Build Thread/Suspension Question

[Leiger]

Hey everyone! Just starting my first build. Ive got an 88 V10 Blazer, basically stock except for the really crappy 4" Lift with blocks in the rear and 35" XTerrains. It was pretty rough around the edges when I got it, but after this summer it should be pretty good to go. Heres the plans

1" Body Lift
Removable Stock Doors/Tube Doors
Painting it green
Rust Bulleting Undercarage+Inside Cab+Frame
Swaybar Correction and Disconnect Kit from ORD
Make a sierra rack on top for storage
a few lights here and there
On-Board Air System (already have a York and a tank)

and my question is......how to rework the suspension? I want 6" of Lift, cause i plan on getting 39" tires after this is all done.

I have 2 options:

I could go with 6" Tuff Country Springs all the way around. This would cost me around $1200 with Zero Rates in the back, heavy duty front shackles, new steering arm, rear greasable suspension bushings, new shocks, and the swaybar dosconnect kit (doing it all at the same time.)

or.........slightly more expensive:

I could go with a 6" Tuff Country Lift up front, still with the new heavy duty shackles, steering arm, and swaybar disconnect. The difference im questioning is in the rear. I could do an ORD Shackle Flip in the rear with a 6" Shackle. Then get a 2" Tuff Country Leaf in the back.....this would get me around 7inches or lift.....and 6" still in the front. Of course I would still go with the greasable bushings, and new shocks. This would cost me around $1500.

Going with 2" springs in the back, would that give me any more articulation over the 6" spring? In addition id have the better shackle in the rear and a flatter spring. Does this sound like a better setup for the $300 or would going with springs all around be simpler and just as effective.

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In the future (during/after college) I plan to do these things.

Welding up a new rear bumper
New Front Bumper
14 Bolt FF
D60
4.10 gears
Lockers front and Rear
Crossover Steering
Doubler kit: transfer case
Slight engine mods, nothing extraordinary

Ill make this my build thread too, ill post updates as soon as they come. Probably nothing till around June though

 

[SUPERSUB87]

$1200?? thats alot of dough for these kind of rigs. if you already have good 4" front springs i would do some zero rates and a shackle flip in the rear. a hell of alot cheaper and better center of gravity. the 4" with 1" body lift will clear 35's no prob. I have a 6" rough country that i bought for $800 and the 37's still have room to play. I made the mistake of spending a chunk of change on the suspension and exhaust. now i dont have any money for gears and such.

 

[Leiger]

Yeah, $1200 is a lot....but i want to do it right...i plan on keeping this truck as a toy for a LONG time.......

the problem im having is that the front springs are horrible. They may work for now, and honestly i could use them for a while....
However, if i went with the shackle flip first, i could do this in a few steps.....

I could do the shackle flip first, with greasable bushings, front HD shackles, and swaybar disconnect.....then later down the road i could upgrade the springs and get 6" of lift out of them. Id just hold off and get 39" then....

but anyways, my question still remains.........would the extended shackle and shackle flip give me more articulation?

 

[SUPERSUB87]

Yeah, $1200 is a lot....but i want to do it right...i plan on keeping this truck as a toy for a LONG time.......

the problem im having is that the front springs are horrible. They may work for now, and honestly i could use them for a while....
However, if i went with the shackle flip first, i could do this in a few steps.....

I could do the shackle flip first, with greasable bushings, front HD shackles, and swaybar disconnect.....then later down the road i could upgrade the springs and get 6" of lift out of them. Id just hold off and get 39" then....

but anyways, my question still remains.........would the extended shackle and shackle flip give me more articulation?

I'm pretty sure. The less of an arch the better. I would think before spending that much money on a lift. Are you installing it yourself or getting a shop to do it???

 

[Leiger]

Ill be doing the lift with my dad and a friend, both of which have done numerous lifts and are far more knowledgable than anyone Ive ever met in a shop. + Theyre free

In addition, ill be doing most of the work under their supervision....just for the experience and its fun.....