need help lowering blazer

[Noble1221]

I just bought a 71 Blazer across the country simply from some pics - I know bad idea.

body, frame and paint are near excellent. I can do the few minor engine things it needs.

but the lift is far too high for wife and kids to get in and out of. 30" from the door bottom to the ground and Massachusetts inspection station won't even look at it over 26".

we're only running ice cream for the kids and driving on a Cape Cod beach for 3 months in the summer.

am blowing away the 37" mud tires and the 20" wheels to start.

Cannot tell what's going on with the leafs? there is 1 1/2" to 2" blocks between the rear leaf and rear axle? But are the leafs completely different from stock?

do not see blocks in front leafs but do see shackles extending down 1-2" on the rear of the front leafs?

[A1971Blazer]

Probably at least 6" lift....do you have any pictures? some showing the height and some showing the springs, blocks and shackles.....more than likely you will have to change to a lower spring to fix it properly....or perhaps you may be able to remove the blocks at the rear and put stock shackles back on to lower the front? hard to tell without seeing it....blocks and long shackles aren't the best set-up.

[Noble1221]

many thanks for the quick reply, very helpful. Next thing like you said is for me to get some clear pics up. which I'll do tonite.

The other thing I'd like to understand is the new tires/wheels will be 265 75 15's which will help a little.

But the height from the top of the tires to the crest in the wheel wells is 12" - don't see even stock blazers lifted 2"-3" that look like that?

am not interested in going to sedan height simply want relative ease of entry and exit - 4 year old Australian Shepherd can't jump onto open tail gate of this truck.

[A1971Blazer]

get some pics up when you can and we can go from there....the 265/75 is roughly a 31" tire, which will fit on a stock K5 without lift.......but it will look out of place with a big lift.
you will get plenty of help and advice here...welcome.....!

[Noble1221]

awesome, I feel welcome already. This is a great opportunity for me time travel to my youth and to involve my 12 and 7 year old children - they never saw a crank down window before! a key that goes in a red metal dash.
they're learning that we're stewards of history now, members of a local club, new community - keeps them off of the electronics too.

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by Noble1221

awesome, I feel welcome already. This is a great opportunity for me time travel to my youth and to involve my 12 and 7 year old children - they never saw a crank down window before! a key that goes in a red metal dash.
they're learning that we're stewards of history now, members of a local club, new community - keeps them off of the electronics too.

Good for you.....the most important job in the world is spelled "D A D" !

[Noble1221]

got some pics here - 1. shackles on rear of front leaf 2) front of front leaf attach to frame 3) rear block under leaf and on axle right rear 4) about 11 inches from top of tire to high point of wheel well 5) shot from 10 feet away.

is a first good effort to put on the 265 75 15's, remove the block in rear and drill holes in shackles closer to frame mount?

or are these leafs just crazy arching bent and have to come out. all and any ideas, comments welcome.

[A1971Blazer]

just looking at the pictures it looks like you could possibly lower it a few inches by removing the rear blocks and putting shorter shackles on the front....the front mount point for the front spring looks stock....to get it any lower will definitely require different springs...

[elkniks]

I'm not sure if its the correct thing to do or not but I pulled a couple of leaves out of my spring packs to lower my 6" lift springs years ago. Worked just fine and softened up the ride a bit.

[mcmlxix]

Most lift springs are very stiff unless they were special order. I would invest in some Deaver springs built to spec. Thinner spring leaves, but more of them. Not cheap but I hear they are quality. http://www.deaverspring.com/about-us/

There is a thread on here about lift and tire size with pictures...

[Noble1221]

hey mcmlxix - thx for sending. I just filled out their contact form on their site.

do you have a shock recommendation to go with those springs.

Joe

[mcmlxix]

I don't know of the specific shock but I would probably go with Bilstien 5100 series. Just need to figure out the collapsed and extended length of the shock once you get the springs sorted. You could probably find the specs of a standard shock and add ~4 to 5 inches to the measurements.
I was going to run Bilstein till I stumbled across some Fox Shocks...

http://cart.bilsteinus.com/pdfs/off-road.pdf

[mcmlxix]

found the specs for a stock shock --- so add 4"+/- : 15" collapsed and 22" extended; that gives you 7" of travel total with 3.5" up and down....If you want to run fast in the sand dunes, get something with more travel and a reservoir.... Like the 5160 or 7100 series depending on budget... or go to a FOX or King shock.


FACTORY SPECS
Upper Mount Type: Eye 12.7mm
Lower Mount Type: Eye 12.7mm
Title: Bilstein Shock Absorbers
Series: B6 4600
Internal Design: Monotube
Collapsed Length: 11.38 in / 289 mm
Extended Length: 17.48 in / 444 mm
Boot Included: Blue Straight
Mounting Kit: No
Spring Seat: No
Finish: Yellow Paint
Supercedes: F4-B46-0923-H0

[mcmlxix]

Also, if you get new springs and they are just a little too low, you can add a 1" to clear the tires with ORD (Offroad Design) aluminum body pucks. I wouldn't go over 1" but they helped me clear a 4L80e trans mission and tuck my custom fuel tank up higher.... just a option.

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/oneinchlift.htm

[notsolo]

Are you interested in going back to OEM springs all around.? Front springs were almost flat, possibly slight reverse arch.

[mcmlxix]

Also, if the factory rubber body mounts are original they tend to compress over the years, You can actually gain a 1/2 inch back just by replacing them... they're available in both rubber any poly. If you think you need the extra 1" body pucks, you'll need new longer bolts, so plan accordingly.


Check out this thread for a board vendor working on a rubber body mount kit.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=721801

[craneboy72]

I got a new set of 10:50 31's on rims that I removed from my 71 if your interested