Vehicle Lift Points for Early Broncos

[Scoop]

I just installed a lift in my new garage. It's a twin post Atlas 9KOH with asymmetrical arm configuration. How is everyone lifting an early Bronco? The rear works fine with the supplied round pads placed immediately in front of the rear leaf front hanger. But the front seems to be problematic! First the radius arms are blocking the frame and second the frame angles up where what looks like the best lift spot for balance would be. I heard people mention special or custom made adapters - anyone done this? Anybody have pics??

Here's the rear:



And here is the front:



I'm using some Ford frame adapters to cup the radius arms but the angle of the radius arms want to push the lift arms back.

Looking for what works safely and any ideas here! TIA

 

[Justafordguy]

You lucky dog, I gotta get a lift.

I would sure be careful lifting on the arms like that. I wonder if you could build some cups to go under the body mounts? Maybe use those frame adaptors on the back and those rubber pads under the front body mounts?

 

[bmc69]

Gary..FWIW..and I suspect you remembered this already, that is how we lifted the EB's on Drew's lift too.

Maybe he's added some new tricks to his setup.

 

[Stock68]

You lucky dog, I gotta get a lift.

I would sure be careful lifting on the arms like that. I wonder if you could build some cups to go under the body mounts? Maybe use those frame adaptors on the back and those rubber pads under the front body mounts?

If you haven't checked, you can get lifts pretty cheap. Six months ago, I bought a drive on car stacker type lift off Craigslist for $1200. A new one is only just above $2K and the arm style can be cheaper yet.

 

[savage]

When I my mufflers done at Midas they had the same lift. They lifted on my radius brackets on the frame, but mine were at the stock location.

 

[Scoop]

You lucky dog, I gotta get a lift.

I would sure be careful lifting on the arms like that. I wonder if you could build some cups to go under the body mounts? Maybe use those frame adaptors on the back and those rubber pads under the front body mounts?

Thanks! That may be worth a try. The frame adapters are too narrow for the EB frame but I do have 2 more round rubber pads. Just not sure of the body mount strength for lifting the entire vehicle??

Gary..FWIW..and I suspect you remembered this already, that is how we lifted the EB's on Drew's lift too.

Maybe he's added some new tricks to his setup.

Just seems a little shaky to me! Maybe something welded to the bottom of the RA's to prevent the lift arms from sliding back??

If you haven't checked, you can get lifts pretty cheap. Six months ago, I bought a drive on car stacker type lift off Craigslist for $1200. A new one is only just above $2K and the arm style can be cheaper yet.

This one new was ~$1700 out the door (including tax and 5 gal of hydraulic fluid) but I did pick it up at the showroom and saved shipping on about 1500 lbs!

When I my mufflers done at Midas they had the same lift. They lifted on my radius brackets on the frame, but mine were at the stock location.

Yeah, mine are back 12 inches! Plus my extended arms are a bit flexy as you can see in the pic. Maybe a good reason to upgrade to some stronger Duff arms!! ;D

Keep the ideas coming!!

 

[broncodriver99]

I believe the stock suggested lifting location was under the radius arm frame brackets. I know that's not much help but gives you an idea of where the factory suggested the best balance point was. Could you make some adapter plates that incorporate that hole in the frame there?

Or maybe something a few inches forward that would straddle the frame rail but be boxed in by the body mount bracket.

 

[Mountain Ram]

Showoff!!

Love the lift... Can't hide my jealousy! ;D

 

[pa69broncoguy]

It seems a little scary lifting on the radius arms even with the ends. I think i would chain the lift arm to the front axle to keep it from sliding back. The guy that put my exhaust on had to hang a big block from my rear bumper to keep the weight balanced so it would stay on his lift.

 

[Tedster100]

Gary, we use this type of lift in our shop at work. I'm wondering if you couldn't cut a piece of 2" DOM tubing about 1.5" long and weld to the bottom of the frame half way in between the shock mount and the body mount. Then you could take one of the tube post adapters and just run them up into that piece of DOM tubing on the bottom of the frame to give you a solid mounting point with no chance of movement. Just a thought.

 

[ransil]

I strap the arms to the Bronco. I dont trust them.
the duffs arms are mounted flatter and sit on the lift way better than the stock arms.

 

[73azbronco]

The last place to lift is on a moving suspension arm like the radius arm, very dangerous, sorry. Lift on axles, preferably below spring points and on an EB anywhere on the frame.

I can't see how that EB is not slipping down being jacked by the radius arms...

 

[Scoop]

Gary, we use this type of lift in our shop at work. I'm wondering if you couldn't cut a piece of 2" DOM tubing about 1.5" long and weld to the bottom of the frame half way in between the shock mount and the body mount. Then you could take one of the tube post adapters and just run them up into that piece of DOM tubing on the bottom of the frame to give you a solid mounting point with no chance of movement. Just a thought.

That might work great on my trail rig where I can weld something to my frame. I also need a good solution for my stocker where I don't want to weld anything to the frame.

I strap the arms to the Bronco. I dont trust them.
the duffs arms are mounted flatter and sit on the lift way better than the stock arms.

What kind of straps? Not those "L" and "R" velcro straps you sell, right? ;D

The last place to lift is on a moving suspension arm like the radius arm, very dangerous, sorry. Lift on axles, preferably below spring points and on an EB anywhere on the frame.

I can't see how that EB is not slipping down being jacked by the radius arms...

With the asymmetrical arms the front ones will not reach the front axle. The problem is how to reach the frame in the front? I need some type of adapter to go around the radius arms to reach the frame.

So far I've had my son's stock TJ and my wife's VW Cabrio on the lift. Both had good solid lift points no problem. I need to try my FSBs. The 78 has the same radius arms as the EBs and the 84, with TTB, looks to have shorter RA's and probably should be OK.

 

[ransil]

What kind of straps? Not those "L" and "R" velcro straps you sell, right? ;D



.

10K ratchet straps i dont take any chances

 

[allenfahey]

The easiest/safest I've seen so far was the way we did Chris' Bronco at the last Wrench and Roast. We used a 4x4 lengthways across the frame and lifted just outboard of the frame. Maybe it was a 6x6 but it worked well and was stable.

 

[357Bronco]

I have an AMMCO 10k, on mine I lift off the rear leaf forward mount. The front I raise the lift up with the extensions, without the pad, on the inside of the radius arms where the frame is flat. Once the extensions are up to the top of the radius arm I slip the pad into place and then raise it up to the frame. The extensions ride up against the inside of the radius arm, and I have limiting straps to keep the front suspension from dropping too much. I have the same raduis arm extensions as you.

 

[1971BroncoSport]

I have thr 10k atlas.

Used the stackable blocks and pad. Came up right behind the radius arm and reached flat spot on frame.

Pic is a little hard to see but should give you the idea.

(All that rust is gone now, btw)

 

[Scoop]

The easiest/safest I've seen so far was the way we did Chris' Bronco at the last Wrench and Roast. We used a 4x4 lengthways across the frame and lifted just outboard of the frame. Maybe it was a 6x6 but it worked well and was stable.

I'll have to check if can slide a 4x4 across the frame.

I have an AMMCO 10k, on mine I lift off the rear leaf forward mount. The front I raise the lift up with the extensions, without the pad, on the inside of the radius arms where the frame is flat. Once the extensions are up to the top of the radius arm I slip the pad into place and then raise it up to the frame. The extensions ride up against the inside of the radius arm, and I have limiting straps to keep the front suspension from dropping too much. I have the same raduis arm extensions as you.

OK this might work and would be a simple solution. i'm gonna try it!

I have thr 10k atlas.

Used the stackable blocks and pad. Came up right behind the radius arm and reached flat spot on frame.

Pic is a little hard to see but should give you the idea.

(All that rust is gone now, btw)

I can see what you do. I don't think the asymmetrical arms on my lift will go that far forward.

 

[Scoop]

OK I tried 357's suggestion - well I set up one side and didn't actually lift it up. It looks like it might work but my long tube headers make it hard to get the pad all the way to the flat part of the frame.

Here is a far as I can get it.



As you can see it almost gets to the flat part of the frame but not quite. Side to side the pad fits good which was actually my biggest concern. What do you all think?

 

[357Bronco]

That's about where mine lands. Do your lift arms have locks? Mine does so even if it isn't sitting perfectly flat, the arm can't kick out front or back. Looks like your Bronco should be about a foot more forward.