74 K5 lift
 

Old lift looked homemade , it was horrible !! :lol: The U bolts went in from the top , with square top U bolts , and a curved plate on the bottom ( so bolts hang down ) . My NEW 4 in kit from Rough Country came with regular U shaped U bolts , RC says the U bolts must go in from the bottom ( point UP ) . SO now I had to buy the top plates , so the new U bolts can come up from the bottom . Now the U shape will cradle the axle housing . Is this normal for different kits to mount different ways ? Any pics ?

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

what was stock ? plate on top of axle or bottom of axle ?

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

What you had, I don't know. It doesn't sound like something manufactured to fit a 73-87, more like something lying around (or cheap) that was made to work. Maybe not, but I haven't seen a lift like that for our trucks.

Stock is axle under springs, plate on top of the springs, with u-bolts pointing up.

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

Thanks ! I bought new top plates to put it back the right way !!

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

Looking forward to seeing it with the new shoes.

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

got all the stuff to fix it right

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

no pics means it didn't happen

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

Ya plates on top is normal till it gets newer like in 88 and up they switch the other way. So better take a few pics and share that K5.:crazy:

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

Old u bolts

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

Messed UP !!!

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

new lift is almost on . My buddy is doing most work at his shop , on lift. We are also replacing every bushing and bearing under truck !! $$$$$$$$$$$$$

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

so is a 12 bolt stock in the rear of a 74 K5 ? We got the new leafs on rear , new plates on top , u bolts coming up from bottom , all looks good . Problem NOW is the rims recess in ?????????? The rear axle is NOT as wide as the front ? SO I now have to run spacers to make the rear match the front rims . You can look at it from the rear , and the rear tires are tucked in more than the front . Going to run spacers on the rear, to make it match the front . Is that normal ? My buddy thought a 10 bolt was stock , previous owner thinks 12 bolt was stock ?

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

12-bolt rears were stock up to 79-ish, 10-bolts after that. The slightly narrower rear is factory, and would be the same whether 10 or 12-bolt. You can put some spacers on to make them match. I've been looking at them all my life, so spacers, or matching track widths front and rear look funny to me and probably everyone else who is used to it.

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

Learn something every day . Thanks !! Why did Chevy make the rear slightly narrower ?

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

That is a question we would all like to know why the rear is narrower from factory, strange isn't it.:confused:

Re: 74 K5 lift
 

There's lots of guesses out there, wider front track for stability, or narrower rear for shorter turning radius, offset tracks for better performance offroad... We'll probably have to wait for Keith Seymore to chime in and tell the truth behind the idea.