lifting my truck soon. help!

min9861 · December 29, 2004

hi, i have a brand new 04 silverado with a v8. its a 4x2. im thinking of getting a lift really soon so i need help on what to get. i wont be going hardcore offroading, mostly for looks. i want any where from 5 - 7 inch suspension lift. my question is, which company i should go with? ive heard good things about rcd and pro-comp. how are the shocks that the lift kits come with? what part wil be cut/modified to install the kit? i was hoping of putting 16"'s with 35" tires. oh, another thing. do i really need to change my gears to 4.88's if im going to be rolilng with 35"s? what can possibly happen to my car if i keep the stock gears? thanks.

Jacqson · December 29, 2004

hi, i have a brand new 04 silverado with a v8. its a 4x2. im thinking of getting a lift really soon so i need help on what to get. i wont be going hardcore offroading, mostly for looks. i want any where from 5 - 7 inch suspension lift. my question is, which company i should go with? ive heard good things about rcd and pro-comp. how are the shocks that the lift kits come with? what part wil be cut/modified to install the kit? i was hoping of putting 16"'s with 35" tires. oh, another thing. do i really need to change my gears to 4.88's if im going to be rolilng with 35"s? what can possibly happen to my car if i keep the stock gears? thanks.

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You can check out Fabtech (www.fabtechmotorsports.com) or RCD (www.racecardynamics.com). Both companies make top quality kits for your application and they both use quality shocks and the lift kit components are bolt on so you don't have to cut and weld to replace the suspension. If you use taller tires with the stock gears you won't be as quick from a standing stop but you will have a slightly higher top speed and theoretically better highway mileage. Hope this helps

potz1999 · December 29, 2004

I have a Fabtech lift on my 99 2WD and am very happy with it. The nice thing about Fabtech is that you can buy all the parts in pieces (so you can mix and match) and their customer service is good too. If you really want to drop some cash for the ultimate lift, check out CST. They make some wicked 7" kits.

As far as gears go, the stock gears and 35's will put a lot more stress on the trans. If you have a heavy foot (as I do) you will save money by putting new gears now rather than paying for transmission rebuilds every 5000 miles (there's a longer story here). Going to 4.30's with 35's will put you in the stock rpm range. 4.56's and 35's are at the 10-bolt's upper boundary of capability, but the 4.56's will definately move you much better. Do they even make 4.88's for a 10-bolt? Might want to check a junkyard for a 14-bolt and swap in some 4.56's or 4.88's. This axle will handle those gears and tires much better, but keep in mind that the 14-bolt is a 8 lug wheel pattern where the 10-bolt is a 6 lug.

I have 33's with 4.10's and a bunch of bolt-on's, but my dealer buddy who drives stock Sierras all the time says mine is much quicker than those.

Also, just as a side note, you mentioned that your truck is brand new. I would check with the dealer to see if they will uphold your warranty with a lift.

min9861 · December 29, 2004

I have a Fabtech lift on my 99 2WD and am very happy with it. The nice thing about Fabtech is that you can buy all the parts in pieces (so you can mix and match) and their customer service is good too. If you really want to drop some cash for the ultimate lift, check out CST. They make some wicked 7" kits.

As far as gears go, the stock gears and 35's will put a lot more stress on the trans. If you have a heavy foot (as I do) you will save money by putting new gears now rather than paying for transmission rebuilds every 5000 miles (there's a longer story here). Going to 4.30's with 35's will put you in the stock rpm range. 4.56's and 35's are at the 10-bolt's upper boundary of capability, but the 4.56's will definately move you much better. Do they even make 4.88's for a 10-bolt? Might want to check a junkyard for a 14-bolt and swap in some 4.56's or 4.88's. This axle will handle those gears and tires much better, but keep in mind that the 14-bolt is a 8 lug wheel pattern where the 10-bolt is a 6 lug.

I have 33's with 4.10's and a bunch of bolt-on's, but my dealer buddy who drives stock Sierras all the time says mine is much quicker than those.

Also, just as a side note, you mentioned that your truck is brand new. I would check with the dealer to see if they will uphold your warranty with a lift.

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yea, before i bought the car, i asked the salesperson if it would avoid the warranty if i got it lifted and he asked me how much. i told him around 6 - 7 suspension and he said it was no problem so i think its ok, but it doesnt hurt to double check!

thanks for the info on the gears. i guess ill have to spend some extra cheese for those gears. hah

oh, one more thing, on some lifted trucks, it seems like their tires pop out to the side more then it should. its not wide tires, it just sticks out too much. why is that?

min9861 · December 29, 2004

i want something like that. how many inches/tires/rims are they? im pretty new to this stuff so im not exactly too sure. thanks.

tmf6902 · December 29, 2004

That looks like it's more than 6 inches.....prolly 8 maybe 10?? It's really hard to tell from a pic....but I know my truck with a 6 inch fabtech isn't that high. I wish it was though

LiftedHDRado · December 29, 2004

That blk truck was done by OUTLAW...thats an HD...thats probably a 10"-12" kit on either 37's or 38's.....I would go with a 6"-8" CST(California Super Trucks). I had that kit on my old 03 chevy and it was great. No complaints at all! I personally do not care for FAGTECH..oops I mean Fabtech...its JUNK....Whichever kit you decide to go with, do not get any body lifts..they are gay......

min9861 · December 30, 2004

That blk truck was done by OUTLAW...thats an HD...thats probably a 10"-12" kit on either 37's or 38's.....I would go with a 6"-8" CST(California Super Trucks). I had that kit on my old 03 chevy and it was great. No complaints at all! I personally do not care for FAGTECH..oops I mean Fabtech...its JUNK....Whichever kit you decide to go with, do not get any body lifts..they are gay......

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yea, i was thinking of taking my truck to outlaw for my lift. i heard they got great prices and services. 8" cst sounds nice...

LiftedHDRado · December 30, 2004

I've heard good things about Outlaw...As a matter of fact Outlaw is going to lift my HD diesel after the 1st. I already left the deposit with them to order the parts. I am going with a 12" Cognito kit with dual fox racing shocks in the front, Rolling Big Power Exhaust State II, and running 17'x on 37's. I strongly recommend Outlaw to do your work. You should go and talk to the guys and see what else they recommend.

potz1999 · December 30, 2004

yea, before i bought the car, i asked the salesperson if it would avoid the warranty if i got it lifted and he asked me how much. i told him around 6 - 7 suspension and he said it was no problem so i think its ok, but it doesnt hurt to double check!
thanks for the info on the gears. i guess ill have to spend some extra cheese for those gears. hah

oh, one more thing, on some lifted trucks, it seems like their tires pop out to the side more then it should. its not wide tires, it just sticks out too much. why is that?

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Two reasons why the tires stick out. 1: some 2wd suspensions come with longer lower control arms that will increase the track width in order to increase travel. 2: almost every lifted truck runs rims that have less backspacing than the factory wheels. If you like the look, go with backspacing between 4" to 4-1/2". less that 4" could give strange alignment and drivability issues.

Also, I agree with LiftedHDRado about the black truck's lift and body lifts, but not about his comments about Fabtech. Obviously not 2WD guy, huh?

LiftedHDRado · December 30, 2004

No offense to anyone out there with Fabtech...Again, its my personal opinion..sorry if I said it like that. CST makes a good lift for 2wd's....as my last truck had. PEACE

potz1999 · December 31, 2004

No offense to anyone out there with Fabtech...Again, its my personal opinion..sorry if I said it like that. CST makes a good lift for 2wd's....as my last truck had. PEACE

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I wasn't offended, but curiously, most people who rag on Fabtech, I have found to have little love for 2WD trucks. Obviously I was wrong in this case, but the correlation has been pretty accurate in the past.

min9861 · January 7, 2005

if i get an 6"rcd or 7-8" cst suspension lift, would there be any cutting required? how about the problems with front tires sticking out to the sides? thanks.

potz1999 · January 7, 2005

if i get an 6"rcd or 7-8" cst suspension lift, would there be any cutting required? how about the problems with front tires sticking out to the sides? thanks.

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Do you have an HD 2WD? What is the current front suspension: coils or torsion bars?