Newly acquired 88' 1T Crew Dually 4x4! Need advice also - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Chevy3+3 · 10-04-2013, 06:59 PM

First of all I am new to the forum so "Hello, its great to be here"

It all started this past Sunday when I discovered the ad on Craigslist. Based on the info I received after calling about the truck on Monday the gentleman did me a huge favor by holding the truck for me til Wednesday. So the 10 hr round trip drive started at 5 am Wednesday morning. Made it to my destination and the truck was just as he described.....Clean & solid! Sure its not perfect (scratch & ding here and there) but for 25 yrs old its in excellent shape at 130K miles. The interior is clean as well. No faded door panels and seats were in excellent shape and appear to be original cloth. All the sidemarkers are smoked and the cab lights are a aftermarket smoke LED kit. I wasnt sure if I cared for the smoked lenses much but my wife likes them and they are growing on me. I wont diclose the purchase price but lets just say NOBODY in the right mind would have thought twice about the price. I counted out the $$$$ and here she sits.

The first thing I want to do is get the truck bumped up a little. Nothing excessive but want to bump it up about 2-3 inches in fornt and level the rear. The rear already sits about 1.5" higher than front. I just wondered what the best way to go about this would be. What are my options? I live about 30 miles Atlas spring & axle and they can re-arch and add leaves. Is there a better alternative? Lift kit springs? If so which one is recommended?

To bump the rear I am fine with using lift blocks if 4" and under. The thickest block I should need would be 2" and I don't do much towing so I really dont see blocks causing any problems.

Any thoughts or advice? Thanks in advance

TwoFiftyShifter · 10-04-2013, 07:30 PM

What drivetrain? Can we get an interior picture? Looks sweet!

willett · 10-04-2013, 07:30 PM

Block the rear and air bag it. New leafs up front

Chevy3+3 · 10-04-2013, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoFiftyShifter

What drivetrain? Can we get an interior picture? Looks sweet!

454TBI TH400. I dont have any interior pics and its dark outside now. Will try and post some back up within the next couple of days

Chevy3+3 · 10-04-2013, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willett

Block the rear and air bag it. New leafs up front

I am not very familiar with airbags. Do they make them vehicle specific for something this old or are there universal kits?

And you say new leafs up front? Are you saying buy lifts springs or re-arching and adding?

willett · 10-04-2013, 10:40 PM

Firestone load helpers. They're universal. I love mine. Not really necessary but helpful hen you need em. I would be inclined to buy new leafs/have a set made. Make sure it's a heavy duty set. Big block crew cab has a couple pounds on a small block single cab

arrover · 10-04-2013, 10:47 PM

Great looking truck!

You might consider a shackle flip in the rear like these instead of blocks:

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/shacklekit.htm

http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?rout...product_id=126

dieseldawg142 · 10-04-2013, 11:28 PM

do like willett says, get new 2"-3" leaf pack for the front. have add a leafs on my stepper, they wear grooves in your main leafs, & re-arched springs are only going to hold up so long under a heavy V30, & ride rougher.
airbags are good if you tow or haul alot, but about $350 for a set. i have firestone ride rite 5000lb set on my 85 crew. part #2040 will fit K/V 1 tons. i can jack the truck up 6 or 7 inches, enough to start screwing with my pinion angle.
shackle flips are good, about $200
2"-3" blocks & u-bolts are around a hundred bucks. nothing wrong with blocks (unless there stacked or over 3")
heck, i got 4" shackle flips, 3" blocks, & airbags on my crew

10-04-2013, 06:59 PM	#1
Chevy3+3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Winfield KS Posts: 489	Newly acquired 88' 1T Crew Dually 4x4! Need advice also First of all I am new to the forum so "Hello, its great to be here" It all started this past Sunday when I discovered the ad on Craigslist. Based on the info I received after calling about the truck on Monday the gentleman did me a huge favor by holding the truck for me til Wednesday. So the 10 hr round trip drive started at 5 am Wednesday morning. Made it to my destination and the truck was just as he described.....Clean & solid! Sure its not perfect (scratch & ding here and there) but for 25 yrs old its in excellent shape at 130K miles. The interior is clean as well. No faded door panels and seats were in excellent shape and appear to be original cloth. All the sidemarkers are smoked and the cab lights are a aftermarket smoke LED kit. I wasnt sure if I cared for the smoked lenses much but my wife likes them and they are growing on me. I wont diclose the purchase price but lets just say NOBODY in the right mind would have thought twice about the price. I counted out the $$$$ and here she sits. The first thing I want to do is get the truck bumped up a little. Nothing excessive but want to bump it up about 2-3 inches in fornt and level the rear. The rear already sits about 1.5" higher than front. I just wondered what the best way to go about this would be. What are my options? I live about 30 miles Atlas spring & axle and they can re-arch and add leaves. Is there a better alternative? Lift kit springs? If so which one is recommended? To bump the rear I am fine with using lift blocks if 4" and under. The thickest block I should need would be 2" and I don't do much towing so I really dont see blocks causing any problems. Any thoughts or advice? Thanks in advance

10-04-2013, 07:30 PM	#3
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: Newly acquired 88' 1T Crew Dually 4x4! Need advice also Block the rear and air bag it. New leafs up front __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

10-04-2013, 10:40 PM	#6
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: Newly acquired 88' 1T Crew Dually 4x4! Need advice also Firestone load helpers. They're universal. I love mine. Not really necessary but helpful hen you need em. I would be inclined to buy new leafs/have a set made. Make sure it's a heavy duty set. Big block crew cab has a couple pounds on a small block single cab __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

10-04-2013, 10:47 PM	#7
arrover Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 291	Re: Newly acquired 88' 1T Crew Dually 4x4! Need advice also Great looking truck! You might consider a shackle flip in the rear like these instead of blocks: http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/shacklekit.htm http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?rout...product_id=126 __________________ 1982 GMC Crew Cab 4x4 - "River Truck" build thread 1973-1987(91) Chevy/GMC How-To Videos

10-04-2013, 11:28 PM	#8
dieseldawg142 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: back 40, bc Posts: 3,903	Re: Newly acquired 88' 1T Crew Dually 4x4! Need advice also do like willett says, get new 2"-3" leaf pack for the front. have add a leafs on my stepper, they wear grooves in your main leafs, & re-arched springs are only going to hold up so long under a heavy V30, & ride rougher. airbags are good if you tow or haul alot, but about $350 for a set. i have firestone ride rite 5000lb set on my 85 crew. part #2040 will fit K/V 1 tons. i can jack the truck up 6 or 7 inches, enough to start screwing with my pinion angle. shackle flips are good, about $200 2"-3" blocks & u-bolts are around a hundred bucks. nothing wrong with blocks (unless there stacked or over 3") heck, i got 4" shackle flips, 3" blocks, & airbags on my crew

10-04-2013, 07:30 PM	#2
TwoFiftyShifter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gwinnett GA Posts: 1,803	Re: Newly acquired 88' 1T Crew Dually 4x4! Need advice also What drivetrain? Can we get an interior picture? Looks sweet! __________________ 1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh!



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