Budget Build Lift

[86chev]

Im looking into picking up a 79 chevy K10 and building a budget mud truck. Currently it has no engine but it does have a sm465 granny low and a np205 transfercase. for $150 more the guy will throw in a set of 87 3/4 ton axles. he said they are 10 bolt and 14bsf 4:10 gears. he thinks the rear is a g80. anyways here are my questions, should i pick up the axles set for $150 or wait and try to find a d44/14bff? also id like to run 33in-35in tires with about 6in of lift. what would be the cheapest way to get 6in without body lift? also, how much of a headache would it be to put the 10 bolt/14bsf in the half ton frame. thanks

 

[bucket]

Sounds like a good deal for axles, and they'll swap right in with a conversion u-joint for the rear. Plenty strong enough for mild wheeling.

 

[HotRodPC]

Is that Semi Float converted to 6 lug? Are you sure it fits Squarebody trucks? I say it doesn't matter for $150 you're not gonna get hurt. You can $100 easy out of each one on CL and get your money back if you don't use them. The 14b SF having a G80 makes me think it's a GMT400 rear end, but still, get it. That one will sell for even more if it's 6 lug. Just don't be so excited about the rotten ass G80. It's probably gov lok and they suck, but most people aren't aware of that.

 

[HotRodPC]

After Re reading, so both axles are 87 3/4 ton. Yes, I'd still get those. And if that's what they are, they'll bolt right in with as bucket said, conversion U joint, or find a 3/4 ton driveshaft which is what I'd prefer since it's bigger and beefier. You should be able to go 33's no problem on the 10 bolt front, I'd sure max and go no more than 35's though, and I think that's pushing it. If you're not wheeling hard you'll be OK I think, but 33's to be on the safe side. I do see 35's with 10 bolts all the time and they seem to be holding up, but they aren't heavy wheelers either.

 

[crazy4offroad]

Keep an eye on craigslist for someone selling a 6" lift kit, I see them on my local CL all the time. If you can get the front lift springs you can use a shackle flip kit out back for 4" of cheap easy lift, then add a 2" block which doesn't have near as much axle wrap as a 4 or 6" block. Then you just gotta get shocks, which on the low end are around $40 a piece.

 

[HotRodPC]

If he comes back, I think there is a member on here removing a lift kit off a truck he recently bought. Remember he was looking for stock springs??? He might make you a deal and ship.

 

[Swims350]

why run that much lift with that small of a tire?

you can clear 33's stock and 35's with a 4 inch lift easy.

here's some budget for ya...

rear springs on the front, flipping sides on the front hangers, gets you are 4 inches of lift. if you put in an add a leaf that should get you another 2 inches or close to it, or maybe the zero rate blocks they are an inch. They are perfectly legal to use in the front as they bolt to the spring pack not just throw in like other blocks.

rears, same deal, you can get the 64's I think it is and swapp in, moving the hangers, or you can get cheap, just get the size blocks you want, or do the shackle flip and add a leaf or zero rates.

the fronts are called 52 inch swap, you can look it up online and find out more info.

 

[crazy4offroad]

Everybody knows, you wont be happy with whatever size you think you're settled on! With 6" he could run anywhere from 35-38 inch tire.

 

[Swims350]

oh yea most definately.

I wonder though I've only heard maybe one guy talk about add a leafs up front. You can do that right? no issues?

Then 2nd question would be can you do an add a leaf(spring) and then put on the zero rate block?

 

[HotRodPC]

I'd never use a block up front.

 

[crazy4offroad]

Zero rate blocks bolt to the spring pack so they are legal on the front.

 

[Swims350]

yes they do not throw in like a reg. block which are illegal as crap to use in the front.

 

[8T6K5]

...... block which are illegal as crap to use in the front.

Anything more than 1-2" in the rear should be too.

 

[Swims350]

everybody says that and we've never had a problem with them. we ran 4 inch blocks fine no issues.

some say no bigger then 4 inch blocks out back some say 2-3 or so out back is it. I never understood why. ours never axle wrapped or anything.

 

[HotRodPC]

Naww, I still won't use block up front. Bolted Zero rate or not. And agree, 4in should be max out back. It's not only a matter of wrap, it's a matter of stability. Just doesn't make sense to me when I see 6in blocks on the rear of a truck. It just looks like I can walk over give it a shove and push it sideways off it's axle, and at the distance the U bolts are under more stress. I know it works, but I don't like it. And not only that, it looks like **** to me.