Newbie question on lifts....

[cacruzin]

I've read a lot of posts on lifts up to 6 inches and was intrigued by the rig in Japan that has a 12 inch lift.. any domestic 80's with 8 to 10 inch lift? If so, any pictures and write ups? pro's, con's and costs? Getting ready to lift my stock rig and want to look at all options

 

[cruiserdan]

The pro would be you will be taller than anbody else. The cons are it won't drive worth a damn and you will tip over if you look at it funny.


The perfect poser lift.

 

[cacruzin]

Interesting reply... If I read your it correctly, there's no trail value on 80's with 6+ inch lifts... mmmm

 

[Fochdog]

I believe Action Jackson has what would qualify as a 10" lift on his 80. 6" Slee springs + 1" Coil Spacers + 3" Body Lift = 10".

With all due respect to Cruiser Dan Jackson's Cruiser is no poser.


http://www.actionjackson.com/cruiser/mods/

 

[Curran]

A locked 80 series w/ 33s and 2-3 inches of lift will get you further than most would imagine. Add a few more inches of lift and 35-36 tires and you will have a true trail monster. But I agree with Dan. Anything more than 6 (to 7) inches of lift and you really risk turning your truck into a poser queen. Action Jackson has done it successfully, but it took a lot of research and a lot of custom fab work. Kudos to him for doing it but it's not for the faint of heart.

Cacrusin, there is a knowledgeable and hard core group of 80 series owners out in CA, have you linked up with any of them to determine if you really need anything more than a 6" lift?

 

[cruiserdan]

I believe Action Jackson has what would qualify as a 10" lift on his 80. 6" Slee springs + 1" Coil Spacers + 3" Body Lift = 10".

With all due respect to Cruiser Dan Jackson's Cruiser is no poser.


http://www.actionjackson.com/cruiser/mods/

Agreed, it is doable. The slipery slope is the fact that the higher you go the more you have to change, fabricate, modify, jury-rig, custom over-build, etc in order to be able to safely operate the vehicle. As some point it becomes undrivable on the road and unsafe on the trail but it looks really good.........

 

[neowulf]

if I were gong for anything taller than 6" I would by the slee 6" and then put the new MAF kit over that again, cons is that you will have to get custom springs, new driveshaft, hi steer, wider stance and something I probably forgot.

Oh and I don’t do the boddylift thing it's just for show in my opinion anyway

 

[sonoranfun]

Oh and I don’t do the boddylift thing it's just for show in my opinion anyway

I would agree with you but I have a new found respect for body and shackle lifts.. Point just being that if somebody was young and broke they could put a 3 inch body and 3 inch shackle lift (like my Jeep had) and do fairly well on the trails.. I mostly think you're right but like I said, that jeep will outwheel my two 40s...

 

[yellowchaosfj80]

This is the good thing about " MUD " thires so much great info and advice .. Just like mom and dad.. but you still need to BE you .. if this is what you want then GET the right info and do it.. this is the northAmerican way and the right to chosse whats right for you... M2S

 

[cacruzin]

Thanks all for the advice and counsel. I think the cons out weigh the pros for lifts over 6" (costs, fabrication, headaches etc...)

Curran, I'll look into the 80 owners out here and see what set up they're running as well.

 

[nyk438]

I'd go with J springs and heavies in the rear I think I read somewhere on here that it's basically a 4'' lift. Coulda sworn I heard someone say they talked to Slee and he said the load rating on the med. and heavy springs were the same only difference between the two were they taller. Also take into a effect when you add armor it'll drop a tad due to added weight. But if you go with a 6'' lift you shouldn't have to worry about that.

Plus body lifts aren't all for show, main reason people with heeps do it is to fit larger tires and are too cheap or don't want to drop the cash to buy a bigger suspension lift.

 

[ginericLC]

I used to be dead seat against body lifts. I ended up doing a 1.75" body lift on my 60. It was hardly noticeable visually but it allowed me to make my sliders come directly off the bottom of the frame and straight out. It also allowed me to clear 35s with a SUA lift. I think body lifts look terribel on some rigs. Especially pickups where you see this huge gape between the bed and the frame and the bumpers don't drop. The real disadvantage of doing it in an 80 is your chance of buying off the self sliders and bumpers diminishes because they will look bad. You also need to drop your radiator and shroud. If you do a minimum lift steering will be OK. I know Christo installed one on the Short Bus to be abel to use the underdrive.

How much lift you get definitely depends upon how fat your wallet is or how willing to half ass it you are feeling.

 

[neowulf]

Plus body lifts aren't all for show, main reason people with heeps do it is to fit larger tires and are too cheap or don't want to drop the cash to buy a bigger suspension lift.

ur better of cuting youre fenders and the truck don't gett top heavy

 

[MLX450]

If you got the $$$ go with the slee 6".

 

[nyk438]

ur better of cuting youre fenders and the truck don't gett top heavy

True, but not many people want to take a sawzall to their cruiser which cost them a pretty penny.

 

[Cruiserhead05]

Cacruzin,


I think many will agree that it truely comes down to your purpose for the truck. If its going to be moslty a trail rig and nothing else, sure 6inches coils would rock and with lockers, they'd take you anywhere but curran made a good point, with 2-3inches and lockers you WILL go most places. i run a 2.5 with 285's and lockers. The 80 has no problem going most places, then driving 5 hours home, then going to pick up my girlfriend and going to DC for the night. That is the beauty of the 80 series, its one of the most well rounded 4x4's ever. Nevertheless, as i said before, it really depends on what you intend to use the rig for.
BD