Just picked up 71 K-10...lift kit is first on the list and have questions

[kickinasphalt]

Hello everyone! Haven't been around here for quite some time. Picked up a 1971 K-10 long box today with a 350 and 4 speed. This is gonna be my new project. First on the list is a lift and tire/rims (because stock tires and suspension is just too small )I've been looking around at lifts and there seem to be a few to choose from. I plan to keep the small block and since I don't tow, I don't need 'heavy duty' springs. I know I want all new springs all around and shocks too. Ride is kind of important (I don't want super harsh ride). I haven't decided between 4" with 33's or 6" with 35's so I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction to find some pics of both. I came across the Tuff Country brand when searching and found this 6": http://www.suspensionconnection.com/...on/166114.html Is this a good deal? Its almost the same price for a 4" so price wouldn't be a factor for choosing between the two. Thanks much and remember I nee pics!

[ryanroo]

i have a skyjacker 8 inch on mine, thinkin back i would have ordered it for a half ton to be a little softer, but overall the ride is good. a 4 or 6 inch woul be better yet. sorry no pics
ryan

[Destructo]

6" Tuff Country EZ-Ride suspensions with rear springs would be my choice. I have a 4" rough country kit on mine and it is VERY stiff. I have heard Tuff countrys EZ-Ride kits ride better than factory. Flex very well also.

[kickinasphalt]

Besides the steering arm drop, is there anything else required for a 6" lift (like driveshafts etc.). Thanks.

[ryanroo]

with six inches i imagine youll need driveshafts lengthend, and front brake lines for sure, the bracket on the back may be able to be bent so it works, but its easy to replace so why not. when i got my driveshafts, my shop told me they don't carry the big tube that was stock for the rear, they could get it, but at some ridiculous price per inch so i ended up gettin new ends to
Ryan

[Budweis]

some of the kits come with transfer case drop kit and dont have to lengthen driveshafts and some dont from what i understand.

[kickinasphalt]

I went back to the site and looked at the bill of materials:
EZ-Ride front leaf springs 2
EZ-Ride rear leaf springs 2
U-bolts 8
Transfer case drop kit 1
Sway bar drop kit 1
Brake line extension kit 1
U-bolt - nuts and washers 2
Spring bolts - rear 4
Spring bolts - front 4

Looks like it comes with a transfer case drop. My next question is how does this work? How can you just 'drop' the transfer case?

[500HP/SB]

Hope i can help, this is a 4in lift with 35"s, for my next tires i may try some 33"s

[500HP/SB]

ooops here

[JIMs70GMC]

Those tc drop brackets will not work on trucks with the torque type mounts. They are for the trucks w/ the cross member/skid plate only. i.e on both my trucks the cross member is under the tranny/tc adapter and the tc has a mount on the left side only. I don't believe you can drop those types of mounts.

Definetly go 6", your front drive shaft should have a double cardian joint at the tc already and should be fine. In the rear all you should need is length. "Dropping" the tc is for u-joint angles and if these are a problem it would be better to get a double cardian drive shaft made for the rear.

[kickinasphalt]

My engine, tranny, and transfer case are out of an 1980 Chevy 4x4. Will this make any difference for anything?

[JIMs70GMC]

Post a pic of the tc from the rearend.

[1969 GMC]

1980 would be an SM465 mated to a slip yoke NP205. The transfer case still has the torque mount (or at least the holes in the actual transfer case for it, I got my '80 combo already pulled and thats what I'm going by).

there shouldn't be a sway bar on your truck, they didnt come from the factory until '73. are you looking at the correct lift kit?

[kickinasphalt]

Originally posted by JIMs70GMC
Post a pic of the tc from the rearend.

Can't at the moment...pickup is 370 miles away back home (I'm at college). Will when I can.

Originally posted by 1969 GMC
there shouldn't be a sway bar on your truck, they didnt come from the factory until '73. are you looking at the correct lift kit?

Here is the link again: http://www.suspensionconnection.com/...on/166114.html
Thats what is says.

[454_72_4X4]

I've got the Rough Country 4 in. "soft ride" / "easy ride"lift on mine and there's nothing soft or easy about it!
I had to have a new front drive shaft made. My slip joint was wore out anyway.
I found a rear drive out of a longbed F@rd Ranger, (I'm pretty sure it was out of a Ranger anyway cause it was in the bed of it and it has a F@rd emblem on it), and had it shortened to fit. Had to do a little grinding on the yokes for clearance cause of the driveline angle.

My rear drive shaft would have worked but it was wore out too. I had a new shaft built cause the driveshaft shop told me they could build a complete new shaft, (3-1/2 in.) cheaper than the cost of the slip joint for the big, (4-1/2in.? can't remember), pipe.

My brake lines could have been made to work also but I replaced them with the stainless steel ones.

You'll also need the raised steering arm to make it drive good.

I just got the motor back in mine today. I'll take a couple of pics when I get it out in the daylight.

One other thing I'd like to mention. Almost every lift kit I've seen leaves the rear of the truck sitting lower than the front. I think they look like chit that way. Mine was the same way so I flipped the rear shackles also to bring it up just over level. (rear higher than the front).
Rear shackle flip is simple on these trucks.
Cut, grind, or drill out the old rivots, flip the shackles, weld them back on, and add some gussets.