Hi everyone, I have been looking on here awhile and decided it was time for me to ask a question. I was wondering if there is a way to cheaply and fairly easily give my truck more lift. I have a 1998 3/4 ton extended cab longbox with a 5 speed tranny. Any help in this matter would be greatly apreciated.

If yours is torsion bar front suspension, just put 2" blocks in the rear with new U-bolts and crank up the torsion bars to match.

NAW I would stay away from any blocks in the rear. It gives the axle leverage over the springs. Go get a set of add-a-leafs and install them in the rear and then adjust the front torsion bars. This only works if you have a 4wd cause 2wd still uses springs. Over all you will see about 2.5 inches. might be a good time to look at new shocks too. stock replacements will still work with this lift too. And I also recommend a front end alignment after all this work. should be able to get everthing done for under a 100.00 plus shocks if you do the work. Edited by: bowtie

how much lift do you reckon I need to clear 35/12s? Fender trim?

How do you adjust the front torsion bars? and are add a leafs just overload springs and where can i find them. Thanks for all the help

add a leafs can be purchased online, try summitracing.com


underneath your truck, you will see two bars that run from your front a-arms back to a crossmember. on that crossmember there will be a bolt on each torsion bar that you can thread in or out to increase or decrease the amount of lift. dont go too much or you run the risk of breaking your torsion bars.


how big of tires are you trying to fit?


tdg: your gonna need a 4" or 6" suspension lift to fit 35's. (cha-ching, cha-ching)Edited by: steiner43511

At the aft end of the torsion bars you should find a bolt that allows you to adjust the tension on the bars and therefore rasie the trucks front end. add a lift are not over loads but they are just a short leaf spring that goes under the stack at the rear of the truck. The last add a leaf I bought was about 50-75 bucks i think. At most auto parts stores or a 4WD shop.

TDG


And don't forget to put gears on your list with that tall of a tire

your right about that bowtie, 33's are the tallest tire recommended for 3.73 gears Edited by: steiner43511

Is there any adverse effect of doing this to my truck? and after i do these mods do i need a wheel alignment as i just had one last month, i assume i would though after tinkering with the front ened.


thanks for all your guy's help and sorry to keep bothering you.

I would have another alignment just to be sure, Hate to wear out a set of tires to save 40 bucks you. Now if the tire are leaving soon and you don't care bout keeping the old set you can drive on them till the new tires get mounted. Will mostly likely wear on the inside edge. after several hundred more miles.

anytime the torsion bars are adjusted i would recommend an alignment

Be careful cranking-up torsion bars too much, I've gone a little too high with my last truck and ended up wearing out ball joints pretty quickly, anyone else had that problem?


TDG-a friend with a 95 Z-71 cleared 35's with 4 inches, not sure if he had to trim anything. Gearing was still ok, ran good and tranny didn't seem to be hurting any(it was a 350 auto). Would have ran alot better with the gears though.


Alignments are a good thing.

Seems like when I have the torsion bars cranked up the caster camber gets beyond the adjustment range.

My ideal lift is a solid axle Dana 60F swap up front and longer leafsprings in the back.

This is a rear shackel flip I did to ride a lincon welder in the back w/o sagging the springs.
It gave me 8" of lift.
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/D5E_shackleflip.jpgEdited by: quantum mechanic