6" Lift Kit VS. Re-arch/rebuild For 86 K30 Crew

[Wellgeo03]

Hey everyone, I was just looking for some opinions on a lift for my 86 K30 Crew.

I have done a bit of reading on here at different lift kits, and I have decided on a 6" for my tank. From what I have read on here most seem happy with the Tough Country EZ ride springs.

So far I have not had much luck finding a Tough Country kit available locally, and shipping and delivery are a huge PITA as well as expensive for me as the tiny town I live in does not have regular courier service.

I talked to a local spring shop and they said they could rebuild my suspension and get 5-6" out of it along with shocks and steering correction for about $1500.

There are a couple broken/missing leaves in the back, so it defiantly needs more than just a cheap block lift for the rear.

What are your opinions or re-arched, along with adding one or two in the front vs. a 6" kit? $1500 installed doesn't sound too bad, however I don't want the truck to ride any worse than it already does. Are the factory leaves long enough to achieve 6" of lift if re-arched?

Thanks in advance for your input!

[Wellgeo03]

Here is a picture of the old girl hauling my sleds last week. She is pretty ugly right now, but I figure an "upgraded" Pilsner beer box winter front will really help it out! haha

It has air bags in the rear, so I can keep it level with a load, but unloaded and no air it sits almost perfectly level.

[special-K]

Re-arched is cool,but I don't see how they can get you 5-6" more height without making new springs. At some point you just need more metal...longer main leafs. The rear can use a shackle flip kit and just worry about new front leafs.

[Littletony]

I know you said shipping was a PITA, but give this company a try. I have used them a few times and have been real happy with them so far.

http://www.generalspringkc.com/Leaf_...991_s/1833.htm

[dieseldawg142]

yup, living north of the border, price is also a huge consideration. when i lifted my crew, i still wanted to haul & tow, so i kept the stock rears(did upgrade to 3800lb springs) & used ORD shackle flips & 3" blocks, you could also run add a leafs instead. if you haul & tow lifted rear springs will sag out. i have skyjacker 8" fronts, but there is a few custom spring shops up here with reasonable prices. put your money into a new spring pack for the front. re-arching 26 yr old springs 4 or 5" with add a leafs probably wont last long on one of these heavy old boats. if you do the work yourself & some careful shopping, you should be able to get new front springs, flips & blocks or a.a.leafs for the rear, steering arm, pitman arm, drop brackets(brakes, or better, longer stainless lines) & some good nitro shocks(reservoirs look awesome, but how often will you be blasting threw the desert at 90mph) for around $1000-$1200. then there's (maybe) driveshaft mods, (again maybe) re-gearing & unless you go south or used, the big cost-tires. yes it costs more to lift a truck up here than across the border, but it' definitely worth it

[Rubble]

A local spring shop could probably make up something for you too.If you have some measurements they might be able to make them,might be cheaper than shipping south of the 49 th too...Like dieseldawg said too,if your going to be using your truck like a truck,not a mall crawler I would stay away from arched rear springs.My 86 has arched 4" was like that when I got it,rides nice but not much for load cap.My 82 has blocks,add a leaf & extra leaves,rides a bit rougher but all kinds of load cap. now. My .02
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[Wellgeo03]

Thanks for the insight guys.
My intentions are to use the truck, like you guys, to haul and tow, as well as a lot of DD duty. So with that in mind I am looking for the best ride possible as well as load capacity. I realize you have to give up one for the other.
My rear springs need attention, as there is at least one broken leaf with half of it missing.

Dieseldawg, how do you know what the rating of the spring packs are? I am pretty sure my truck has 9 leaves with no overloads. It does have air bags, so I would think I could use softer springs, they just air up the bags for heavy loads/towing. Anyone see any downsides or problems with this?

I priced out tires yesterday, 315/70R17 Goodyear Duratrac's. Was quoted just over $1800 installed and balanced! Almost makes the lift look cheap!

I was looking on ORD's site last night. It seems like they have things figured out, however shipping those heavy parts from CA would likely cost an arm and a leg. I am going to have to do some more research into kits/shops up here and compare prices.

[special-K]

Lift springs w/air bags is good way to go...best of both worlds

[dieseldawg142]

wellgeo03, if you have 9 leaf packs, they will be 2600lbs to 3800lbs, 10 leaf packs are 4000lbs up. there's 4 or 5 standard ratings for rear k30's. check out Standens springs, their out of alberta, good quality & prices. the heavier springs are only a few dollars more-imo there's nothing wrong with overkill!

one thing you might want to check when running air bags is frame twist where they mount. heavy loads on the bags will bend the frame rails inward. mine were bent in a 1/4" on each side, straiten them out & install a crossmember there. i used a piece of 1/4" angle

pretty basic, but cheap, strong & reliable. stock springs with flips & blocks & bags to get rid of the tail dragger look when loaded, with extra cross member

[jsavage977]

yea man 1500 is steep, rough country makes a 6" kit w/blocks in the rear for $450, personally i think rear shakle flip, and have a spring maker make you 6" springs for the front.

[MrBeast]

I would suggest you get a shackle flip kit from DIY4X, get your lift from the flip kit and a smaller set of lift springs. Put the flip kit on first get your front lifted, then see how much of a lift you need in the rear to level it out.

re-arching springs is not going to get you 5-6" of lift, maybe 1 or 2. more than that the length of the spring would become too short.

[dieseldawg142]

another reason to use stock leaf packs, flips & blocks ( or add a leaf), very hard to find 1 ton lift springs, usally have to go custom made