4 inch lift and drivelines. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Dwaynes56&68 · 05-14-2004, 03:05 AM

What luck I have. I bought Tuff country 4 inch easy rides front and rear for my 78 shorty. Now, my stock springs were collapsed a bit from age but not to bad. But the new springs jacked me up 7 1/2 inches. My drive shaft in the front will not rotate without binding and the rear has about 1/2 of splines showing out of the slip yoke. Anyone else have to modify there drivelines with a 4 inch lift? I even double checked the part numbers, they are 4 inch springs. This blows.....

**JIMs70GMC** · 05-14-2004, 03:36 AM

I got about 3"+ from my 2" tuff country front springs. Make sure you have not pre-loaded the bushings, that is don't tighten the shackle bushings until the full weight of the vehicle is on the springs.

**Yukon Jack** · 05-14-2004, 11:00 AM

On my 69 K20 I had to lengthen my front driveline and add a CV joint. Sound like you definitely need the CV joint. That is really odd you got so much lift - I would consider exhanging them if you don't want to be that high.

ryanroo · 05-14-2004, 01:03 PM

almost 8 inched seems like an awful lot out of 4 inch springs, but i get nearly 11 inches from my 8 inch lift, i just assumed they would settle out as they got used. good luck
Ryan

LONGHAIR · 05-14-2004, 01:14 PM

The 78 should already have a CV joint. They will have to be "clearanced" for anything over about 6". You will need to grind the little square bosses off of the yokes and maybe a bit more of an angle from the edges too. Don't go crazy or you will weaken the whole thing.

You really shouldn't need that for 4" though. Even if you truck was sagged a lot, it should still only be approx. 4" above what should have beend stock.
So even if it did lift you more than 4" from where you were it shouldn't be high enough to cause clearance problems with the CV joint yet. You never know though..........too many variables.

If it is too high, send them back. Otherwise you HAVE to do something with both of those shafts.

It will be far cheaper to go to an "auto recycler" and get a rear driveshaft from a LWB truck and have it shortened. Shortening is far cheaper than lengthening.

Dwaynes56&68 · 05-15-2004, 12:36 PM

I am going to go buy a 2 1/2 lift. I spoke with a tough country rep and he said that overall it should settle about 1/2 inch after they are broken in. They had me measure the free arch of the springs to confirm they were correct and they are 4 inch. It looks really funny to with 255/ 85 /16 tires, which work out to about 33 inch.

05-14-2004, 03:05 AM	#1
Dwaynes56&68 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Crawfordsville,Oregon Posts: 83	4 inch lift and drivelines. What luck I have. I bought Tuff country 4 inch easy rides front and rear for my 78 shorty. Now, my stock springs were collapsed a bit from age but not to bad. But the new springs jacked me up 7 1/2 inches. My drive shaft in the front will not rotate without binding and the rear has about 1/2 of splines showing out of the slip yoke. Anyone else have to modify there drivelines with a 4 inch lift? I even double checked the part numbers, they are 4 inch springs. This blows..... __________________ Are we there yet?

05-14-2004, 03:36 AM	#2
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	I got about 3"+ from my 2" tuff country front springs. Make sure you have not pre-loaded the bushings, that is don't tighten the shackle bushings until the full weight of the vehicle is on the springs. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

05-14-2004, 11:00 AM	#3
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,684	On my 69 K20 I had to lengthen my front driveline and add a CV joint. Sound like you definitely need the CV joint. That is really odd you got so much lift - I would consider exhanging them if you don't want to be that high. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

05-14-2004, 01:03 PM	#4
ryanroo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: sw colorado Posts: 2,720	almost 8 inched seems like an awful lot out of 4 inch springs, but i get nearly 11 inches from my 8 inch lift, i just assumed they would settle out as they got used. good luck Ryan __________________ 72 K20 12v build 72 K20 "parts truck" A place for your diesel swap questions

05-15-2004, 12:36 PM	#6
Dwaynes56&68 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Crawfordsville,Oregon Posts: 83	I am going to go buy a 2 1/2 lift. I spoke with a tough country rep and he said that overall it should settle about 1/2 inch after they are broken in. They had me measure the free arch of the springs to confirm they were correct and they are 4 inch. It looks really funny to with 255/ 85 /16 tires, which work out to about 33 inch. __________________ Are we there yet?

05-14-2004, 01:14 PM	#5
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	The 78 should already have a CV joint. They will have to be "clearanced" for anything over about 6". You will need to grind the little square bosses off of the yokes and maybe a bit more of an angle from the edges too. Don't go crazy or you will weaken the whole thing. You really shouldn't need that for 4" though. Even if you truck was sagged a lot, it should still only be approx. 4" above what should have beend stock. So even if it did lift you more than 4" from where you were it shouldn't be high enough to cause clearance problems with the CV joint yet. You never know though..........too many variables. If it is too high, send them back. Otherwise you HAVE to do something with both of those shafts. It will be far cheaper to go to an "auto recycler" and get a rear driveshaft from a LWB truck and have it shortened. Shortening is far cheaper than lengthening.



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