lifting basics

[showmeburb86]

Noob so am starting from scratch. I would like opinions on best way to lift our 86 burb. Body, suspension, shackle flip. Maybe "best" is too subjective. What could I takle with limited knowledge and tools. Basic mechanical skills?

My son wants to put some bigger tires 32 on this otherwise stock burb.

Where should we begin the process?

 

[tRustyK5]

For 32's you're already done...they fit with no lift.

Rene

 

[BranndonC]

is it for street and show, or off roading? How high? Does he care about ride quality? as much information as possible please

 

[showmeburb86]

right now it must be his daily driver. So street I guess. I don't think ride is all that important. But to me (dad) safety is. Info that I know about our burb; 10b front and rear 208 tcase with 261 gear. Don't know the gears front and back but willing to find out if someone tells me how and where to look. I think that this will be a project that progresses as he and I learn about off roading. So I would say that it needs to be driveable on street but with a "lifted" look and able to do some mild off roading at this point.

 

[87BrnRsd]

To figure out the axle gear ratio, take the front or rear diff cover off. On the ring gear (the big gear in the axle) there will be a line of stamped numbers. It will say something like: GM, (then a line of about 7 random numbers), then 2 numbers such as 10 41 (to find the gear ratio, you divide the larger number by the smaller number), then 2 more numbers such as 7 86 (this is the build date 7 86 would mean july of 1986).

To do this job you will need a few quarts of 80-90w gear oil, and some permatex gasket sealer for the diff cover. Its pretty easy and can be done in 45 minutes by pretty much anybody.
-Harrison

 

[87BrnRsd]

Oh, BTW....you may want to check the glovebox first. There is sometimes still the original factory options list (I have it on my 87 K5) that will tell the gear ratio. Thats assuming that they were never changed.
-Harrison

 

[obijuan]

it might say in your glove box.

Damn too slow

 

[showmeburb86]

thank you. I know the history of this truck and am pretty sure it is stock. So I will check the glove box tomorrow.

 

[BranndonC]

a good 2 inch or 4 inch spring lift will give you nice ride quality
you could also just do a 2-3 inch body lift, which some think might look tacky if you don't work on the bumpers and make them match the body height.

Look into brands like BDS, or Tuff Country for a nice lift. I believe BDS has a lifetime no ifs ands or butts warranty... check em out, its pretty easy