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Author Topic: How much is too much?  (Read 12437 times)

Offline 425hp87chevy

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How much is too much?
« on: June 05, 2010, 02:30:26 pm »
I've had a few 73-87's with 6" of lift, and I'm thinking of putting a 3" body lift in along with my 6" suspension. I just want to know if this is gonna be hard to drive on the highway. I'm worried about it being top heavy. If anyone has one lifted like this could you let me know how it handles.
thanks!
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Offline bgctrading

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2010, 03:21:45 pm »
Body lift...BLAH! :P
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Offline SMiller

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2010, 03:24:25 pm »
Lots of old Chevy's are done just like that. While I hate body lifts it has nothing to do with it. The 6in. lift makes things bad enough already as far as safety on the high way, the problem with a body lift on top of that is that there will be a lot of play in the bushings, making it even worse to drive safely. If you like the looks and the stance and the truck is just a around town\show truck then go for it but know if you have a blow out or have to swerve on the highway things could go very bad.

I would skip on this one but at least the body lift is cheap enough to put on and take off if you don't like it.
« Last Edit: June 05, 2010, 03:51:15 pm by SMiller »
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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2010, 03:47:36 pm »
Brake lines for the suspension lift yes but you won't notice a difference with the 3" body lift after the tires and suspension lift just go with wide tires that helps out with a little bit of the lift sway IMO.  But once you get used to it its no different than driving a reg truck but blow outs or trying to stop real fast yeah right good luck with them
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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2010, 03:48:37 pm »
6" suspension is as high as I'll go for the road. I never use body lifts for anything and hate them with a passion. If you're cranking on the highway I'd go no bigger than 35"s
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Offline 425hp87chevy

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2010, 03:51:17 pm »
thanks for the advice!, and is there any type of stabilizers i can put on to help out with this?
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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #6 on: June 05, 2010, 03:54:42 pm »
You can use the stock steering stabilizer and ladder bars for the rear if you want them. If your not crawling I would def put the steering stabilizer back on with a drop kit
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Offline Chevalade

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #7 on: June 05, 2010, 05:46:25 pm »
If you have ever seen what happens to a 3" body lift in the event of an accident, you would never put one on your vehicle. My buddy had a light jeep with a 4" susp, and 3" body, a crazy lady tried to cross his lane, and he hit her, the pucks for the body lift looked like this /. The body went forward on the frame almost an inch and a half. And he was only doin about 40 kph when he hit her.
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Offline 425hp87chevy

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #8 on: June 06, 2010, 01:06:04 pm »
yea i smashed an 87 with a 3" body and broke the back two body mount bolts off, and i was planing on running 345/75/16's

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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #9 on: June 06, 2010, 06:44:45 pm »
I think you had bore to worry about than a couple bolts and the way I see if they do smash and bend well its taking some shock away from you
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Offline mountaindrew

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #10 on: June 07, 2010, 07:41:13 am »
Call me crazy but I like body lifts.  Lower center of gravity than a comparable suspension lift and gives you ability to run larger tires.  Much better option, for a cheap lift, than cranking bars and munching front end parts constantly.  Irish brought up a good point about BL taking some of the energy out of a crash.  I hadn't thought of that. 

Now for your question, I had 4" lift and 2" BL on my Suburban with 315s (35s).  I didn't feel any more unsafe or unstable after I added a 2" BL.  That was IFS so sorry if that isn't too helpful.   
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Offline choptop

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #11 on: June 07, 2010, 07:56:37 am »
Quote from: VileZambonie on June 05, 2010, 03:48:37 pm
6" suspension is as high as I'll go for the road. I never use body lifts for anything and hate them with a passion. If you're cranking on the highway I'd go no bigger than 35"s
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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #12 on: June 07, 2010, 08:26:55 am »
I got my truck on the highway with 38s 6" and a 3" now it had blocks in the rear bad ride and now I have all springs and its not a super ride but its better than the blocks.  But if its a dd I would go with 35s but if you have a mud pit out back that if you want to play in it you better have 38s or bigger then go bigger the wider the tires the better it feels imo I have 38x16x16 everyone likes its stance and seams to handle pretty good
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Offline JRConnieK10

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #13 on: June 08, 2010, 12:03:05 pm »
I have a 12" with a 3" body lift. In no way is it a daily driver but if I want to take it out, I drive it anywhere I want. I used to have 44" tires with a 5:38 gear nice for driving around as far as stability you gotta know your not driving a sports car and treat it as such. Now I'm running 38.5" radials really for a truck it rides good, again its not a cadillac but it wasn't built for that either. Its kinda like when people ask me all the time what kind of gas miliage do I get. Well duh! Its not a gas saver either. I guess build it how you want and drive it with the respect of what it is and it will be fine. My 2 cents.
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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: How much is too much?
« Reply #14 on: June 08, 2010, 02:54:05 pm »
lol, I HATE that question. Who really cares, actually my response is usually don't you mean gallons to the mile?  ;D
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