2001 Ford F-150 SuperCrew - Project Sinatra: Part II

Keeping things safe, we added new Motorcraft ABS sensors to the Belltech spindles. These relatively cheap parts will keep the Ford stopping like new and keep the annoying lights from popping up on the dash.

With the new tie-rod adjusting sleeves in place, Andy installed the outer tie rod to the spindle and re-installed the original front sway bar. Unfortunately, we received the wrong front sway bar from Belltech and had to reuse the original piece. This is what the front components looked like assembled.

One major modification of the older Fabtech lift was the relocation of the ABS module and pump assembly to clear the dual shock hoop. With the absence of that bracket, the assembly was hanging loose. It may not look like much, but Andy welded in this threaded rod to secure the module to the frame. It was now time to drop down the rear.

Here is our rear lowering kit, which is including a Belltech hanger, shackle, Nitro Drop 2 shocks, and a rear sway bar.

Out back, Andy used a floor jack to support the axle. He then used straps to keep things supported so he could raise the lift and remove the leaf springs. It took less than two minutes to add the new Belltech Nitro Active 2 shocks. In this picture, Andy had already removed the factory U-bolts.

After muscling the leaf springs out, Andy removed the Fabtech lift blocks and installed the new leaf center pin that was supplied by the Belltech kit.

With the factory leaf mounts removed, Andy used an impact to tighten the new Belltech drop mounts into place.

He then installed the new Belltech leaf shackles. Note, the new Energy Suspension bushings were already in place.

An impact gun was then used to zip on the new U-bolt nuts.

Andy didn't like how long the new U-bolts were and brought out a cordless Sawzall to cut the excess threads off.

By using a jack to lift the axle into place, the bottom shock bolts were installed.

Lastly, Andy moved to the rear Belltech sway bar. This type of bar uses exhaust-like U-bolts to clamp onto the axle and a C-bracket to tighten the bar down. End links were used to secure the bar to the frame. Here, Andy rested the unit in place to get it centered before tightening the supplied hardware.

An impact wrench made short work of the U-bolts.

Careful measurements were taken along the frame to make the end link mounts perfect.

Four 1/2-inch holes were drilled through the frame to accommodate the Belltech hardware. With the bolts tightened, Andy mounted the sway bar end links.

This is the final view of the rear, now complete with Belltech drop mounts, shackles, shocks, and a rear sway bar.

It was now time to add our new wheels and tires. The wheels of choice were beautiful 24x10-inch Giovanna Merano wheels mounted onto awesome 285/35R24 Pirelli Zero Asimetrico tires. Side by side, the Toyo tires measured 32.8 inches tall, whereas the Pirellis measured in at 31.9 inches. On the scale, our off-road wheels and tires weighed in at 89.5 lbs and the 24-inch combo tipped the scales at 94.5 lbs. Big brakes are definitely in this truck's future.

With the wheels and tires installed on the truck and the truck firmly resting on the ground, we ran into our first and largest setback. A 4-inch front drop with 24-inch wheels and tires would not appropriately clear the fenders. After scratching our heads, the truck was back up on the lift. Our remedy was to cut one full turn off of the lifted Fabtech coil and make a trip to a local parts store where top-of-the-line Monroe Reflex shocks were purchased. This combo proved to be a winning one as the Ford had the perfect stance, after it was all said and done.

Check out the front tire clearance-perfect. The truck could easily cruise over speed bumps, driveways, and turn effortlessly while doing so. Those beautiful wheels are Giovanna Merano chrome pieces measuring 24x10 inches with Pirelli Scorpion Assimetrico 285/35R24 tires keeping them safe.

In the rear, we had enough clearance to load the bed up and still not worry about bottoming out. Twenty-four inches of wheel and tire really filled up those fenders.

Before: Lifted and looking beat, our project truck was in need of some TLC.

After: One day with MIC and our F-150 looked ready to roll with the best of them-thanks to Belltech, Giovanna, and Pirelli.