3" Body Lift

Halen5150 · May 7, 2005

This is for an '00 Z-71 extended cab.I just got some BFG 285/75/16 tires about a month ago. I was thinking about adding the phord keys/blocks, but I'm looking into a 3" body lift instead. Will the truck look dumb with those tires...I mean, will they look too small for the truck? Let me know what y'all think!

MountaineerTom · May 8, 2005

Here's a couple pics of my '99 xcab with a 3 inch body lift and 285/75/16 tires. The first is with the factory wheels, and the last two with some American Racing Outlaw II's (P/N 62-6884, 16x8, 6x5.5 bolt circle, +25mm offset, and 5.5 inch backspacing

).

Here's a link to some info on istalling the body lift, Body Lift Installation, it was a pretty fun project.

Halen5150 · May 8, 2005

Thanks man! I ran across that webpage when I was doing a google picture search today for some trucks with 3" body lifts. Looks good, man. I'm going for it! Is that a performance accessories lift? Where'd you order the lift? The local places want about $360 or so for that lift. I've seen it on ebay for $255. About how long did it take to install? I've never added anything like this...I have access to all of the tools needed, but is it hard to do? Does it come with the brackets to lower the tranny cooler? Also, where'd you get that skid plate? I suppose I could always sell the tires if I wanted to go bigger. Thanks for answering all of my questions!

MountaineerTom · May 8, 2005

It is a Perfrmance Accessories kit, and comes with everything you need for the tranny cooler, e-brake cable bracket, steering shaft extension, and both bumpers.

I got mine from JC Whitney. It was $224, but they had a couple coupons, one for free shipping, the other for 15% (I think) off of any order over $200. I did the calculations and if I reember corectly, the 15% off was cheaper. It was around $210 after taking the 15% off and then adding in their s&h.

Overall, it was an easy job, just time consuming. If you have air tools it will speed it up, but I used hand tool for everything. There were 4 of us doing it. You don't have to have that many, I just had 3 others that wanted to help. We took the grille and both bumpers off Friday night, then started around 8-9 am on Saturday morning. We stopped to eat lunch and supper, so we were not in a real big hurry. I think it was around 11 pm that night when I went home. At that time everything was done except installing the lower air dam. I took a few days to figure out how I wanted to cut it for the tow hooks. I also didn't do the fan shroud mod that you'll see in the installation pics until quite some time later. I didn't have any cooling problems, I guess I was just board and wanted something to do.

I called Performance Accessories and asked if they would send me a copy of the instructions so I could look them over in advance. They had no problem doing that.

Good luck.

Halen5150 · May 9, 2005

Hey, does that kit from JC Whitney include the gap guards? The price on it right now is $275 shipped. The local guy I talked to gave me a price of $365 for the kit with the gap guards included. The install price is $275.

MountaineerTom · May 9, 2005

No, that didn't include the gap guards. I got them from some other online site for around $55. If I could have found the material, I would have made my own.

JML79 · May 11, 2005

I asked this question in another post-

How does the 1500 ride withn a 3in body lift? What diffrences could you notice in ride quality?

MountaineerTom · May 12, 2005

No difference in ride at all with only a body lift. Nothing suspension wish changes, so the ride will not change. You will have a higher center of gravity, but I never noticed a difference it the way mine handles.

Now, if you add stiffer tires also, you will more than likely get a slightly stiffer ride. About a month after my B/L, I changed the 265/75/16 C rated Firestones for 285/75/16 D racted BFG's. There was a difference in the ride after changing the tires, but not just the body lift. The BFG's make for a stiffer ride, but nothing bad in my opinion.

ethomass · May 12, 2005

Quick question about install price, I also have been looking into getting a body lift once school is out and I have a job to get money. How much would the job cost to get this istalled along with the price of the kit? Has anyone priced this out at a local shop?