2 in. lift?

[Jorley]

I know this is a dumb question, but bear with me. I have a '84 Bll w/ 31x10.50s and want a little more clearance for my tires. I was thinking of putting 2" spacers under the front coil springs and 2" blocks under the rear leaf springs. My question is will this work or will I just be wasting time? Any advice will be welcome.

 

[mhughes165]

itll work fine, just make sure to get ur alingment done after the spacers, or just order a set of leveling coils, that will work better

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i'd steer clear of anything higher than the factory 2" block in the rear...and do NOT stack blocks!

you can get extended shackles to lift the rear 2" which will not only ride and perform better than blocks, but are much safer.

 

[Jorley]

I'm trying to do this as cheap as possible. I know leveling coils would be better, but I can get the stuff to fab the spacers and blocks for next to nothing. I am planning on using washers(welded together) for the front and 2" steel blocks with a cross piece welded to them for the back so they won't move.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

if your going to be fabbing it up yourself...its just as easy to fab up a set of shackles for the rear...

 

[Jorley]

Thanks for the help.

I don't know alot about suspension, so how would I do that. Is there something in the Tech Library on fabbing them? And would the spacers on the front work with them?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

theres no info in the tech library about fabbing them, but they are silly simple (take a peak under your truck at the stockers and you'll know what needs to be done).

shackles will work fine with the front spacers. the shackles will provide better suspension travel, MUCH better ride quality, and are safer than a 4" block.

 

[Jorley]

I have looked at them. So I would have to make the back ones 2" longer, is that what you are saying? And make the new ones just like the old ones(same shape just longer and maybe stronger).

Sorry for all the questions, but I've only done work on engines and trannys and know nothing about suspensions.

 

[mhughes165]

theres no info in the tech library about fabbing them, but they are silly simple (take a peak under your truck at the stockers and you'll know what needs to be done).

shackles will work fine with the front spacers. the shackles will provide better suspension travel, MUCH better ride quality, and are safer than a 4" block.

wicked, most bII's didnt have a block in the back from the factory, i was going from the assumption that he did not either

 

[Jorley]

Mine doesn't have any blocks on the rear. The rear springs sit right on top of the axle. So which would be best, the 2" blocks or 2" extended shackles? I'm hoping the blocks, because that would be the easiest.

 

[mhughes165]

Mine doesn't have any blocks on the rear. The rear springs sit right on top of the axle. So which would be best, the 2" blocks or 2" extended shackles? I'm hoping the blocks, because that would be the easiest.

since u dont ahve factory blocks like i thought, then yes, the 2" spacers and 2" blocks would be perfect

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

ahh crap, your right. i skipped that part and was assuming he had a ranger.

i'd still stay away from blocks though, they increase axle wrap. ive been meaning to remove the factory blocks from my ranger and replace them with shackles because the axle wrap is so dang annoying.

Jorley, its up to you if you want blocks or shackles. shackles will still ride and perform better than blocks and i still suggest them over blocks. you had the right idea on how to fab the shackles. just build them 2" longer than the stock ones. you could even use the joints from the stock shackles to build the new ones.

 

[Jorley]

That's great. Thanks again for the help. I'll post some pics when I get it done so ya'll can see how it turned out.
Long live TRS!

 

[mhughes165]

ahh crap, your right. i skipped that part and was assuming he had a ranger.

i'd still stay away from blocks though, they increase axle wrap. ive been meaning to remove the factory blocks from my ranger and replace them with shackles because the axle wrap is so dang annoying.

Jorley, its up to you if you want blocks or shackles. shackles will still ride and perform better than blocks and i still suggest them over blocks. you had the right idea on how to fab the shackles. just build them 2" longer than the stock ones. you could even use the joints from the stock shackles to build the new ones.

the amount of axle wrap with a 2.9 and a 2" block i fell is not enough to really cause any issues, yes a shackle can be stronger, but for ease of construction id just run the block, if u dont ahve fabrication experince that is

 

[Jorley]

I've only got a 2.8. So I'll start with the blocks and go from there. I don't do hard core off roading so maybe the blocks will be ok. Either why I'll still post some pics when I get it done. Thanks for the input guys!