[smess]

I would like to lift my 06 LBZ 2500 SB HD with the green key method. Once I have done that I would like to put on some 18" wheels and tires and would like to know what the pros and cons are of the 8 vs 10 wide 18's and what tire are available in 18's and what the largest size tire i can use is without rubbing.

Also where would you purchase the green key for the tortion lifting?

Thank you!!

 

[RichLockyer]

Green keys are a dealer item.... anywhere from $17 to $25 each, or you can get them from www.gmdieseltech.com for $55. They are stock half-ton keys. Stock 2500HD keys are purple.

Green keys are NOT the proper way to lift your truck. If you have a 4wd, they will not only pinch your ball joints and tie rods, but will also put your CV joints at an extreme angle. For a street-queen that is not used offroad, they're "okay" (not good, just okay). For any kind of halfway serious offroad use, you'll be replacing CV joints all the time.
Putting bigger tires on will further increase the stress on your ball joints and tie rods.

To top it off, your ride will suck.

Just pony up the cash and buy a "proper" 6" suspension lift.

You should be able to get 1-2" of lift by cranking your stock keys. Any more than that and you're asking for the above problems.
I'm running 285/75-16 on 16x8 wheels with just a little trimming on the driver's inner fender well and the bars cranked to level the truck... all four fender lips are at 41".

Biggest thing to watch on aftermarket wheels is backspacing. For an 8" wheel, you need AT LEAST 4.5" of backspacing or you'll have serious clearance problems with 285's or anything larger. Stock wheels are 6.5" with 5" backspacing.
I'm pretty sure that any 10" wheel is going to need more than a TR crank or green keys.

 

[smess]

is there anything I can do that will lift the front end to accomodate a say 33 inch tire but not lifting 4-6 inches. I have had my fair share of big trucks and the ladder to get in is getting tiresome.

price is not an issue. I figured the 18" wheeel route would give the truck much better looks.

 

[RichLockyer]

The 285/75-16 is pretty close to a 33.... by the book it's a 32.8, but I have my programmer set to 33 and the speedo is still a touch slow at 70.
That's what I'm doing with just a crank on the stock keys. Like I said, my fender lips are all at 41" (with the 285's), so if you measure where your rear fender lips are now, you can get the front to that point with the stock keys and get 33's under there on 8" wheels with minor trimming.

Here's how mine looks:
On AR Baja 16x8's:
http://personal.linkline.com/rlockyer/chevy/DSC00352.JPG
http://personal.linkline.com/rlockyer/chevy/DSC00351.JPG
http://personal.linkline.com/rlockyer/chevy/rim1.jpg

On stock alloys:
http://personal.linkline.com/rlockyer/chevy/S_DSC00293.JPG
http://personal.linkline.com/rlockyer/chevy/S_DSC00294.JPG
http://personal.linkline.com/rlockyer/chevy/S_DSC00295.JPG

And here's a thread on another forum with some photos of various trucks.
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189781

On a 33, I really don't care for the look of 18" wheels. Once you get to 35" I think they're okay, but I like a little more sidewall, especially on an offroad tire.
To me, big wheels and thin sidewalls are a little too "blingy"... and with 33's, you would only have a little over 7" of sidewall.. about an inch less than I have. More risk of pinch flats off road, BUT it does provide more stable handling.
But that's a personal opinion and if you like thinner rubber, more power to ya'.

 

[smess]

I hear you about the sidewall and the bling thing. What about going to 10 width, I am trying to get a beefier look or will you then run in to more rubbing problems? These trucks seem like they like a tall thin tire.

Currently I am running a 878 weld wheel (cheyene) with 265/75/16's and the passengar side rubs on the plastic only in reverse. I could not imagine how bad a 285 would be. The wheels are 8 wide.

thanks for any more information

 

[RichLockyer]

If you are running a 4" or 4.25" backspacing on a 16x8, you will rub all over the place... 285's wouldn't work.
My AR's are 4.5" backspacing 16x8's and after trimming the inner front liner on the driver's side, I only get a little rubbing at the back of the driver's side when I crank the wheels hard to the left.

 

[sledog]

you can get a 325/60/18 under your truck without goin to a full fletched 4 or 6" suspension lift. Do a search and you will find a truck with 325's on with the torsions turned up a few turns.
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49130&highlight=325%2F60R18

http://dieselplace.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5656&postcount=8