lift for an 83

[thebigl2005]

i have this 83 i just picked up and i wanna put on a lift. I have heard of a few things, but i wanna hear of some others.

[freds40]

What's the main use of the vehicle, pavement pounder, weekend wheeler, rock gardens? Different uses allow for different suspensions.

[WHITE_TRASH]

Projects section.  Find the $300 thread and read it.  

[thebigl2005]

well its a daily driver, but i have another car, so I'm not to worried

[thebigl2005]

well i got it, I'm going to go with the 3inch body and a 4inch pro comp suspension.

[lilbuddy]

Projects section.  Find the $300 thread and read it.  

That thread seriously will answer just about any question, Period.

[Hyena]

Go with either a 1 inch body lift or at most a 2 incher.  And then read the $300 thread, it will answer most every question known to man.

[toybuilt]

You really don't need or want a 3" body lift, at the most go with a 2"

[crawlerdan]

i would only go 2in. at the max, toybuilt did that, works great, gives more room on the frame for protection

[thebigl2005]

why is three inch bad, and do i really need gap gaurd, they just seem like a good way to spend waste money

[crawlerdan]

more stress on everything, especially the mounts, you dont need gap guards, ive seen people make em out of sheet metal

[CTENG in KS]

Body Lift = teh suck!
4-inch lift with the fender trimming will EASILY fit 35-36...
                 -more if you like the big HAMMER!!!!!                 

[toybuilt]

They recommend a 2" body lift when your putting a chevy engine in your toy 

[crawlerdan]

ya big hammers always work!

[bluetoy84]

well i got it, I'm going to go with the 3inch body and a 4inch pro comp suspension.

I hate to be the one to tell you , but if you bought the 4 inch pro comp kit IT SUCKS . I put this kit on my '83 last year and I hated it. I thought it would be ok since it's just a pavement pounder , but it was more well suited for a log truck than a toyota. I have never seen springs so stiff in my life. I drove mine with the lift for about 2 months, now the springs are in a junk pile where they belong. I bought a set of downey springs and they are way softer.

I agree with everyone else on the body lift, 2 inch or less. Just my 

[crawlerdan]

ya i didnt like any of the procomp stuff i used either

[toybuilt]

yeah pro comp and most rancho is no good

[dirtbag]

I have some lift springs that I'm getting rid of them, they're ( I think ) 4" in front w/ a 2 or 3" shackle, and 6 or 7" leaves in the rear w/ the stock shackles. They flex like

[crawlerdan]

nope

[thebigl2005]

Sothen should i do a body lift at all or just go with the suspension. I guess the main reason i bought the body was to just clear room for the 33's.

[thebigl2005]

Were whould i get the downy springs

[thebigl2005]

well one thing i was thinkin about was the marlin kit, and just putting the 3 inch for a temp untill i can get the cash for it. But the thing about the 3 inch is that you have to re-do alot, i dont know if you have to on a 2. And i dont know if 4 wheel parts will let me exchange it.

[Skinny_Pedal]

dude you have a 1st gen. do lnger shackles and put the 33's on there. there is so much room, especially if you were to tub the firewall. so yet again go read the $300 thread and learn. it should be a sticky its been read so much

[thebigl2005]

"Rears up front xtended shocks all around new rear springs" Yea I've read it, but the question I have is what do i wanna use for the rear. I was told by some people Chevy's, then i was told Chevy's suck a$$.

[CTENG in KS]

Chevys are awesome, but they suck a$$.    

[crawlerdan]

cant go better than a 3 or 4 leaf chevy thats 62-64 inches long.

[thebigl2005]

wait what do you mean when you say a 3 to 4 chevy leaf

[crawlerdan]

3 or 4 leaves in the spring pack itself. that offers the best load carrying/flexibility ratio

[thebigl2005]

so chevys are good, cause lots of people say no, and then should i buy new leaf rears for the front or just use the old

[crawlerdan]

the setup i had was, stock leaves for the rear in the front, and 3 leaf chevs in the back. i could park one tire on a minivan roof and have the other three on the ground still. it flexed stupid amounts