wanna lift an 83 2wd c10

[lkc2cool1987]

      Hey I am new to the forum but not to lifts and the whole working on my own crap. I would love to have a 4x4 but just cant afford it. I want to make this old 2wd 1983 chevy c10 of mine into a beach/dune runner. I am from El Paso where there aint no mud and the rocks cant be climbed in a truck farther then about 300 feet anyhow so 2wd is fine for me. I just want about 7 inches 3 inches body but the rest is killing me. Fabtech quit building their lift kits for these trucks but they do build 4" lift spindles for the 1988-98 would that spindle fit on my rig or no. I am trying to see before I buy. I dont want to be that @$%^ that buys it to try it and then has a spare set for the rest of his life and never does nothing with it. Any help would be nice. Or just some lift spindles made for this truck would be totally epic.

[Swims350]

Well the back would be easy, add a leafs, blocks, springs, shackle flip. Maybe even find some 4x4 spring hangers since they are taller then 2wd ones and lift the back that way. Maybe 3/4 springs in front not sure if they'd work, or spacers.

[Da67goatman]

I have done some searching on this topic and lifting the rear is the same as a 4x4, so I'll address the front end.  There are 3in lift springs available that swap in place of stock coils, and "supposedly" lift spindles from next gen trucks will work on our trucks with the correct parts.  Using the lift spindle and ball joints from 88+ with 67-72 3/4 ton lower control arms supposedly mount up correctly.  I have not verified any of this info, It's just what I have found on other forums, so use at own risk.  The only snag I see with this is what brakes to use.  Since you want to make a dune runner, I have seen a fiberglass fender and hood kit that actually increase wheel clearance and give the look of a trophy truck, I don't know if you'd be interested.

[lkc2cool1987]

Yeah a set of fenders like that would be the best. Budget is not unlimited but it is pretty open and hey thanks goatman you are epic I think that I will go with the lift spindles and springs rather then the body since they have them. They are about right the rear will come up with 3" blocks and a shackle flip to give it that dune runner look (you know high front and low tail). Later an I beam conversion and a four link in the rear. I have had the truck forever and another 2 years or so and it will be an all out dune runner. But hey thanks for the advice also could you send me a link for the people that sell the lift springs or a phone# would be cool I am old school like that you know.

[Da67goatman]

Link for the 2in lift coils

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/73-87-Chevy-GMC-C10-Pickup-2in-Lift-Coils-/280471408498?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item414d660f72

Link for 3in lift coils:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/63-91-Chevy-GM-C20-C30-3in-SM-Block-3-77in-Lift-Coils-/260560427267?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3caa9c9903

Link for 3in Coils spacers:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1963-1987-CHEVY-GMC-C10-C20-C30-3-Front-Coil-Lift-Kit-/120624161164?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c15c2a18c

Link for c10 Ball joint Spacers:

http://www.airbagit.com/product-p/x2-bj-gm7387.htm

Link for Spindles:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260606807174&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Thought you might be interested Link for steering stabilizer:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250700862146&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

[three8six]

Why not convert the front to a straight axle? if you want that much lift, I'd think it'd be better alignments etc...Plus you could always go bigger.

[lkc2cool1987]

I have owned one straight axle truck it was a 2 ton 68 chevy it was like herding a cat down the road you was just lucky to keep it out of the trees. Besides that is only half a step from a 4x4. AKA way to much work for a $1200 truck. But hey goatman good stuff man you have been a saving grace. This thing was about to get made into a lowrider (jokes) till I saw this stuff you sent me. But now I can have a truck that get driven daily, look cool, and have fun in the sand.

[lkc2cool1987]

No but seriously a $3700 front I beam kit was just a little out of budget. Giant motorsports offers one but no way in heck it is worth that.


Just one question what do you use the balljoint spacers for? Just wondering I have only lifted old 4x4s and dont get the whole ball joint spacer thing. Just tell me if I am wrong. The ball joint spacer will go on the top so that the upper control arm will have more space between the control arm and the top coil spring buckets also keeping the upper balljoint from being mangled buy being pushed down to such an extreme angle. right???

[Da67goatman]

When you put lift coils in the front it pushes the lower control arm down further which pulls the upper control arm down onto the bump stop.  by installing the spacer, it pushes the upper control arm up off the bump stop allowing a much nicer ride and more down travel.  As far as the angle goes, I don't see how that will change at all because the ball joint will still be in the exact same location, just with spacer between it and the upper arm.

[VileZambonie]

I have owned one straight axle truck it was a 2 ton 68 chevy it was like herding a cat down the road you was just lucky to keep it out of the trees

Don't expect much better ride and control over a straight axle when you add that much lift to a 2wd.

I never understood why people do this though when you can find a 4wd parts truck so cheap and just do a body swap.

[lkc2cool1987]

okay thanks goatman muc to my delight you have been the go to guy so far on this issue. TTYL