SmittyMC

I got an 88 pickup v6 and it's currently at stock height with 29 inch wheels. I bought this to be my off road/city truck so I want to upgrade to 34", 12" wide tires but i can't afford to pay for a 2-3" lift. I'm going to tighten my torsion bars and put a couple loader leafs in the rear to get some height. I have a solid front axle so i don't need offset rims for the front. Do you guys think this will work? what else can I do for a little extra height. thanks!

JDOGG

add a leaf, Chevy springs or raising/lowering blocks would be the cheapest lift you could probably do.

xxxtreme22r

how do you tighten torsion bars on a solid axle truck? And if it's an 88 with a solid axle up front isn't it basically lifted anyway?

85gijunk4x4

If it's sassed, it should already be lifted a good 4-5 inches, if it's I.f.s crank the torsion bars, but it's only safe to go about an inch, then get some 53" Chevys to match. What size tires are you looking to clear? I think you'd better start looking into diff gears first if you're looking to go too big. I'm currently running 35's with no lift so it can be done haha

85gijunk4x4

Wait, forget that part! 34x12's should fit without a lift kit, but it can get annoying at times

SmittyMC

haha oh shat!!! sorry guys i meant it's not a solid frunt axle haha. Anyways thanks a buttload guys ill check in to some chevy springs and blocks. I'm basically just trying to aim as cheap as possible haha

tj884Rdlx

"cheap as possible" = 2" body lift, crank the t-bars, longer shackles in the rear, and go with 33s instead, you'll find more of them.

SmittyMC

You guys all say chevy springs. Would I need those or could i just keep the leaf i have now and stick with them? I'm pretty sure i'm going to tighten my torsion bars an inch or 2 and throw a loader leaf on each side in the rear and if i still need blocks i'll use those too. Thanks guys this is probably going to work. My last question is can i just get a pair of lift blocks and slide them under my u-bolts? or do i need too buy a full kit? i've never done a body lift before and it seems pretty simple to me i just dont want to buy a full kit! thanks guy

wd21_sr5

borrow someones saw-zall and cut away tin until they clear?

SmittyMC

hahaha i got a custom aluminum box made by lifetimer boats that supposedly cost the previous owner $4000, I'f it was a stock box I'd fab the crap out of that thing haha

85gijunk4x4

Agreed, then throw some fender flares on there to dress it up!

tj884Rdlx

i'm pretty sure to put in chevy springs you'll have to cut off and reweld the spring perches.

i'm pretty sure you'll need longer u-bolts to use blocks.

but longer rear shackles just swap in. you can use the cheap "hotrod" shackles from summit or similar if you want. my truck came with them from the p.o.

check 4crawler.com for a good but cheap body kit. i bought his 1" because i didn't want a big gap between frame and body. i also replaced the bushings with a urethane kit while i was in there. soak the bolts well in advance with penetrant and they usually break loose ok.

these are both easy mods to do in a driveway with floor jacks and some pieces of pressure treated 4"x4". and they're super cheap which is why i suggested them, because THAT'S WHAT YOU ASKED FOR. do some more research online for install tips, because typically, what i'm recommending to you is what people on YT are usually recommending on how to REPLACE with better, tougher (more expensive) stuff.

SmittyMC

yeah i measured my rear wheel well and i might need to cut some precious box out to fit the rear in, but new u-bolts arent too expensive and i'm sure i can make some blocks myself to slide in there, I'm sure this won't be too difficult using just the blocks and an extra leaf and, if necessary, a saw-zall and some low prof fender flares, even though i hate them! I don't really want to get longer shackles cause that will require me to have to mount it a few inches forward to change the angle wouldn't it?

WHEELER8688

I dont think cheap is the best way to go if you want to clear tires that big

xxxtreme22r

34's aren't big at all. I have very minimal $$ to clear my 33's and with a little more work (not $$$$) I can make 35's clear easy. And if it wasn't for the fact I have a flatbed on mine, I wouldn't have needed lift springs in the back. only about 2.5" BTW.

With a sawzall a hammer and the correct backspacing you can fit 35's without any lift at all. Skip the sawzall altogether and just use a hammer to clear 33's.

bob200587

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rattlewagon

^^ rofl. Thats why its in the noob section.



Im running 35s with no lift, thats how I did it. They rub a little, but not bad. However, if you plan on daily driving this thing, your going to have to dump some money into new gears or stay off the highway.