How High Can I Go

[Chip327]

I have a friend with a 1981 GMC 4x4 , 1/2 ton and he wants to put a suspension lift on it. Does anyone know how high he can go before he needs to start doing some major changes.

So far hes looking at re-arcing the front and blocks on the back. Does anyone else have any suggestions or experience with this. I'll pass the info on to him. Thanks!

[mike reeh]

what do you consider major? he can easily go 4 or 6 inches without "major" changes.. at 8" you need to start really considering what you're doing.. with driveshaft angles, steering linkage, etc... with 4 or even 6 you can just throw on a steering arm, some longer brake lines, you might even get away with your old driveshafts working... any higher and the cost goes up exponentially (or so it seems!)

mike

[ironwood]

I had a 79 Blazer that I lifted 4" without putting on a new pitman arm and I forget what way I couldn't turn very sharp but I wished I had put one on. If you go with blocks in the rear be wary of how much power you are running I have heard of stories where guys have popped the blocks out because of the axle wrap created when accelerating. I don't know if those stories were true or not but it makes sense to me. I had blocks in the rear on mine but wished I had springs.