I'm working on a conversion! I have a '73 Int'l Crew Cab long bed that is currently 2WD. It is getting the full transplant from a '90 Dodge W350 w/ a Cummins! When I'm done the full Dodge suspension (Which will include the springs and mounts as well as all the rest of the running gear!) will be moved over and under the Int'l.
What I want opinions on are how high I should go with the truck. Right now it's 'stance' is really comparable to a Chevy 2WD pickup. To me that is almost a low rider.... I don't like that at all. My idea is to have the ride height fairly high. I want it high mostly for safety from bad drivers who might hit me or my family. That being said, I have just been advised by a really reliable source that I don't want to go too high as it will actually make it easier to tip over. It is true that 'tall' trucks are fairly easily tipped over by a small car hitting it. While there are way to many variables to discuss here, it is statistically true that taller ones tend to at least flip on their side when getting hit by even a small car.
So far, this is what I have come up with: The Dodge spring mounts are at a little different width than the Int'l frame is now. I was just going to use plate and bolt it to the frame and come down and build a mount to bolt the Dodge spring mounts to. This will give me my 'suspension' lift that I want and easily align the two manufactures parts differences in width and such. I was planning on doing a 10" lift from what the Int'l has now. At first this sounds like a lot; but remember how low the truck was originally. Plus it would be a lot easier to re-drill another set of holes and lower the truck if I decide later on that it is too high. If I go with less now it would be a lot of work to add height later on if I want it higher.
I guess I'm not all that worried about rolling it over. Maybe I should be, but I just don't see that happening. As far as that goes, I have seen a fair amount of regular height vehicles flipped even in town by being hit by 'small' cars and what not. I feel like I should just go ahead with the suspension lift at about 10" and just add a serious roll bar if I think I need it. As far as that goes, a roll bar is a great addition for safety anyway. I have seen a lot of rigs that the roll bar definitely saved the driver / occupants lives! The most obvious ones I can think of right now is several patrol cars that were crashed pretty hard. I also plan on having some fairly serious 'nerf' bar steps that I will make for this rig. These can save a lot of heart ache as well. I already made a rear bumper for this truck years ago. I still have to make the front one. After I get this thing on the road I may have to re-make the rear or add to it to keep it legal. I won't worry about that until I get there and that really doesn't figure into the equation anyway as far as I'm concerned.
The only other things I can think of adding here are: To get the Cummins to fit in there I have to do a 2+ " body lift. I think it will be a 2 1/2" all said and done. The other thing is I'm dropping the Cummins 4 " lower in the frame from what the factory did. I removed the cross member / engine mount from the Dodge and set it in the Int'l frame. When I sat the engine in it and measured, it needs to be lowered 4 more inches to clear several points. I will just modify the cross member so it will mount 4" lower in the frame.

So I guess the simple question of this thread is:
What are your opinions and suggestions on how much suspension lift you would go with. Remember, I am using the OEM Dodge springs or at least that is the plan right now. Maybe I should find out if there are better riding after market springs that have a little lift to them....

(If it would help I can scan in a 'sketch' of what my plating would look like to relocate the Dodge spring mounts into the Int'l...)

Thanks for any ideas you all can provide!

 

I think I would try and get the IH body onto the Dodge frame (provided that the frame is not totalled or anything). You could cut the frame and add or cut to adjust wheelbase. It would probably be easier than trying to make all the adapters, etc. to get the Dodge running gear and the Cummins into the old IH frame. It would also give you a higher stance right off the bat. I think this would also be safer than what you have proposed.

 

I 2nd the using of the dodge frame..way easier to fab up new body mounts... you can also stretch the frame pretty easy if needed for the wheel base to match up...if you do decide to switch it all over I would shoot for a lift that put the IH at the same height as a stock dodge 4x4 would sit.. that way you can run the stock dodge wheels/tires without them hitting the body

 

I hear you guys.... There are a few reasons I don't want to do a frame 'transplant'. I guess the main one is that the 'donor' has a totaled frame (From the wreck that made it a donor!). And it turns out that the IH frame is stronger and better built anyway. Guess I am starting to understand what my dad used to say about them: "That thing is overloaded before you put anything in it!" . . . LOL
Stock in it's gas, 2WD form it was already 6,k LB! She is well built. I need to do a build thread on her. I will try; but I just haven't had the time to start another one. I will try though. I have some great pics of her over the years. One of my favorite is from the wreck with a drunk driver a few years ago. She faired so well there was no doubt about saving her. Now the Chevy the drunk was driving... Only salvageable parts were the engine and the bed / rear frame for a trailer! At least there was some justice that day! Oh, and the tow truck (F-450 or F-550?) couldn't steer because my heavy truck had his front tires just skimming the ground! In all fairness though I did have the shell full of firewood we were attempting to bring home that afternoon (Isn't 3PM a little early to be that hammered?!!) Anyway, lots of memories and fun times in that old truck! We really like it and my kids are afraid when I get it done it will be our main vehicle again. It just might beat out the Mega because I can about guarantee it will get a lot better mileage! Add in some creature comforts and sound deadening that I'm planning and it should be a very comfortable machine!

I can be pretty sure that it will be a lot easier to build new spring mount points with the drop down plates I have designed. This will also give the whole frame / suspension even more strength than it has now! I tend to lean toward the 'over built' side of things anyway! So, I think I will go with the 10" and just install a roll bar cage as well. That will keep the occupants safer in the event something does flip it in the future (Or even in a wreck). The way I'm making this 'lift' I can always lower it in the future if I don't like it that high. It will be a lot easier to cut it down than it will be to add to it!

I thank you for the replies and ideas! If you have any more, please share them! That is what is so great about this site: We can help each other see things we might have missed on our own!
Thanks!