Suspension Lift ? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

71BlazerSS · 10-29-2002, 05:54 PM

I recently bought a completely disassembled '71 Blazer. I want to lift it and have 35" BFGs for it. What is the best way to lift it and maintain a 'softer' ride and still allow room for the larger tires? I currently have 7 springs in the rear and 3 springs up front.

I am contemplating a 4" shackle-flip by Off-Road Design for the rear and have read that new springs are the best way to go on the front.

Any ideas or past experience?

travis martin · 10-29-2002, 06:28 PM

The best way to do it is buy new springs for the front. You can buy a kit with the blocks for the rear. I have never done a shackle flip myself but i have never had a truck with a lift kit that had a soft ride. Just my 2cents. thanks

**Yukon Jack** · 10-29-2002, 06:36 PM

I've got their shackle flip on my truck and am happy with it but I found it moved my axle forward a little in the wheel well. I wouldn't like that on a Blazer. They do make a block that can move the axle back or forwards 1". Make sure your rear leafs are all fine. I had a crack in one of mine and I would probably have gone with new springs had I known that.

I'm very happy with my Tuff Country lift springs up front.

6772king · 10-29-2002, 06:38 PM

soft ride from a 71 blazer with a 4 inch lift ???? wat is that??? LOL have the same set up on mine and its not very soft but blazers are short and when you lift them they like to "buck" going down the road.I have a 71 short bed with 42s and 13" of lift that rides smoother but thats wat makes blazers so damm cool, bouncing, rataling, leaking blazers kick azz

**Yukon Jack** · 10-29-2002, 06:38 PM

Oh, 4" is close for 35" tires depending on the tire brand (they all differ on actual height) and rim width and backspacing. I wish I would ahve gone with 6" springs originally. You can see my install of the original lift on my 69 on a lift page on my website listed below.

6772king · 10-29-2002, 06:47 PM

I will 2nd Yukon about 4" with 35s i just changed mine to 6" superlift because the front tires rubed i had 35 bfg all terains with 8' rims

DJH · 10-29-2002, 06:51 PM

35s should fit with a 4" spging & a 2 or 3" body lift.

Mike C · 10-29-2002, 11:10 PM

I run 35's with 4" on my Jimmy. The very slightly rub on the turned in lower part of the front fenders. I eventually plan to modify my fenders for clearance. I think 6" is too much, but 33's looked stupid on mine. 2 1/2" and 33's might be a good compromise. I would have done that with 3.7's, but with 4.10s I need the extra height. I would NOT even consider blocks as I had much problemas including bent axle housing perches. Yukon Jacks truck is a 3/4 ton, but the Blazer springs are wimpy so I don't suggest the shackle flip. I would run 4" lift HD springs in the rear and so-called softride springs in the front. It's not drastic, but best thing you can do is keep the center of gravity down. Best case would be no lift and 35's, but truck wouldn't look like much once you sawzalled enough clearance! When I get my truck really twisted, the tires jam into the rear of the front wells.

10-29-2002, 05:54 PM	#1
71BlazerSS Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Twin Falls, Idaho, USA Posts: 4	Suspension Lift ? I recently bought a completely disassembled '71 Blazer. I want to lift it and have 35" BFGs for it. What is the best way to lift it and maintain a 'softer' ride and still allow room for the larger tires? I currently have 7 springs in the rear and 3 springs up front. I am contemplating a 4" shackle-flip by Off-Road Design for the rear and have read that new springs are the best way to go on the front. Any ideas or past experience?

10-29-2002, 06:28 PM	#2
travis martin CoonHunter Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: valley falls ks Posts: 346	The best way to do it is buy new springs for the front. You can buy a kit with the blocks for the rear. I have never done a shackle flip myself but i have never had a truck with a lift kit that had a soft ride. Just my 2cents. thanks __________________ 72 Chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 4" inch lift. 2000 Chevy Malibu

10-29-2002, 06:36 PM	#3
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	I've got their shackle flip on my truck and am happy with it but I found it moved my axle forward a little in the wheel well. I wouldn't like that on a Blazer. They do make a block that can move the axle back or forwards 1". Make sure your rear leafs are all fine. I had a crack in one of mine and I would probably have gone with new springs had I known that. I'm very happy with my Tuff Country lift springs up front. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

10-29-2002, 06:38 PM	#4
6772king Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: grove city pa usa Posts: 628	soft ride from a 71 blazer with a 4 inch lift ???? wat is that??? LOL have the same set up on mine and its not very soft but blazers are short and when you lift them they like to "buck" going down the road.I have a 71 short bed with 42s and 13" of lift that rides smoother but thats wat makes blazers so damm cool, bouncing, rataling, leaking blazers kick azz __________________ 67 chevy short step 2wd 427 71 chevy short fleet 4x4 396 72 gmc jimmy 2wd 377 71 chevy blazer 4x4 454 69 chevy longhorn 5.9l cummins 72 chevy 400 2wd custom camper 67 chevy lwb 4x4 454-in pieces 67 chevy panel soon 4x4-400 67 gmc dump 4x4 1 ton-305 WTF!! 72 chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 burb 350 70 chevy panel 2wd 302 5 speed tko "THERE IS NO REPLACMENT FOR DISPLACMENT"!!!!!!!

10-29-2002, 06:38 PM	#5
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	Oh, 4" is close for 35" tires depending on the tire brand (they all differ on actual height) and rim width and backspacing. I wish I would ahve gone with 6" springs originally. You can see my install of the original lift on my 69 on a lift page on my website listed below. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

10-29-2002, 06:47 PM	#6
6772king Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: grove city pa usa Posts: 628	I will 2nd Yukon about 4" with 35s i just changed mine to 6" superlift because the front tires rubed i had 35 bfg all terains with 8' rims __________________ 67 chevy short step 2wd 427 71 chevy short fleet 4x4 396 72 gmc jimmy 2wd 377 71 chevy blazer 4x4 454 69 chevy longhorn 5.9l cummins 72 chevy 400 2wd custom camper 67 chevy lwb 4x4 454-in pieces 67 chevy panel soon 4x4-400 67 gmc dump 4x4 1 ton-305 WTF!! 72 chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 burb 350 70 chevy panel 2wd 302 5 speed tko "THERE IS NO REPLACMENT FOR DISPLACMENT"!!!!!!!

10-29-2002, 06:51 PM	#7
DJH Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Franksville WI 53126 Posts: 56	35s should fit with a 4" spging & a 2 or 3" body lift. __________________ 72 LWB fleet 402 with a/c 68 SWB fleet 327 (frame-off in progress) 03 GMC 1500 collector of 1/18 diecast cars (not NASCAR) Franksville WI (15 mi. South of Milwaukee)

10-29-2002, 11:10 PM	#8
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,714	I run 35's with 4" on my Jimmy. The very slightly rub on the turned in lower part of the front fenders. I eventually plan to modify my fenders for clearance. I think 6" is too much, but 33's looked stupid on mine. 2 1/2" and 33's might be a good compromise. I would have done that with 3.7's, but with 4.10s I need the extra height. I would NOT even consider blocks as I had much problemas including bent axle housing perches. Yukon Jacks truck is a 3/4 ton, but the Blazer springs are wimpy so I don't suggest the shackle flip. I would run 4" lift HD springs in the rear and so-called softride springs in the front. It's not drastic, but best thing you can do is keep the center of gravity down. Best case would be no lift and 35's, but truck wouldn't look like much once you sawzalled enough clearance! When I get my truck really twisted, the tires jam into the rear of the front wells. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax



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