lift options

[1972CST]

I am looking to lift my blazer 2-4in. all the way around. I know I could just buy lifted springs but I was wondering what other options may be? I have seen some info on the 52in. rear to front spring swap but dont know much about it. Are there any kits to swap 73-up front springs into the front of these trucks? Thanks for the help.

[bouncytruck]

What are you planning on using it for? If you're going to off-road it, you could do a shackle flip in the rear.

If you're going to just run it on the road, I'd probably just buy a lift kit.

[Husker]

If ya use a Rear shackle flip you don't need anything else in the back for a 4" lift, just front springs. This is the way I am going.
Ron
link

[Husker]

I even figured out how to do the link thing without showing whole url. COOL
Ron

[vtblazer]

What 'exactly' are you hoping for?

Just a lift or a better ride?

Just a lift or more flex?

Quick/easy install or something more complicated? (I.E. 52/56's)

Easiest/quickest would be a shackle flip and a new front spring pack, the only concern there is the different spring rates front to back.

Lots of companies sell em, good/better and best, it's about new vs. recycled materials, ride quality and price.

DIY also sells what they call their B52 kit which allows for the 52" spring up front.
Could also run a set of 56's in the rear, this combo will net you the softest ride and best flex but could mandate a front sway bar.

Don't forget to buy new shocks, a high quality shock is your friend.

[1972CST]

Thanks for all the input......my goal at this time is to make a little more room for the 33x12.50's, improve off-road performance and improve the ride. I plan to use this truck for camping, and maybe some moderate trail riding at the local national park.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by 1972CST

Thanks for all the input......my goal at this time is to make a little more room for the 33x12.50's, improve off-road performance and improve the ride. I plan to use this truck for camping, and maybe some moderate trail riding at the local national park.

Easy answer there is to go with a 4" all spring or do the rear shackle thing.

Lift kits range from inexpensive to a lot more but if you want a great ride, my recommendation would be a set of Alcans all the way 'round.

What's your current gear ratio?

[Yukon Jack]

Only bad thing about the shackle flip IMO is it will put the tire a little closer to the rear fender's opening towards the front of the vehicle. Nothing an ORD Zero Rate, which will allow you to offset the center pin, won't correct.

[AJs72K5]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

Easy answer there is to go with a 4" all spring or do the rear shackle thing.

Lift kits range from inexpensive to a lot more but if you want a great ride, my recommendation would be a set of Alcans all the way 'round.

Agree on the Alcans. In combination with new Bilstein shocks, they made a HUGE difference in the ride on mine. Well worth the money.

[1972CST]

My current gear ratio is 3.08. I am thinking a 3.73 will be much better w/ the 33's. It seems that Alcan's have really made a name for theirself. Does any one have a ballpark idea of what a front and rear set would cost? I have been leaning toward thhe Tuff Country soft-ride, they seem to get good reviews over at CK5. Does any one have any experience w/ these. Thanks again for all the input guys.

[vtblazer]

My self and AJ run em, mine sees more trail time than road time but when I do hit pavement, I like em for sure and by the end of the day even on the trails, I don't feel beat to death.

3.08's with 33's work but don't expect to much acceleration, I ran a blazer that way for a few years.
You'll like the 3:73's a lot better and with the 33's, it's decent on the interstate too.

AJ will jump in soon and I can't say for him but I bet the reviews are good.

~remember~ good shocks.

[Jtrux]

If you're just looking for clearance and a little improvement in off road prowess, I say just go with Tuff Country's 4 inch lift. I don't know exactly what the price was but I think each spring pack is roughly 110 from jack-it.com. They sell whole kits too, I just don't know the price off hand right now. I don't think Alcan's are worth it unless you plan on really using it or need something custom like AJ (BBC, lot's of weight up front). Also the shackle flip is nice and all but swapping springs is just easier IMO and less time consuming. And no matter what you do it won't be level in the back probably and you might need to put a 1 or 2 inch block in the rear to get it level.

[AJs72K5]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

My self and AJ run em, mine sees more trail time than road time but when I do hit pavement, I like em for sure and by the end of the day even on the trails, I don't feel beat to death.

AJ will jump in soon and I can't say for him but I bet the reviews are good.

~remember~ good shocks.

I don't have a whole lot of time on mine yet. But the Alcans are awesome. They aren't that expensive either compared with some of the off-the-shelf brands. They came out to roughly $400 per axle + shipping. But like VTBlazer said, you gotta pony up for decent shocks if you're gonna put good springs on. I was running a cheesy dual no-name shock setup in the front for a while (part of the PO's handiwork) and I was thinking my Alcans were too stiff. When I finally got the Bilsteins put on the front...HUGE difference.

Personally, I figure that if I'm gonna spend this much time and effort (and $$) on the truck already, why not go high quality on my hardware? Plus there's the coolness factor. How many guys can say they had their springs custom made for their truck and their driving style?? I can. Can you?

BTW...I'm running 6" Alcans in the front. DIY4X Shackle Flip and 2" Alcans in the rear. Bilstein 5125's

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by AJs72K5

BTW...I'm running 6" Alcans in the front. DIY4X Shackle Flip and 2" Alcans in the rear. Bilstein 5125's

That's the set up I'll be running for my current blazer build, unless of course I go beyond 52 with it.

AJ, how's the tire clearence? Size your running? 35's IIRC.

[AJs72K5]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

That's the set up I'll be running for my current blazer build, unless of course I go beyond 52 with it.

AJ, how's the tire clearence? Size your running? 35's IIRC.

Yep, I'm running 35s. They only look close in the rear due to the flip. I've got the axle pushed back as far as I can with the perches (1.5"). I haven't flexed it out completely, but it looks like as the spring flattens out, causing the the axle and the shackle move back, there should be plenty of clearance. Look at the pic in the 4th of July post to see how it sits.

If I had to do it all over again, knowing what I do now, I would've had Alcan move the spring pin back 2" to 2.5" on the pack (try doing that with an off-the-shelf spring ) That would center the wheel up in the well.

[1972CST]

AJ,VT What are your gear ratios w/ the 35's?

[AJs72K5]

Originally Posted by 1972CST

AJ,VT What are your gear ratios w/ the 35's?

I'm running 4.10's. For a driver, and with the current cost of gas, I wouldn't go any taller than that unless you swap in an overdrive tranny.

[Jtrux]

Originally Posted by AJs72K5

I'm running 4.10's. For a driver, and with the current cost of gas, I wouldn't go any taller than that unless you swap in an overdrive tranny.

I was just wondering what would be right with that combo, any idea what RPM's you're running with those gears at highway speeds??

[Critter]

I have 3.73s at the moment with 35 inch BFGs and it is too high geared in my opinion. It seams like 4.10s would be a good compromise for street use.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by Critter

I have 3.73s at the moment with 35 inch BFGs and it is too high geared in my opinion. It seams like 4.10s would be a good compromise for street use.

Don't know the numbers for the 35's but I do know that when I ran 33's w/4:10's it was right at 3K @ 65mph.

[AJs72K5]

Originally Posted by Jtrux

I was just wondering what would be right with that combo, any idea what RPM's you're running with those gears at highway speeds??

If memory serves, at 65, I'm running somewhere between 2500 - 2700.

[bouncytruck]

I've had two first gen's with 35's. One had 3.73's and the other had 4.10's. The 4.10's were a better match to the 35's.

[Yukon Jack]

My 70 K5 has 4.10 gears and right now I'm running my 69 K20's 35" tires on my K5 (K20 is disabled right now) and the gear ratio is really nice.

My 69 has 4.56 gears and when the 35"s are on it, going 60 mph has the engine rpm's pretty high.

For your intended usage, I'd say 35"s with 4.10 gears would be exactly what you would want.

[Long Roof]

I have 35's and 4.56 gears. At 55mph I'm turning about 2500 rpm. Seems to be a good compromise for city driving. I'm only a 80/20% city/highway driver.