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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => The Highs (Raising/Lifts) => Topic started by: Mike Phillips on September 03, 2008, 03:49:59 pm

Title: How do you raise the bumpers to match a body lift?
Post by: Mike Phillips on September 03, 2008, 03:49:59 pm: If you install a 3" body lift kit your bumpers will be positioned 3" below the body.

If you want to keep a clean look do you modify how your bumpers are mounted to the frame?

???

California restricts how high you can raise the frame and the body so I'm looking at a combination of both for the new 35" tires.

:)
Title: Re: How do you raise the bumpers to match a body lift?
Post by: Unofficial on September 03, 2008, 03:52:26 pm: I'm not talking from experience, but there's quite a few lifted trucks in Wisconsin. :D I think it looks tacky when people do the lift and have a big gap between the body and bumper. I live across the street from someone who has his bumper fabricated to close the gap, I'll get some info for you.
Title: Re: How do you raise the bumpers to match a body lift?
Post by: Mike Phillips on September 03, 2008, 05:53:39 pm: After a little research the only option appears to be to make the necessary customizations yourself. As such, the plan is this summer to go to my hometown for a class reunion and while I'm there let my best friend and drag boat buddy weld on a 12" H-Beam bumper to the front and rear this will solve the problem and give me a place to mount a vice.

This is my best friends truck... it's street legal in Oregon...

(http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/SwampMonster.jpg)
Title: Re: How do you raise the bumpers to match a body lift?
Post by: VileZambonie on September 03, 2008, 06:18:07 pm: You know Ford's F350 from the factory will fit 35"s so I don't see why a 4" or 6" suspension lift would be a problem.
Title: Re: How do you raise the bumpers to match a body lift?
Post by: Mike Phillips on September 03, 2008, 06:53:37 pm: Quote from: VileZambonie on September 03, 2008, 06:18:07 pm
You know Ford's F350 from the factory will fit 35"s so I don't see why a 4" or 6" suspension lift would be a problem.

These older Chevy fender designs are kind of squared up and that causes a clearance problem towards the corners. I don't remember having as much of a problem with my 1971 3/4 ton 4x4

(http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/BigBlue001.jpg)

Here's a shot of of the clearance with the tires pointed straight ahead... turning the front wheels rams the tires into the lip of the fender.

(http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/Jimmywith35s001.jpg)

(http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/Jimmywith35s002c.jpg)

(http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/Jimmywith35s003c.jpg)

Also, there's going to be a little more weight on the front end as I'm swapping out the small block and installing a big block (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=9119.0).
Title: Re: How do you raise the bumpers to match a body lift?
Post by: bmaier on September 03, 2008, 07:18:11 pm: just get a 6" lift or a 4" lift with slight modification to the front inner fenders. i have a 4" lift and i just trimmed the inside of my fenders and problem solved. lifts aren't that expensive anyways.
Title: Re: How do you raise the bumpers to match a body lift?
Post by: JRConnieK10 on September 03, 2008, 11:07:42 pm: I had the same problem so I changed the front bumper and welded a piece of angle iron to the top of the frame and made the original top hole the new bottom and drilled a new top hole in the angle iron, piece of cake and an easy fix.