thoughts on lift brackets/ springs

[Tex_50613]

I have a 83 silverado 20 that I currently have 3" body and 4" suspention lift on and clear 39.5 Super Swamper tsl-sx tires, I have a set of 44" Gumbo Monster Mudders that I want to put on it...... I had been contemplating making lift brackets to drop the suspention away from the chassis and give me 4" more lift but still want the truck streetable what are your guy's thoughts???
here's a pic of the truck with the 44's on it with the current lift which bairley clears on level ground......



I mud and trail ride with the truck along with driving it to and from and most of the winter (I hate trailering it)

just wondering everyone's thoughts on it and if it can still be a decent ride after being done also I am not cutting the body anymore than I already have to clear the 38.5's with 7" of lift (notace the modified front fenders), I am slowly making this a nice truck that I will still play with and I Hate how they look with the body buchered all to hell to stuff big tires with hardly any lift.

and just so this is clear I run a fab shop so I know I can build what I need but want the best result when done and if custom brackets isn't the way to go I'll just buy new springs.

[tomtuna1978]

i think it looks good just how it is !!! lol !!! too bad it rubs !!! ..... why are you trying to build the brackets and not just get the lift springs ? is it a money thing? i would think that dropping the spring brackets or making them 4in. lower would be way more of a hasle !

[Tex_50613]

I just was use to seeing this done a lot way back and was thinking bout it, 1 it would add a extra heavy crossmember at the front of the fraim being as I would use a peics of 4x4x3/8" heavy ealled square tubing going all the way across the fraim rail to rail, and 2 owning a Fab shop I have lots of drops that I could use up to do it, I would only be doing this up front and using a set of lift blocks which I already have and ladderbars in the rear, the current suspention lift is a set of Rough Country EZ-ride 4" springs up front and a shackel flip with custom stacks in the rear (aprox 1 1/4ton read cap.) I don't really want to buy diffrent springs front and rear and surly don't want to loose my load cap. in the rear if I can help it. I do truck pulls ocasionally with the truck and it's fun to see proples faces when the front goes skyward and the rear isn't squating

[tomtuna1978]

i say go for it !!! but i would prolly do it in the rear also ! dosnt the 4in. lift blocks cause some kind of driveshaft angle or leaverage problem with the springs ? especially if you do truck pulls ! ... and why not 4 link it ? if youve got the fab shop, it shouldnt be too hard to do ? and all youd need to buy is the springs and shocks/coil overs.

[Tex_50613]

Originally Posted by tomtuna1978

i say go for it !!! but i would prolly do it in the rear also ! dosnt the 4in. lift blocks cause some kind of driveshaft angle or leaverage problem with the springs ? especially if you do truck pulls ! ... and why not 4 link it ? if youve got the fab shop, it shouldnt be too hard to do ? and all youd need to buy is the springs and shocks/coil overs.

the ladder bars will counter any lift block issues the issue that occures is that excess force is placed on the springs and the axle is allowed to move back and forth in a arch, and I will never again put on lift blocks without ladderbars.

and as for the shackel flip..... I already stated that it's done, that's what I did for the rear suspention befor I also increased the spring stacks load capasity

[benoit454]

maybe fab the front and shackle/hanger flip in back to give ya another 4 inches.

[benoit454]

my bad man, maybe do extended shackle and a smaller block then or just get the arched leafs. If you got the fab skills as you mentioned I'd just fab some frame drops to remount the stuff about 4 inches lower and be done with it.

I mean it's basically the exact same thing Stacy David did with the sgt. rock project, some boxed steel in a u almost v shape welded to his frame to mount his suspension on.

[b454rat]

You could use this up front. Here it's listed for 88-up SAS, but they make one for the 87 and down, just give them a call.

http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/new...duct.php?id=64

[68Maniac]

Here is Sky's kit on my 68