Old-Timey Lift"Kit"
 

My first lifted truck was a`69 Dodge W-200 Power Wagon.It was in 1976/77 and nobody made lift springs for it.I removed the springs and dismantled the spring packs on one side.On an anvil,me and my buddy pounded the mainleaf with a sledge hammer from the center out until it was arched how I wanted it compared to the opposing spring.Then did the same to the rest of the pack to fit the mainleaf arch.Then repeated on the other side,matching the mainleaf arch,etc.We did it on a Saturday and drove it that night.I had ordered Rough Country shocks from Dick Cepek that were longer.Other than the shocks,all it cost was sweat and numb handzzz!The tires were Armstrong Extra-Tractions,14.50/37x15s on 10x15 8 lug Jackman Wagon Wheels.I did some cutting on the front fenders and made bumpers out of 4"pipe.Later,I did a frame-off using a W-300 cab,Flareside bed,and axles.That parts truck cost me 50 bucks.I also had to have headers custom made.That was no "easy pickup".I`ve had GMs ever since.Whenever I needed steering or drivetrain parts,it sat for 4-6 weeks waiting for parts.Bare in mind it was only 8-10 years old at the time.Back then I broke alot,axles,center driveshaft,diffs(w/lockers)...

thats awesome. i love hearing about the early days of lifted trucks. got any pics?

bit theres a name i havent heard in a while , jackman wagon wheels !! they were the sh#$ back in the old days !!!!!!
and the pipe bumpers didnt everybody back then do that ? i know i did and still do :rolleyes: :crazy: :lol:

I do have photos,I don`t have the whole resizing thing down yet.I can e-mail to someone that can.

Man, I wished they still made those Armstrong 37" x 14.50"s!!!!

send me the pics at smurf_71chevyATyahoo.com, i can resize them

I remember seeing 3" lifts for sale way back..
What a dam waste...hahaha

Well, atleast you didn't put blocks under the front springs like alot of people chose to do back then.

Drink2mny:Lifts for pre-72 Dodges?In`77?
Ryan68:There was a guy back then with a`70-ish IH pickup that jacked his truck up and mounted coils between the frame and leafs,worked.
Toroflow:Those Armstrongs were awesome.The best wearing bias mud tire and good in mud.They`d look just right under your GMC.I ran 3 sets on two trucks for`bout five years.To those unfamiliar,these were the jumbo version of the venerable Grand Dad of off-road tires,the Armstrong Tru-Trac.It was the first big tire at 11x15.By the third set the name was changed to Tru Grip RV.Armstrong also made the Norseman.The tire that Dick Cepek based the Fun Countrys on.Only with "A"s instead of "DC"s on the side lugs.Another early off-road tire was the Gares Commando.I think Western Auto sold a Knock-off off these,too.While on the subject,anyone remember Desert Dogs?

No.. not for dodges Chevy lifts in the 80's..
Used to be able to buy 3in lifts..

Get out the hammer and anvil.You can have a 3 1/4" or 2 3/4".LOL!

Did he ever send the pics?

I`m working on getting my(wireless)scanner set-up(for the 3rd time),what a pita!I bought everything new last fall and have had poblems w/computer,then printer/scanner/fax,ten back to the computer.Now I`ve spent hours on the "New Dehli Hot-Line",go to where?the what?could you repeat,again?again?again?did you say click?Keep an eye out,me and Baji are gonna whip this thing.