93 K5 lift - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**bowtie72** · 03-10-2014, 09:57 PM

I need to lift my 93 Blazer 2-3". Whats the best way? I have seen the kits with blocks and keys. There is another set with the front control arms and a add a leaf. I think the control arm with add a leaf would be the best but not for sure. I know with adjusting the keys can be hard on the ball joints and cause them to wear out quicker. What do you guys think?

Redcap · 03-10-2014, 10:32 PM

Best way...? Solid axle swap.

dieseldawg142 · 03-11-2014, 12:52 AM

yup, solid axle is the best
i lifted my '90 k1500 stepper around 3". my money goes in my '85 crew, so i did the cheap way, keys (2"), cranked the bars an inch, & did add a leafs in the rear. should have went blocks, add a leafs are wearing grooves in my mains. pia to install compared to blocks too.
i did my cv's & ball joints before i lifted mine, that was in '02, have not had a problem with them.
i'm currently running 33x11.5/16 BF M/T's with no rub

**special-K** · 03-11-2014, 07:23 AM

Swapping to a solid axle just to get a 2-3" lift is ridiculous. I prefer a solid axle,don't need a cushy ride,but...
The best way to lift the light weight IFS GMs is the arms because it's a suspension improvement. But,just like with solid axle swap,if you don't have a need for better suspension why do it? I'd do the keys. My '92 is a K3500 so it had adjustable torsion bars. I cranked them up at 80k and have run 285/75s or 255/85s ever since. This truck is always hauling and often towing and it still has all it's original front end parts,except idler arm which needs replaced about every 80k. It now has over 300k on it and I noticed I need new upper ball joints when I put new tires on it. Those are original

**bowtie72** · 03-11-2014, 04:26 PM

Solid swap is out. I just don't need it. Would like the info about the keys or control arm kits I have seen.

dieseldawg142 · 03-12-2014, 07:00 PM

i used the keys out of a mid '90's one ton crew, the "green" keys. got them at the wrecking yard for $25 i belive
here's a good read about GM ifs & lifting them with keys & bigger bars
http://www.gmfullsize.com/tech/torsion401.html

Big Tex · 03-14-2014, 10:28 PM

I may get roasted but......think about a body lift? There I said it. Now I know they look like crap on most trucks, especially 2wd wanna bes. However, of all the body styles out there the 88-98 GM trucks and 2 door tahoes can pull them off the best. You do need to move the front and rear bumpers up, and use the gap guards to make it look right.

**special-K** · 03-15-2014, 10:18 PM

Not sure on Blazers and Jimmys (no such thing as a '94 K5),but you look at too much frame on a pickup as they come from factory. A body lift makes them look like they have stacked frames

mud.man.rj · 03-15-2014, 10:29 PM

Ya, I agree, body lift is not cool on this body style, way to much frame. Go keys as mentioned and blocks or add a leaf, your choice on that.

03-10-2014, 09:57 PM	#1
bowtie72 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 361	93 K5 lift I need to lift my 93 Blazer 2-3". Whats the best way? I have seen the kits with blocks and keys. There is another set with the front control arms and a add a leaf. I think the control arm with add a leaf would be the best but not for sure. I know with adjusting the keys can be hard on the ball joints and cause them to wear out quicker. What do you guys think? __________________ 1968 SWB "Little White Truck" 1972 LWB LS 4l80 "Plain Jane!!"

03-10-2014, 10:32 PM	#2
Redcap Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lewis County, WA Posts: 1,523	Re: 93 K5 lift Best way...? Solid axle swap. __________________ '77 K35 - 454, SM465/NP205, 4.56 D60/14bFF

03-11-2014, 12:52 AM	#3
dieseldawg142 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: back 40, bc Posts: 3,808	Re: 93 K5 lift yup, solid axle is the best i lifted my '90 k1500 stepper around 3". my money goes in my '85 crew, so i did the cheap way, keys (2"), cranked the bars an inch, & did add a leafs in the rear. should have went blocks, add a leafs are wearing grooves in my mains. pia to install compared to blocks too. i did my cv's & ball joints before i lifted mine, that was in '02, have not had a problem with them. i'm currently running 33x11.5/16 BF M/T's with no rub

03-11-2014, 07:23 AM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,862	Re: 93 K5 lift Swapping to a solid axle just to get a 2-3" lift is ridiculous. I prefer a solid axle,don't need a cushy ride,but... The best way to lift the light weight IFS GMs is the arms because it's a suspension improvement. But,just like with solid axle swap,if you don't have a need for better suspension why do it? I'd do the keys. My '92 is a K3500 so it had adjustable torsion bars. I cranked them up at 80k and have run 285/75s or 255/85s ever since. This truck is always hauling and often towing and it still has all it's original front end parts,except idler arm which needs replaced about every 80k. It now has over 300k on it and I noticed I need new upper ball joints when I put new tires on it. Those are original __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 03-11-2014 at 11:58 PM.

03-11-2014, 04:26 PM	#5
bowtie72 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 361	Re: 93 K5 lift Solid swap is out. I just don't need it. Would like the info about the keys or control arm kits I have seen. __________________ 1968 SWB "Little White Truck" 1972 LWB LS 4l80 "Plain Jane!!"

03-12-2014, 07:00 PM	#6
dieseldawg142 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: back 40, bc Posts: 3,808	Re: 93 K5 lift i used the keys out of a mid '90's one ton crew, the "green" keys. got them at the wrecking yard for $25 i belive here's a good read about GM ifs & lifting them with keys & bigger bars http://www.gmfullsize.com/tech/torsion401.html

03-14-2014, 10:28 PM	#7
Big Tex Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rockwall, Texas Posts: 113	Re: 93 K5 lift I may get roasted but......think about a body lift? There I said it. Now I know they look like crap on most trucks, especially 2wd wanna bes. However, of all the body styles out there the 88-98 GM trucks and 2 door tahoes can pull them off the best. You do need to move the front and rear bumpers up, and use the gap guards to make it look right. __________________ 1990 K5 Blazer (sold) 1983 SWB C-10 to K-20 Conversion

03-15-2014, 10:18 PM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,862	Re: 93 K5 lift Not sure on Blazers and Jimmys (no such thing as a '94 K5),but you look at too much frame on a pickup as they come from factory. A body lift makes them look like they have stacked frames __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

03-15-2014, 10:29 PM	#9
mud.man.rj Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Creighton Sask. Canada Posts: 4,121	Re: 93 K5 lift Ya, I agree, body lift is not cool on this body style, way to much frame. Go keys as mentioned and blocks or add a leaf, your choice on that. __________________ 1987 Green n Green machine. 5.0 4spd std. 7" lift w 35's.



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