body lifts
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More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 683
Likes: 6
From: North Georgia
body lifts
I need to put a body lift on my 86 crew cab for some tire clearance and was wanting some opinions on a brand,installations problems or tricks. Ideas on how to relocate bumpers, filling gaps at frame. What have you other guys ran into when doing this.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 2
From: Billings Montana
Wiring needs to be extended, (maybe), steering linkage needs to be lengthened, fuel filler necks extended, if you have a 4 speed the shifter hole needs to be enlarged so the shifter and the t-case shifter don't hit the floor, etc. etc. etc.
If it were me, I'd save up my money and get a suspension lift. You can find one through Suspension Connection pretty cheap. My buddy had a 3" body lift on a 76 Jeep Wagoneer. He was going down a trail when we saw a log lying half buried across the road. He hit the log and the bottom half of the Jeep stopped, but it's body kept moving forward 3-4" and caused so much damage I had to tow him home 25 miles.
If it were me, I'd save up my money and get a suspension lift. You can find one through Suspension Connection pretty cheap. My buddy had a 3" body lift on a 76 Jeep Wagoneer. He was going down a trail when we saw a log lying half buried across the road. He hit the log and the bottom half of the Jeep stopped, but it's body kept moving forward 3-4" and caused so much damage I had to tow him home 25 miles.
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
I got mine off of ebay for pretty cheap, but I had to make my own bumper brackets. I didn't have to extend any wires or relocate anything. I have an 85 single cap manuale 3 spd. I did notice that the shifter settled a little closer. A steering shaft extenstion would be a good idea. The only problems I ran into were rusted bolts and rotted body bushings. I didn't worry about filling gaps...
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 614
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola, FL
if automatic you will have to extend the shift linkage. the steering shaft will need to be lengthened(some kits will come with an extension). i left the gaps on my 78 model and didn't worry about raising the bumpers either. but a good kit should come with brackets for the front bumper at least. you might need to cut the bottom out of the fan shroud and reroute radiator hoses depending on motor you have. you may or may not have to lengthen the gas filler hoses,(i didn't). lot of people bash a body lift, but for a third of the price of a cheap equivelant suspension lift it's not a bad alternative. the problems you can have is going more than 3in in height and not using grade 5 or higher hardware.
edit: the body lift also won't require getting front end aligned and worrying about longer driveshafts or driveshaft angles. all you'll need to do with the body lift is realign the headlights down a bit.
edit: the body lift also won't require getting front end aligned and worrying about longer driveshafts or driveshaft angles. all you'll need to do with the body lift is realign the headlights down a bit.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 5
From: Muskegon, MI (home)
I have installed a couple Performance Accessories bodylifts with good results. From what I have seen for the 80-86 Ford trucks they don't offer a bumper raising kit... probably because the bumpers bolt directly to the frame. If I were going to do a body lift on my 84 I would simply trim the frame horns off, raise them up 2 or 3 inches (however high the body lift is) and tack weld them back on to acheive the desired height. When everything is straight and square weld the frame horns up solid and add a few gussets to restore the structural integrity. The rest of the parts needed are usually included in the kit... shifter extensions, drop brackets, etc.
