I'm looking for a lift for my '86, problem is, I've found combinations I'm debating buying...

1-Pro Comp Stage II
Pro's: Comes with Pro Comp Shocks, Extra gusseting...
Con's: Costs more than the others... Around 850$

2-Rough Country
Pro's: Cheap ($599), many people have had success stories
Con's: Not sure how strong it is.. and it's called ROUGH country for a reason.

3-Rancho
Pro's: Rancho shocks=Nice, Rancho has been around the block a few times.
Con's: Heard that upper arms kit comes with are weak...

4-BJ Spacers & Shackles
Pro's: Softer front suspension, lift, and strength.
Con's: Possible alignment issues, not enough lift

Keep in mind all these kits come with BLOCKS in the rear, this is no problemo for me, as I will replace the blocks with a new leaf pack.. I COULD SAS but, this is cheaper, and a locker will get me farther than a solid axle for the trails I go on. Any input?

 

How much lift your looking for and what size tires you planning on running?

 

Most likely 32's or 33's with 4" of lift, or 31's with a 2" lift. Not sure how much more gutless it would be with 33's, all I know its its pretty slow as is.

 

No need for a full 4" lift to fit 33s. Check out some easy lift "recipes" for 33" tires on the web page below:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...it.shtml#FAQ10

 

I KNOW 33's will fit w/ no lift, I just want a lift. I think I've decided to go with the 2" toytec lift, and bilstein shocks, anyone know what bilsteins fit with 2" of lift? I need to be able to flex, so I don't want shocks limiting that. Also, exactly HOW bad are 33's and 4.10's? I'd think they wouldn't be all that bad if I didn't get a super wide tire, and I got a heavier flywheel...

 

They are not THAT bad, but its not gonna be fun. I suggest you save up and buy some 4.88's You can get a rear factory 4.88 third out of a 3.0 auto for cheap then regear your front diff to match.

 

Ide say instead just put the locker in for now and save for a SAS cause youll want it sooner or later on the trail IMO aspecialy if you go pretty often. If not maybe the procomp but definetly not rancho

just my opinions

 

BTW ide go with some 56" leafs in the back so some grinding and welding would be in order but it would be best for a lift. Also check out chevy 63" rear leaves as people do this also. Marlin, trail-gear, Allpro just to name a few have some great stuff and the cost of a SAS is just a bit more than IFS lift and much stronger. I understand the welding, time, and money portion isnt always obtainable but its throwing out some more options for ya

 

the procomp stage 2 is a great lift I ran it for years and never had a problem with it

 

If you want to run 33's, the money is better spent on gears/lockers than lift ...

After you 'wheel it a while and find the true limits of the rig and want to do a SAS, you're not throwing away $500 - $1000 you spent on IFS lift.

IMHO, the "early" IFS works best and is strongest in it's stock form. The more you alter it, the more problems people seem to have.

 

If I were you I take TC's advice. But if you want an alternative (cheap) here is what I'm doing (by cheap I mean it took me years to find most of my parts. ((the most expensive parts)) I'm 4" Trail Master lift ($60 no shock including rear leaf axle housing), 1.5" BJ spacers (yet tot purchase - not needed yet), 59" Chevy 4 Door S10 leafs ($20 with 4 extra leaves ((with 2 extra leaves - they are spring under original)) Loosing the original LSPV and going with a summit one ($56 Devlivered ((just like fillsrunner4 - and I got a cool summit hat and some more stickers), Youkon Gear spool (@$280 delivered when the Canadian dollar was low) - Now I just got the Rancho shocks for a 4" lift - back won't be bad beacuse I can build a custom upper shock mount (will loose some compression but the price on the shocks was free). And I may even add a home bouilt 2" body lift. The only thing I haven't got is either offset rims or wheel spacers. I currently fit my stock rims and 33x12.5's on my 90 4Runner - with little problem. And I run it fairly hard - we don't have Rock readily available but I have launched it the way it sits currently! And I do wheel rock, but not to the calliber TC does... I have wheeled Lingham Lake - which is limestone in Ontario, slick rock (only thing I regret is not enough flex).....

http://media.putfile.com/Air-Swamp-Donkey

But like I said it took me years to find the parts cheap....

 

Or if your just looking for 2" throw a body lift on, then do a drivetrain lift. You'll achieve your goal of lifting it, you'll clear room for the tires and you'll gain clearance under the truck as well. Best of all worlds.

 

Personally if I was gonna do a body lift, I'd do a 3"... Theyre pretty FUGLY too anyways.. I'm gonna order the Toytec 2" Lift ASAP.