Anyone interested in lowering the rear of their 4x4 1-1/4"?

[pcorssmit]

Wondering if anyone w/a later first gen 4x4 was wanting to lower the rear end by 1-1/4", for 5th wheel clearance, looks, whatever.

Here's the scenario: My '97 has 4-3/4" rear lift blocks (OE). I want to raise the rear end about 1-1/4", which means going to 6" rear block. All the aftermarket ones I see are 5-1/2". I looked under a coworker's '93 250 the other day, and his blocks are a full 6".

If anyone is interested in trading blocks (I'm in Colorado, and if need be I can have the truck down for a few days), or has a line on a 6" pair, please let me know.

Thanks,

Pete

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'97 2500 CC 4X4 5spd Sport
'83 K5 Blazer 350 TBI (ex 6. 2), 39. 5 TSLs, 3" lift, Dana 60/GM 14 blt, Detroits

 

[DJP]

Pete,
The pre 93 W-250 4X4's came stock with 3" blocks. The pre 93 W-350's, however, came stock with the 6" rear spring blocks.

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89 D-250 LE 5 speed 3. 55 Limited slip, Banks Intercooler, 'Ol Blue Specials, K&N, Full Boar Muffler, 3" exhaust, Diesel Dynamics Stage 1 kit, Boost/Pyro. & 16cm2 215K miles.

 

[pcorssmit]

Thanks, the only one's I'd been able to measure were on a '93. (Been out of town for a while. ) Dodge thinks VERY highly of these blocks, I may try the yards or end up making some myself.

Pete

 

[KEENO]

DJP!

The two 92' W-250 daily drivers that we own both have the full 6" lift blocks in the rear, factory installed.

Keeno

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1992 W250 5spd. 3. 54 gears, LSD, JRE enhanced VE Injector Pump, BD High Output Injectors, 12cm2 wastegated housing, 3 1/2" JRE modified Banks exhaust/Walker muffler, pyro/boost gages, K&N, South Bend Clutch, Skyjacker 2 1/2" front suspension lift & Bushwacker 'cut out' Flares to clear 315/75R/16 BFG AT KO's, Mag-Hytec, Amsoil, Rhino liner, Fully Chrominated Aluminum Aftermarket Accessory T-handle Shift Knob

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If I recall correctly, first gen Rams have 2. 5" wide leaf springs. Second gen have 3" wide. Also check that the angle built into the blocks you find is correct. Specifically, the angle of the trans output must be equal to that of the diff pinion. U joints speed up and slow down during their rotation if they are at an angle, and that is why the phasing of the u-joints is so important so they won't wear or break. Both ends obviously must be speeding up and slowing down the same, or something will have to give.
Ford went to 3" wide leaf springs in 1980 so you might look in the junkyard at them too. Checy achieved the rear end lift back then with repositioning the hangers instead of lift blocks, so they won't have lift blocks.

[This message has been edited by Joseph Donnelly (edited 04-29-2001). ]

 

[pcorssmit]

Thanks guys. I figured on checking the angles upon installing different blocks. I'm fairly new to the Dodge thing, but not the 4x4 one. We actually had to dig up the angle finder to shim the rear end on my brother's '70 Blazer a few weeks ago before going to Moab. Just a few degrees makes a big difference. I've also been considering building some traction bars to get rid of some of the axle wrap caused by the blocks (and having a clutch that actually grabs instead of slipping #ad
).

Pete