Do I need new shocks for a body lift?

[Semp]

Hello everyone. Okay, so before I get some crap for doing a body lift on my ranger, hear me out.
Its my 1998 Ford ranger xlt 2wd.
Its old, but it only has 85k miles on it, which I think is pretty good for a 1998 ford ranger.
I want it to look good, but don't want to put a whole bunch of money into it, and I got this body lift from a friend for pretty damn cheap. Its a performance accessories 3 inch body lift and has everything in the complete package.
I noticed that I had to replace my shocks in the rear since they have never been replaced. This is a 3 inch body lift, and I was wondering if I had to get longer shocks, like 3 inches bigger (go figure) or something. SO, I thought I would jump on hear and ask some people that know more about rangers.
To sum it up, Do I have to get new shocks in the first place? And if so, with the 3 inch lift do I get stock shocks or do I have to get longer ones? And if that is, then from where? Is there anything else I have to get that didn't come with the lift kit?
If you guys have any other advice then go ahead and give me your two cents or sense or whatever the hell you can throw at me.

Thanks guys.

 

[Lone-Ranger]

New shocks?, no. However you may or may not need to do something with the steering shaft, trans. linkage(if the truck is auto), e-brake cable, brake lines under the hood, etc... Ive never dealt with lifting a ranger, let alone a 2wd... Only thing that does is raise the center of gravity and lower fuel mileage. My opinion has always been that if your stock 4x4 ranger wont get you where you need to go, you don't need to be there... And my rangers have penetrated far into jeep territory many a time.

 

[Semp]

New shocks?, no. However you may or may not need to do something with the steering shaft, trans. linkage(if the truck is auto), e-brake cable, brake lines under the hood, etc... Ive never dealt with lifting a ranger, let alone a 2wd... Only thing that does is raise the center of gravity and lower fuel mileage. My opinion has always been that if your stock 4x4 ranger wont get you where you need to go, you don't need to be there... And my rangers have penetrated far into jeep territory many a time.

Well I could care less about gas mileage, its a v6 3.0 with 31 inch tires so its already bad. I just would like to put some 33's under it.
I have the steering extension etc. I didn't know I had to do something with the transmission though.
So I can use the short stock shocks with a 3 inch lift?

 

[Lone-Ranger]

Well I could care less about gas mileage, its a v6 3.0 with 31 inch tires so its already bad. I just would like to put some 33's under it.
I have the steering extension etc. I didn't know I had to do something with the transmission though.
So I can use the short stock shocks with a 3 inch lift?

You may or may not need to do anything with auto trans linkage. Like I said, ive never lifted one, so I don't know. With a 3" lift, perhaps not. Hopefully someone with experience in that area will chime in. As for the shocks... A body lift is exactly that, a body lift. That means you are not altering your suspension to increase overall height. Most likely your body lift is just a bunch of metal or poly pucks and longer body mount bolts. No changes to suspension.

 

[Semp]

You may or may not need to do anything with auto trans linkage. Like I said, ive never lifted one, so I don't know. With a 3" lift, perhaps not. Hopefully someone with experience in that area will chime in. As for the shocks... A body lift is exactly that, a body lift. That means you are not altering your suspension to increase overall height. Most likely your body lift is just a bunch of metal or poly pucks and longer body mount bolts. No changes to suspension.

Okay thank you very much!
Yeah I have my girlfriends dad who was a automotive body man for 10 years and in collision so he knows trucks like the back of his hand.
I just wanted to have some personal knowledge of what I was doing also.

Thank you for your help.

 

[BLOODBANE]

I dont remember messing with any of the transmission linkage when I put the 3"BL on my Explorer. Now on yours you might (standard or auto?). The reason you dont need longer shocks is because you are doing nothing to the suspension. You are just raising the body. The need for longer shocks on a suspension lift is so the shock dont over extend (longer distance from axle mount to frame mount.

On the 3" BL the steering shaft extension is needed to lengthen the distance from steering box to steering wheel (I hope all this makes sense to you). Sometimes you will have to lower the fan shroud as well (fan shroud on my Explorer mounts to the body)

Your BL kit should have everything you would need to complete it (even a drop bracket for the E-Brake cable, and brackets to lift up your bumpers to stock looking location your bumpers).