4" vs 6" lift?

[Ned Kelly]

So I've always had a 4" lift K30. It's been great. No appreciable ujt wear, steers well (push-pull), no wheel hop. Basically no problems and this truck was built low COG in mind. I'm keeping this truck as is.

I have an M1028a1 just acquired with a very nice body, don't want to cut it. A new project. I'm thinking maybe 6" lift. Am I looking at opening up a can of worms here?......significant more ujt wear and steering issues? Or should I stay with the tried and true 4", with maylbe 2" body lift (I've never been a fan of body lifts)?
Mostly dd, mud/snow.

 

[paratrooper307]

Depends on what you see yourself doing with the truck. If you're going to go with large tires, you may need the 6 inch lift. I'm not a fan of body lifts, but some people like them.

A six inch lift is easier to do on a 1028 than say, a short wheelbase Blazer, but there are always issues the higher you go. You have to start correcting the steering, pinion angles, u joints etc. Personally I think 4 inches is plenty for a street driven truck and requires minimal compromise, but go with what you want. If you really want it the extra effort will be worth it.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Why might you need 6" of lift instead of 4"?

 

[Ned Kelly]

I guess retro old school look.

 

[runamok151]

big question is how big of a tire do you want to run and are you willing to cut the fenders. if you don't want to cut, 35s are the biggest you'll go w/ a 4" lift (plus 35s are perfect w/ the 4.56 gears you have). if you want to go 37s or bigger, a 6" lift is definitely in your future. biggest hurdles are brake line extensions, (front) drive shaft angles and regearing.

personally i think a 4" lift w/ 35s is best all around look and performance for a street truck that sees a little play on the weekends.

 

[Ned Kelly]

Yeah, sorry I should have mentioned my old K30 has been running 4" lift with 39.5" TSL's for the last 20yrs. Some front fender trimming and it has been good.

I was just thinking some 40" LTB's on a near pristine body CUCV m1028a1 w/4.56 diffs I just picked up. Don't really want to cut the fenders much cause they're so nice and rare in the rust belt here.

 

[Chevy305]

40" tires? It doesn't matter how much lift you put on it you WILL have to trim and you said you don't want to.