I was at my shop the other day when I saw an casual acquaintance driving past in his hopped up 4X4. The truck is the other major brand but that's not important. He saw me and pulled into my driveway to say "Hi". The truck sits pretty high with big muddier tires. I glanced at the frame of the truck and noticed the way he got the lift height was by cutting the. Frame pieces from another truck and welding the chunks onto the bottom of the frame of the truck. The best I can describe what he did was cut the frame about 3-4" fore and after of the spring mounts of the donor truck. On the back he had about a 8" block between the free and the top of the rear axle's spring.

I'm a stock guy when it comes to vehicle, not that I don't like modified vehicles, it's because I don't know enough to do it safely. This considers himself an expert in doing all kinds of automotive relate builds. I asked him about his lift system and he thought it was the greatest. I didn't say anything but I thought it was kind of a butcher job, one step above on the safety ladder than a rat rod.

From what I described what are your thoughts? Just curious.

 

Several years ago I worked on a project with a bunch of engineers from General Motors. One day we went out for lunch. During the drive we saw one of their trucks that was lifted in what was probably a similar method used by your friend.

As we continued, one of the engineers said "that guy must've missed the lecture on Roll Center". That managed to get the rest of the guys into a fit of laughter.

I've had a lot of 4x4's over the years. Ground clearance can be a good thing. There is, however, a trade-off between driveability/safety and the overall ground clearance.

Is this one of those "if some is good, more is better" things?

Dan

 

I take it you dont have annual safety inspections where you live?
I am sure it looks like crap but if the welds are good it is probably strong enough to use. Normally with hack jobs like that the lift is not the issue, it is all the messed up steering linkage and driveshaft angles. Around here it wouldnt matter because it would not pass a safety inspection.

 

Somewhere I have a picture of a truck I saw at the Pick'N'Pull, also a Chevy, a crew cab 4x4, where the guy simply took another entire frame and welded it 6" above the "real" frame, resulting in about a 16" body lift. Sounds similar to what you're describing in principle at least. To be honest, other than cornering dynamics, it looked safer than some of the mega-lifted 4x4's I've seen around here and on the 'net.

 

No, we don't have safety inspections here in WI. We did many years ago but they were joke. My dad knew the beat cop and he handed out safety stickers like candy.

Like I said, I don't do modifications, other than minor ones, so I don't know if this was a good thing or not. I just personally thought it wasn't. Ross I've seen picture similar to what said and yes, that's basically what he did, just leaving out what wasn't needed of the frame.

 

I agree bob I have seen a lot of trucks lifted and quite a few were done unsafe. I have always had ford trucks all 4wd all of which had very minor suspension lifts all were bolt on pieces I never had problem with any of my trucks,I would never cut,grind or weld on my frame, but it is amazing what people will drive

 

Gotta be careful with high lifts! My brother in law had a first generation Bronco with giant mudders and a lift kit. It had a hot 302. The floor was about 30 inches off the ground. He never had a problem because he was careful driving it. Sold it to a guy and gave him warnings about handling. The guy made it about fifteen miles down the road until he came to the first real curve. Rolled it into a ball, totally destroyed it.
Elmo

 

I'd be most concerned about lack of frame flex and stress risers where they welded the 2nd frame on.

I had a lifted truck back when I was young and wanted to be cool. Was fun and looked good......but otherwise pretty useless. Now I prefer functionality.

I think I have become my father. LOL

 

Haven't we all become our fathers?
I knew a guy in high school that had a '62 Falcon that was high enough off the ground that he was able to sit in an office chair and roll right under it. Even back then I thought what a waste of time and money. A solid front axle, wheelie bars, a hot 289 with a 4 speed, and he couldn't drive it fast. He had to crawl around corners, but he always drew a crowd when he drove up.

 

Exactly what you say about becoming our father's. I caught myself many times yelling at my kids for the same things my dad yelled at me for.

 

Saw a car at a show that was converted to a "gasser". He spaced the entire front sub frame down with "I" beam, like they used in my basement to hold up the first floor. It was hanging down for all to see, bolted between the subframe and the frame.

 

There a thread on the HAMB with a load of posts with pictures of butchered cars and trucks showing the plain stupid way some people build their rides. They use ratchet universal joints in their steering, weld axle to the front edge of leaf springs, the horror goes on and on. The scariest thing is these are driven on the open roads with the unknowing general public.

 

Mayhaps he's compensating for something that's a little shorter ??

 

i seen a 70s ford with a 80 ttb 4x4 front end in it at the salvage yard getting parts.