LIFT questions

[jydbowtie]

Hey guys have a couple of quick questions. I want to lift my 82 k10, I really want a 4 inch lift with 35x12.50x18 tires. I want to go with tuff country simply because people have said the ride is so much better than say ruff country. Anyways my question, All of these lift kits say that 35's will fit under my truck except tuff country, their deal says 35's fit under a six inch lift??? So has anyone had any experience with these lifts and why would they be the only one who claims you got to 6" to get 35's? Also I dont want a lot of space between the wheel wells and the tires, I personally don't like that big gap. Thoughts?

[AntiGov]

well its been a long time ago but i had an 85 k5 6in tuff country and ran Q78 buckshot mudders on stock rally wheels they were close to 36" tall and were narrow....cleared just right but would have rubbed with only a 4".....maybe a smaller 35" on 8" wheels will work with the 4" lift

[obijuan]

if youre putting 18" wheels meant for a newer truck they will be so squeezed in it probably wont rub the outside fender trim area. if you want your 35s to stick out any then youll probably want to change wheel size.

any particular reason you chose 18s?

[jydbowtie]

I want big rims but still want some tread/tire. Figure it is a happy medium. Truck will be more for looks than anything
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[snj8198]

Hello fellow Montanan.

Most 35x12.50 combos i've ran do rub with 4" lifts when the wheels are turned full chock and especialy with any suspension articulation. In this case it's the width that catches the fender lip. The only 35" tire, or anything close, that i find doesn't rub are the skinnier meats found usually in the 17" and 18" wheel line. Are you partial to a particular brand? I run Toyo MT's but I know Billings doesn't have a Les Schwabb who is the primary carrier of Toyo.

http://toyotires.com/tire/pattern/op...traction-tires

As you know the actual flotation size of the tire doesn't normally measure 35". Most are closer to 34" or even 33.5" roughly in height, but that width is usually spot on, or in this Toyo's case, even wider due to the meaty shoulder making rubbing even more prominent. However, the metric sizes in the 17" wheel group stay pretty true, and again, come an inch or so narrower. This coupled with proper back spacing on the wheel could keep you from rubbing with the 4" lift. This is a potential option if you are ok going with the 17" versus the 18" wheel.

So i guess it boils down to: are you ok with 6" lift? or are you ok with going slightly narrower to aleviate rubbing with the 4"?

Hope I helped a bit. Good luck and have fun! -steve

[jydbowtie]

Thanks guys, I can do a lot of things but tires confuse me lol. The guy above said run 35s with 8? Does that mean 8 inches wide or replace the 12.5? I don't want a real wide tire that sticks out the side too much. I do want to stay with the 18s though and the toyo Mt is the tire I want. Probably have to order online for tire and rim that is why I am so curious. Not totally against six inch other than I don't want a big gap between tire and wheel well and don't want to have to change two much stuff out because of the six inch lift
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[Rubble]

Originally Posted by jydbowtie

Thanks guys, I can do a lot of things but tires confuse me lol. The guy above said run 35s with 8? Does that mean 8 inches wide or replace the 12.5? I don't want a real wide tire that sticks out the side too much. I do want to stay with the 18s though and the toyo Mt is the tire I want. Probably have to order online for tire and rim that is why I am so curious. Not totally against six inch other than I don't want a big gap between tire and wheel well and don't want to have to change two much stuff out because of the six inch lift
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I am guessing your tire guy means running 35s on a 8" wide rim.Rim width and backspacing makes a big difference on what size tires you can stuff under 4" lift.I have an 86 on 7", 4" susp.3" body with 35s on 10" wide rims and the fenders have been trimmed for clearance.My 80 K20 is on 4" with 33s on 10" wide rims& there's no way a 35 would fit without lots of trimming.
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[Rubble]

I had some pictures on a thread couple weeks ago with how the tires fit,but can't find it right now.
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[snj8198]

i see.

First, the 8 probably means 8" width wheel. But that wont work with 18's as there isn't enough side wall on a 35 to suck in on that narrow of a rim. With the parameters you are setting for yourself you are going to have to go with the 6" lift sounds like. But you will have a bit of tire to well gap and you will stick out past the fenders a bit depending on wheel back space.

Remember there is a Les Schwab in Butte but it is 200 miles for you. Check online prices with shipping versus Schwab prices + travel expenses and time.

If you make the trip bring me some Cafe Maybelle's!

[b454rat]

Many wheel companies have wheels that are 9" wide rather than 10". why who knows. So if you get a wheel that is 18x9, with about 4.5" offset, that will push it a little, but not too much. Would be a little over an 8" rally would be. This would also allow a 35x12.5 tire to fit on without being too narrow. Then it should fit on 4" lift. Tire sizes rarely measure up to what the sidewall says....

My old man had a truck with 35s on 18" wheels, they were 9" wide, and didn't really stick out too much. IMO should have been more...but that had a 6" lift...

[jydbowtie]

Originally Posted by snj8198

i see.

First, the 8 probably means 8" width wheel. But that wont work with 18's as there isn't enough side wall on a 35 to suck in on that narrow of a rim. With the parameters you are setting for yourself you are going to have to go with the 6" lift sounds like. But you will have a bit of tire to well gap and you will stick out past the fenders a bit depending on wheel back space.

Remember there is a Les Schwab in Butte but it is 200 miles for you. Check online prices with shipping versus Schwab prices + travel expenses and time.

If you make the trip bring me some Cafe Maybelle's!

lol k sounds good. So would a 9 inch work with 35's?

[jydbowtie]

Originally Posted by b454rat

Many wheel companies have wheels that are 9" wide rather than 10". why who knows. So if you get a wheel that is 18x9, with about 4.5" offset, that will push it a little, but not too much. Would be a little over an 8" rally would be. This would also allow a 35x12.5 tire to fit on without being too narrow. Then it should fit on 4" lift. Tire sizes rarely measure up to what the sidewall says....

My old man had a truck with 35s on 18" wheels, they were 9" wide, and didn't really stick out too much. IMO should have been more...but that had a 6" lift...

k thanks, so it sounds like 6 inch lift would be the safer bet, just don't want a big gap. How many changes would i have to make for example drive line would i have to change vs a 4 inch lift. If it is that big of a deal might go 33's with 4 inch lift if i have to dump a bunch of money into all the other stuff. TIA

[Rubble]

Originally Posted by jydbowtie

k thanks, so it sounds like 6 inch lift would be the safer bet, just don't want a big gap. How many changes would i have to make for example drive line would i have to change vs a 4 inch lift. If it is that big of a deal might go 33's with 4 inch lift if i have to dump a bunch of money into all the other stuff. TIA

I just put a 6" lift on my 82 K25 last fall,yes there are a few more things you need to do:extended brake lines to the front wheels& longer rubber line at rear axle,might need to extend diff breather hoses,for the front drive line I just ground the stops down a bit on CV joint( might not be the correct way) but it's the easier way!! Rear driveline seems ok,lots of length.Drop steering arm too,think that was it. It's sitting on 37s now,I can post a picture if you want to see how 6" looks.
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[jydbowtie]

Originally Posted by Rubble

I just put a 6" lift on my 82 K25 last fall,yes there are a few more things you need to do:extended brake lines to the front wheels& longer rubber line at rear axle,might need to extend diff breather hoses,for the front drive line I just ground the stops down a bit on CV joint( might not be the correct way) but it's the easier way!! Rear driveline seems ok,lots of length.Drop steering arm too,think that was it. It's sitting on 37s now,I can post a picture if you want to see how 6" looks.
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Yea post some pics I would like to see it
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[Rubble]

Tires are 37's on 16.5 x 8.75 rims. Don't look at the rust too closely.....
Just got done painting it but no pics yet.

[dieseldawg142]

[QUOTE=Rubble;6069525]for the front drive line I just ground the stops down a bit on CV joint( might not be the correct way) but it's the easier way!!

it's called clearancing, & there's nothing wrong with it! on my 8" lifted crew, i took off the stops & added a longer hi-angle slip yoke. only prob. ever was ripping the cv ball in some deep mud

new cv installed

[Rubble]

[quote=dieseldawg142;6069752]

Originally Posted by Rubble

for the front drive line I just ground the stops down a bit on CV joint( might not be the correct way) but it's the easier way!!

it's called clearancing, & there's nothing wrong with it! on my 8" lifted crew, i took off the stops & added a longer hi-angle slip yoke. only prob. ever was ripping the cv ball in some deep mud

new cv installed
Attachment 1107097

I just swapped in a different shaft yesterday,ball was ripped out on old one!! I didn't clearance it enough,so you can buy the slip yoke piece separate? I might have to go that route.
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[dieseldawg142]

yeah, it'a spicer slip joint. it's about 1 3/4" longer, & see how hi the u-joint saddle is. i belive it was around $80 for it

[snj8198]

Originally Posted by jydbowtie

lol k sounds good. So would a 9 inch work with 35's?

Honestly i dont know with 18's. 18x9 wheels are a common size, i just don't know if that short side wall will bead up without pulling the side wall so much it crowns the face without running really low air pressures. i'll ask my buddy at Schwab.

ps

He said yes. it's a common size wheel and 12.50's do mount on them fine.

[snj8198]

one of my past: 1979 6" lift with 35's on 15X8 stock rally wheels.



Current '71: 2" with 35's on 16x8.

[Rubble]

Originally Posted by dieseldawg142

yeah, it'a spicer slip joint. it's about 1 3/4" longer, & see how hi the u-joint saddle is. i belive it was around $80 for it

Right on,where did you get it?
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[jydbowtie]

Originally Posted by snj8198

Honestly i dont know with 18's. 18x9 wheels are a common size, i just don't know if that short side wall will bead up without pulling the side wall so much it crowns the face without running really low air pressures. i'll ask my buddy at Schwab.

ps

He said yes. it's a common size wheel and 12.50's do mount on them fine.

awesome thanks man

[jydbowtie]

Thanks for the pics guys, how much of that fender did you have to cut out with the 35's? Thanks for the other pics too. I really only want a 4 inch lift with 18's maybe i will go 4 inches and try it and see.... and if i have to go to 33's.

[dieseldawg142]

Originally Posted by Rubble

Right on,where did you get it?
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place in Abbotsford bc called Abbey spring services
top notch work & parts

[Rubble]

Thanx,those guys do nice work too!
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