New 2001 in the barn :)

[86454k30]

Here is the kit I used to level mine.

https://www.roughcountry.com/gm-susp...kit-8596c.html

It rides like stock. I did NOT install the rear lift blocks. I installed all 4 shocks and the upper control arms. Generally shock length is part of the ride problem along with the upper control "topping" out.

Tires are 285/75r16

Here are more pictures.

[jocko]

Thanks very much for sharing. Same tires I run on my 1/2 ton, and plan to run on my 3/4 whenever the time comes for new tires. Your truck looks nice and level. So I can see how the upper arms can help eliminate the droop issue, but seems the axle shafts would still be at a steeper angle than stock. BUT, I did the torsion bar lift on my 1/2 ton about 250,000 miles ago and have not had any problems - except for the pitman arm wearing out. THAT was because I realized after about 180k mi that I was missing greasing on of the zerk fittings... Doh. But I haven't really had any issues. I notice this is a 3" kit - is it adjustable at all, i.e. yours doesn't look a full 3" higher - can you just lift it 2 if you like?

Any more details on how you cut down your AMP steps? I really like how the seem to somewhat disappear - I never can tell if I'm seeing them or the rocker when they're in the up position... ha.

[86454k30]

Yes you can adjust the kit as much or as little as you want depending on how much you adjust the torsion key bolt.

Steps are super easy. Remove the end caps off one side of the board and cut them in a band saw, re-install the end cap and follow the directions the boards come with...easy peasy!

[hatzie]

You should be able to lower the front diff so you split the difference in height between the front propshaft and the front CV shafts. That way the CV shafts aren't taking up all of the difference in height and everything stays happier.

[86454k30]

As long as you stay 1.5-2" level over stock diff drop is not necessary. If you drop the diff you have to cut the rear diff cross member.

[LEEVON]

WOW, awesome find. That truck should last you many many years. Get in touch with Justin Gadberry (Blackbear Performance) for a custom tune. I've had many, but the 8.1L/Allison tune was by far the most dramatic improvement. Waaaay worth the money. Here's a pic of my 8.1L (2wd) with keys and rear blocks on factory H2 wheels.

[jocko]

Thanks Leevon, your truck looks great!

[jocko]

FWIW, and in case it helps anybody else in their decision process... I indeed went ahead and installed the Rough Country 1.5-2.0 leveling kit. I just couldn't take the rake.

My goal was only to raise the front by 1.5" - only wanted to level (or get a little closer to level) and didn't want to raise the rear for now. Anyway, worth noting that I had 1" of thread remaining on the stock key adjusters before I started to go down this road.

I installed the RC kit and started with about 1" of thread showing, just like before with the stock keys, to see what the keys alone did to the front before I started adjusting. This made the truck nose high - before adjustment. So, under the truck a few more times to back off the bolt and relax the torsion bars a bit more. When my bolts were about to fall out of the threads and the keys were resting on the stops - it was STILL nose high. What the...

Spoke to RC and they recommended re-indexing the key by 1/6 rotation of the hex to relax it further. Well, no way that would work - 1/6th of a turn put the adjuster so far up inside the frame rail that it used up the entire adjusting bolt. There's really only 1 way they can go on and still allow adjustability. So, while I still used the shock bracket that came in the kit, I reverted back to the stock keys - and only used up about 1/4" of my bolt travel to get the front to be approx 1" lower than the rear, about where I wanted it. Overall, the kit keys were a waste of money.

If I were doing the kit that also raises the rear by 1" with blocks - it would have been just about perfect (as some of you all did above) - but for front leveling only, the stock keys were far better than the RC leveling keys.

The shop that aligned it had no issues aligning and I still have a thumb and a half between the upper control arm and the droop stop. The overall ride is only slightly stiffer - really hardly noticeable, and I attribute that fact to using the shock relocation brackets so they are at approx the same extension as before the torsion bars were twisted up a little bit. Anyway, got it where I like it, without too much stress to the suspension except for maybe the ball joints a little bit - but it's really not even leveled, just raised a bit so that it doesn't look like I'm skidding to a stop when standing still...

Also one more note for those adjusting keys - new height did settle about 1/2-3/4" after I set it and drove it a bit - for what that's worth.

[davischevy]

That was quite a find. Great looking truck.

[72Cheyenne454]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

WOW, awesome find. That truck should last you many many years. Get in touch with Justin Gadberry (Blackbear Performance) for a custom tune. I've had many, but the 8.1L/Allison tune was by far the most dramatic improvement. Waaaay worth the money. Here's a pic of my 8.1L (2wd) with keys and rear blocks on factory H2 wheels.

I completely agree with Leevon. Although I've never had Justin (Blackbear Performance) tune a 8.1/Allison combo, I have used him on all the LS engine trucks I've owned, past and present (two 5.3's and my current supercharged 6.2) and this is money well spent. I immediately noticed a difference in performance, shift timing, shift firmness - just overall driveability was improved everywhere with no compromises.

Miles

[72Cheyenne454]

Originally Posted by jocko

FWIW, and in case it helps anybody else in their decision process... I indeed went ahead and installed the Rough Country 1.5-2.0 leveling kit. I just couldn't take the rake.

My goal was only to raise the front by 1.5" - only wanted to level (or get a little closer to level) and didn't want to raise the rear for now. Anyway, worth noting that I had 1" of thread remaining on the stock key adjusters before I started to go down this road.

I installed the RC kit and started with about 1" of thread showing, just like before with the stock keys, to see what the keys alone did to the front before I started adjusting. This made the truck nose high - before adjustment. So, under the truck a few more times to back off the bolt and relax the torsion bars a bit more. When my bolts were about to fall out of the threads and the keys were resting on the stops - it was STILL nose high. What the...

Spoke to RC and they recommended re-indexing the key by 1/6 rotation of the hex to relax it further. Well, no way that would work - 1/6th of a turn put the adjuster so far up inside the frame rail that it used up the entire adjusting bolt. There's really only 1 way they can go on and still allow adjustability. So, while I still used the shock bracket that came in the kit, I reverted back to the stock keys - and only used up about 1/4" of my bolt travel to get the front to be approx 1" lower than the rear, about where I wanted it. Overall, the kit keys were a waste of money.

If I were doing the kit that also raises the rear by 1" with blocks - it would have been just about perfect (as some of you all did above) - but for front leveling only, the stock keys were far better than the RC leveling keys.

The shop that aligned it had no issues aligning and I still have a thumb and a half between the upper control arm and the droop stop. The overall ride is only slightly stiffer - really hardly noticeable, and I attribute that fact to using the shock relocation brackets so they are at approx the same extension as before the torsion bars were twisted up a little bit. Anyway, got it where I like it, without too much stress to the suspension except for maybe the ball joints a little bit - but it's really not even leveled, just raised a bit so that it doesn't look like I'm skidding to a stop when standing still...

Also one more note for those adjusting keys - new height did settle about 1/2-3/4" after I set it and drove it a bit - for what that's worth.

What a clean truck and a great find. I'd like to see some before/after pics.

[Vintage Windmills]

Wow Mark, I really like the truck. One of the best body styles, best colors, and best drivetrains in my opinion. Just seeing the pictures of it now. I am kinda bummed though that I didn't see the for sale ad first! Maybe it needs to come back to MN...

[jocko]

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

Maybe it needs to come back to MN...

Well, I've already added 2000 miles to it's clock just getting it home, would hate to get it almost to 15k driving it back, I better keep it here in the warm south

[Lokin4AReason]

nice score esp with those mile(s) ....

noticed anything on the rig that needs attention .... ?

[jocko]

Really nothing at all - it was clearly very well cared for and kept indoors (in MN) all those years. I went thru everything and changed all the fluids and filters, internal and external on the Allison, belts etc even though everything still looked pretty new. I always keep a belt behind the seat just in case as well, so I stuck the original back there. Runs like a champ - but now I’m in that stupid middle ground where it’s SO nice that I find myself driving my other 2001 as much as always, stretching every last ounce of life from it - waiting to the last possible second before I have to start racking up daily miles on the “new” 2001. Ha. It’s stupid, I know, but I may squeeze another 100k out of my “old” 2001. By then the new one will really seem like low mileage - but by then they may have replaced all gas pumps with electric charging stations, so maybe I better start enjoyin it now. It still has the brand new car feel that my old 2001 had 18 years ago. I can’t say it has the new car smell though - po smoked in it. Almost have the stink out at this point. It took a while and a lot of home remedies to get rid of it but it’s worth it.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by 72Cheyenne454

What a clean truck and a great find. I'd like to see some before/after pics.

Pls pardon my woefully slow reply! Here's one before and two after pics (stock keys only, about 1.5 turns. Raised in front approx 1+"). Not a huge difference, but closer to level and about where I wanted it.