Lift a 2wd 3/4t ??? *newbie*

[John *Sweden*]

Hi all, my name is John im from Sweden (North Europe), due to lack of good forums over here I hope its ok for you that I hang around here...

My language skills aint top notch so bare whit me

I have recently become owner of a
1976 2wd silverado c20 3/4t 6.2diesel th400 longbed. (engine from -85 blazer)
Looks ok and works perfekt....But looks a bit nerdy.

A few days ago I stumbled over a bargain, a set of new BFG 35" a/t
So my medicine to solve this nerdyness would be to mount them together whit a lift. Here is where my problem starts.

I understand that its totaly useless to lift a 2wd for any driving purposes, but hey, its the look I want and I have had my share of low rides.
Due to this useless, liftkits on market for 2wd 8lug seems to be very small? (I cant find any)

So what are my alternatives?

3-4" bodylift for start, and maby 2" blocks between the leafs and axel in the rear. But in the front I cant come up whit any good solutions. I allredy have the 3/4t springs (I think) so what should I do?

Will take some pictures for you.....

Please

[Cherub]

Welcome to the board

sry i have no knowledge of lifts.

[78 Chevyrado]

The body lift will be where you'll have to get most of the lift from. You can swap in a set of Heavy Duty 3/4 ton coil springs (stock replacements) in the front and put lift blocks in the rear.

Here's a before and after pic of my 78 C20 2wd, after swapping in Heavy duty coil springs up front (aprrox. 2 inch lift) and 1.5 inch lift blocks in the rear.

BEFORE:


AFTER:

[N2TRUX]

Welcome to the forum John. We don't care where your from as long as you like to talk trucks. If these boys can't get your problems solved no one can. Your english is just fine too.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to lift a truck just for looks. Most of the 4wd's that are lifted never get used off road, so it doesn't really matter.

[manimal]

You can get a hold of Fabtech. They have a ball joint spacer and coil spring kit for a total of 3" lift. I just got one from the boneyard out of a '77 C10. Good Luck.
-Lance

[old Rusty C10]

welcome to the board... id love to see pics of before and after ( being your question was pretty well answered) as i have a 2wd and am thinking of possibly lifting it also..
And just for the fun of it my grandfather on my dad's side came to the US from Sweeden.. Gottenborg i believe was the area.. anyway once again welcome to the site

[JCampbell]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Most of the 4wd's that are lifted never get used off road, so it doesn't really matter.

You sure about that?

[John *Sweden*]

Thanks for fast replies!! will post some
pics as soon as the weather allows.

Originally Posted by 78 Chevyrado

The body lift will be where you'll have to get most of the lift from. You can swap in a set of Heavy Duty 3/4 ton coil springs (stock replacements) in the front and put lift blocks in the rear.

Here's a before and after pic of my 78 C20 2wd, after swapping in Heavy duty coil springs up front (aprrox. 2 inch lift) and 1.5 inch lift blocks in the rear.

78 Chevyrado; nice truck!!
2 fast questions,
1.what size ore those tires of yours?

2. Let me just confirm what you are saying, there is the stock version front spring for the 3/4tons. And besides that one there is an hevy-duty one aswell?? Any dealer links?



Those extra 2" would do it perfect whit a 4" body lift and 2" blocks in rear!
All body liftkits I have seen is max 3", is there problems whit an extra 1" up to 4", safety issue, funny look?

[John *Sweden*]

Originally Posted by manimal

You can get a hold of Fabtech. They have a ball joint spacer and coil spring kit for a total of 3" lift. I just got one from the boneyard out of a '77 C10. Good Luck.
-Lance

Ok! think I have seen some of your pics in a recent thread...Nice kit.

Smells a bit pricey? And are they still in production for our body?

[John *Sweden*]

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

welcome to the board... id love to see pics of before and after ( being your question was pretty well answered) as i have a 2wd and am thinking of possibly lifting it also..
And just for the fun of it my grandfather on my dad's side came to the US from Sweeden.. Gottenborg i believe was the area.. anyway once again welcome to the site

Project pics will be there, lots of stuff to be done, paint, interior, lift etc....

Yes, there was a lot of people emigrating to usa from sweden. Funny to see many of the old swedish after-names in modern media made in the states. Ericsson, Larson etc

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by John *Sweden*

78 Chevyrado; nice truck!!
2 fast questions,
1.what size ore those tires of yours?

2. Let me just confirm what you are saying, there is the stock version front spring for the 3/4tons. And besides that one there is an hevy-duty one aswell?? Any dealer links?

Thanks man!


1. My tires are 265/75/16

2. correct, there are 2 stock versions.
I bought moog springs, The Light duty springs are Moog PN#6452

The heavy duty springs (like I have) are Moog PN#6454
They are $87.79+ shipping at Rockauto.com. You can get them there or just do a search for "Moog 6454".

I got my rear lift blocks from superlift, they are very good quality parts IMO.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by JCampbell

You sure about that?

Pretty much, yeah. I see lifted trucks running the streets here all day long and I would say that most of them never go wheelin.

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Pretty much, yeah. I see lifted trucks running the streets here all day long and I would say that most of them never go wheelin.

x2

[flamingbig10]

i'm working on a friends 79 c-25 that has a
3" body lift and it is going to have heavy duty coils when the new bushings come and it will be rolling on 33 to 35" tires, and it will be used as a farm truck, when I work on it again i'll snap some pics

[Prerunner1982]

dang it.. I had this whole big reply typed up.. and when I finally went to post it something happen and it was lost forever..

So to sum up what I had typed..

You can only lift the front end so far with a coil.. about 3", due to the upper control arms hitting the upper coil spring buckets.. see picture..


Also notice the angle or the ball joints and tie rods, this will cause them to wear faster.

The best lift would be to use a lift spindle though nobody currently makes them for our trucks.. A company called AIM did but you can ask/search on here and you probably won't find anything good said about them.
I have heard/seen people use the 88-98 lift spindles but this was on 1/2 ton trucks.. not 3/4 ton.. I contemplated using the 88-98 spindle on my 82.

A body lift would be fine if you dont wheel it hard or haul heavy loads in the bed. Though I tend to stay away from them if at all possible.

Another option is to use fiberglass fenders... you can run 35" with no lift.
Fenders: http://glassworksunlimited.com/shop/...2&cat=9&page=1
Bedsides: (Not sure if they are for short or long beds or if it even matters) http://glassworksunlimited.com/shop/...&cat=10&page=1

Blazer with glass fenders and 35"s: http://www.mkparker.com/goose/

[N2TRUX]

Thanks for stepping in Prerunner1982. That's the kind of info he really needed.

[davidh]

[QUOTE=78 Chevyrado;2950446]The body lift will be where you'll have to get most of the lift from. You can swap in a set of Heavy Duty 3/4 ton coil springs (stock replacements) in the front and put lift blocks in the rear.

Here's a before and after pic of my 78 C20 2wd, after swapping in Heavy duty coil springs up front (aprrox. 2 inch lift) and 1.5 inch lift blocks in the rear.

where did you get your conversion lug nuts at?

[74 C-30]

you dont need conversion lug nuts, you just replace the springs up front and add a block out back

[Rollinsqrbdy]

AHHHHHHHH JUST CHANGE THE WHOLE THING OVER TOO A 4X4.

[78 Chevyrado]

[quote=davidh;2952910]

Originally Posted by 78 Chevyrado

The body lift will be where you'll have to get most of the lift from. You can swap in a set of Heavy Duty 3/4 ton coil springs (stock replacements) in the front and put lift blocks in the rear.

Here's a before and after pic of my 78 C20 2wd, after swapping in Heavy duty coil springs up front (aprrox. 2 inch lift) and 1.5 inch lift blocks in the rear.

where did you get your conversion lug nuts at?

Dual thread 9/16" lug nuts are here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Car-...=p4506.c0.m245

[Prerunner1982]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Thanks for stepping in Prerunner1982. That's the kind of info he really needed.

Anytime... Glad I can still be of assistance even though I havent had a square body in almost 2 yrs..

[N2TRUX]

Well get one...

[Rollinsqrbdy]

Originally Posted by Prerunner1982

Anytime... Glad I can still be of assistance even though I havent had a square body in almost 2 yrs..

YAAAA JUST GET ONE. EVERYBODY HAS ONE. DONT U WANNA BE COOL? COME ON GET ONE, GO AHEAD

[Prerunner1982]

Ok let me re-phrase... I have one but it is on blocks and minus an engine awaiting a new frame. Maybe someday...

[79gmcsierragrande]

Well I don’t know if this helps but I’m running 31” tires on my stock height 79 C15 2wd, I like the way it looks with the bigger tires but I’m not in to the lifted trucks so much. Here’s some pics and welcome to the board.