Spanky96046

I have a 1987 toyota pickup, that I want to install a body lift on. I have already ordered a 3'' kit from JCWhitney. I was just wondering if anyone had any good advice about installation. The instructions leave alot up in the air.

red89yota

Do you have auto or 5spd either way its a little of a pain but its worth it imo.

Spanky96046

It's a 5 spd.

pepsibluefloat

i'd cut it down to 2"

Spanky96046

What would be the advantages in the 2'' over the 3''? Also, if I do choose to go with the 3'' will I need to extend my shift levers?

KevinInSac

My buddy had a 3" on his 88 runner. He had no 4lo until he removed the shift plate from the floor board. You will most likely need a short throw type kit...

Bejiita

Let me know how it goes I am about to buy a 2''. On the Second gens the shifters dont fit properly and you need to either cut the floorboard or get shorter shifters. Might have to for a first gen also. When you get it done make sure that your fan clears the fan shroud or you may need to lift the motor also. Clean all your bolts and soak them in a penetrating oil overnight before you start the project as well.

Spanky96046

ok well besides the fan shroud (which i will prob. do away with) and the shifters where else am I going to run into trouble? What about the brake actuator on the rear axle? Dose anyone make a bracket for that or is it custom fab? Need all the help I can get.

Bejiita

I dont think you have to worry about that. But you might run into some wires not being long enough on a 3'' and dont remove the fan shroud unless you get a electric fan its there for a reason Just trim it if need be. Bolts can break and then it becomes a PITA so make sure to lube em up. That and buy like 8 big jacks lol. You will probably need a steering shaft extension as well.

91 4Runner

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...ft_HowTo.shtml

ovrrdrive

I can't imagine the 2nd gen trucks being that different from the 3rd gens to the point that you'll have all of these phantom problems like this...

Personally, I wouldn't take the time to install one if it wasn't a 3" lift. If you're going to do it do it right.

I don't know anything about the kit from JC Whitney but it still should have everything you need in the kit. There should be a steering shaft spacer and shifter extensions. You'll either have to get the shifters cut and extended or heat them up and take some of the bend out of them. I took mine down to a local welding shop and had them both cut and extended for like $20.

Guys around here bag on body lifts for some reason and I've never fully understood it. If someone around here actually thinks that a Superlift is better than a body lift they're smoking crack. I have both on my truck and I don't trust the bracket lift near as much as the body. My body has been on the truck for 12 years and just this year I had a body mount start squeaking that I had to tighten up.

Body lifts are great. They give you room for bigger tires and make the truck easier to work on. The only drawback is seeing the frame down the side but if you put any kind of a nerf or slider on the truck even that doesn't look bad.

ovrrdrive

Oh yeah, and the kit should have brackets to drop the rad back into the stock position. This allows it to work fine with the shroud. There shouldn't be any need to extend any wires either.

justinking060310

IMHO - having dealt with many JCWhitney components, before I smartened up, you should return it to them and get 4crawlers 3" BL with all the fixins - I just put one on my 4runner, I had every single upgrade and it was $214(yours would be far less because I had to use the $50 auto tranny upgrade) shipped...

His quality is top notch. His customer service far exceeds anyone else I have worked with. He has a fix for every concievable problem

ovrrdrive

Honestly, that ain't such a bad idea...

justinking060310

I didn't mean to be rude about it, just stating how I feel. It is your truck and potentially your life.

ovrrdrive

I don't think you were rude at all, no reason for you to appologize.

I think that's a great idea.