91 K1500 SFA swap vs already lifted 85 K10 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

*1FaastC10* · 11-26-2003, 07:26 PM

i've been tossing around the idea of a SFA swap for my 91 K1500 for a while now. i went over to my neighbor's house today, and he offered me his 85 K10 for $1500 and my truck, and its already lifted. he's got 6" of lift and 33 x 12.50 BFG ATs on it. this is exactly what i was looking to do to my 91. would i be better off to go with the 85 over doing all the work to my 91? which would you do if you were in my situation, and why?

BTW, the 85 was fully restored not too long ago, and its got a 90-91ish GMC Burb grille in it. hope that doesnt sway your opinions.

r0lf- · 11-26-2003, 07:33 PM

well... what motor? what gears? we need more specifics than 6" lift and 33's.

Doesnt sound like too bad of a rig though.

*1FaastC10* · 11-26-2003, 07:53 PM

its got a rebuilt 350 backed by a 700R4. not sure what 'case its got in it, but i do know it has 10 bolts at both ends (which will change eventually) he said its "geared for 35" tires" i'm assuming that its around a 3.73-4.10. also on the 6" of lift, he told me it had 6" in the front, and 8" in the back. wouldnt that create a hideous 4" rake? i'm thinking he just got his figures mixed up.

Jonboy · 11-26-2003, 08:34 PM

Most 6" kits are a 4" block and an add-a-leaf. Maybe he thought the block was 6, and the leaf 2". Anyhow, the IFS on your 91 is a lot more expensive to lift (correctly) and you are looking at at least another $800-1200 for decent rims and tires. If you like the truck at all, I think you would be money ahead with the 85, especially if it has been restored and is already lifted. I am a little biased, but I have never had an 88-98 body style truck, either.

The 85 should have a 208 transfer case in it.

*1FaastC10* · 11-26-2003, 09:17 PM

Jonboy, the 91 shouldn't be much more expensive to lift, other than the $750 for the SFA swap kit from ORD. i've looked at the IFS lifts, and they are expensive. but the SFA swap involves putting a straight axle in the place of an IFS setup, and uses 73-91 SFA parts.

i am slightly biased as well. i've owned 2 88-98 trucks (93 and 91) and probably 10 73-87s.

Jonboy · 11-27-2003, 12:14 AM

I thought that's what you ment. I haven't had a 4Wd in agas, since I live in Dallas. Does the 750 include the lift? What kind of 'wheeling will you be doing? I always have preferred 35's with a 6 inch lift, but that is just me. I grew up playing in the mud mostly, where you really don't need a lot of articulation. That, and my stuff was usually a little rough, so if the tires "self clearanced" it wasn't really a problem. I ran 36" Gumbo Mudders on my 75 Blazer with 4 inches of lift for a couple of years, and liked that look.

Bottom line, your neighbor would own the 91......

*1FaastC10* · 11-27-2003, 12:52 AM

the 750.00 is just for the brackets to mount the axle under there. you still have to buy an axle, a set of leaf springs, and make the steering work.

as for the type of wheeling, i like to do a little of everything. hill climb, trails, mud, sand. you name it, i'm game.

11-26-2003, 07:26 PM	#1
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,400	91 K1500 SFA swap vs already lifted 85 K10 i've been tossing around the idea of a SFA swap for my 91 K1500 for a while now. i went over to my neighbor's house today, and he offered me his 85 K10 for $1500 and my truck, and its already lifted. he's got 6" of lift and 33 x 12.50 BFG ATs on it. this is exactly what i was looking to do to my 91. would i be better off to go with the 85 over doing all the work to my 91? which would you do if you were in my situation, and why? BTW, the 85 was fully restored not too long ago, and its got a 90-91ish GMC Burb grille in it. hope that doesnt sway your opinions.

11-26-2003, 07:33 PM	#2
r0lf- Hotwheels? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA Posts: 1,145	well... what motor? what gears? we need more specifics than 6" lift and 33's. Doesnt sound like too bad of a rig though. __________________ 1978 Money Pit - CUSTOM DELUXE!!!!

11-26-2003, 08:34 PM	#4
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	Most 6" kits are a 4" block and an add-a-leaf. Maybe he thought the block was 6, and the leaf 2". Anyhow, the IFS on your 91 is a lot more expensive to lift (correctly) and you are looking at at least another $800-1200 for decent rims and tires. If you like the truck at all, I think you would be money ahead with the 85, especially if it has been restored and is already lifted. I am a little biased, but I have never had an 88-98 body style truck, either. The 85 should have a 208 transfer case in it. __________________ 1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241

11-27-2003, 12:14 AM	#6
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	I thought that's what you ment. I haven't had a 4Wd in agas, since I live in Dallas. Does the 750 include the lift? What kind of 'wheeling will you be doing? I always have preferred 35's with a 6 inch lift, but that is just me. I grew up playing in the mud mostly, where you really don't need a lot of articulation. That, and my stuff was usually a little rough, so if the tires "self clearanced" it wasn't really a problem. I ran 36" Gumbo Mudders on my 75 Blazer with 4 inches of lift for a couple of years, and liked that look. Bottom line, your neighbor would own the 91...... __________________ 1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241

11-26-2003, 07:53 PM	#3
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,400	its got a rebuilt 350 backed by a 700R4. not sure what 'case its got in it, but i do know it has 10 bolts at both ends (which will change eventually) he said its "geared for 35" tires" i'm assuming that its around a 3.73-4.10. also on the 6" of lift, he told me it had 6" in the front, and 8" in the back. wouldnt that create a hideous 4" rake? i'm thinking he just got his figures mixed up.

11-26-2003, 09:17 PM	#5
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,400	Jonboy, the 91 shouldn't be much more expensive to lift, other than the $750 for the SFA swap kit from ORD. i've looked at the IFS lifts, and they are expensive. but the SFA swap involves putting a straight axle in the place of an IFS setup, and uses 73-91 SFA parts. i am slightly biased as well. i've owned 2 88-98 trucks (93 and 91) and probably 10 73-87s.

11-27-2003, 12:52 AM	#7
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,400	the 750.00 is just for the brackets to mount the axle under there. you still have to buy an axle, a set of leaf springs, and make the steering work. as for the type of wheeling, i like to do a little of everything. hill climb, trails, mud, sand. you name it, i'm game.



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