What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

can I put a 12" lift on a K5 with a 305?

O

OffRoadOjai1488

Registered Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
Ojai, Ca.
I live in California and the smog laws out here are ridiculous. I have an appt with a "smog referee" next week but most people are telling me I cannot swap in a 350 for a 305. If that turns out to indeed be the case is my dream of putting in a couple 1 ton axles and a 12" lift and some 42"s dead?

Yeah I know I can just smog it and then change everything out etc..... Not something I'm interested in at the moment so if someone might please address my question I would be most thankful :)
 
a lot more goes with 12" lift than just bolt in .

gearing for axles and tire size .

steering .

drive shafts front / rear .

why 12" lift ?

give us more info to help you down the path .

real world use ?
daily driver or not ?
looks or real function ?
what kind of off road do you realy do ?
 
sweetk30 said:
a lot more goes with 12" lift than just bolt in .

gearing for axles and tire size .

steering .

drive shafts front / rear .

why 12" lift ?

give us more info to help you down the path .

real world use ?
daily driver or not ?
looks or real function ?
what kind of off road do you realy do ?
Click to expand...


I like the look of a 12" lift. I have my eye on the 12" skyjack lift.
Real world use is going to be my sons daily driver (note: it wont be more than 10 miles a day as school and work and home are all close) but it will be my 4x4 toy. I plan on taking it out weekly. We have a lot of great trails and fun off road spots in my area out here.
looks and real world function. Listen I am a biker with 4 harley's and never was much of a 4x4 guy until my son got all geeked out on it - haha - and now we are geeking out together and totally having a great time planning this truck and any and all of you dads out there know how good that feels :)
He is also looking forward to taking his friends to some of the backroads rivers and streams around here and that needs a 4x4.

The main reason I asked is because one of my friends told me that the 305 might not be enough power for 40-44" tires plus a lift kit.

Sorry I'm new to all this but I sure love hanging around here and reading these forums. :waytogo:
 
if you want to wheel it i would stick with some where around 8 inches maybe a 3 inch body and 38's if you gunna do anything other than mud i think 12 inches and 44 will be to top heavy. as far as smog who needs that lol most "street legal" off road trucks are not.
 
Don't do that much lift. 8" and 38s will be much easier, not require as stupid ridiculous driveshafts, and it won't ride like as much of a dump truck.

The motor doesn't matter. If you can turn stock tires with stock gears. You can turn big tires with the correct gears.
 
superlift is the only true 12" lift kit NOT sky jacker.

305 is weak to begin with .

gearing in your axles will realy dictate the tire size to not kill smog checks and load the engine up to produce a smog monstor.

my buddy use to run a short bed with 4" lift and 3" body lift with 38x12.50x15 tires and had tons of fun.

I ran a long bed with 6" and 3" body with 38x12.50x16.5 tsl . my suspension was set up for max flex with off the shelf parts and would stuff the tires up in the front fenders.

with the blazer you want to lift 4" is the point of rear driveshaft vibration or not. 6" lift or more = lots of work to ride nice and kep u-joints in the shafts.

I can tell you this pay the 25 bucks for member ship here for a year and look here for tons of members rigs and specs to get you a better idea on what you need. http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170627

and welcome and good luck .
 
I would get it smogged first if that is a 'must'. No matter what you do after that, it's gonna take some time and research to get a good setup.

I'm with everyone else as far as the lift. If you're goal is to have the biggest truck out there, go for it. If you want it to ride somewhat decent or be capable offroad, don't do it. There is a diverse population on here - crawlers, expedition rigs, resto-mods and restorations, etc. You'd be hard-pressed to find a 12 inch lift on our rigs, though because they just don't work in most applications.

As said, the info here will pay for the membership fee and I highly recommend it. And whatever you decide to do with your truck, there's a great bunch of guys (and 1 gal) here and we'll help you with whatever you need.
 
A 12" lift and what you have planned for the truck really don't go together. I have had lifted 4x4's all of my life and wouldn't want my teenage son to daily drive a K5 with that much lift, and it's not needed for playing.

The 305 is the least of your worries. If you are talking stock engines there is really not a huge difference in the 305 vs. 350 of this era, definitely not enough of a difference where it would not move with the 305 and magically be fine with the 350. You will need heavier axles and possibly some drivetrain work to make it halfway reliable with big tires. Steering and driveline angles also cost a lot of money to be compatible with 12" lift.

I would seriously consider a 4-6" suspension lift and if you need a little more go with a small body lift. Along with some smart fender trimming you can easily get tires in the 38" range.
 
OffRoadOjai1488 said:
most people are telling me I cannot swap in a 350 for a 305.
Click to expand...

Do they actually check numbers on the blocks or heads? Externally a 305 and 350 look the same. Just use the valve covers and everything from the stock engine and it will look stock. The stock Q-Jet should work fine as well, unless it is the California CCC - I don't know anybody who retunes those. Somebody must have experience with a swap like this. It's possible the limited capabilities of CCC will still let it work right with a little more displacement. As far as I know, most regular carb functions are still there (accel pump, choke, seperate secondaries, etc.), the ECM just tickles the primary rods.
 
Blue85 said:
Do they actually check numbers on the blocks or heads? Externally a 305 and 350 look the same. Just use the valve covers and everything from the stock engine and it will look stock. The stock Q-Jet should work fine as well, unless it is the California CCC - I don't know anybody who retunes those. Somebody must have experience with a swap like this. It's possible the limited capabilities of CCC will still let it work right with a little more displacement. As far as I know, most regular carb functions are still there (accel pump, choke, seperate secondaries, etc.), the ECM just tickles the primary rods.
Click to expand...

From what everyone out here is telling me is that not only will they not need to check the numbers they will also know (by the smog computer here in Cali) if you bored and stroked it. I specifically asked quite a few mechanics if I could just put the 350 in and use all the same smog architecture already there and people just keep telling me it wont fly. Oh well, like I said I have an appointment with the smog ref this week and I'll get back with everyone.
 
Deuling said:
Don't do that much lift. 8" and 38s will be much easier, not require as stupid ridiculous driveshafts, and it won't ride like as much of a dump truck.

The motor doesn't matter. If you can turn stock tires with stock gears. You can turn big tires with the correct gears.
Click to expand...

thanks everyone! :waytogo:
 
Once the block is decked, they won't be able to read the numbers on the front anyway. I doubt they are checking casting numbers.

Oh, and don't do a 12" lift.

Martin
 
If you notice no one here really goes bigger than an 8 inch lift and that is even rare. Most go with a 6 inch lift as most, or 4 inch lift and chop the fenders.
 
My 4" lift and 35's on my Suburban has gotten me into more places than I probably should have or I thought would be near impossible, and that's WITH that big ass hanging out back :D

My buddy Paul has his Blazer on a 4" lift on 35's and he obviously did much batter than me due to the lack of rear overhang and sometimes the shorter wheelbase helped him, but others it helped me having it longer. Certain areas are better for both lengths.

4" lifts with a touch of fender trimming and removed sway bars will get you in more trouble than you realize, but also make it more manageable for daily driving around streets.

6" lifts are good as well, but I can honestly say that with my 4" lift, when I drove the truck around all day for work, I was in and out a ton through the day, it was a bit annoying getting in and out all day long.
 
Last edited:
I don't think there is even a noticeable difference in a stock 305 and a stock 350. If your engine runs, keep it.

I think you are way over shooting what you need for this truck to be fun. I think this is extra true if it's a truck for your kid to drive to school.

Maybe get a 4 inch tough country lift and some 33s and be done until you really get into it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom