1990 GMC V1500 Lift Kit Advice? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

71johnnyblazer · 01-19-2021, 06:57 PM

Looking for advice on a lift kit. The suspension is all stock now. I would like to run 35" BFG All Terrains and not be the tallest just the most comfortable while driving. Light trail use at best, mainly HWY. I'm open to all suggestions and advice. Thanks ahead, John.

sweetk30 · 01-19-2021, 10:05 PM

Best 2 off the shelf ride are BDS or TUFF COUNTRY.

4 inch AND 35 inch tires is good .

Blazer @ 4inch lift kit should have a c/v drive shaft at rear and set pinion angle .

Suburban should be fine .

Bilstien shocks are the HOT ticket for ride quality .

www.offroaddesign.com has TONS of quality parts and custom leaf spring packs if you want the best .

James Lamb · 01-20-2021, 12:21 PM

I have a 1989 Suburban 4 x 4. The stock tires are tiny 235/75/15 = 28.9 inches. There's an enormous amount of wasted space in the wheel well. I kept the stock rims, went to 31" x 10.50, essentially got a free 1 inch lift. And just that was enough that even at 6' 1" I have to step up into the truck, and really ought to install step bars. There is still a lot of clearance inside the wheel well. I use my truck actively as a paleontologist, although for mud, not rock crawling. I've never seen any need for more lift. With the 31" tires it has plenty of ground clearance, slightly lowered rpms - I think right at 48 fewer tire revs/mile, and is not so high as to completely screw with whatever "aerodynamics" (ha) a square body has, or require changing drive shaft angles, premature wear on bearings, etc.

Are you sure you need 35" tires? If it's want bigger tires I understand.

Ziegelsteinfaust · 01-20-2021, 01:15 PM

By springs that have the most leaves per desired rate.

This allows more movement in length of the springs, and helps with quality of ride.

Also dialing tire pressure allows the tires to absorb or deflect some which is a good tuning factor. You can only go down so far, and you maybe doing some testing.

On my K20 rclb I had 35 pounds offered me the best comprise on 285/75r16 e rated AT Tires. I would add air if I was hauling anything since they would squish down a bit.

James Lamb · 01-20-2021, 01:19 PM

For ride quality that's good advice. I recently replaced the tired old rear leaf springs on my truck with some from General Springs - come with bushings already installed. It not only lifted the rear back to level but made a significant improvement to the ride without spending a lot of money.

OzarkRunner · 01-23-2021, 08:11 PM

'90 V1500 here, BDS spring lift, 35" tires. Rides great on the highway, but would recommend going for nicer shocks - that's the next thing I'm going to do. Name: IMG_5873a.jpg
Views: 262
Size: 88.8 KB

Name: IMG_5873a.jpg
Views: 262
Size: 88.8 KB

71johnnyblazer · 01-25-2021, 04:57 PM

What size lift do you have? I had an 89 Chevy Suburban years ago with 4" Pro Comp and 33" Mud Terrains and was all over the road.

OzarkRunner · 01-25-2021, 10:46 PM

Sorry - should have mentioned that - it's a 4" BDS all spring lift.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71johnnyblazer

What size lift do you have? I had an 89 Chevy Suburban years ago with 4" Pro Comp and 33" Mud Terrains and was all over the road.

Ryan Hubbard · 01-29-2021, 03:48 PM

I have a 1990 V2500 Suburban with a 4" Spring lift from Deaver Spring with the Bilstien 5100 shocks. I also added a rear sway bar. I love the way this truck drives down the road. It is smooth and nice ride over the bump. I have 33" tires on the truck with factory HD truck rims.

01-19-2021, 06:57 PM	#1
71johnnyblazer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 22	1990 GMC V1500 Lift Kit Advice? Looking for advice on a lift kit. The suspension is all stock now. I would like to run 35" BFG All Terrains and not be the tallest just the most comfortable while driving. Light trail use at best, mainly HWY. I'm open to all suggestions and advice. Thanks ahead, John.

01-19-2021, 10:05 PM	#2
sweetk30 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: horseheads,ny rust belt Posts: 2,794	Re: 1990 GMC V1500 Lift Kit Advice? Best 2 off the shelf ride are BDS or TUFF COUNTRY. 4 inch AND 35 inch tires is good . Blazer @ 4inch lift kit should have a c/v drive shaft at rear and set pinion angle . Suburban should be fine . Bilstien shocks are the HOT ticket for ride quality . www.offroaddesign.com has TONS of quality parts and custom leaf spring packs if you want the best . __________________ 77-k30lb BIG truck build . 87-k30lb budget beater build . 85-k30lb the plow machine build . 85-c10sb summer fun toy . ----------------------------- HOLLEY SNIPER efi = worst case of p.i.t.a i ever had . EDELBROCK pro flo 4 = best deal going so far . love my setup works great.

01-20-2021, 12:21 PM	#3
James Lamb Registered User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Knoxville AL Posts: 74	Re: 1990 GMC V1500 Lift Kit Advice? I have a 1989 Suburban 4 x 4. The stock tires are tiny 235/75/15 = 28.9 inches. There's an enormous amount of wasted space in the wheel well. I kept the stock rims, went to 31" x 10.50, essentially got a free 1 inch lift. And just that was enough that even at 6' 1" I have to step up into the truck, and really ought to install step bars. There is still a lot of clearance inside the wheel well. I use my truck actively as a paleontologist, although for mud, not rock crawling. I've never seen any need for more lift. With the 31" tires it has plenty of ground clearance, slightly lowered rpms - I think right at 48 fewer tire revs/mile, and is not so high as to completely screw with whatever "aerodynamics" (ha) a square body has, or require changing drive shaft angles, premature wear on bearings, etc. Are you sure you need 35" tires? If it's want bigger tires I understand.

01-20-2021, 01:15 PM	#4
Ziegelsteinfaust Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Temple City Posts: 3,628	Re: 1990 GMC V1500 Lift Kit Advice? By springs that have the most leaves per desired rate. This allows more movement in length of the springs, and helps with quality of ride. Also dialing tire pressure allows the tires to absorb or deflect some which is a good tuning factor. You can only go down so far, and you maybe doing some testing. On my K20 rclb I had 35 pounds offered me the best comprise on 285/75r16 e rated AT Tires. I would add air if I was hauling anything since they would squish down a bit.

01-20-2021, 01:19 PM	#5
James Lamb Registered User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Knoxville AL Posts: 74	Re: 1990 GMC V1500 Lift Kit Advice? For ride quality that's good advice. I recently replaced the tired old rear leaf springs on my truck with some from General Springs - come with bushings already installed. It not only lifted the rear back to level but made a significant improvement to the ride without spending a lot of money.

01-23-2021, 08:11 PM	#6
OzarkRunner Registered User Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: SW MO Posts: 6	Re: 1990 GMC V1500 Lift Kit Advice? '90 V1500 here, BDS spring lift, 35" tires. Rides great on the highway, but would recommend going for nicer shocks - that's the next thing I'm going to do.

01-25-2021, 04:57 PM	#7
71johnnyblazer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 22	Re: 1990 GMC V1500 Lift Kit Advice? What size lift do you have? I had an 89 Chevy Suburban years ago with 4" Pro Comp and 33" Mud Terrains and was all over the road. Last edited by 71johnnyblazer; 01-25-2021 at 05:02 PM.

01-29-2021, 03:48 PM	#9
Ryan Hubbard Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 288	Re: 1990 GMC V1500 Lift Kit Advice? I have a 1990 V2500 Suburban with a 4" Spring lift from Deaver Spring with the Bilstien 5100 shocks. I also added a rear sway bar. I love the way this truck drives down the road. It is smooth and nice ride over the bump. I have 33" tires on the truck with factory HD truck rims. Attached Images



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