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2 lifts?

87k5350

87k5350

1/2 ton status
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Mar 15, 2009
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Location
Palm city, Fl.
Greetings all! Iv'e been back about 6 months now with an 87 k5 starting from scratch (pretty cool) is there any real isues with adding a 3" body lift on a 3" sup. lift? It won't be a crawler. with out the 3" more my 37" claws rub up front. any help would be great.
 
87k5350 said:
Greetings all! Iv'e been back about 6 months now with an 87 k5 starting from scratch (pretty cool) is there any real isues with adding a 3" body lift on a 3" sup. lift? It won't be a crawler. with out the 3" more my 37" claws rub up front. any help would be great.
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Well, once you understand that there is no single "lift", you're off to a good start. There are lots of different ways to lift your truck -- new springs, blocks, longer shackles, lifting the body, shackle flips, etc etc...

3" body lift is pretty extreme. Consider that you're putting your truck's body on 3" thick hockey pucks, held together by relatively small bolts ... if the mounts are all at rusted, it's a lot of leverage and somewhat risky. Imagine whacking a small Japanese car at just the right level and the body could justr slide right off :haha:

I'd look more at like a 1" body lift to get you a bit more clearance -- it does make getting at the gas tank easier, I gather.

Which gets me to my suggestion: a shackle flip in the back, which is easier to install if you can get at the tank :) In front you'd have to replace the springs, or do the 52" thing, though that snowballs quickly.

And for that big a tire, you're gonna be best off trimming the fenders no matter what.

-- A
 
I'm sorry I ment is there any unusual isues with linkage, steering, cables, ect. on the k-5
I've done my share of lifts just not on an old k-5. luckly being kinda a barn find the body and frame is realitvely rust free. and since i'm not crawling with it i'm not triming, the rings and trim are salvagable. I'm trying to build a cruzer on steriods.
 
You shouldnt have much of an issue unless its a manual which you may have to make some slight mods to the clutch linkage. Other than that youll have to drill the palstic rivets in the steering shaft to allow it to slide out a little bit, and check all hoses (oil coolers if equipped, etc..) to make sure youre not over extending the hoses. The gas tank filler hose will be an issue, probably need a longer hose (I did). Once again other than that you should be ok. I cant remember if there was anything else when I did my 87 K5.

Heres the part where Ill input my personal opinion, but you know what they say about opinions. I had a 3" body lift on my blazer, and while it provided the lift I wanted it kind of looked ugly, the bumper dont line up without cutting the frame and you can easily see gaps through the wheel wells. Not to mention it does seem like a funky way to do a lift. I had that body lift on there for a few years but opted to take it off in lieu of a 1" body, which IMHO is more than enough. Either way do what you like and have fun!
 
Just a though, I have a 4" lift on my crew cab with 37"s. I did some slight trimming on the backside of the front fenders but it wasnt rubbing really bad. I like the look of a small lift and larger tires, doesnt make it seem like the truck is sitting way above the tires. Not to mention maintaining the small lift will help onroad manners as well.
 
I'm with ya on the tires fillin the fenders thing myself, I just don't want to trim. I even plan on using trim rings. The truck won't be driven for some time yey but I put the 37's on for fitment (and just the hell of it) well I had to move it out of the shop for a while and was real carefull but still screwed up the front fender that I just spent many hours on. I do have 31's mounted to roll it around on.

HPIM1367.JPG

HPIM1368.JPG
 
Hummmm, must be an ultra rare 2wd blazer! :D

On edit: those are indeed leaves in front that indicates 4wd. Interesting.... Ford axles? actually, 2wd axle shafts in back and ford D44 hubs in front?
 
Yeah i saw leaf springs and skidplate on the tcase. Is the ford 5 lug pattern the same as the chevy?
 
87k5350 said:
I'm with ya on the tires fillin the fenders thing myself, I just don't want to trim. I even plan on using trim rings. The truck won't be driven for some time yey but I put the 37's on for fitment (and just the hell of it) well I had to move it out of the shop for a while and was real carefull but still screwed up the front fender that I just spent many hours on. I do have 31's mounted to roll it around on.
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Man I gotta tell ya, I think that blazer looks money with those baja claws stuffed in those wheel wells. I know you already spent alot of time on it but there was a guy (maybe ryoken) around here that did a really nice factory looking trim job. He basically grafted the stock lip and opened the well up a bit. It looked really clean and stock. Either way the truck is going to look real nice once its painted. Just dont hang around here too much or you might end with some trimmed fenders. :wink1:
 
Well, a quick google search shows ford as 5-on-5-1/2 and Chevy as 5-on-5 so that does not work. the plot thickens....inquiring minds want to know.....:-)

Rufus
 
Certainly a body lift will be the cheapest way to go to get the clearance you want. Spring lift with some 6" soft rides would probably get that fender out of the tires way. Im assuming youre not planning on much heavy wheeling on the ole girl?
 
Pretty observant, could keep all guessing but i'll admit to have more wheels than money and got these off a Dodge I used to have. It's a 4x4
 
no the dodge is 5 on 51/2 I used billit cheaters. I just wonder if 11/2" more will clear the tires I do hate the gap of a 3"
And no heavy wheeling with this one, maby after a few years when the body work starts to show. Right now I'm waiting on carpet and a new fender to arive as well as someother goodies from classic, the pic don't show it but that claw really kinked it.
 
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