73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe

[bucannon]

Originally Posted by Walts_restoration

you say you can keep the original 1/2 lower control arm?

no the 3/4 ton ball joint is a larger diameter than the 1/2 ton so you do need the 3/4 ton lower control arms

[Suburban_Tyler]

Originally Posted by bucannon

okay sorry about taking so long to respond i have been at sea for two months with Texas Maritime Academy. taking classes and working towards my 3rd mates license.

but the 88-98 1 ton spindle is different as i tried to use a 2500HD 13 inch 8 lug rotor and the bearings were too big for the spindle. im sure they make a 1 ton lift spindle.


the "3/4 ton" brakes are from that same 2500 truck with the 13 inch rotors. they fit the spindle and the 11" rotor. the advantage is bigger pads and a larger bore on the cylinder.



as for the lower ball joint. it is a 73-87 3/4 ton. you can keep you original lower control arm and i almost wish i did because i have to take it all apart again to modify the Rock Auto lower control arms again to get them to center up [ i will explain this in detail in a later post].

the upper ball joint is the 88-93 i used 1/2 ton. but i am worried that i may have needed 3/4 ton. but i will find out soon if this is true.


for the rear i plan to use 5 lug to 6 lug adapters.

i need spacers for the front because i chose to use 17" 2007 stock bullet hole style rims from a buddies GMC. i will post pictures soon


i also plan to eventually get a set of 35 inch tires. that is after i buy the spacers and adapters.



once again sorry i took so long to respond!

So if the bearings would have fit from the HD3/4ton do you think the rotor and caliper would have still fit together on the 1/2ton spindle? The caliper being taller the reason the original wheels wouldn't fit?

[rocking chevy]

So can you fit 35 inch tires right now with the 4 inch lift spindle? I was just wondering because I know fabtechmotorsports.com has a 7.5 inch lift spindle, so if you can fit 35s, then the 7.5 could probably fit 37s, otherwise if you can only fit 33s, then the 7.5 could probably fit 35s. Im just trying to figure this out so I know what all I want to get when I do mine.

[Suburban_Tyler]

Originally Posted by rocking chevy

So can you fit 35 inch tires right now with the 4 inch lift spindle? I was just wondering because I know fabtechmotorsports.com has a 7.5 inch lift spindle, so if you can fit 35s, then the 7.5 could probably fit 37s, otherwise if you can only fit 33s, then the 7.5 could probably fit 35s. Im just trying to figure this out so I know what all I want to get when I do mine.

The only thing I found from Fabtechmotorsports was a 7.5" lift kit that consisted of lowering the lower control arms for a 88-98 c1500 and using a taller coil along with the 4"lift spindle. Maybe I didn't look in the correct spot. If you found something else can you post a link?

[rocking chevy]

Originally Posted by Suburban_Tyler

The only thing I found from Fabtechmotorsports was a 7.5" lift kit that consisted of lowering the lower control arms for a 88-98 c1500 and using a taller coil along with the 4"lift spindle. Maybe I didn't look in the correct spot. If you found something else can you post a link?

That sucks, before when I looked they didn't have any pictures or that much information. so I guess that might not work, you could probably make it work if you changed your a arms, but I don't know if that would even work.

[rocking chevy]

bucannon
If you can fit 35s with the 4 inch lift spindles please tell me, otherwise Im probably putting and axle in mine, because I don't want to put anything smaller than a 35 on it.

[Suburban_Tyler]

Have you seen the 2wd van on youtube that has I think has 16" of lift? He sells these kits if your looking to go higher for 37s. He is on this forum I think. Look up lifted 2wd chevy van 4bt cummins powered on you tube. It's an orange van.

[rocking chevy]

oh yeah I know who that is, Ill have to talk to him then. Thanks for reminding me.

[bucannon]

i could easily fit 35's with this lift. i could go for 37's with stiffer springs. remember i am using stock original worn out 1/2 ton springs.

as for Suburban_Tyler

no even if the bearings fit the brake caliper mounting holes would be 2 inches off as the spindle is made for 11" rotors.

[rocking chevy]

Originally Posted by bucannon

i could easily fit 35's with this lift. i could go for 37's with stiffer springs. remember i am using stock original worn out 1/2 ton springs.

as for Suburban_Tyler

no even if the bearings fit the brake caliper mounting holes would be 2 inches off as the spindle is made for 11" rotors.

Thanks.

[thirdstreettito]

Really cool build! Got any pics of the truck with the front and rear done?

[bucannon]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

Really cool build! Got any pics of the truck with the front and rear done?

Dont have any pics with the whole truck yet, but once i go home for thanksgiving i will take some pics and put on the wheel spacers.

[dirtdoc]

Cool build... Any pics of the whole truck yet? I am thinking of a spindle lift for my 78 chevy as well. So far, I've found lift spindles from Fabtech and Doetsch Offroad. Where did you get your spindles from? They look beefy.

Thanks,
Dirtdoc

[bucannon]

Hey yall, i went home for thanksgiving and took this picture of the whole truck with the lift installed. i have wheel spacers but they are not installed yet...


the front passenger side tire is a little flat so the truck is leaning. i plan to get a different rear end with 6 lugs and get some 35 inch tires and possibly paint my 17's gloss black.



more updates to come over x-mas break when i get 30 days off school and work!!

what do yall think?

[Can't kech me]

awesome, i dont always like lifted trucks, but when i do, i like squares (dos equis commercial reference) hahaha

[rocking chevy]

looks good, I'm waiting to see how the 35s fit, I think its gona be tight. I wanted to keep my 76 2wd and lift it with spindles, but I want 35s at the least would like 37s, and 8 inch rims at the least would like 10 inch rims. I like a little bit of space between my wheels and finders, so even if 35s fit, if there tight with a 8 inch rims then I wouldn't like it. So I've decided that the best route for me is to just put a front axle in it then I can lift it as much as I want, and easier. I know that you can lift a 2wd a lot if you make new a arms and stuff, but I don't want mine that custom, because then if something happens Its not just buy a new part and put it on, its make a new part, which then results is more down time.

[bucannon]

got my NEW tires [315/70/R17] Mastercraft A/T's

i got alot more work done over winter break, pictures on the way

[bucannon]

the tires mounted up front while the rear axle was swapped out to a wider 6 lug with a posi and 4.88 gears

[spudz]

neat.... SO do you think you have the wrong upper ball joints? You mentioned something about you may need 3/4tons.

[bucannon]

no everything is fixed. the uppers are 1/2 ton which is the same as light duty 3/4 ton. the bottom is the 73-87 3/4 ton which has to have the 3/4 ton lower control arm because of the larger diameter. i replaced all the steering components and it rides nice but i do need to trim the front fenders a little bit.

[bucannon]

this shows the front suspension and steering complete and aligned.


the last picture shows my beat up posi unit. which has previously been damaged by a blown up gear set. but we cleaned it up and after a test drive discovered the pinion bearing was bad.....


so once new bearings go in it will be time to adjust the 700-r4 to get the tv cable and speedo gears correct.

[thirdstreettito]

Love it! Lets see it with the new rear end and everything

[rocking chevy]

looks good, looks like a tight fit too.

[bucannon]

the only picture i have of it complete with all four new tires does not give it justice because its at night before i had to leave to go back to school but ill post it up anyway.

[bucannon]

it still sits nose up (pre-runner style) but i will eventually put lift springs and extended shocks (currently running 3" blocks) to level it out.

it needs a pinion bearing and once that is replaced my dad will be able to use it as a work truck while im away at school and out at sea. until i come home with some cash and time to put more work into it.