Question about lifting an 87 C-10

[danielM87]

I own an 87 custom deluxe with a 350 bored V-8 with open headers. I have found 2 lift kits for it on the internet (took me forever to find). One is a 3 inch body lift, the other is a 4 inch suspension lift. my truck is 2 wheel drive (pitiful ,yes, i know), but i want to lift it!!! Which, or both, lift should i go with??? i think that having both them on at the same time would be AWESOME! my plans afterward are fitting the biggest tires possible onto it, so that should 100% influence the choice in lifts (or both of them together, if possible). how big of tires do you think i could go?

e-mail me or make a post!!
khsuglykid89@hotmail.com

link 3 inch BODY lift

www.jcwhitney.com/autopar...pId-433927

link 4 inch SUSPENSION lift

www.jcwhitney.com/autopar...pId-437770

[roundedline]

The 4" suspension lift is for a 4x4 (K-series) truck, so it won't work with yours.  The body lift I guess can be used, I have just never done it.

This company has lift kits for 4x2's though.
www.fabtechmotorsports.co...87c10.html

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[danielM87]

Thanks a lot for the info. I dont know if JC Whitney is correct or not, but the page said that it was for C and K model pickups. I have a feeling your going to be right about what you said, im just wondering....take another look and where it says "Model" , it says C/K pickup. Anyhow, i checked out that site u gave me...pretty neat, exactly what ive been looking for, only problem is that i cant buy anything from them online, and they provide no info on a store location. I've officially been searching for 2 months for a lift kit for that truck now. (officially unsuccessful as of now) hehe.

write back!

[roundedline]

Yeah, I noticed they labeled it C\K, but that is incorrect.

This is where you can buy online from Fabtech:
www.fabtechmotorsports.co...talog.html

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[danielM87]

I just called the JC Whitney customer serv. guys and they said its only for 4WDs. You were right
I just ordered that catalog, thanks.

[Dark Horse]

Fabtech 4" Long Arm obviously adresses the front, but what about the rear?

Long arms and triangulated axle?

[roundedline]

To lift the rear you can use the same stuff the 4x4's use.  Lift leaf springs or blocks if you don't get out of hand with them.  Personally I would go with the springs.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[Dark Horse]

With the rear - where should I look to find them?  Do you recommend revolving shackles?

Also - while the 4" LA lift should conceivably clear 34's - what size can fit in the fenderwells?

Edited by: Dark Horse at: 10/1/04 7:13 am

[roundedline]

33x12.50 will fit without trimming, anything larger and you will have to start cutting body panels.  The Long travel from Fabtech is for 33" tires.

You can get springs for the rear at a good 4x4 shop.  Blazers come with the longer springs, but pickups only had them on the HD rear spring setup.  Also a 4x2 has different shackles than a 4x4.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[1976Scottsdale]

JCWhitney carries a 3" body lift for your tuck for around 100.00, and a 2 inch suspension lift for 154.99.  I was going to do both to my 76 Scottsdale C10, but instead, I bought a 79 k10 silverado from a neighbor for 100.00 and swapped bodies.  Now I have a 77.5 K10 Scottsdale...lol.  What gears are you running?  3.07, 3.73, 4.11?  If you are under 4.10, running 33's is about it for you, your rearend will have a tough time turning anything bigger.

[danielM87]

How on earth would i go about finding out what gears i'm running? The VIN? Original everything and i dont see how anyone could know what gears they run unless theyve put new ones on....?

87' C-10

[roundedline]

I don't have the book to decode them, but there are marking on the axle that designate the gearing that is "supposed" to be in there.  This is assuming that a truck 20 years old is still completely stock.  You also can pull the diff cover and look at the ring gear.  It is marked on there.  Perfect opportunity to change that old Diff fluid.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[danielM87]

I found this 2 inch suspension lift that indeed fits 2WD trucks  -  www.jcwhitney.com/autopar...pId-444540

That, along with a 3 inch body lift will do just fine clearing 35s, or will it?

The fabtech people are hard to order from, you must buy their catalog, wait for shipment, order from the magazine, and so on , when you could just do easy transactions online.