1979 2WD suspension and Tire questions.

[Lowerd1]

I know I have asked this before like a year ago, but with no Search I could look it back up. So I have to ask it again.

I own a 1979 C10 2WD which I am rebuilding. Anyways its a truck I can't sell and I really hate how low it is. I don't plan on going to places were 4x4 is a must, but would love to have it lifted. I have been searching for lift kit for the 2wd's and the biggest I found was a 2.5" lift. I am not looking for 22" of lift or anywhere near that but just alittle more ground clearance.

My questions are:
1. Is there any other lift kits out there that are more than 2.5" and body lift is out because I was told here to stay away from those. I want to know my options.
2. On a stock suspension C10 2WD what are the tallest and widest Tires you can run with a 15" Rim? My father said 31's would probably be the tallest I could run.

Thanks for any help.

[Lowerd1]

I just found a old topic from me when I updated my sig. Didn't know you could view all your old post.

Seems Prerunner answered alot of my questions I just asked, but I would like to get some other opinions also.

[Prerunner1982]

let me go ahead and answer these on here anyways,

1. Fabtech makes a 4" long travel lift kit, but its about $1400.... to get more than 2.5" lift you could go with longer coils and probably spacers.. and ball joint spacers.. but tire wear may become a problem.

2. On a stock raked suspension 31" would be about as big as you could run on the front, i have HD front coils and run 32x11.50s with very minor rubbing on the upper fender lip, which is rolled now so it wont cut up the tires. in the back you should be able to run 33"s with no lift.. i prefer the even look so i run 32" all the way around.

I use to be the only person on here interested in lifting a 2wd.. there have become 1 or 2 more lately...

[Lowerd1]

Thanks! I went back and reread alot of those old post.
Yea that Fabtech setup is INSANE on the price. The 2.5" lift kit looks better everyday since its nowhere near that price.

I have another though.
With the 2.5" lift what is the largest tire you can run? 31's stock so what like 33's all the way around maybe?

[Prerunner1982]

since i dont have that kind of lift yet i am not 100% sure, but i bet 33"s would fit, without any severe off roading. i wouldnt run an extremely wide tire, unless you have the right offset rear wheels. if the rear tires stuck out too far and you loaded your truck or hit a bump too hard you would crush the top of your fender. My 32"s barely fit in the front, they were actually rubbing the inside of the top of the fender and it actually chunked a few of the lugs. (would probably have to see it to understand it better)

[Prerunner1982]

i dont think you are lookin for this option but they do make front fiberglass fenders that will fit 35" tires with NO lift. at the moment i cant find a company making bedsides for pre 88.. except for a blazer. i have seen in a mag where they flared thier own rear fenders, they seperated the bedside from the wheel well, took a bottle jack against some 2x4s to provide even pressure so it wouldnt buckle the fenders and flared it an inch or two. when they welded tabs between the inner fender and bedside they ended up with a gap, i didnt like the gap personally, but otherwise it would seem like alot of body work to cover a small gap in a non-show truck (mine).

Another option that you probably arent looking for is to cut the fenders like the 4x4 guys do, you also loose your inner fenders, but with some decent fab skills could make some new (diamond plate ) inner fenders.

[Lowerd1]

Thanks for all the help!

[griswold510]

Lowerd what company is making the 2.5 " lift? i have a 76 2wd im also looking to lift.

[Prerunner1982]

griswold, pick up a petersons 4wheel and off road.. alot of the big name 4x4 lift companies are offering 4x2 lifts..

[Lowerd1]

Skyjacker makes a 2.5" lift - $253.95 - stylinconcepts
Rough Country makes a 2" lift kit - $270 or $475 with rear springs - rocky mountain suspension
Rancho makes a 1.5" lift - $195 - Rocky mountain suspension
Fabtech 3" lift kit - $436 - Rocky mountian suspension
Fabtech also makes a 4" lift which is INSANE in the price

I would say its a shame we don't have more, but we are better off than the 72-down Chevrolets since they don't have anything for the 2wd's!

There are also body lifts which come in 2" and 3"!

[griswold510]

lowerd would it be possible to throw a set of coil spacers on the 2.5" lifts since the truck would still be sitting front heavy? that might give a total of 4" up front

[Lowerd1]

I don't know. I am so new at this, newborns know more than I do.

I got that info from digging on the net for info.

[Prerunner1982]

griswold, yes you could do that...

[Lowerd1]

Ok so with a 2.5" lift all around what size coil spacers would be needed to make the front and back equal?

[Prerunner1982]

not sure, never done it.. but due to the suspension geometery a 3/4" spacer will provide more than 3/4" lift.

[8t5Silverado]

Well, from what I understand the distance from the ground to the fender lip from the factory on the front was 32 inches and in the rear 34 inches (with 225/75-15 tires).

I installed HD front coils and it pretty much leveled my truck (since the rears have sagged a bit).

Putting these HD coils in was a chore and a half, I can't imagine what 2.5" lift coils would be like...I put a jack under the lower control arm and used the weight of the truck to compress the spring so that I could put the castle nuts on the balljoints...the weight of the truck almost wasn't enough to compress the spring.

I don't want to mess with alignment problems and such, so I am considering a small body lift (1" to 2") and putting 32x11.5 AT's (or 32x10.5 if I can find such a tire) on my truck.

[8t5Silverado]

Here' mine with the HD front coils...Do you think 32x11.5 BFG AT's will work without a lift?

[griswold510]

they should. i have the stock 2wd coils on my c10 and am fitting 31x11.50 with no rubbing.

[griswold510]

also a body lift will not affect your alignment. all a body lift does is lift your body off the frame. nothing to do with the alignment of your tires and suspension.

[8t5Silverado]

Right, that's why I was considering a body lift over the Rough Country springs.

[griswold510]

why not go for the 3 body? i mean if your gonna go, go all out. btw where did you get your 1 ton coils and how much?

[Prerunner1982]

8t5...what is your wheel center to fender lip measurement.. if its 19" (in the front) you can fit 32" with just a slight rub on the upper lip.

[8t5Silverado]

I got the HD coils at O'Reilly's (similar to Autozone) for $90, I think.

[griswold510]

hmm....i found a set on ebay that add 2.5" for about that so im trying to decide whether to buy those or go to the junk yard and rip some off the an old truck

[79BIG10]

I'm also wanting to lift my truck as well. When I do the front end I'll get HD coils but won't completely lift it until I get a kit made for it but that won't affect the bushings.