can someone point me out to a thread that already has this covered. i wanna know how the 2" body lift looks and stuff i might need to change or move. ive decided to get one to ease the process on my 4.3l swap and to make room.

 

Here is my 87 3" BL with 35s.

FWIW I like the lift. It makes it easier to work on motor etc. Keeps COG lower than suspension lift and has kept the IFS in stock form which I believe keeps it stronger than a SL. Total of CVs broken 0. Of course that was on 33s I just put the 35s on.

Also with rock sliders mounted hides the "ugliness" of the BL.

 

3 inch i think is to much. i would only need it to help clear my 4.3l chevy and 700r4. and i already got a 5 inch suspension lift IFS and the lift keeps the IFS at stock angles and i never broke any cv shafts on mine and i had 35s with the old 22re. that is why im asking about the 2 inch trying to keep my COG low as possible and a SAS is somewhat in its future as well so i really cant got to much on a BL. and yours looks good and i cant even tell there is a BL on it.

 

I "only" did a 1.5" on my 91, but here are some of the issues I needed to account for:

• Bumpers (needed a matching lift bracket for the front, rear was attached to the body)
• Radiator (needed matching drop brackets to keep it lined up with the fan on the engine)
• Transmission shifter (picked up a short throw shifter from Marlin Crawler)
• Transfer case shifter (had a local 4x4 shop cut and extend the shifter handle)
• Fuel filler hose (ordered 2' of 1 5/8" fuel filler hose online; I couldn't get the stock hose to work, just too short for my liking, then picked up 2' of a smaller diameter fuel hose for the vent line locally but don't remember the diameter)
• A/C lines (these are just pulled "snug" at the firewall, but in the 3-4 years I've had the BL, this hasn't proven to be an issue yet).

Needless to say, keep an eye on any connection (wires, brake/clutch lines, etc) between the body and the frame looking for any indication of tension or stretching.

 

thanks SacRunner

most those things i wont have to adjust

- Bumpers im getting new and will get the appropriate bracket
- Radiator has an electric fan on it (always running)
- Trans shifter is a Lokar floor mount one and i cut a hole there anyways lol
- T-case shifter will probably be a little issue.
- fuel filler hose ill def need to do (as you described wont really work)
- And i have no AC yet so adjustments will be made during that process

thanks for your input SacRunner and the things that i could have issues running into.

also how do you like your BL? and where did you get it from? are the BL how ever tall you want that so many inches above the stock ones?

i'm not a big fan of BL. never used them that is why im asking these questions.

 

I went with a 4Crawler BL, as the general consensus on the internet was that they were the best available; true or not, I have been extremely happy with both the lift and more over the personal support they provide, specifically the quick responses to my various emailed questions. Don't quote me on this, but I think they can do any height you want 1/2"-3" in (maybe) 1/4" increments; I considered 1.25" but ended up going with a 1.5".

Like you, I never really liked the idea of a body lift, it seemed like a cheap/hack-job to achieve some amount of lift, but as I was planning out my 3.4 swap it became clear that it would become a necessity to clear the motor. To my surprise, I've actually found myself REALLY liking the BL, as it makes working on things under the truck so much easier, from just the little extra room before hitting the bottom of the body. The V6 fuel filter, which is known as a huge PITA becomes a 30 minute job (without having to remove any cross members or torsion bars) from just the little bit of extra room; dropping the transmission is still a pain, but the top 2 bolts are MUCH easier to get to with that extra bit of clearance (I remember trying to pull the transmission on my little brother's 97 4Runner without a BL and spending literally hours on each of the top 2 bolts).

The only downside to the BL is that for the first few months, as I drove around and took corners more and more aggressively, the body/mounts/something would creak or make a sort of settling noise, which was about as unnerving as anything (the picture of the body shearing off the mounts and sliding off the frame onto the street ran through my head every time it made a noise), but after re-torquing all the body mounts 3-4 times (with little to no wrench movement) I had enough confidence that it was ok that I began to trust it, then shortly thereafter the noise all but disappeared.

Check out 4Crawler's website, it's basic, simple, and "old looking" but the information that's there is truly top notch and the product quality is fantastic.
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/BodyLiftKit.shtml

 

I went looking to see if I had any pictures that would be of any value, I don't, but I did find 2 that kind of show the BL in the background.


This is the passenger side rear-most body mount, that white hockey puck is the BL spacer that's sandwiched between the body and frame.


Then this is the driver's side (obviously) but if you look at the wheel well, you can notice a small gap between the body and frame, that's from the BL.

That corner now looks like this:

 

the BL doesnt look bad on yours at all. where did you get yours from? and how much extra room did you gain under the hood by just adding your 1.5 spacers

and the pics did help thanks man

 

I got the BL from 4Crawler: http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/BodyLiftKit.shtml

Since the idea of the body lift is to lift the body up off the frame, and since the engine is mounted to the frame, I picked up 1.5" of extra clearance between the engine and the hood.

 

thanks man i appreciate it. i am sure the 1.5 spacers will be perfect for what i need

 

since i posted this about a lift. who is running after market rear springs? i really dont want to spend $800 on a TG kit or $400 on there springs. i want rear springs to help level out and replace my wore out rear springs to accommodate for my 4-5 inch rough country suspension lift and not rake. i know TG has the 51-52 inch long ones. any one here have advise on what vehicles to get them from? i don't mind buying the TG grease-able shackles and other parts. just trying to spend less with the same result on the $800 kit.