Lift kit or bodylift ?

[WETOWM]

Working on my 70 1/2 ton truck wanting it to have a little more clerance between tires and body 1 or 2 inches will it be better to do this with the springs & spacer blocks or body bushings ??

[screaminchevypickup]

I would do it with a suspension lift!!! Body lifts look funny to me!!
Posted via Mobile Device

[koda360]

Try to stay away from lifting anything more than an inch with blocks. This creates leverage on your suspension parts, causing excessive stress that could lead them to fail. Usually the "U" bolts break.

This happens in simple cornering as well as off-roading.

Body lifts tend to raise the roll center/ center of gravity faster than you gain tire clearance. Again, you're relying on the sheer strength of much longer bolts to keep the body on the chassis.

The best way to do it is with springs, shackles, ect. Problem here is, this is the expensive route.

Not sure how your truck is set up, but if you have rear leafs, and the axle is above the springs, you can flip it to bellow the springs. That should gain you a couple inches in the rear.

If all you want is a couple inches, one inch blocks out back, coils in front, and a one inch body lift will get the job done, but that's as far as I'd go using these type components.

[WETOWM]

I have a shop in town that makes leaf springs they say that they can re arch the springs to get a 1 inch in height i may go that route

[Hubscrub]

Originally Posted by screaminchevypickup

I would do it with a suspension lift!!! Body lifts look funny to me!!
Posted via Mobile Device

i agree, i would do only a suspension lift i would never do a body lift on my truck

[mud.man.rj]

Body lifts are cheap and easy but on the pre 73 trucks the bumpers can't be moved up with brackets as the 73 and up can as the bumpers are bolted directly to the frame horns and looks funny as noted also more of the frame is noticable which looks bad plus the body lift blocks tend to continually need retightening and if not wear thru the cab floor from being loose. Have installed many, not a great choice, the spring lift ( your springs are over the axle) is the best route to go. A simple add a leaf kit is available from many shops such as North Shore Off Road in B.C. not advertising for them but parts are available and easy as taking apart the spring pack leaving top leaf on the truck and adding a single leaf under the top leaf and reassembling the other leaves back in the pack with the supplied new center bolt and the truck will sit about 2" higher front and back, will handle a better load and isn't tippy because the extra leaf helps out the tired old leaves. Cheap and easy, will need to kits, one for back and one for front. way cheaper than buying 4 leaf spring packs or rearhing the tired old springs, which will cost a bit if they are doing all the work.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by WETOWM

I have a shop in town that makes leaf springs they say that they can re arch the springs to get a 1 inch in height i may go that route

Great idea,do that. For just an inch or so it's foolish to buy new springs when you already have some.

[jocko]

i never, ever understood why anyone would do a body lift, other than trying to achieve the look of a suspension lift. And then not really achieving it. I must be an old fuddy duddy - and I do like a very slight lift on old 4x4s, but I think going outrageous kills the look and functionality of the vehicle. I realize that is just my personal taste though.

If I had an old 4x4, I'd maybe go 1-2" over stock, tops. 60-66 or 67-72. Only slightly larger than stock tires, etc. And, yes, strangely, I know, I prefer the stock 15x6 steelies on old 4x4s as well. Very good look in my opinion. Good luck!

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by jocko

i never, ever understood why anyone would do a body lift, other than trying to achieve the look of a suspension lift. And then not really achieving it.

Yep... why fit bigger tires on something that still has a stock suspension? Body lifts seems like a lot of work for nothing if you ask me. Plus the fan will now hit the lower part of the shroud, the gas filler neck needs to be extended, steering and shift linkage will need to be modified, radiator hoses need to be lengthened, and the bumper situation has been covered. Not to mention the gap between the bed and framrails.

Suspension lift blocks can be used in the back... but NEVER on the front.

Gary

[WETOWM]

I am replacing the front & rear spring because the rears where all broken and the original 3 leaf looked flat . The leaf spring shop here in town said the original front spring style is no longer available and said i would have to go to a 5 leaf style spring in the front sounds like a lot of spring for the front if i go with the 5 leaf in the front should i have them add a leaf to the rear

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by jocko

snip...
If I had an old 4x4, I'd maybe go 1-2" over stock, tops. 60-66 or 67-72. Only slightly larger than stock tires, etc. And, yes, strangely, I know, I prefer the stock 15x6 steelies on old 4x4s as well. Very good look in my opinion. Good luck!

You and me both...
(the stock 15 steelies part, no lift on my rig)
You know, as most folks keep lowering things, my stock height keeps getting higher.