics.  Nice to see what they will look like!  I'm going to order them tomorrow.

[Uncle Jesse]

In my picture up there, I mounted them a bit higher to take advantage of the shock.  I believe they were 5100 series.  At any rate, bilsteins with 14" of stroke.

[Skinny_Pedal]

In my picture up there, I mounted them a bit higher to take advantage of the shock.  I believe they were 5100 series.  At any rate, bilsteins with 14" of stroke.

i cant quite tell in the pic. did u mount them so thee was half the frame left? does that make sense? i want to do that with mine when i go solid

[Uncle Jesse]

There is a bit of stock steel of the frame right there.  It may be part of the stock tower, I forget.  At any rate I took the grinder to it and leveled it off at about the middle of the frame.  I then set the towers on that steel up against the frame.  I made notched gussets to fit around the top corner of the frame and welded them to the sides of the shock tower.  Then welded it all to the frame.  I wanted the tower resting against the frame, not above the frame like I've seen on others, but I still wanted to use the most of my shock, so I went with the middle of the frame. I may not have explained that very well, but then its hard to explain the gusseting.  I need to take some pictures.  Oh wait, I just went out and looked at the truck. . . I set it on the metal, halfway up the frame, for the bumpstop pad. I've made a quickie drawing of the gusset in paint.  The only addition to the whole set up of these towers I would make, would be some type of crossbar from one tower to another.  They do leverage quite a bit above the frame.  The gussets help, but a tie bar would be best.

[Hyena]

I didn't gusset mine.  But mine aren't mounted as high as yours so i don't think it puts as much stress on them.

[Shamb]

mine's similiar to Hyena's.. i've got Waggys in the front and a 8" shackle eye to eye...

has great flex in the front.  I say go for it.