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2 inch lift for 88 Blazer

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RG Saunders

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Have an '88 K5 and I'm looking for about a 2 inch lift for it. Not a hard core 4 wheeler, just want to have it fit the 33's and ride decently. Figure I've got to replace all springs - I've been told to steer away from "blocks" and "add a leafs".

Anyone have any ideas on good suspension kits? Brands etc.

Thank you very much
 
well im running 33's with no lift u just have to beat in the rear of the front fenders alittle bit.It works fine and i do some bouncing around in the dirt and it dosent seem to rub. I have a 1984 jimmy i dont know how different it is from ur 88 K5 though. But if u do want to get a lift and play it safe i would go with a 2 inch lift springs up front and a shackle reverse in the rear. ORD offers them up to '87 blazers. Im not sure if there is a change in the suspension in '88 but u should look into it.
 
Going w/the 33 x 12.50's and don't really want to bang the front fenders or cut them back at this point. The 12 x 50's don't really fit, unlie the 10.50's. I want a nice fat tire for the sand. I am the original owner and I am still hesitant after all these years to bang on her.
 
I have an '84 with a rough country spring and shock lift. Im running 32s but will go to 33s once these tires wear out. I was mainly looking to compensate for old tired springs and didnt wanna go with a 4" lift, so I stuck with their 2" lift. Once you go 4" or bigger, you need new pitman arm, brake lines and may have driveshaft issues.
 
RG Saunders said:
Have an '88 K5 and I'm looking for about a 2 inch lift for it. Not a hard core 4 wheeler, just want to have it fit the 33's and ride decently. Figure I've got to replace all springs - I've been told to steer away from "blocks" and "add a leafs".

Anyone have any ideas on good suspension kits? Brands etc.

Thank you very much
Click to expand...

Wish you were closer - I am just in the process of taking out my 2 inch lift and going to a new 4" rough county.

Old lift was a set of 3 leaf heavy dutys for a diesel blazer with zero rates up front and a set of 2" blocks in the back. Low $$ approach but my 33's were rubbing so up I go.
 
I'm also looking to do a 2" swap. What brand springs ride the best? And a 2" ORD reverse shackle swap for the rear instead of block? Mine is a DD and the most off roading I do is camping on occasion.
 
No Rub here either...

I have an 87' 33 x 12.50's and no rubbing issues at least for driving on the roads.

DSC01752.jpg
 
Thats a great looking clean truck. 2" lift should be perfect for what I want. Thanks for posting up that pic.
 
I put 2 1/2" all spring Skyjacker on my 89 DD. The original suspension only had 44k when I did it, and it still improved ride quality. I put ORD Zero rate in the rear to level it out. I've had these softrides on for about 10 years now with no complaints.

I run 33" BFG TA's on stock rallies most of the time and 33" BFG Muds on 10" Rallies fairly often with no issues. No rocks in Texas, but I do the occasional fire road and some mud. I also tow a Bass boat a lot.
 
I never liked a wide tire... I ran 255/85R16s with not lift and no rubbing. I did get some 3" block from a wrecking yard, and cut them to 2" with a hacksaw. Wasn't for tire clearance, it was to get the rockers further from the ground. LOL!
 
Gaffed said:
Thats a great looking clean truck. 2" lift should be perfect for what I want. Thanks for posting up that pic.
Click to expand...
By the way the picture I posted does not have a lift... just wanted to clarify.
 
(1) Ride on w/the Skyjacker 2 1/2 lift? (2) How much did it really lift it up? Also, what is the "ORD Zero rate in the rear to level it out" - may be something I need or may need??? (3) The guy w/the Rough Country lift - how does that ride?

Not looking for the buckboard express.

Thanks for your info - keep it coming.
 
And to add to the list of questions. Ride difference between blocks, springs, and I think its a reverse shackle swap or something?
 
If I can figure out the wife's camera, I'll try to get a pic. I've got the TA's on it right now. I haven't posted a pic for several years.

The lift was about 2 1/2" as stated. As I recall, I researched back then and went with the best ride/lift rate from an article in Petersens mag. I lived with the "saggy butt syndrome" common in these trucks for a couple years. It isn't noticible in the ride, etc., I think it just looks better when the truck sits level. Maybe someone else would care to describe/explain this in more or better detail.

I didn't want a big lift since I road trip this truck fairly often to Nascar tracks, Pikes Peak (race to the clouds), etc. I wanted road manners that would allow me to trip it to Darlington,Talledega, Bristol, Michigan, and Phoenix without beating me to death. I drag my Skeeter to Lake Ouachita, Montecello, Russellville, Bull Shoals and Fayetteville all in Ark (300-400 mi) quite often with the wife. If she ain't comfortable, I get to hear about it. She likes road tripping my truck.
 
I installed a Genuine Suspension 2 1/2" lift on my '88 back in '03 and I run 33x12.50-15's on mine with no rubbing as of yet. I don't know how much lift I actually gained from stock though. My stock springs were all worn out. Here's a couple of pic's. The first one is with 33-10.50 BFG A/T's and the second one is with worn down 33-12.50 BFG M/T's and a little mud. :D

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80.JPG

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K5Jimmy, since you do a lot of traveling in your truck; I'll direct these questions at you.

What gear ratios do you have?

City/Highway MPG?

FOR EVERYONE,

Is there anything you wish you would have done different when doing the 2 1/2" lift?

I'm pretty much trying to built the ultimate cheap & functional daily driver.

Thanks,

Chris
 
I wish I had just bought the front springs and then gotten ORD's 2 1/2" flip kit. Other than that, at the time no. I do plan on getting there 2 1/2" flip in the future and replacing my front springs with some Tough County 4" springs in the front. But that won't be for another year or so at least.

Rick
 
I have 3.73's with Auburn Pro at both ends and Moser 1340H molys in my 12B rear. My 700R has the JET kit (corvette servo, hardened sprag, diesel clutch pack, etc)

I did the crate motor thing 2 years ago w/270hp roller, CFM Tech injectors, and I've had Flotech ceramic headers for about 10 years. True duals w/Magna Flows and no crossover.

I've never really checked mileage around town. Highway with the cruise on usually gets me to the mid 14 mpg, although on a recent trip to Ark I featherfooted, drafted Big Trucks and stayed in OD as much as possible and got over 15. Now that was with doing everything I know how to do to get mpg.

My boat isn't that heavy (16' Skeeter) I usually run about 60-65 and stay out of OD which gets me to the mid 12 mpg range.

I've had some sort of K5 since 1976 (73,75,79"17yrs", and 89 "12yrs"), so I don't use mpg as a gauge. I plan on keeping this truck til the wheels fall off.
 
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