73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

i have finally gotten the time to install my lift spindles. they are 1988 - 1998 Chevy 4 inch lift spindles.

my reason for lifting is that i use my truck as a work truck. So i really could use the extra ride height and "long travel" with some big tires which will improve ride quality. I opted to keep the stock coil springs as they are not stiff springs and that will keep it smooth on the road.

the parts list so far is:

• 1973 - 1987 3/4 ton lower control arms
• 1988 - 1998 upper ball joints
• 1988 - 1998 outer tie rod ends
• 1988- 1998 rotors and calipers

so with all my parts here or on the way, i began





Just wanted to say i used Rock Auto to order all my parts because even with shipping, they are usually less than half the price Autozone/Advanced/Oreilly or other stores.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...nstall_002.JPG


here is the drivers side mocked up without the spring installed

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

more pictures


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...nstall_003.JPG

here is the 88-98 upper ball joint. it fits right where the old one did luckily!





http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...nstall_006.JPG

The Rock Auto lower control arm "dent" next to the shock mount wasnt as deep as the original so i had to get the air chisel out and modify it to allow the bolt to fit.





http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...nstall_007.JPG

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

Very interesting. Cool stuff! Im interested to see how it turns out!

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

I Made alot of progress on the passenger side today. but snce my internet is slow i cant upload very many of the pictures i took.


but i have the passenger side mocked up and il be putting the spring in tomorrow

i will also hopefully be getting some 1988 - 1998 rotors and calipers from the junkyard tomorrow too.

not sure if i will need brake line extensions yet but it looks like i might


here is a picture i managed to upload comparing the old lower ball joint to the new one. more pictures to come when my internet isint so slow!


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...comparison.jpg

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

i have almost finished.

i used 3/4 ton heavy duty brakes so my original plan to use 15 inch rims would not work. so i bought a set of 17 stock bullet hole style rims from a buddy.

http://i.oodleimg.com/item/2583768446_1m?1306613359
they look like this except with GMC center caps





http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...t_kitt_013.JPG



http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...619_144218.jpg

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

I need to do this to my LCA cause its a pain to put the bolts in.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

If you don't mind me asking, how much did the lift spindles cost, and how much did everything else cost?

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

lift spindle set $250

the lower control arms $89 each

ball joints and tie rods about $60

having a one of a kind truck: Priceless





as for rotors and calipers i recommend hitting up your local junkyard, get 3/4 ton stuff

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

got the wheels mounted using washers as wheel spacers haha


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...621_174659.jpg

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

I really like what you are doing here. For those of you that like what you see, there is a great article on this topic in our FAQ forum. Take a look at "73-87 2wd lift with 33x10.5x 18 Nittos"

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

Thanks a lot man, its looking great, and should ride good.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

Anymore progress on this?
And what size tires are you running?

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

So the lower control arm has to be changed or can just the lower ball joint be changed? I see the taper is different on the two. Is the lower ball joint you used from a 88-98 or 73-87? I want to do this set up to my suburban.

I was reading on another forum that a guy used 1 ton lift spindles and switched to 8 lug. Any info on swapping to 8 lug? Of course the rear end is easy enough

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

do you know whats different about the lift spindles, for 1/2 tons , and 1 tons? If there the same then all you need is different rotors that are 8 lug, if there different then you need 1 ton lift spindles, and 8 lug rotors.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

Physical difference I don't know the difference. They do show a different part number for the 1/2- light duty 3/4 ton to the heady duty 3/4 to 1 ton. All I've gathered so far just from looking up parts is that they use the same lower ball joint. Upper is different but only difference I can see just from pictures is the mounting surface. From the pictures I have looked at the upper control arm is made up different between the two as well. I just happen to look at a buddy's 1/2 ton 4wd upper control arm this weekend and it looked like it was the same as the heavy duty 3/4 and 1 ton 2wd. I'll have to check it out. I'm sure it will lead to nothing but anything is possible.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

if all you need to make it work is the upper control arm, then thats easy.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

I haven't looked to hard yet but I havent even found a lift spindle for a 2wd heavy 3/4-1 ton 92-98 yet. Upper 4wd 1/2 ton and 2wd 1ton ball joints are different in 1993.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

cool build!
What is your plan for the rear?

Can you clarify this
The 6 lug stuff is the light duty 3/4 ton.
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Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

I'm curious on the brakes too. I'd say he would just use 4wd axle shafts in the rear.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

okay sorry about taking so long to respond i have been at sea for two months with Texas Maritime Academy. taking classes and working towards my 3rd mates license.

but the 88-98 1 ton spindle is different as i tried to use a 2500HD 13 inch 8 lug rotor and the bearings were too big for the spindle. im sure they make a 1 ton lift spindle.


the "3/4 ton" brakes are from that same 2500 truck with the 13 inch rotors. they fit the spindle and the 11" rotor. the advantage is bigger pads and a larger bore on the cylinder.




as for the lower ball joint. it is a 73-87 3/4 ton. you can keep you original lower control arm and i almost wish i did because i have to take it all apart again to modify the Rock Auto lower control arms again to get them to center up [ i will explain this in detail in a later post].

the upper ball joint is the 88-93 i used 1/2 ton. but i am worried that i may have needed 3/4 ton. but i will find out soon if this is true.


for the rear i plan to use 5 lug to 6 lug adapters.

i need spacers for the front because i chose to use 17" 2007 stock bullet hole style rims from a buddies GMC. i will post pictures soon


i also plan to eventually get a set of 35 inch tires. that is after i buy the spacers and adapters.



once again sorry i took so long to respond!

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

No worries!

So the calipers are from a 2500HD and they fit the 2500LD rotors?

How much lift do the spindles give you? Are you going to run lift blocks in the rear?
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

you say you can keep the original 1/2 lower control arm?

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

that is correct. i could not believe it myself but after i put it all together it worked and the pads line up exactly where they should on the 11'' rotor.

the problem was after i did this the 15" 6 lug rims i picked up would no longer fit so i had to hurry up and find some rims that fit before i went out to sea so it would at least be a roller. luckily my buddy just put new rims on his truck so i picked up the stock 17's with two tires still holding air and equal in size to my old 33's.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

i gained about 5 inches of lift in the front.

i used 3 inch blocks and it sits nose up about 1 inch. looks cool kinda like a pre runner. the 2 off road lights i put on the front bumper help too.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

no the 3/4 ton ball joint is a larger diameter than the 1/2 ton so you do need the 3/4 ton lower control arms

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

So if the bearings would have fit from the HD3/4ton do you think the rotor and caliper would have still fit together on the 1/2ton spindle? The caliper being taller the reason the original wheels wouldn't fit?

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

So can you fit 35 inch tires right now with the 4 inch lift spindle? I was just wondering because I know fabtechmotorsports.com has a 7.5 inch lift spindle, so if you can fit 35s, then the 7.5 could probably fit 37s, otherwise if you can only fit 33s, then the 7.5 could probably fit 35s. Im just trying to figure this out so I know what all I want to get when I do mine.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

The only thing I found from Fabtechmotorsports was a 7.5" lift kit that consisted of lowering the lower control arms for a 88-98 c1500 and using a taller coil along with the 4"lift spindle. Maybe I didn't look in the correct spot. If you found something else can you post a link?

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

That sucks, before when I looked they didn't have any pictures or that much information. so I guess that might not work, you could probably make it work if you changed your a arms, but I don't know if that would even work.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

bucannon
If you can fit 35s with the 4 inch lift spindles please tell me, otherwise Im probably putting and axle in mine, because I don't want to put anything smaller than a 35 on it.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

Have you seen the 2wd van on youtube that has I think has 16" of lift? He sells these kits if your looking to go higher for 37s. He is on this forum I think. Look up lifted 2wd chevy van 4bt cummins powered on you tube. It's an orange van.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

oh yeah I know who that is, Ill have to talk to him then. Thanks for reminding me.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

i could easily fit 35's with this lift. i could go for 37's with stiffer springs. remember i am using stock original worn out 1/2 ton springs.

as for Suburban_Tyler

no even if the bearings fit the brake caliper mounting holes would be 2 inches off as the spindle is made for 11" rotors.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

Thanks.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

Really cool build! Got any pics of the truck with the front and rear done?

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

Dont have any pics with the whole truck yet, but once i go home for thanksgiving i will take some pics and put on the wheel spacers.

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

Cool build... Any pics of the whole truck yet? I am thinking of a spindle lift for my 78 chevy as well. So far, I've found lift spindles from Fabtech and Doetsch Offroad. Where did you get your spindles from? They look beefy.

Thanks,
Dirtdoc

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

Hey yall, i went home for thanksgiving and took this picture of the whole truck with the lift installed. i have wheel spacers but they are not installed yet...


the front passenger side tire is a little flat so the truck is leaning. i plan to get a different rear end with 6 lugs and get some 35 inch tires and possibly paint my 17's gloss black.



more updates to come over x-mas break when i get 30 days off school and work!!

what do yall think?

Re: 73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe
 

awesome, i dont always like lifted trucks, but when i do, i like squares (dos equis commercial reference) hahaha