how much lift do I need????

[mike63078]

Hey there Guys I am getting a 83 3/4 ton suburban and I have a question. I would like to fit 36x14.5 or 38x14.5 tires. How much lift will i need for this??

[Jonboy]

I ran the 36x14.5's on my 75 Blazer with 4 inches. The fenders took a little bit of trimming, but were OK. I would say you probably want at least 6-8 inches of lift, because if you go with the 36's you will want the 38's. I would say do the 38's right away, but that's just me. What gears are you going to be running?

[mike63078]

i have 4.11's and a 4 speed with a granny gear

[ALASKA ALUMINUM BEAR]

YOUR 411'S-Will push those 36's fine-but you won't like the results trying to ride 38's---i have a 86-burb-with 411 and run 36-14's---with a 8'' lift--it took slight triming----jonboy-above is rite on when he says you'll want 38's---but somewere you'll have to do a trade out-on wants vs needs.....sure i want 38's for sure and i need them living in alaska-but- i drive to many hgwy miles and have 411's and i am not willing to run new gears and -here's the biggy- go higher then 8'' with a lift----cause a 8 inch lift on a burb-won't clear 38'' tires---sure you can fit them on-but any type of turning in the woods and on rocks-will rip those tires to shreads....my friend with a 87 sb--had to go to 10.5' lift to run his 38's trxus.....
anyway hope this helps-even though it may be not what you want to hear---
aabear
john

[mike63078]

thanks alot. i dont do much off roading its mainly just to have a big A$$ truck

[Jonboy]

With the 38's you will want a 4.56 gear MINIMUM (meaning you really want 4.88 or so!). I have had 38's on a 73 Sub with 4" lift and we trimmed (butchered) the crap out of the fenders. I would not recommend this, but our particular truck was pretty rusted out, so it wasn't a really big deal. If you are planning on keeping it on the highway, 6" lift for the 36's or 8" for the 38's should work just fine. The 4.11's may be a little too high of a gear, I had 4.56's in my Blazer. It usually just went through mud, not too much for rocky trails and such needing a lot of articulation. I am not a big fan of huge lifts unless you really need it, as I like to keep the center of gravity as low as low as possible.

[ALASKA ALUMINUM BEAR]

HI JONBOYi have a 8.5 lift- and cannot for the life of me get 38's to work without-scraping a big bunch....when ever i turn the rig left or right-going into a small uphill turn or coming out of a creek-or mud bog--whatever---38's rip to crap along the top middle of the tire and sometimes the side walls real bad......now i trimed all of the wheel well- that is trimible--without ruininng the fender-----so justt what am i doing wrong---as you seem to know that 38's will fit on a burb-with a 8'' lift...do i need to trim more or lift more or what did you do.....like you i won't go too high---please let us both know
aabear
john

[Jonboy]

John, what wheels/tires are you running? 38's should clear no problem with 8.5 of lift? Where exactly are they hitting? I have been known to hack some stuff, but I try to be safe doing it. I know 35/12.50 BFG's will clear with 4" of lift on an 85 Sub. That is on a 15x10 wheel. I had 4" of lift on my 75 Blazer the whole time I had it, and changed wheels, tires (and axles once) . With a Dana 60 in the front, Rancho 4" lift, and 36x14.50 16.5's, I had to clearance the bottom edge of the front fenders. They cleared the front bumper just fine. The tires were Gumbo Mudders, IIRC. I traded for them, so they were not full tread, but they weren't too bad. The wheels were 16.5 x 9.75 (16.5 wheels have screwy widths). Not entirely sure why you are having so many problems with the 38's.

[smokkey1]

take a look at my pics in my profile. I'm running an 4" lift with 36"x12.50 swampers on 16x8 rock krawlers and fits fine but after awhile it started to rub but I knew that from the start. so I trimed the fenders but my suspension flexs really good off-road I need to cut also I'm going to install ford shock towers and run really long travel shocks up front. but if your not going to go off-roading you should be fine with 4" lift if you don't run real wide tires.

[ALASKA ALUMINUM BEAR]

hello again jonboy
also mike-don't want to steal your thread-but this should help all of us.....
jonboy-after you post yesterday-i called a few of my friends to come measuer my lift against their 6'' blazer lifts---as it turns out it's a 7-7.5--inch lift...now don't get me wrong--the 38's will go on fine--and never scrape untill i get off road....but of road--they'll scrape bad every few minutes,,,,and again mosty on turns,,,,if i ran 12.5 wides--i think i would be fine---but 12.5's in alaska in alot of applications are grave diggers---14.5-help me way to much to switch back for a taller more narrow tire...so i guess if i want to run 38-in the future--i need to do something else--add a lief-2''body lift--but i love to much the height my truck performs now--on and off road,,,,thanks for the help jonboy....and mike good luck...

[mike63078]

ok so what kind of back spacing do i need

[Jonboy]

Mike, I don't think I ever measured backspacing. When you buy the tires, ask those folks. I would imagine that there is a "standard" backspace on a 15x10 wheel. That should work.

John- Glad I could help.