Questions about my truck.
 

1989 K2500 ECLB 4X4

The truck seems to sit lower than most of the 4x4s I see on the road. I would like to raise it a LITTLE bit, maybe an inch or so in the front and about two inches in back. I would like it to be comfortable and not squat too much if I get a ton or more in the back.

My options are: blocks and cranking the front torsion bars, stiffer rear springs, and air bags. Or a combination of the above.

Any advice or comments?

I am also planning to get rid of the 40/60 seat and replacing it with a newer 60/40 set. I know the 95-99 seats will fit easily. Will a newer (GMT800) set fit or be too much work to make fit?

Lastly, the turning radius seems terrible on this truck. I know a 17 foot long rig is not going to turn like sports car, but a five point turn on a wide street seems a bit much. Also it seems to turn a little better left than right.

Is it just the nature of the beast or is there something that will help? The front suspension is being rebuilt next week, so any changes can be done then.

Thanks
Steve

Re: Questions about my truck.
 

You can turn the bars up some to get a lil lift, but just need to pay attention how many turns. Take it for a ride and see how it is. If still feels good, maybe go lil more. Remember to take before and after measurements. Rear a block is fine, but might not need it depending how the front sits. As far as the turning radius, get it aligned, might just be out of whack....

Re: Questions about my truck.
 

I told my wife if she ever drives my truck don't make any u-turns. It takes at least four lanes to do it. Our 99 turns much better but I don't know if it's because it has a different steering box or if the short bed makes that much of a difference.

Re: Questions about my truck.
 

On my 8-luggers I crank the torsion bars. I have to run shocks for 2" lift. I do nothing to the rear because the rears sit as high as stock older trucks. It's the fronts that sit low for a 4wd. Blocks in the rear give nothing for load capacity. Add-a-leafs don't always give the claimed lift and only add little if any noticeable capacity. These rear springs are really long in the name of better comfort, which nets more sag sooner with use. On my '92 K3500 steady worker I added Air Lift auxiliary bags to gain adjustable height (I set where I wanted and left alone) and a true 1500# added capacity. The truck consistently weighed out of scrap yards at around 8,000#. She had a saggy butt after a couple hundred thousand miles. I did a lot of towing and it began to look like it couldn't handle what it easily was hauling. Here are pictures of it hauling a fairly heavy truck on a fairly heavy trailer, no bags at around 200k, and one virtually empty (exc heavy steel cap/racks/tools in bins and bed) w/bags at over 300k on untouched springs. Tires are 255/85-16

Re: Questions about my truck.
 

I also had a '95 K3500 that I had a custom 4-link rear suspension for using bags, so I could drop the rear for loading/unloading equipment on the racks while able to level up and maintain a good hauling capacity.

Level then partially dropped. It could go higher and lower than pictures. Tires are 285/75-16 on 8" wheels