Have an 87 diesel blazer 4wd. Runs good but doesn't go anywhere. Blew both front and rear diffs. Picked up some heavy duty diffs from a mid 70's blazer. Also decided on a 4" lift so I finally tracked down some 8 lug 16.5 alcoa rims. Just need to pick out a 4" lift. rough country, tuff country, pro comp?? I don't need all the bells and whistles. Im a student with a mild budget. Would like to keep price down if at all possible. But in the end i will pay extra for a quality lift kit. I've looked through a lot of the builds posted but would like everyones opinon on best bang for the buck. Thanks, Rm
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Need a little help please
- Thread starter Seats35
- Start date
I don't have any company preference for springs, but I would go with a 4" lift and order the kit with rear blocks. Then throw the blocks away and put a shackle flip on the rear (DIY4X and ORD both have good ones). I would also suggest longer stainless brake lines to replace the rubbers and you'll need a raised steering arm.
*Just out of curiosity...How'd you manage to blow BOTH diffs?
*Just out of curiosity...How'd you manage to blow BOTH diffs?
Are you referring to the lift kits are junk and i don't need one? Not sure what your getting at by throw the blocks away. Please keep in mind this is my first 4wd project. Im more used racing 60's novas. As for the shackle flip. Can you tell me the pros or cons for doing this in place of the blocks please?
as for blowing both diffs. i was heading up a mildly steep hill at full throttle and the rear end starting making strange noises like grinding. Drove to the store for more beer and it locked up on the freeway. Pulled out the pinion gear and engaged the 4 wheel drive just to get home. Didn't realize i blew out the front one a 1 year earlier from another trip when i first bought the blazer and took it out. That time drove 13 miles in the middle of nowhere on a muddy offroad trail on 3 tires. Yes i checked for a spare and tire iron. bad thing is i just bought the truck and didn't check the size of the tire iron. didn't fit the rims the guy had on the truck. Sorry for the long story couldn't condense it.
as for blowing both diffs. i was heading up a mildly steep hill at full throttle and the rear end starting making strange noises like grinding. Drove to the store for more beer and it locked up on the freeway. Pulled out the pinion gear and engaged the 4 wheel drive just to get home. Didn't realize i blew out the front one a 1 year earlier from another trip when i first bought the blazer and took it out. That time drove 13 miles in the middle of nowhere on a muddy offroad trail on 3 tires. Yes i checked for a spare and tire iron. bad thing is i just bought the truck and didn't check the size of the tire iron. didn't fit the rims the guy had on the truck. Sorry for the long story couldn't condense it.
Check these guys out....
http://www.offroaddesign.com/
Your best case scenario is a 4" lift which consists of lift springs in front with a raised steering arm and longer brake hoses. In the rear the shackle flip is the way to go with another longer brake hose. And shocks all the way around.
ORD can set you up with everything you need in one shot. No need to buy a lift kit that includes lift blocks for the rear (just to discard them) when the ultimate goal is a shackle flip, you can get it all in one stop. Tuff Country for the best riding "off the shelf" springs. I wont get into custom springs based on your budget.
Both ORD and DIY4X are our top rated vendors here at CK5, as well as being well respected members here and spend time on the boards answering Qs, BSing with us, etc. Both of them make some top quality parts.
I'll pic whore my 87 just because it's equipped with what you are looking to do to yours.
http://www.offroaddesign.com/
Your best case scenario is a 4" lift which consists of lift springs in front with a raised steering arm and longer brake hoses. In the rear the shackle flip is the way to go with another longer brake hose. And shocks all the way around.
ORD can set you up with everything you need in one shot. No need to buy a lift kit that includes lift blocks for the rear (just to discard them) when the ultimate goal is a shackle flip, you can get it all in one stop. Tuff Country for the best riding "off the shelf" springs. I wont get into custom springs based on your budget.
Both ORD and DIY4X are our top rated vendors here at CK5, as well as being well respected members here and spend time on the boards answering Qs, BSing with us, etc. Both of them make some top quality parts.
I'll pic whore my 87 just because it's equipped with what you are looking to do to yours.
Agreed. If not getting the blocks saves you some coin, then don't get em. However, sometimes the entire setup in 'kit' form is cheaper than just ordering the parts you need.
As for the shackle flip, the benefits are it will usually give you slightly more lift than 4" (thus fixing the sagging rears most stock springs have) and will produce a level truck at 4" of lift while using your stock rear springs. It will also usually help with pinion angle.
In my case, it pointed my pinion directly at the T-case, thereby giving me the perfect pinion angle....for a CV driveshaft that I subsequently bought. Don't regret it though.
As for the shackle flip, the benefits are it will usually give you slightly more lift than 4" (thus fixing the sagging rears most stock springs have) and will produce a level truck at 4" of lift while using your stock rear springs. It will also usually help with pinion angle.
In my case, it pointed my pinion directly at the T-case, thereby giving me the perfect pinion angle....for a CV driveshaft that I subsequently bought. Don't regret it though.
Thank you both very much for your help. I talked to both diy and ord and figured out what i needed. Gonna blow way past my budget but.... I'd rather do it right than do it later. Its just gonna get more expensive and im all for doing it right the first time with quality stuff. Ordered the Tuff country HD front springs from ORD to start.
I do see what you mean about the rear sagging. Doesn't look great and also I tow stuff so shackle flip would be better instead of longer rear springs. Thanks again i appreciate it. I'll post pics.
I do see what you mean about the rear sagging. Doesn't look great and also I tow stuff so shackle flip would be better instead of longer rear springs. Thanks again i appreciate it. I'll post pics.
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
id go ord for most lift stuff.the shackle flip reuses your stock rear springs which cuts down cost.just make sure your rear springs are still in good shape.if the rear still sags a lil after the shackle flip you can use a zero rate to get a 1 inch lift in the rear to make it even up.with ord,you can tell them what you have and how you use it and they can figure out the best spring and rate for your purposes as well.ive never dealt with diy but have heard nothing but good things from them as well.
