I have an 85 pickup, 22R. It had a lift on it when I got it, I estimate about 4 inches all around, but the only parts I can identify are longer than stock shocks and 2" blocks in the rear. Clears the 33's with lots of room to spare. It rides a bit rough.

I've gone through and fixed most of the broken stuff aside from cosmetics. I have rebuilt the front axle, both diffs including 5.29 gears, and put an Aussie locker in the rear while I was at it. Replaced the very broken stock carb with a Weber. SR5 cluster swap. The truck is basically stock otherwise.

My question to you all is where do you think I should go from here? It's not going to used for hardcore rock crawling or anything, think more along the lines of exploring fire roads, some mud, some snow. My thinking is rip off the unknown suspension and go rear Chevy springs and RUF. I'm not looking to spend tons of cash of it but I'd like to hear opinions on if I'm on the right track or not.

Thanks!

 

Its your truck, do what you want... but from my understanding it should ride better with the setup you are looking to put on it.

Side note: If you rip off the existing unknown suspension, ship it to Florida. I don't mind a rough ride in a mud truck

 

I would clean up the suspension and then add a winch with better bumpers on the front and rear.

 

X2 on a winch.
I'd go with ford rears rather then chevys but that's just cause I dont like bowties.
get a good set a tires
And a "jeep recovery vehicle sticker"lol

 

Sounds like a good idea but are the rears the original or would it require more fab work than the normal RUF swap?

 

Your on the right track. Rufs and chevys are arguably the best suspension set up. Even after market spring packs will require moving perches and hangers with double or quadruple the cost. You can add and remove leaves to tune it. High steer? Full suspension 5:29's and your locker and your done underneath the truck unless you dual case or 4.7.

 

Thanks for the replies, guys. Sounds like just get the suspension in order, a winch, and a front bumper. The back bumper is a pretty decent custom job, and it's already got decent tires. I'll replace them with 35's when they wear out, to match the gears. Add the Jeep Recovery Vehicle sticker and get rid of some of the ugly.

 

You forgot the "send the old suspension to Florida" part

 

Cut your stock exhaust at the coupler and run a two inch exhaust all the way out to the muffler. The stock manifold is great just open it up after the coupler. Should give you a nice boost for some small cash