Lifting A 1979 Ford F-250: This Classic Dentside Goes From Lowboy To A Rugged Off-Roader

David Chappelle of The Dirthead Shed is tired of his 1979 Ford F-250 looking like a “lowboy” and decided it was time for a serious attitude adjustment. This classic Ford pickup build centers on ditching the factory stance for a setup that is functional yet stylish.

Uncovering The Truth

David wanted a specific aesthetic for the project that leaned into the truck’s era. He explained that he wanted the truck “to sort of have the vibe of like a 1980s or early ’90s sort of desert cruiser.” However, getting the truck in the air revealed some hidden secrets. Upon inspecting the undercarriage, he discovered that the truck was not as perfect as it looked. David noted: “there’s a street sign or something that’s being used for a floor pan over here.” Despite the rust, the mechanical bones like the Dana 60 and high-pinion Dana 44 made it a worthy candidate for a 4-inch Skyjacker suspension upgrade.

Modern Touches On A Classic Ford Pickup Build

For the rolling stock, David chose 35-inch AMP tires wrapped around 17-inch Dirty Life beadlocks. He admitted that the design was a little more modern to go with on his rig. To keep the vintage look alive, he used black beadlock rings instead of silver. He reasoned that he wanted the wheel to kind of appear smaller and the tire to appear bigger which mimics the old-school 15-inch wheel style found on vintage trucks.

Dialing In The Stance

The installation process required cutting out seized shackles with a carbide saw blade. Once the old parts were out, David compared the Skyjacker springs to the stock units. He observed that the new part was definitely a well-engineered spring compared to the factory two-leaf pack. When it came to the rear height, he swapped the factory 3-inch blocks for 2-inch blocks. David stated that he wanted the truck to sit level or just a tiny bit low in the back to achieve that period-correct desert prerunner stance rather than a modern rake.

Hitting The Road

The test drive confirmed that the upgrades transformed the ride quality. David was satisfied with the result since the truck is cruising great and feels much more planted on the road. The new stance and aggressive rubber completely changed the character of the F-250 without ruining its vintage charm. David concluded that the truck just got exponentially cooler with the new proportions. This classic Ford pickup build is far from over, but the Dentside is finally looking like the rugged adventurer it was always meant to be.