Lift kits and tires....

[mrpbody]

Hey Gang,



I am trying to decide which way to go on something and I was wondering if you could offer or share your opinions or ideas.



I have a 1985 crew cab 4x4. It’s an old Air force truck and the tires, leaf springs and shocks are dead. It’s still a gasser, but besides riding rough, it runs really great.



I am planning to do a Cummins conversion on it in the very near future, but for right now I want to drive it while collecting parts. It has a 360 with a 727 auto trans and 4:11 gears. I want to replace all 4 leaf springs and shocks next month along with a set of taller tires to slow the engine down. I want to build it based on the Cummins drive train because I don’t want to do it again when the engine and trans do go into it in the future.



I’m not into all the flashy chrome stuff or great big monstrous tires or lifts kits that will require a step latter to get into the truck. I would like to stay under a 4” lift and no taller than a 35” tire. It will be driven on the freeways a lot (gasser or Diesel) pulling my boat or a camp trailer.



I guess what I am looking for is simplicity and ride quality if there is such a thing with the first gen trucks. I will also be using the Firestone Ride-Rite air springs in the rear and if it matters a hwy tread design tire.



After searching through the older threads it seems that the 2 ½ inch lift is popular, but the tire height is not mentioned.



Does anybody have pictures to share showing what lift and tire size?

 

[DVolk]

Lift Kits and tires

Iwould look at Skyjackers lift kits for the Gen 1 Dodges with "Cummins" these kits are for trucks with Cummins there for the spring rates will bedesigned for a cummins my prefference would be the 4"

kit as the springs do sag over time . I would also recomend useing all componets the kits says to install such as the blocks and steering linkages .



I also recomend purchaseing after market front spring shackels for the front as well as the greaseble bolt kits . If you cant find the greasable bush ing kits contact offroadesign.com there chevy shackels and shackel bolts will fit dodge with no problem , also just order the bolt kit only as the Skyjacker/ superlift poly bushings are fluted and will work for grease already .



I lifted my burb to basicly 6" I wish i just would have waited and used the 1ton lift that superlift/skyjacker has .



I went 8" front /6" rearched springs in the rear , i went this way for spring sag plus i was told i needed this much for oil pan clearence which i did not .



Im going to get rear air bags as well .



Tires id run 10 plys and Nitto has a nice tire for this application

 

[SRath]

By all means, you are on the right track. My K30 Chevy crewcab is essentially the same as your Dodge. I used Skyjacker softride leafsprings at all 4 corners (full-leaf sets; no add-a-leafs) with Firestone air suspension in the rear for handling heavy loads. They can handle very heavy loads! And the truck can be leveled perfectly for great ride, braking, and steering no matter how lightly or heavily loaded. Rancho RS9000 5-way adjustable shocks help smooth things too.



My 2nd gen Dodge can't even come close to matching the ride quality!



Since the Chevy 1-ton K30 frame is taller than the 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks, I did not need a 4'' kit. I think I went 2 1/2 and I run 35" BFG Mud Terrains with tremendous suspension flex and absolutely no rubbing. I did this many years ago, but I'm 99% sure I did the 4" kit on my '75 K20 and the 2 1/2" on the K30 to end up at the same height. I don't know how your Dodge compares, but I'd bet they did the same with a heavier, taller frame on the 1-tons.



I used a simple dropped pitman arm to return the steering geometry to normal and it steers like a dream with no wander or wobble or shake at all. Dual Rancho stabilizers help control bump steer offroad.



Polyurethane bushings everywhere of course. No stinkin lift blocks. I also added swaybar quick-disconnects in front for offroad flex. I made my own custom rear shackles but retained stock length on them.



Very simple, effective, and very low cost compared what it would cost to do my 2nd gen Dodge with the coilspring frontend.



The 35's look perfect on a moderately lifted crewcab. You don't realize how tall and big the truck is until you walk over and find you can rest your chin on the hood standing straight up. You will need stirrup steps.



Somewhere, maybe on the old computer in my son's room, I have some photos I'll try to find.



You definitely have a good plan going! Good luck!

 

[mrpbody]

Lifts kits and tires...

If I can figure out how to attach the picture, this is what it looks like now.



It's kind of hard to tell in the picture, the front springs have a negative arch and on a level surface the back end sits lower with nothing in the bed, and then it's real bad when I put any kind of weight in the bed.

 

[SRath]

You will not believe the difference in "attitude" when you put 2 1/2 to 4 inches of lift and some 35" tires on that truck. You have a nice truck to begin with, it's just in it's dowdy "librarian disguise" right now. It'll be like breast implants for your truck! Post some before and after photos!

 

[mrpbody]

Yea, I spent an hour or so looking at all the pictures in the readers rides section looking at what other people had done to their trucks as far as the lifts and tire sizes, some only listed one or the other. Although, I did find a couple that had both.



Years ago I had a short bed 1/2 ton that I put a 6" lift into and ran 35" tires, I was not impressed with it. The truck seemed very clumsy on the freeway or street driving to me. Just trying to avoid a repeat since I want to do some towing with this one.





I think I have decided to go with the skyjacker 2 1/2 lift and run a 33" x 12. 50 tire. I'll post some pictures of the lift swap when I get started.

 

[SRath]

Something about the 35's puts a crewcab into proportion real well. I'm sure 33's will, too.



I always said my Chevy crewcab K30 looked like a gorilla wearing tennis shoes with stock-sized tires... Just NOT right! (Bigfoot without big feet?)