How far can I lift the front of my truck by cranking up the torsion bars? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Stingray42 · 03-14-2005, 11:28 AM

1994 Full size Blazer

??? I want to make it a few inches higher in the front, but dont want to have to replace any parts (ie wheels are leaning out (pos camber) and need different a arms or something...

also, I will be lifting the back as well... what do y'all recomend? can I block it a few inches safely? or do i need to get bigger springs?

thanks

chipotledude05 · 03-14-2005, 11:50 AM

Small blocks in the rear are ok, never put them in the front. I don't think that tightening the torsion bars will get you much in the way of height, and I'm pretty sure that it will give you a rough ride as well. But, I'm not totally positive on that. I'll let the experts give you the specifics. Correct me if I'm wrong guys.

Matt

**JIMs70GMC** · 03-14-2005, 11:52 AM

Probably over an 1" on the front, but the ride will get stiffer and you'll lose down ward travel. In the rear blocks would be fine.

Hoods69BadBowTie · 03-14-2005, 03:05 PM

Yeah, you would probably gain like 1 1/2 inches maybe. Small blocks in the back should not be a problem but like stated earlier never put them up front.
-Later

Mudder · 03-14-2005, 03:09 PM

Not so sure that cranking the front will not lead to parts failure earlier than they should.

Jason915 · 03-14-2005, 03:33 PM

I would experiment with the torsion bars you can crank them up a bit before your camber is effected too bad, the ride will be stiffer as mentioned as well as the downward travel. To do it right you need to have a complete lift kit installed.

Stingray42 · 03-14-2005, 05:01 PM

what would a front lift kit in an IFS truck consist of?
I dont want to get much money in this.. just a few inches lol

thanks guys

*1FaastC10* · 03-14-2005, 05:27 PM

i cranked my bars 1" in attempt to level out the rake, and it now rides like crap, the alignment is out of whack, and i've got something getting loose in the front end. i wouldnt recomend cranking them any more than you have to for tire clearance. keep them in the 31" range and you should be fine.

crashz71 · 03-18-2005, 11:50 PM

you can crank your bars up and keep your ride if you do what we call a balljoint swap.it is where you take your balljoint on the upper a arm and bolt it to the bottom of the a arm sometimes you have to cut the bump stop off.your heavier trucks are already done like this.you can get 2 to 2.5 inches like this.when you do this you can get your allignment back also.

*1FaastC10* · 03-19-2005, 12:19 AM

oh really? i've never heard of that before...

**68SWB4x4** · 03-19-2005, 01:38 AM

i lifted my 95 GMC K3500 about 1.5"s with the torsion bars, ride is stiffer and the ball joints are at a worse angle etc, but i had to to fit some 285 (i think) tires that i got a super deal on go here for torsion info
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/fscu/fordkeys.shtml

Mudder · 03-19-2005, 07:22 AM

Well look who's back. Been a long time. Very good to see u back Pala.......

crashz71 · 03-19-2005, 12:55 PM

when you put the balljoint on the bottom of the a arm it will releave the pressure on the balljoint and let the truck come up more.and it will also bring the top of the wheel out more so it will correct the camber.but sometimes the bump stop will touch so you have to cut it off.

*1FaastC10* · 03-19-2005, 08:32 PM

and drawbacks to the ball joint flip?

crashz71 · 03-19-2005, 08:50 PM

we never found any drawbacks the 1ton trucks come factory like this.

*1FaastC10* · 03-20-2005, 10:20 PM

how many miles have you put on it since the flip?

crashz71 · 03-28-2005, 08:12 PM

i dont know how many miles i put on the truck but i drove it like that for about 3 years until i did the straight axel conversion. i drove the truck to lima jamboree,indy jamboree for the past few years and ive never had any problems.i never had any stearing problems eather.

03-14-2005, 11:28 AM	#1
Stingray42 Woot. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Stouffville, Ontario Posts: 2,291	How far can I lift the front of my truck by cranking up the torsion bars? 1994 Full size Blazer ??? I want to make it a few inches higher in the front, but dont want to have to replace any parts (ie wheels are leaning out (pos camber) and need different a arms or something... also, I will be lifting the back as well... what do y'all recomend? can I block it a few inches safely? or do i need to get bigger springs? thanks __________________ Clarkson 96 Chevy RCLB 4.3 2WD

03-14-2005, 11:50 AM	#2
chipotledude05 Strategery Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rowlett, TX Posts: 63	Small blocks in the rear are ok, never put them in the front. I don't think that tightening the torsion bars will get you much in the way of height, and I'm pretty sure that it will give you a rough ride as well. But, I'm not totally positive on that. I'll let the experts give you the specifics. Correct me if I'm wrong guys. Matt __________________ 1961 Chevrolet Apache 1/2 Ton SWB 4x4

03-14-2005, 11:52 AM	#3
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Probably over an 1" on the front, but the ride will get stiffer and you'll lose down ward travel. In the rear blocks would be fine. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

03-14-2005, 03:05 PM	#4
Hoods69BadBowTie Chevys Kick A$$ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zootown, MT Posts: 12,699	Yeah, you would probably gain like 1 1/2 inches maybe. Small blocks in the back should not be a problem but like stated earlier never put them up front. -Later __________________ HOODS is what I answer too -'79, '77, '88 Pickup Sold, '85 Camaro, '83 T/A, '81,'83,'90 K5 Blazer All Sold -'79 3/4 ton "Big Yellow Bananna" Lifted 4spd. 39.5 TSL Swampers, The money Pit -'86 K5 Blazer Silverado 6.2 4" lift 35"s -'95 Ext. Cab Shorty 4" Tuff Country rolling 35" M/T's -'83 Monte Carlo T-Tops. 126,500 Original Miles -LATER I would rather push a Chevy then drive a ford!!

03-14-2005, 03:33 PM	#6
Jason915 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 693	I would experiment with the torsion bars you can crank them up a bit before your camber is effected too bad, the ride will be stiffer as mentioned as well as the downward travel. To do it right you need to have a complete lift kit installed. __________________ 1971 GMC K1500 SWB Fleetside, 4" skyjacker softride and, 14 Bolt FF, HD Dana 44 4.10's 1970 K5 TBI conversion lifted etc SOLD 1968 C20 camper truck SOLD “To ban guns because criminals use them is to tell the innocent and law-abiding that their rights and liberties depend not on their own conduct, but on the conduct of the guilty and the lawless.” Jeff Snyder

03-14-2005, 03:09 PM	#5
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Not so sure that cranking the front will not lead to parts failure earlier than they should.

03-14-2005, 05:01 PM	#7
Stingray42 Woot. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Stouffville, Ontario Posts: 2,291	what would a front lift kit in an IFS truck consist of? I dont want to get much money in this.. just a few inches lol thanks guys __________________ Clarkson 96 Chevy RCLB 4.3 2WD

03-14-2005, 05:27 PM	#8
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,399	i cranked my bars 1" in attempt to level out the rake, and it now rides like crap, the alignment is out of whack, and i've got something getting loose in the front end. i wouldnt recomend cranking them any more than you have to for tire clearance. keep them in the 31" range and you should be fine.

03-18-2005, 11:50 PM	#9
crashz71 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portsmouth, OH Posts: 15	you can crank your bars up and keep your ride if you do what we call a balljoint swap.it is where you take your balljoint on the upper a arm and bolt it to the bottom of the a arm sometimes you have to cut the bump stop off.your heavier trucks are already done like this.you can get 2 to 2.5 inches like this.when you do this you can get your allignment back also.

03-19-2005, 12:19 AM	#10
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,399	oh really? i've never heard of that before...

03-19-2005, 01:38 AM	#11
68SWB4x4 Strongman Garage Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 10,241	i lifted my 95 GMC K3500 about 1.5"s with the torsion bars, ride is stiffer and the ball joints are at a worse angle etc, but i had to to fit some 285 (i think) tires that i got a super deal on go here for torsion info http://www.fullsizechevy.com/fscu/fordkeys.shtml __________________ Kalle 68 GMC Suburban 1500 4x4 SOLD 69 Pontiac Lemans 99 Silverado 4.8 5 speed ECSB [ Facebook Instagram Subscribe on YOUTUBE

03-19-2005, 07:22 AM	#12
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Well look who's back. Been a long time. Very good to see u back Pala.......

03-19-2005, 12:55 PM	#13
crashz71 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portsmouth, OH Posts: 15	when you put the balljoint on the bottom of the a arm it will releave the pressure on the balljoint and let the truck come up more.and it will also bring the top of the wheel out more so it will correct the camber.but sometimes the bump stop will touch so you have to cut it off.

03-19-2005, 08:32 PM	#14
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,399	and drawbacks to the ball joint flip?

03-19-2005, 08:50 PM	#15
crashz71 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portsmouth, OH Posts: 15	we never found any drawbacks the 1ton trucks come factory like this.



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03-20-2005, 10:20 PM	#16
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,399	how many miles have you put on it since the flip?

03-28-2005, 08:12 PM	#17
crashz71 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portsmouth, OH Posts: 15	i dont know how many miles i put on the truck but i drove it like that for about 3 years until i did the straight axel conversion. i drove the truck to lima jamboree,indy jamboree for the past few years and ive never had any problems.i never had any stearing problems eather.

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