I thought it would be cool to let show and let ya’ll know how each way of lifting my truck looked, felt, and worked.
My truck is a 1996 Chevrolet C1500 Extended Cab Short Bed. I’ve owned it for 5 years
1st I started out with just putting 31x10.5 BFGs on it at stock height. They fit perfect with just a bit of mirror rubbing at full lock mainly over a bump or something.
2nd setup was a Spindle Source lift kit. 4” spindle lift with 2” blocks in the rear. This setup pushed the front wheels out side of the wheel wells by a good amount so the rear track needed spacers to match. I used 1.5” spacers on each side to get it close. I believe 1.75” spacers would be needed to make it like the front. Spindle Source claimed that you can use your stock 15” rims but they did not clear 100%. It was close so since the spindles are so big and thick I just took a grinder and made it work. Front brake hoses had to be extended. I got around this with just running new hard lines to a new spot on the frame and welded a mount. You have to take you steering stops off with this lift or it will hit the brake caliper.
This setup have the truck a reverse rake. Ride quality was basically just like stock. I ran this with the same 31x10.5 tires as before which are just too small for that amount of lift. 33” would be a better choice but they will probably have issues with hitting the stock front bumper.
3rd and current setup is a eBay 2” front spring spacer and stock height in the rear. This setup has gotten the truck very close to how I want it to look which is like a stock 4x4. It has just a tad bit of reverse rake. At this point I also needed new tires so I also switched up the wheels to some American Racing Baja 15x8. These wheels gave the truck a little more aggressive stance and pushed them out almost flush with the wheel wells. The old BFGs held up so well I decided to get the new versions in the same 31x10.5
This setup has given the truck a very stiff and harsh ride up front. In fact I blew one of the shocks out after a couple of weeks. I did not install the shock extenders since I could not get the nut off the shock. I’m hoping that may be stopping down travel and new longer shocks or stock with the extenders might help the ride a bit. One plus is with the steering stops removed it turns much tighter than stock. It will rub the frame a full lock but not by much with the aftermarket wheels having different back spacing than stock.
stock Z71 4x4 to 2” spacer leveled
2” spacer leveled to stock
Stock to 4” spindle lift to 2” spacer leveled
4” spindle lift
2” spacer levled
Stock with stock size tire
Stock with 31” tire
My truck is a 1996 Chevrolet C1500 Extended Cab Short Bed. I’ve owned it for 5 years
1st I started out with just putting 31x10.5 BFGs on it at stock height. They fit perfect with just a bit of mirror rubbing at full lock mainly over a bump or something.
2nd setup was a Spindle Source lift kit. 4” spindle lift with 2” blocks in the rear. This setup pushed the front wheels out side of the wheel wells by a good amount so the rear track needed spacers to match. I used 1.5” spacers on each side to get it close. I believe 1.75” spacers would be needed to make it like the front. Spindle Source claimed that you can use your stock 15” rims but they did not clear 100%. It was close so since the spindles are so big and thick I just took a grinder and made it work. Front brake hoses had to be extended. I got around this with just running new hard lines to a new spot on the frame and welded a mount. You have to take you steering stops off with this lift or it will hit the brake caliper.
This setup have the truck a reverse rake. Ride quality was basically just like stock. I ran this with the same 31x10.5 tires as before which are just too small for that amount of lift. 33” would be a better choice but they will probably have issues with hitting the stock front bumper.
3rd and current setup is a eBay 2” front spring spacer and stock height in the rear. This setup has gotten the truck very close to how I want it to look which is like a stock 4x4. It has just a tad bit of reverse rake. At this point I also needed new tires so I also switched up the wheels to some American Racing Baja 15x8. These wheels gave the truck a little more aggressive stance and pushed them out almost flush with the wheel wells. The old BFGs held up so well I decided to get the new versions in the same 31x10.5
This setup has given the truck a very stiff and harsh ride up front. In fact I blew one of the shocks out after a couple of weeks. I did not install the shock extenders since I could not get the nut off the shock. I’m hoping that may be stopping down travel and new longer shocks or stock with the extenders might help the ride a bit. One plus is with the steering stops removed it turns much tighter than stock. It will rub the frame a full lock but not by much with the aftermarket wheels having different back spacing than stock.
stock Z71 4x4 to 2” spacer leveled
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2” spacer leveled to stock
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Stock to 4” spindle lift to 2” spacer leveled
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4” spindle lift
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2” spacer levled
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Stock with stock size tire
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Stock with 31” tire
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