4" lift

[dukes69]

wondering if there is a way to get 4" of suspension lift with out buy a lift kit?
aslo wouldn't mind seeing pics of a 4" lift with 33" tires .

[Yukon Jack]

Not really. Occasionally you will see someone make some modified spring hangers for hanging a swapped in axle but you would need to make sure they were gussetted properly and kept the front axle properly situated. Your best bet would be to save up for a correct suspension lift. New front springs and rear blocks (or a rear shackle flip) is a common lift for these trucks or you can go the more expensive route of doing an all spring lfit.

[RANDY COX]

Here's my burb with 4" lift and 33's.

[Tonka59]

take your front leaves to a spring shop. They can arch them about 3", then get a 1" shackle drop. For the rear get a block....Cheap and it would work but you would need new shocks and be ready to replace steering componets unless you get a droped steering bracket.

[see ten]

Hmmm, a lift without buying a kit.......uh ........steal one??!! Seriously here's 4" and 33" tires.

[ChaseDale3and8]

Originally Posted by see ten

Hmmm, a lift without buying a kit.......uh ........steal one??!! Seriously here's 4" and 33" tires.

That's one killer looking truck you have there See Ten! Makes me wish that I'd have kept my 71 GMC 1/2 ton 4x4. I really like those Mickey Thompson Challenger wheels that you have on your truck. They were a great choice for your truck, and exactly what I wanted to put on my 71 GMC, but I never could find any. I'd like to have a set of them on my 86 K 10 if I could ever locate a set. I can't seem to find anyone that sells them anymore. All I find are Classic 2s which is the style that my 86 has right now but mine are American Racing.

I'm not sure if they were discontinued or what happened, but they are a great looking wheel and look right at home on this body style of GM truck.They kind of remind me of the old American Racing slotted mags that were really popular back in the 70s and 80s. I just have to say that your truck rocks! ...Joe

[see ten]

Thanks man! As far as I know the Challengers have been discontinued. You might luck up and find some on ebay. It seems like last time I was on the Desert Rat website they still had a few for sale.

[ChaseDale3and8]

Hey thanks! I'll check out Desert Rat. It's too bad they discontinued those wheels because they are great looking wheels and not everybody has them like they do the Classic wheels like what I currently have on my truck. I like for my trucks to look different from anyone elses!

I wonder if the reason they discontinued them was because they didn't sell as many of them as the Classic? They must be nuts to discontinue the Challengers! They are a far better looking wheel than the Classic and I think that they'd look good on my 86 if or when I find a set of them. ...Joe

[1969k10stepside]

Gotta love that truck,see ten...
I hope my 71 shorty k10 turns out looking half that good...
A lift without buying...choices,steal one,have one given to you,or make one..
I'd post pics of mine but it has 35s so why bother?

[special-K]

C`mon,you know you want to.Let`s see it.The cheapest thing is to remove the spring pack,disassemble,arch(pound on anvil with sledge hammer),reassemble,and install.You can get a good bit of lift this way.I`ve never seen one droop.It`s best to add a new leaf,though.But,I`ve gone w/o.Just arch the main leaf to a good arch by comparing it to the other side.Then,match it all up and assemble.

[va_tlc]

heres 4 inchs and 33s...

[see ten]

Originally Posted by va_tlc

heres 4 inchs and 33s...

And 3/4 or ton running gear tucked under a swb. That's pretty sweet!

[va_tlc]

i agree about those wheels. i searched high and low for a set .. but no dice for me i had to settle for the classic 11....

[msgross]

33" tires, no lift but....

They are only 10.5" and I have HD springs (whatever that means)

I have now added a rear leaf ($50) and could do the same in the front. Got 1.5" of lift out of that...

I like my MT Classic II's though...

[ChaseDale3and8]

There's nothing wrong with the style of the Classic 2s and I didn't mean for anyone to take it that I meant it that way. I just prefer the styling of the Challenger over the Classic, that's all.

Not everyone has the Challengers which makes them a lot more unique. They really fit the styling of the 67-72 trucks more than anything else out there in my opinion because they kind of look to me like a retro American Racing slotted mag style that was very popular back in the 70's and 80's.

Can't find them anymore either. As far as I know they haven't been made in many years. They were another wheel that looks right at home on one of these trucks. Of course the 67-72s are a classic in and of themselves, and this truck has to be one of the nicest shortbed 4x4s that I have ever seen! ...Joe

[ChaseDale3and8]

Here's a couple shots of my 86. 4" lift and 33" Super Swamper TRXUS tires on 15x10 wheels.

[Zoomad75]

You really can't get much for nothing. You could certainly do the 4" lift for less, but I'd still end up buying front springs. The rear could be done without blocks or changing the springs out. Just do the poor man's version of the shackle flip. This means removing the rear spring shackles from the hangers. Then you cut a hole in the bottom of the rear spring hangers for the shackle to fit down through and weld some support gussets back to it for safety's sake. Reinstall the shackle through the bottom of the hanger.

That would net you the 4" in the rear if you can do the cutting and welding. But since you aren't using blocks, you won't have the problems associated with them. Since you aren't using a new spring with more arch (for the 4" lift) your ride quality won't change.

Like I said, as far as the front goes, you would be better off buying front springs. You can buy just the pair from most lift kit suppliers or get your stock ones re-arched at a local spring shop.

Here's the problem. Without buying a true lift kit, your still in need of buying all the hardware like u-bolts and spring eye bolts/nuts. Not to mention new shocks built for the increased lift. Unless you are buying used stuff, buying these parts new (separately) along with a pair of front springs and you'll have the same if not more money into it than a kit would have cost you.

If your on a budget, shop around. Look at Rough Country lifts. Yes, people say those kits do ride rough. My Rough country front springs, are stiff, but I wouldn't call them unbearable. But, the RC kits are less cost than all the others. I bought a kit off of JC Whitney's website for under $300 that included all hardware (including u-bolts F&R), front springs, rear blocks, 4 new shocks and a raised steering arm. Plus they had free shipping. I used a shackle flip on mine so I didn't need the blocks, but it was still cheaper to buy the kit and not use the blocks than buying everything separately.

[ChaseDale3and8]

I bought my 4" Pro Comp lift from 4 Wheel Parts Wholesalers for around $300. I got the front springs, rear blocks, shocks, and shock boots as well as the u-bolts and brake line extensions. I had to buy my steering arm separately but it was less than $75 shipped to my door.

Buying a complete lift is the only correct and safe way to do it no ifs ands or buts about it. You don't want to put a cobbled up truck on the road. It's not safe for you or anyone else on the road. I have seen my share of cobbled up trucks in my time as well as the end result when something breaks, and if it's a cobbled up mess, it will break something you can rest assured of it. Trucks that are lifted in such a manner are one of the biggest reasons that there are lift laws on the books in most states. They are just plain unsafe and can get out of control in the blink of an eye.

The cheapest safe way to lift your truck is with a 3" body lift. Yeah I know, most people don't like them for various reasons, body gap between body and frame, they don't give any extra ground clearance, bumpers are lower than the body with one, etc. etc. They are cheap however, don't require any suspension mods or new shocks, and can accomodate a 33" tire quite easily.

I ran a 3" body lift and 33" tires on a "77 K20 that I used to own several years back without any problems. I couldn't get into some of the places with it that I could my 82 K20 that had a 4" Rancho suspension lift and 33" tires because of the difference in ground clearance between the two trucks, but the '77 was primarily highway driven so it really didn't matter to me.

In my opinion you have two choices. Either save the money to buy a full suspension kit or go with a body lift. You can make a body lift look decent if you want to spend the time to lift the bumpers up which will require a little bit of fab work, and you can make pieces to cover the gaps between the bed and the frame, or you can buy them from any suspension retailer. They are called lift lips. Lifting your truck safely is the main thing. You sure don't want to end up in the ditch upside down with a bloody nose, or worse! ...Joe

[Chevy Fleetside]

4" lift with 32" tires for now. I got the lift from JC Whitney for $325 or so with a steering arm. It is the Pro Comp kit.. Came with front springs, rear blocks, shocks and brake line extensions. I bought braided steel brake lines though. Sorry the pictures are not that great but you get the picture.. Much nicer pictures here also..

[Roper]

Well here is the thing. Most 25 or 35YO trucks, well the springs in most cases are wore out/bagged out anyways. So if they are wore out why not replace with new springs front and rear with more arch to give you 4" of lift?
With the lift kit you get new bushings etc.
Like on a new truck I can see why some might look for other ways of lifting so they are not thowing away new parts. But on a 73 to 87 you might as well lift it right because chances are all the stuff your replaceing is worn out anyways.

[Roper]

PS I would post a pic of mine but the computer says that my pics are o big to post and im not very computer smart. But my truck has 4" superlift HD springs front and rear plus 1.5" lift blocks in the rear with 33" tires. For some reason my truck looks taller than the ones pictured on here. Im thinking with the HD springs I ended up with more lift?
My one ton axle houseings atre a bit bigger so I guess maybe I gain a touch from that as well?

[ChaseDale3and8]

Originally Posted by Roper

PS I would post a pic of mine but the computer says that my pics are o big to post and im not very computer smart. But my truck has 4" superlift HD springs front and rear plus 1.5" lift blocks in the rear with 33" tires. For some reason my truck looks taller than the ones pictured on here. Im thinking with the HD springs I ended up with more lift?
My one ton axle houseings atre a bit bigger so I guess maybe I gain a touch from that as well?

The 1 ton axle housings are the most likely reason that it sits higher, plus there are more leaves in the rear springs than on a 1/2 or 3/4 ton. ...Joe

[Russell]

Just finished up a 4" lift on my truck. I traded a guy my divorced 205 for a set of front springs he had just had custom made a year or so earlier. Bushings needed to be replaced since it was running 7/16 bolts, and I wanted 9/16. Bought brand new Rancho shocks (just RS5000s for now, I'll buy something that rides nicer when I can afford it), extended steel braided brake lines, and a raised steering arm. Rear has blocks for now. Had to get new u-bolts made up for the front and rear as well.

Cost me approx 500 cnd for everything, which was a bit more than I'd hoped I'd spend, but I think it is worth it in the end.

After I've worked for a couple months next spring, I plan on a 63" 2500HD spring swap with a shackle flip to lift the rear without blocks, but also allowing a really nice ride quality + weight capacity.

While I was working on my lift, I wound up dropping a good grand into the front end as well, replacing the balljoints, axle u-joints, seals, bearings, calipers, pads, rotors, hubs, drag link, raised steering arm, tie rod + ends etc.

So, all in all, I've got closer to 1500 - 2000 into my lift, lol