build planning and advice needed

[wazzabie]

I've reached a point where I'm not sure what direction to go with the K5 build. I would like for the lift to be legal in Washington State.

I have a front Dana 60 which would add 1in of lift. I'm questioning if I should install it.

In WA I can have a max of 27in from ground to bottom bumper. In stock with bald 235-75-15 tires I have 19in from ground to bottom bumper. So I have 8in that I can add in lift. Additionally I have 4in of body lift that I could legally add on top of the 8in for a total of 12in of lift.

I would like to be able to park the K5 in the garage. To do so I have to be under 12in of lift.

Do I install the Dana 60?
Do I get 2.5 or 4in lift springs?
Do I get 33in or 35in tires?

To be legal I can go with 33in tires and a 2.5in lift and be at 27in from ground to bumper.

I really would like to go with a 4in lift. 35in tires and a 4in lift would put me at 30in from ground to the bottom bumper.

My assumtions are that:
33in tires would add 4.5in of lift
35in tires would add 6.5in of lift

I'm trying some how to get the math to work.

 

[rdn2blazer]

What do you want to use the rig for? a DD, or a all around off road and DD rig, hard core trail rig, limited street driving? Once you know what you are hoping to do with it, the direction will be more easy to plan out. I would install the 60 if you plan on wheelin it fairly hard. But with only 33's or 35's you can run a D44 and be fine with those tire sizes. I would run at least 37's and a 4" lift. Are you willing to trim sheet metal? No need for a lift over 6".

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Tires don't really add "lift" but they will raise your bumper.

The 235/75R15's would be about 29" tall so 33's would raise the bumper by 2", they're 4" taller but height is only added on the radius. So you're comparing 14.5" to 16.5".

The D60 adds more like 5/8" of lift, though completely unnecessary for 33's or 35's.

A 35" tire plus a 4" lift would likely put you around 7" taller than you are now, so about an inch of fudge room under your 27" limit. Of course, that doesn't take in to account the condition of your spring bushings and the condition of the stock springs.

 

[82355]

The D60 adds more like 5/8" of lift, though completely unnecessary for 33's or 35's.

I wouldn't agree with that. I blew out the gears in my Dana 44 with 315/70R17 Hummer take offs. If you have a Dana 60, I would use it over the weaker Dana 44 or ten bolt.

Martin

 

[drew4x4]

My assumtions are that:
33in tires would add 4.5in of lift
35in tires would add 6.5in of lift

I'm trying some how to get the math to work.

a 4 inch lift with a set of 35" will not lift you up to 30, if you are 19 inches now:

19
+2.5 inches from the 35" tire
+4 inches of lift
=25.5
if you are at 19" right now from the bumper, then 6.5 should only take you to 25.5". still legal.


that being said, if you've got a dana 60, there is absolutely NO reason not to install it!

 

[Jester1]

Not to mention the lift you lose with sag in spring and bulge in tire. Also all 35" tires are not 35" tires each manufacturer varies on size some are 35 1/2" some are 34 1/2" or anything in between.

 

[wazzabie]

My goals are

1. Be legal
2. Fit the k5 in the garage
3. Have it built bullet proof
4. Go with the max lift and tires possible
5. I would prefer to avoid fender trimming.
6. Good for street and mild off road. It will not be a daily driver. This is more for weekends.

If I install the dana 60 and a 4in lift would I need to fender trim with 35?

 

[blazinzuk]

For 35s you would need to trim on a 4" lift. I am not sure if you use an ez inch to move the axle forward.

If you are only going to run 35s max then I don't think I would put the 60 in.

Its certainly not needed although with 35s it would be completely bomb proof and the huge brakes would help too.

Like has been said just because a lift is advertised at 4" doesn't mean its actually exactly 4" of lift, all springs will settle in some. Most 35" tires you would be looking at would measure in around 34.5 tall at the tall end, some alot closer to 34" of actual measurment.

If you don't want to trim I would do a 2.5" lift and 33s

 

[ChrisPerry]

Does the law say stock bumper or just bumper? I went out and measured mine for reference and in the middle it is 32" from ground in the front and 31" rear, and my truck is retarded for what you want..........7-8" suspension, 3" body, and 44's.
Just thinking out loud here.......I say build it how you want and make the bumper to what the "law" requires.

 

[wazzabie]

It has to be the stock bumper hieght. So with a 4in lift spings. A dana 60 with just under 1in of added lift and 35in bfgs how much fender trimming is needed? Where would I need to trim? Thx for the help.

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

Were are you in washington? I'm from the olympic peninsula and I've never been stopped or known anyone who has been pulled over for lifts. I've gotten one warning for no bumper and mud flaps but that is all they will ever enforce.
I'm running a four inch rough country and 37s and measure 29.5 inches to the bottom of the frame. I would run a four inch and 35s, a 60 is nice insurance to have too.

 

[wazzabie]

Were are you in washington? I'm from the olympic peninsula and I've never been stopped or known anyone who has been pulled over for lifts. I've gotten one warning for no bumper and mud flaps but that is all they will ever enforce.
I'm running a four inch rough country and 37s and measure 29.5 inches to the bottom of the frame. I would run a four inch and 35s, a 60 is nice insurance to have too.

My concern is not so much about getting stopped... but rather getting auto insurance. If the lift is not legal.

 

[ChrisPerry]

I looked up the lift laws for Washington.....CLICKY and according to WAC-204-10-022 sub section G you can build a custom bumper.

(g) If an existing bumper from a recognized manufacturer is not used and a special bumper is fabricated, it must be certified as meeting the bumper standards set under 49 CFR 581.

49 CFR Part 581, "The bumper standard," prescribes performance requirements for passenger cars in low-speed front and rear collisions. It applies to front and rear bumpers on passenger cars to prevent the damage to the car body and safety related equipment at barrier impact speeds of 2� mph across the full width and 1� mph on the corners.

This is equivalent to a 5 mph crash into a parked vehicle of the same weight..

I'm not trying to pick a fight just trying to give you more options.

 

[wazzabie]

I looked up the lift laws for Washington.....CLICKY and according to WAC-204-10-022 sub section G you can build a custom bumper.



I'm not trying to pick a fight just trying to give you more options.

I thought about that. But I doubt that after market bumpers get certified. Also what is messed up with our wa laws is that the bumper can not be modified. So if I wanted to drill a hole for a cb whip it would break the law.

 

[rdn2blazer]

a 4 inch lift with a set of 35" will not lift you up to 30, if you are 19 inches now:

19
+2.5 inches from the 35" tire
+4 inches of lift
=25.5
if you are at 19" right now from the bumper, then 6.5 should only take you to 25.5". still legal.


that being said, if you've got a dana 60, there is absolutely NO reason not to install it!

That wasn't me who posted that. Now sure how my name is on what you quoted.

 

[82355]

You are WAY to concerned with the letter of the law.

Martin

 

[drew4x4]

That wasn't me who posted that. Now sure how my name is on what you quoted.

whoops! yeap it was the op.


op, i run 36's with a 4 inch lift right now. my fenders are trimmed slightly. the worst place you (may) rub, if you rub at all, is the back of the fender. the fender thats by the driver's feet.
if you get a rim with a lot of backspacing, then you'd be fine.