fastest, cheapest way to run 37s
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4" lift and fender trim. The fronts trim out fine. for the rear, you will need bumpstops or you can try cutting the wheel wells. I think you will find this gets a little funky as the cutting then messes with the rear doors. 4.56-4.88 will work fine.
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SOA and be done with it.
x2
you can eliminate the cut and turn on the front with the right drive shaft.
use the u-bolt plates on top of the front axle as perches.
soa'd mine and didnt cut and turn but did have to get my front driveshaft lengthened.
If you just want to sawzall the body, couldnt you spin the rear leafs around to give you a couple more inches of wheelbase to help for clearance at the rear door?
If you just want to sawzall the body, couldnt you spin the rear leafs around to give you a couple more inches of wheelbase to help for clearance at the rear door?
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wow I didn't expect this kind of response.....I am already planning on trimming part of the rear quarters and fender wells due to rust.
I was worried more about how much lift would be needed. The truck I am wanting to run 37s on has flat spring on it now. So will I be looking at getting some good stock springs and doing SOA? How about SOA with an AAL, would this be over kill?
brokenparts.....do you notice any adverse effects of turning the rear leafs to get more wheel base? How does that affect the driveshaft?
If I understand it correctly the SOA is actually best with some used springs?
keep the ideas coming.....I am wanting to build this truck into a trail rig but as a college student my cash flow isn't at the level that I can go out and buy a OME lift and then afford 4 37s and 4 wheels to go with them.
lunyou
I was worried more about how much lift would be needed. The truck I am wanting to run 37s on has flat spring on it now. So will I be looking at getting some good stock springs and doing SOA? How about SOA with an AAL, would this be over kill?
brokenparts.....do you notice any adverse effects of turning the rear leafs to get more wheel base? How does that affect the driveshaft?
If I understand it correctly the SOA is actually best with some used springs?
keep the ideas coming.....I am wanting to build this truck into a trail rig but as a college student my cash flow isn't at the level that I can go out and buy a OME lift and then afford 4 37s and 4 wheels to go with them.
lunyou
I was at a cruiser shop a week ago. Guy had his 60 in. He was running 37 tires with a sprung under set up. No cutting. 3 or 4" lift, shackle reversal, and 1" body lift I believe. Fit really nice, not stuffed at all. Truck looked great. Had a vortec, arb;s f and r. Internal cage. Maybe a way to go. Your gonna get more travel SOA though. I keep hearing diff opinions on sua vs soa. Oh yeah 4:88's to. Guy travels everywhere in it. Some say the road manners are sketchy soa? Anyway, just thought I would mention it. Have fun with either way!
You could add some leaves to your front and rear spring packs out of another stock cruiser to get a cheap 3" -ish lift
I added four leaves to my sagging rear and 2 leaves to the front (the largest of each) and got appx. 3" taller and heavy enough springs packs to load down with 4 people, lots of gear, cast iron cookware, a canoe, etc. With shackle reversal it might sit even taller???
If your rear leaves are really bad, some of mine were broken, you may need to buy 2 decent sets to avoid a still saggy rear end.
If you don't plan on loading down your front end with a bumper, winch, highlift, etc.... Maybe only 1 spring in front. Mine feels perfect, but it's heavier than stock. You may want to extend your sway bar too, if you plan to drive on highways, that is.
I also added some rancho shocks my friend had sitting around that fit, longer u bolts from a chevy drop kit for trucks, and suggest new bushings, etc.
It's not perfect, and mine squeaks a bit cause i made some mistakes and cut some corners, but I get 4 feet of articulation on the ramp at 4 wheel parts with my front sway bar attached.
Not bad for $60.
It's old school, and not pretty, but it works.
I added four leaves to my sagging rear and 2 leaves to the front (the largest of each) and got appx. 3" taller and heavy enough springs packs to load down with 4 people, lots of gear, cast iron cookware, a canoe, etc. With shackle reversal it might sit even taller???
If your rear leaves are really bad, some of mine were broken, you may need to buy 2 decent sets to avoid a still saggy rear end.
If you don't plan on loading down your front end with a bumper, winch, highlift, etc.... Maybe only 1 spring in front. Mine feels perfect, but it's heavier than stock. You may want to extend your sway bar too, if you plan to drive on highways, that is.
I also added some rancho shocks my friend had sitting around that fit, longer u bolts from a chevy drop kit for trucks, and suggest new bushings, etc.
It's not perfect, and mine squeaks a bit cause i made some mistakes and cut some corners, but I get 4 feet of articulation on the ramp at 4 wheel parts with my front sway bar attached.
Not bad for $60.
It's old school, and not pretty, but it works.
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Dazza, do you have any pictures of you lifted truck? EDIT: Do you have any pictures of your spring packs??
How good does the used cruiser leafs need to be to help out a set of flat springs?
I woiuld love to SOA it since it looks great and most of the things needed to SOA are already on the truck but I am not a welder. My FIL welds really well and my dad and I could do alot of the work and let him do the welding one weekend but it would have to be a one day job unless we drove two rigs home, just in case.
I guess it is time to start reading up more on the SOA if the adding leaves thing does pan out.
lunyou
How good does the used cruiser leafs need to be to help out a set of flat springs?
I woiuld love to SOA it since it looks great and most of the things needed to SOA are already on the truck but I am not a welder. My FIL welds really well and my dad and I could do alot of the work and let him do the welding one weekend but it would have to be a one day job unless we drove two rigs home, just in case.
I guess it is time to start reading up more on the SOA if the adding leaves thing does pan out.
lunyou
That's one sick truck, damn!
here are some pics, I am sure the experts on here will be able to pic apart everything I did wrong! I have a feeling that with this and soa you'd be tall enough to not rub with 37's and stick to a budget
edit: my packs were completely shot, and it worked out o.k. I think if I had gotten another set of good springs it would have turned out even better. ilovetoski and I had a chance to drive each others rigs yesterday, his has the man a fre lift and sits taller in the rear. I felt like mine rode well compared to his, and had no bad handling characteristics. He seemed happy with the way mine felt, it tracks straight, not too bouncy, etc.
my spare is in the way of seeing the back springs very well, but I hope this helps. Some of the mistakes I made were:
not grinding off all the rivets that are in between my springs. squeaky...
also didn't remove some of the clamps I should have.
not replacing bushings, etc.
not using 2 sets of good springs for rear, mine's not as tall as i think it could be cause my original springs were so shot.
Still need to extend sway bar for best handling, but I will remove it off road for sure.
aside form that, I think it is a good way to go if you are on a tight budget, as I am. Give yourself more than a day and a good helper and it should turn out better than mine.
here are some pics, I am sure the experts on here will be able to pic apart everything I did wrong! I have a feeling that with this and soa you'd be tall enough to not rub with 37's and stick to a budget
edit: my packs were completely shot, and it worked out o.k. I think if I had gotten another set of good springs it would have turned out even better. ilovetoski and I had a chance to drive each others rigs yesterday, his has the man a fre lift and sits taller in the rear. I felt like mine rode well compared to his, and had no bad handling characteristics. He seemed happy with the way mine felt, it tracks straight, not too bouncy, etc.
my spare is in the way of seeing the back springs very well, but I hope this helps. Some of the mistakes I made were:
not grinding off all the rivets that are in between my springs. squeaky...
also didn't remove some of the clamps I should have.
not replacing bushings, etc.
not using 2 sets of good springs for rear, mine's not as tall as i think it could be cause my original springs were so shot.
Still need to extend sway bar for best handling, but I will remove it off road for sure.
aside form that, I think it is a good way to go if you are on a tight budget, as I am. Give yourself more than a day and a good helper and it should turn out better than mine.
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not sure yet... driveline needs to be lengthened, also need to figure something out for the emergency brake now too.
brokenparts, are you not driving your rig right now till you get your driveshaft lengthened?
My cruiser has re-arched springs, with AAL, 1" body lift, and longer shackles, and soa.
To give you an idea of lift you would get from doing this.
My cruiser has re-arched springs, with AAL, 1" body lift, and longer shackles, and soa.
To give you an idea of lift you would get from doing this.
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na, needs a ton of things still. Mostly held up because I'm waiting for 4.1 gears from advanced adaptors for my marlin toy box. did manage to bolt up my 39.5s on it though. 
so I dont hijack this thread, you can see the updated pics on my thread "SOA and TH350 update".
so I dont hijack this thread, you can see the updated pics on my thread "SOA and TH350 update".