Author Topic: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton  (Read 26104 times)

Offline Big Blue 87

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6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« on: December 30, 2010, 07:38:50 PM »
hey guys im new on this site but i got question for yall.
ive got a 87 chevy 1/2 ton with a 4 inch suspension lift..rough country im sure. its got all the stuff done right on it...raised steerin arm..transfer case drop kit..brake line relocation... lifted springs in front..and  4 inch block rear..etc.

I'm lookin to bump up to a total lift of 6 inches. im thinkin bout gettin the 6 inch front springs and put an add a leaf with the rear block..and gointo extend brakes in front..the rear has enough slack in the lines...gettin new front shocks to.

my question is will my rear driveshaft still be fine with the 6 inch lift...and front driveshaft as well. and also will the raised steerin arm with the 4 inch RC kit be fine with the 6 inch kit.

any info much appreciated thanks!
Blue 1987 Chevy 1/2 ton truck 4x4..fuel injected 350..4 inch Rough Country lift..36x12.50x15 Super Swamper TSL/SX tires

Offline beastie_3

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2010, 11:33:09 PM »
is it long bed or short bed? I think you might be pushing the limits on the driveshaft for the 6". The front shaft, you can get a spacer from superlift and skyjacker.

I would spend a few more bucks and get full leafs in the back.

steering arm will be ok.

Offline Big Blue 87

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2010, 09:24:37 AM »
its a short bed. i would go with the full springs but i dnt have the extra bucks lol
Blue 1987 Chevy 1/2 ton truck 4x4..fuel injected 350..4 inch Rough Country lift..36x12.50x15 Super Swamper TSL/SX tires

Offline Big Blue 87

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2010, 06:12:40 PM »
any other info much appreciated
Blue 1987 Chevy 1/2 ton truck 4x4..fuel injected 350..4 inch Rough Country lift..36x12.50x15 Super Swamper TSL/SX tires

Offline fitz

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #4 on: January 01, 2011, 01:38:14 PM »
I would hold off till you have the money for new 6" rear springs. You have to figure that after 23 years your rear spring are worn.

Offline Big Blue 87

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #5 on: January 01, 2011, 04:05:39 PM »
i agree the springs are of course goin to have a degree of wear to them being aged. But im doin jus fine now with 4 inch blocks and with a trailer on the truck the springs hold up jus fine the truck barely sits any lower with the trailer..i dnt do any serious offroadin jus hit the occasional mud hole. i jus mysellf dnt see that i need the full set springs as much as the extra cost is.
Blue 1987 Chevy 1/2 ton truck 4x4..fuel injected 350..4 inch Rough Country lift..36x12.50x15 Super Swamper TSL/SX tires

Offline Big Blue 87

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #6 on: January 01, 2011, 04:45:49 PM »
the main thing im wantin info on is about my steering and driveshafts with the 6 inch kit
Blue 1987 Chevy 1/2 ton truck 4x4..fuel injected 350..4 inch Rough Country lift..36x12.50x15 Super Swamper TSL/SX tires

Online VileZambonie

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2011, 07:35:36 PM »
Why do you want to go with a 6" lift? What size tire are you running? Then best advice I can give is go with the 6" spring and set your pinion angle. Once you're done you may have enough travel in the slip yoke but you'll have to measure. For the front you'll need the correct steering arm, Z-link and good stabilizers.
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Offline Big Blue 87

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2011, 07:48:58 PM »
i want to go to bigger tires is y lol. im runnin a 4 inch lift now with 36" swampers but im goin to 38" swampers. set the pinion angle u say..how do i do that..ive heard of it before. and whats the z-link ? do u mean another type of draglink?
Blue 1987 Chevy 1/2 ton truck 4x4..fuel injected 350..4 inch Rough Country lift..36x12.50x15 Super Swamper TSL/SX tires

Offline Psycho71

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2011, 08:33:53 PM »
I'm gettin' ready to do a lift on my burb, and mine will be getting new springs in the rear for a couple of reasons.
* My old springs are pretty tired now.
* Will avoid the dreaded spring wrap that I read is so common when running blocks in the rear.
* Can then shackle flip to attain any added lift to level the rear out, if needed (8,600lb burb, and will be getting some added running and storage gear).


I have tossed around about every scenario I could come up with on lifting this thing. And even if I had good springs presently, I would/will go with new ones front and rear for the above reasons. Physics says the farther you separate the axle tube from the spring itself (blocks), the more leverage it has to wrap the spring under acceleration and deceleration. Sure, lots of people out there running ridiculously large blocks, but that doesn't always make it the best way to do it. Just the cheapest and easiest. And I'm all about having things done right, and done in a manner that will least likely cause problems down the road (or trail).

I am far from a 4wd guru, still learning this stuff myself. But a fair amount of research and learning from more experienced people than me has shown me that there are better ways than just throwing blocks in something. Food for thought. 

As for the pinion angle, there are angled shims you can buy to reset the pinion angle. But again, with blocks too, that, to me, is a scary proposition.

Someone else will chime in here soon and let us know how far off I am in my thinking on this.
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Offline Big Blue 87

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2011, 09:14:29 PM »
your thoughts are much appreciated psycho! thanks! monday im gonna start pricin 6 inch kits with rear springs and the kit with blocks n add a leafs..see what the price difference is thru the guy im orderin from.
Blue 1987 Chevy 1/2 ton truck 4x4..fuel injected 350..4 inch Rough Country lift..36x12.50x15 Super Swamper TSL/SX tires

Offline beastie_3

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2011, 08:12:55 PM »
z link is just the drag link, but its shaped similar to a z to offset the ends.

A quick google search will find you many articles about pinion angles. Basically, you want the angles of the transfer case output and the pinion to be within 1* or so of each other. Get a cheap angle finder will help you out.

Offline Big Blue 87

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #12 on: January 04, 2011, 06:44:41 PM »
well i ordered my 6 inch lift kit today from rough country. the guys there said i shouldnt have to do any modifications to my driveline. i hope not but i'll jus wait and see.
Blue 1987 Chevy 1/2 ton truck 4x4..fuel injected 350..4 inch Rough Country lift..36x12.50x15 Super Swamper TSL/SX tires

Offline beastie_3

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #13 on: January 04, 2011, 08:32:01 PM »
After you get the kit installed, let your axle hang and see how much you have left in the slip joint of the driveshaft.

Offline Big Blue 87

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Re: 6 inch rough country lift on 87 chevy 1/2 ton
« Reply #14 on: January 04, 2011, 10:31:47 PM »
i'll do that beastie. actually i may go and undo my driveshaft before i put the 6 in and see how much is stickin in the transfer case now...itll be a couple days before i do it as im still gettinover bein sick last couple days
Blue 1987 Chevy 1/2 ton truck 4x4..fuel injected 350..4 inch Rough Country lift..36x12.50x15 Super Swamper TSL/SX tires