<DIV>anyone on here put a body lift on a duramax?

I posted about it on ls1tech and a guy replied about having to lengthen the intercooler piping.

So has anyone done it or do you guys really recommend not to body lift one of those.

Are there any other cheaper lifts &gt;600 that I could do instead of a body lift? Like spindle lifts, I don't really know much about those.

Just looking to clear some 315 BGF m/t KM's on it. I have 305's on my 8.1 and they just don't do it for me. Getting the Dmax this summer when my lease is up.

Thanks</DIV>

Dont do a body lift they suck.

Ripper, you've been reading too many of PCs posts! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif Not a good idea to make a blanket statement like that. Better would have been: "I have never seen a body lift kit that was worth a damn". That one can't be argued cuz it's your (actually mine in this case) opinion. Now then that having been said, I have seen several homemade body lifts that were really good. If all you are looking for is tire clearance, not worried about extra suspension travel, a body lift can be a good thing. They are cheaper, normally easier to do, don't raise the CG as much as a suspension lift, and don't change driveline angles. No, I've never done one or seen one on one of these trucks.

I had a body lift and a suspension lift on a Stepside Chevy years ago. Didnt have a problem with the body lift.

A body lift on the Duramax will be a major problem. (Maybe even an 8.1 with the Allison) Because the transmission cooler lines need to be replaced. As far as I know the Bodylifts are not for the Duramax equipped trucks for that reason.


If you replace the torsion bar adjusting cams with the green ones. You can get 2 inches, including an add-a-leaf and front end alignment for less then a body lift will cost. The bodylift will take you and a helper 6-8 hours (If you can even get one for the Duramax) And it will most likely be in the $225-$275 range. The Torsion bar keys, rear add-a-leaf and front end alignment will take 4-6 hours (Depending how far you are from an alignment shop) can be done without help, and should be under $150. The alignment is a must, but you can have that done when more convinent to you. meaning a couple hundred miles at the most.Edited by: hdmax

What do these "green keys" do to the front end geometry? Will an alignment put everything back into specs?

If you think you need to raise the truck, just do a suspension lift. It should handle and perform better than a body lift. Body lifts give very few benefits. If its gonna be another lease vehicle, you may not want to put the money into it.

I can't do a suspension lift because I use the truck to plow snow, the arms on the plow wouldn't reach the ground. I can't do it even if I wanted. I was thinking about doing an air bag set up to lift the truck but I don't know anything about those, anyone have an opinion on that? That would be easy, lift it for summer, lower for winter.

If you think you need to raise the truck, just do a suspension lift. It should handle and perform better than a body lift. Body lifts give very few benefits. If its gonna be another lease vehicle, you may not want to put the money into it.







Body lifts don't alter suspension. That can be a good thing. I'm not some huge fan of body lifts but there are few problems with them that I know of. I installed two of them myself.

I have experience with body lift on a duramax.. I have one, and I got the idea from anothe one I saw.. There are no problems with transmission lines or much of anything else.. The only problem is the fan shroud.. Use a few 3'' pipe nipples and space it apart in the middle of the shroud.. Loosen all turbo tubes and then retighten when finished.. Not that difficult.. Trust me, I know.. I had the suspension lift taken off to regain the warranty.. Do it right and it will look nice.. I even made new brackets for my stepbars so they fit like normal.. Cut a piece of steele the length of your hitch and three inches wide (paint it black) and fill the gap between your hitch and bumper.. Throw a set of h2 rims and 315's on, and you have a perfect combination.. Warranty is retained.. Towing will be like stock.. What's better than that? I know.. The gap in the bed looks bad.. Install gap guards or just cut a piece of square tubing to use between the bed and frame.. That's what the guy I know has.. Paint it black, and you can't tell.. If you take the time to do it right, it has more positives than negatives.. You won't experience any problems with engine temperature either.. It stayed the same.. I do tow a 10,000 plus trailer at times as well....

Morse,

I looked under the front and it looked like the radiator cooling lines would be too short. Did you have to do something there? It looked like the body lift would raise the hoses into the fan.

Some pictures would be cool. Especially of the places where you made the mods to make it work.

Thanks man!

Edited by: hoot

Morse,

I looked under the front and it looked like the radiator cooling lines would be too short. Did you have to do something there? It looked like the body lift would raise the hoses into the fan.

Some pictures would be cool. Especially of the places where you made the mods to make it work.

Thanks man!




Ditto this and thanks a lot for the reply

I didn't have to replace anything.. I'll try to get some pics for you guys to look at.. I recommend the h2 wheels and tires.. For the money, you can't go wrong.. I bought a set of chromed wheels and tires (all new) from Devoe hummer in Bonita Springs FL for $1361.. Dew Cadillac Hummer in Tampa FL has new grey h2 wheels with tires for 750 per set.. I'm sure other hummer dealers could do similar deals.. The 315's on the h2 wheels fit better than 305's on 10inch rims and look much better.. The body lift is a large job, and you have to go through the aggrevation of not having specific directions.. The other truck I spoke of took a full day with two guys working constantly.. Mine took quite a bit longer..

Morse, Lets see some pics. I've got one on my 8.1 and my buddy would die to have his truck the height of mine. And if it is only the fan shroud that needed adjustment, then it was the same mods I needed to make.


http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/374000-374999/374975_20.jpg

Morse I am assuming since you said you have to make the spacers for the fan you didn't just buy a PA body lift for a gas HD and install that, but rather made it yourself? I have made ones for several gas trucks and it was no problem at all, and we did just like you and spaced the shroud apart with some long bolts and 3 inch pieces of pipe. With a couple people it isn't that hard to do the whole thing in a day if you have all your parts rounded up beforehand. On my brothers truck we cut a piece of diamond plate and welded it to the hitch to fill the space and it looks great.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/13A_P6120012.jpg


On edit: Sorry it looks so dark but I think you can see what I mean. Looked a lot lighter on my computer... Edited by: _nar_

would you be interested in selling the kit to lift the fan shroud?

Here are some pics.. They aren't the best.. Here's the truck and the fan shroud spacing in the middle of the fan shroud.. All lines are kept in stock location.. I'll try and get some good pics of the truck.. These don't do it justice..


C:\My documents\truck6.jpg


C:\My documents\fanshroud1.jpg


C:\My documents\fanshroud2.jpg


C:\My documents\fanshroud3.jpg


C:\My documents\truck 5.jpg


C:\My documents\truck6.jpg

Morse, email me the pics and I will host them for you.


Justindf@thebestgen.com


thanks

<font color="blue">I want to put a body lift in too, but dont, know how to find one to make fit, which will also raise the front and back bumpers. I like what Morse had to say. Would like to add green keys and a 1" block in rear, some nerf bars, lighted visor, stainless bug shield, crome rims, 33"x12.5"s. Should look nice? Will eventually get the EDGE/ATTITUDE also!!! I will try to post some pics once completed.


P.S. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to find all these mods. Also would like to see some pics. if some one has same setup already THANKS http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Thumbs Up.gif</font>

For the lift blocks themselves, get pipe of the correct diameter. Cut it 1/2 inch shorter than the desired lift. Then drill the proper size holes in 1/4 inch plate and weld nuts to one side. Weld the plates on the ends of the pipe with the nuts on the inside. You then use a short bolt from each end to tighten things up. Works much better, is much stronger, than using plastic blocks with huge holes and one long skinny bolt!

Will H2 OEM wheels and tires mount right up on my stock Duramax 2500 4X4 and not rub anywhere? I like those wheels and the price is right. Not really interested in lifting anything or messing with the suspension. I just don't like the skinny stuff that comes on the truck.





Gar