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best way to gain a few more inches

four_by_ken

four_by_ken

1/2 ton status
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Jun 9, 2001
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Allenton, MI
What is the best way to add on a few more inches, when you already have an 8 inch lift. No body lift. I am thinking about a nice set of shackles. Dont really want add-a-leafs, but I might have to. Any more suggestions?

Ken H.

'78 K5 in process
 
A body lift is the cheapest, but can be a real pain to install. Ill probably add a 2-3 inch BL pretty quick.

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.geocities.com/outlaw613/K5.html>http://www.geocities.com/outlaw613/K5.html</a>
 
cut those fenders!!!

Sherman, Tx
<font color=red>The blazer's almost on the road....anyone got tree fiddy?</font color=red>
 
I am not real concerned with the cheapest route.

I would rather not go the direction of a body lift. I think I mentioned that in the oringinal post.

Ken H.

'78 K5 in process
 
Well, originall I Was going to hack and whack the fenders on the Blazer. Now I may have gotten a differant one, with a much nicer body. And I would rather not hack a nice body up.

Ken H.

'78 K5 in process
 
body lifts are great
way easier to clean the under side
even though my truck has way too much lift i wont give up the bodylift, i would change out the springs in a heartbeat though.
i have the same 2" BL that was on the truck in 1990 when i bought it, zero trouble.

no way are you goona gain "couple inches" safely with a mere shackle swap
you would have to build drop brackets for the front hanger(ugly)

new springs or a BL
 
long shackles can get pretty squirrly. You said you wanted a few inches. Like 3?? That would require a 6" longer shackle, screw up your caster angles, your driveshaft angles, and probably wander all over the road.

You could make custom spring perches in the rear for about 1" more lift. A 1" block in the rear?

There's just not much you can safely do to the front besides new springs. Maybe lowered spring hangars?

Sherman, Tx
<font color=red>The blazer's almost on the road....anyone got tree fiddy?</font color=red>
 
Here's what I did to get some extra lift out of the suspension:
Lower your front spring hangers. Then use a longer shackle. 3 inch lower spring hanger and 3 inch longer shackle should offset each other if I do my math right. In the rear do the shackle flip from ORD or just cut the bottom out of your existing shackle hangers and drop the existing shackle down through the hole. This would give you abou 4 inches of lift in the rear.
-Aaron

___ __ _ _ ____ __
AGM73k5 -- [email protected]
 
Add-a-leaves aren't gonna work on an 8" spring.

How is the rear lifted? Shackle flip in the rear may point the pinion up too high.

Body lift is your best option. They're not that bad, really.
Besides, you're not going to be able to do any of that other stuff for under $69.95!

Still Poundin' "pavment" after all these years!!!
smile.gif
 
If the pinion is too high after the shackle flip then he could probably cut and rotate the spring perches until he got the angle he wanted :) If he's not prepared to do that, then you're right he may well run into trouble with pinion angles.
-Aaron

___ __ _ _ ____ __
AGM73k5 -- [email protected]
 
There's an ad in the back of Penthouse.......

Karl
Temporarily Unemployed Underwear Model
87 3/4 ton
 
if you are really worried about those fenders just take it to a body shop to get it done.

350, sm465, NP205, 14ff w/detroit, yucky ten bolt 4" springs,38.5x14.5 swampers
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.planettribes.com/theden/gontw/nsig.jpg>http://www.planettribes.com/theden/gontw/nsig.jpg</a>
 
Usually...I like to fantasize about my sister-in-law. Always good for a few inches. LOL!!!

9/11/01..Never forget...Never forgive
 
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