Complete build change. Lifted 2wd

[Devil Pup]

Well gettin her tore down slowly but surly. Really taking my time to be sure everything stays in order.

Old gaskets were pretty beat up but no obvious part of failure. hard to tell because how bad they were though.

[Devil Pup]

Havent updated this in a bit. Finally got the truck put back together and have been driving it pretty much every day for a month or so. I've put about 400 miles on it so far. I believe a sticky thermostat is what caused my gasket to fail in the first place since the temp was being a bit funny for the first couple miles of the new head gaskets. Swapped a new thermostat in and seems to be doing pretty well now.

I changed the lifter trays for new factory GM ones and upgraded to the MLS gaskets instead of the carbon ones. lots of cleaning to get all the carbon off the sealing surfaces but I got them to seal and used some new FelPro TTY bolts.


about 3,300 miles on it since the swap from bags to a lift and I'm loving it!

[kehstr]

man, been away from the site for a little while now, and when I make it back the truck is done and running!!
After doing the head gasket has it run well with no further problems?

[Signkutter]

Great job on this lifted c20. I was interested in lifting my C20...but I only wanted a 3 inch lift up front.

[Devil Pup]

Originally Posted by kehstr

man, been away from the site for a little while now, and when I make it back the truck is done and running!!
After doing the head gasket has it run well with no further problems?

Been good since. These LS motors are awesome. My blower motor went out for my AC/Heater but that's getting fixed soon. the truck itself is a blast to drive. I also got my cruise control hooked up which makes long drive really nice.

[Devil Pup]

Originally Posted by Signkutter

Great job on this lifted c20. I was interested in lifting my C20...but I only wanted a 3 inch lift up front.

Thank you. The spindle lift is really effective but it puts it fairly tall. it clears a 33". I haven't lifted the back quite yet so it has a little rake.

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by Devil Pup

Been good since. These LS motors are awesome. My blower motor went out for my AC/Heater but that's getting fixed soon. the truck itself is a blast to drive. I also got my cruise control hooked up which makes long drive really nice.

I hear you! I feel the same way about my truck with a 5.3l. They run amazing with good power even stock!

[Devil Pup]

Took the Ol' girl out with the jeeps this weekend. 2wd, a locker and some good ground clearance got me around pretty easily. Found some snow, ice, mud, sand, and hard-packed.

[SCOTI]

Thought I replied to this thread back when you thought there wasn't much interest.... Apparently I never did. Outstanding job getting it done, sorted, & out being enjoyed.

[Devil Pup]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Thought I replied to this thread back when you thought there wasn't much interest.... Apparently I never did. Outstanding job getting it done, sorted, & out being enjoyed.

Thank you. it really is fun to drive and is very reliable. did over 150 miles last weekend when we went off road and it didnt skip a beat.

[1971Stepside]

Got to admit that when I saw the title of your thread I was like WTH? After going through it I really like your truck. Looks like a lot of fun. Good work.

[Devil Pup]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

Got to admit that when I saw the title of your thread I was like WTH? After going through it I really like your truck. Looks like a lot of fun. Good work.

Lol lifted 2wd aren't the norm. most people lower them so I get it. Thank you.

[doc70sub]

Great info & pics...looking to do my '70 C-10 Sub in the near future.

[Signkutter]

Wish there was a way to about a 3 inch lift in the front for my C20...Your truck looks great though

[NDM]

Originally Posted by Devil Pup

Got a good amount of work done this weekend so figured id add a little update.
Bolted the crossmember in with some fresh Grade 8 Hardware.


The 73-87 frame i took the crossmember out of had these nice little reinforcement brackets for the crossmember that my 69 and previous 73-87 crossmember didn't have. They look to add a lot of strength so i used them on this frame considering that stress will be added with bigger tires.


ordered a bunch of parts from Rockauto. Shipping was vary fast but i ended up with someones used 88-98 ball joint. They actually fought me a little but took care of it and sent me a new one so no harm.


Installed the control arms, springs, spindles and rotors.


surprisingly had to jack the frame up more than it already was to fit the wheels on for a test fit. The wheel/tire set up is a 265-65-17 so i believe just under a 31.




At first glance i thought the tie rod was going to work with the stock sway bar but when turning i believe it will cause interference. So while i wait to get a reamer to change the tie rod to the top, i tarped the frame in anticipation of this weeks rain.

Dang! Figures that the exact info that I have been searching for would be lost in photobucket land.

Can you tell me what you used for this 2wd lifted swap. I am going to do my 2wd ls swap with a l96 6.0 liter and a 6l90e. That means I am saying goodbye to the front diff and 4wd. My goal is the same as yours. Smooth ride, wicked power and lifted for now.

The 4wd ls swap just has too much complication for me. I already did this exact swap in my 76 Buick so I am very familiar with how to do it. I just need to know how you did the 2wd lift.

Thanks and yes I realize that this is an old thread.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by NDM

Dang! Figures that the exact info that I have been searching for would be lost in photobucket land.

Can you tell me what you used for this 2wd lifted swap. I am going to do my 2wd ls swap with a l96 6.0 liter and a 6l90e. That means I am saying goodbye to the front diff and 4wd. My goal is the same as yours. Smooth ride, wicked power and lifted for now.

The 4wd ls swap just has too much complication for me. I already did this exact swap in my 76 Buick so I am very familiar with how to do it. I just need to know how you did the 2wd lift.

Thanks and yes I realize that this is an old thread.

The images might be missing but the info & parts used were mentioned within the build thread text.

[NDM]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

The images might be missing but the info & parts used were mentioned within the build thread text.

So I have acquired an entire front 1 ton crossmember from a 84 C20 from a local guy including the steering box. I will have to replace a bunch of the old stuff and get the conversion parts to 6 lug. I have some sand blasting to do and some painting.

My question to you is...Is there anything you regret or would do differently with this 2wd lift? I am about to purchase a 6.6 L8T with a 6l90E and am getting very excited! I am just kind of torn between lifted, stock height or lowered. This beast will be my daily driver when I am done. Should be so much better than the SRT Jeep that I got rid of to get this thing.

Anyways, Any regrets? Anything you'd do different?

[NDM]

If you are still around the forum, Would you mind posting pics of the current fender to ground height for me? Last photo did not have the motor in yet and I could not find any other measurements. I am leaning toward doing the same swap as you did with the 88 up spindles but with my 6.6 liter L8t that I am about to swap.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by NDM

If you are still around the forum, Would you mind posting pics of the current fender to ground height for me? Last photo did not have the motor in yet and I could not find any other measurements. I am leaning toward doing the same swap as you did with the 88 up spindles but with my 6.6 liter L8t that I am about to swap.

His last activity on here was May of '23.