2wd suspension lift

[factory593]

I have a 1968 1/2 ton chevy 2 wheel drive. Does anyone know of a suspension lift made for it??

[Prerunner1982]

you could put 1 ton coils on it and get a few inches, probably have to manufacture a spacer for the back or get longer coils. you could also get coil spacers for the front. there really isnt a kit offered.

[shimp]

I'm not aware of one, but the front suspension is pretty much the same as the 73-87 trucks, so you might be able to use the Fabtech Springs in the front.

I have the Fabtech kit on my 84 C10 2wd.

If your truck also has leaf springs in the back then you can use the same rear lift kit as well.

If you've got coils in the back then you should probably be able to find some stiffer/longer springs for the rear.

Funny thing about the Fabtech springs on my 84 is that the aren't any taller than the factory springs, just stiffer. However it actually improved the ride alot. The factory springs were too mushy.

[SWEET7T]

I also think that the Fabtech kit for the '73+ would work...

FABTECH SUSPENSION '73+ 2WD Kit

[72bigblock4wd]

I've been looking around too and haven't been able to find one of these yet. I think what the other guys are saying about the '73-'87 kit is probably right. The hard part's going to be lifting the rear end if you've got coil springs. You could probably get coil springs custom made for the rear, which wouldn't be terribly expensive, or you might even be able to go to a long-travel coilover. Let me know if you figure it out, I'm picking up a '68 GMC 2wd and was thinking it might be fun to make a pre-runner style truck for the dunes (if I can do it cheap enough). Good Luck!!

I was just looking at Fabtech's site, their long travel 4" system uses tubular control arms, does anyone know if the control arms on a 73-87 will fit a 67-72?

[slam33]

I've done the lift. I have stock 1/2 tons on 1 1/2 lift plates on the front and 3" taller rear coils. I'm running 265/70/15's. This is what I have found so far. The front has almost no rebound left in it. I had to use shorter upper bump stops. Running over a pot hole hits real hard. I have plenty of compression, but the ride seems a bit harsh. The rear feels ok but I had to throw in an adjusable panhard bar to center the rear end. The angle of the bar is steep, about 20 degrees. The shocks on all 4 corners are just about topped out. I have the KYB 0 - 2" lift shocks on the front and a set of HD gas Monroe's on the rear. I'm also concerned about the rear drive shaft angle, looks steep to me. The truck looks great, I can run 32's even 33's on it, but it just seems the ride is off. It feels more like something out of the early 60's. I got about 3 inches total and the truck sits level. Here's a pic.

[Prerunner1982]

i run 32"s on my stock 82...i am planning a complete custom suspension. but that if far in the future. i have heard bad things about the fabtech kits, but there are a couple guys running them around here. for a street truck i am sure they are fine. but like slam said, they will limit your droop. with any suspension you want both droop and compression. you can run 35"s on a stock suspension (atleast on a 73-87) by just adding 'glass fenders (or hacking them like i have contemplated)

[72bigblock4wd]

I emailed fabtech, their reply was that they've never tried the 73-87 kit on a 67-72 truck, so they didn't know if it would fit. I know the lower control arms are interchangeable, does anyone know if the upper control arms are? I've also seen a few people swap in the entire 73-87 crossmember. There must be a way to do it. The truck I'm picking up tomorrow is a '67 GMC, and the PO converted the rear suspension to leafs, which would make it really easy for me to lift the rear end, but I'm still not sure how to go about the front end.

[Tx Firefighter]

Both upper and lower control arms will interchange between the earlier and later trucks. Of course, beware of different ball joints and spindle compatability between different years.

[The Dude]

my friend runs a fabtech 7.5in on his 2wd 88 1 ton and he has no droop at all, and on all of the 88-98 2wds with fabtech i have seen, the ball joints are torn to shreds. i dont know if this is common on all fabtech systems though.

depending on how much you are looking to spend, iam sure you could have a fab shop build you something to fit your needs. maybe some custom tubular a- arms built to use the stock spinles, and king coil overs...

[Prerunner1982]

why use stock spindles? have them build them to accept 88-98 spindles, they make them in 3" lift. this would not adversly affect the joints and such.

[72bigblock4wd]

Actually, you could use the stock control arms from the 73-87 or the Fabtech control arms as well. If you wanted to fab something for more lift you could make a cradle for the lower control arms to use longer coils and get more lift.l

[The Dude]

i figured stock spindles to save money and such, but thats a good idea with the 88-98 lift spindles.