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Taking Out A Lift Kit

Supersporter40

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Supersporter40 Enthusiast

Supersporter40

Posted
Posted

Hi all!

 

I am one of those farm kids GM and Chevy has forgotten, I gotta have my manual transmission! :lol:

Time also forgot me as my favorite body style is the 01 and 02 Chevrolet 2500. Mix that with needing a crew cab to pack my family around and you have a tough search on your hands for a low mileage truck.

 

But........there may be light at the end of the tunnel. We have found an 02 Crew cab 2500HD with the monster 8.1 and 6spd manual tranny. We pull a late model bumper pull trailer that really taxes our 01 2500 6.0L so this should be just the ticket.

 

Now my challenge. The 02 I want to buy has a Fab Tech 6" lift and 37" tires on 20" rims :D . I am way past feeling the need to turn chicks heads as I drive down the street not to mention I don't care to drag a moose into the back of a truck that high!

 

From what I have read of the Fab Tech lifts, they specify cutting a mount tab off the front differential in some cases and I suspect this one applies. Here is the easiest solution I can come up with:

 

-Take the 02 Chevy 2500HD, and remove the lift kit, tires and rims.

-Swap these goodies into my 01 Chevy 2500HD (crew cab also).

-Put the factory parts from my 01 onto the 02 truck.

 

Here is a potential problem where I need your help.

My 01 has the 6.0L w/4spd auto tranny. Will the diffs interchange?

I plan to swap both the front and rear diffs on each truck to keep each one matching.

 

Bear in mind I will likely get a local shop to do the work. I have basic mechanical knowledge but I just don't have the time. It is easier for me to do extra hours at the welding shop than to have my truck out of commision while I flounder in the evenings. I am hoping the diffs are all standard. I realize the ratios could be different but if I change them both that is a non issue.

 

Thanks in advance for your help! :thumbs:

I will post pics of the truck when we get it. That could be awhile as it is 1500 miles away and includes exporting and importing.

2000DV4.8 Senior Enthusiast

2000DV4.8

Posted
Posted

I'm just guessing here, but I see no reason why the front diffs would be different.

 

If I'm wrong, consider this a free bump. By the way, welcome to the site. :thumbs:

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted

One thing that might be of concern is what modifications were needed to install the drop front differential bracket. I'd bet the swap will work, but that might be an area to look at closely. All of the rear stuff is an easy swap. I think the Fabtech kit has different front spindles, shocks, etc. which can be swapped. One other possibility would be to just go with some 285s and leave the lift. Just a thought.

Supersporter40 Enthusiast

Supersporter40

Posted
  • Author
Posted
One thing that might be of concern is what modifications were needed to install the drop front differential bracket. I'd bet the swap will work, but that might be an area to look at closely. All of the rear stuff is an easy swap. I think the Fabtech kit has different front spindles, shocks, etc. which can be swapped. One other possibility would be to just go with some 285s and leave the lift. Just a thought.

 

I would leave it as is but we often load the quad in the back. Also, I don't want to have to do the "Midgit toss" to my wife and two kids at every stop. :thumbs: As a dedicated hunting truck a 6" lift would be a royal pain in the wazoo. If I could find a picture of our last trip you would understand. Picture a sled deck with two quads, then a 46" and 58" team of Bull moose strapped on top of them! It was brutal hauling all that up on the deck!

 

Not sure if mods were made to the truck frame or just the diff housing. I think you are right with the shocks. Looks like different A arms, torsion bars and other goodies that go beyond my memory/knowledge.

I will go to a 2" lift like my 01 has. Anymore than that is too much of a good thing.

 

Thanks for the welcome Dan. Only reason I thought they might be different is because they each come from a different transfer case(?) and posibly the same for the drive shafts.......

2000DV4.8 Senior Enthusiast

2000DV4.8

Posted
Posted
Thanks for the welcome Dan. Only reason I thought they might be different is because they each come from a different transfer case(?) and posibly the same for the drive shafts.......

 

While I have no experience with it, it doesn't seem logical (or cost effective) for GM to put two different front diffs in the HD trucks, and having a diff specifically for the manual transmission trucks seems useless since there were so few. But, who knows. The only way is to get under there and compare, I guess. :thumbs:

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted
Thanks for the welcome Dan. Only reason I thought they might be different is because they each come from a different transfer case(?) and posibly the same for the drive shafts.......

 

While I have no experience with it, it doesn't seem logical (or cost effective) for GM to put two different front diffs in the HD trucks, and having a diff specifically for the manual transmission trucks seems useless since there were so few. But, who knows. The only way is to get under there and compare, I guess. :thumbs:

 

The big deal on major lift kits(above 3 inches) is that you sometimes have to cut stuff off of the frame to install the bracketry for the lift. If so, this is an irreversible process unless yo replace the frame.

 

I think this is what the original poster is asking about, Dan.

2000DV4.8 Senior Enthusiast

2000DV4.8

Posted
Posted
The big deal on major lift kits(above 3 inches) is that you sometimes have to cut stuff off of the frame to install the bracketry for the lift. If so, this is an irreversible process unless yo replace the frame.

 

I think this is what the original poster is asking about, Dan.

 

I thought the question was about cross compatibility between the diffs in the trucks with the auto trans, and the manual trans, since one of the diffs is probably modified:

From what I have read of the Fab Tech lifts, they specify cutting a mount tab off the front differential in some cases and I suspect this one applies. Here is the easiest solution I can come up with:

 

-Take the 02 Chevy 2500HD, and remove the lift kit, tires and rims.

-Swap these goodies into my 01 Chevy 2500HD (crew cab also).

-Put the factory parts from my 01 onto the 02 truck.

 

Here is a potential problem where I need your help.

My 01 has the 6.0L w/4spd auto tranny. Will the diffs interchange?

I plan to swap both the front and rear diffs on each truck to keep each one matching.

 

I could be misinterpreting the whole thing though... :thumbs:

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted
The big deal on major lift kits(above 3 inches) is that you sometimes have to cut stuff off of the frame to install the bracketry for the lift. If so, this is an irreversible process unless yo replace the frame.

 

I think this is what the original poster is asking about, Dan.

 

I thought the question was about cross compatibility between the diffs in the trucks with the auto trans, and the manual trans, since one of the diffs is probably modified:

From what I have read of the Fab Tech lifts, they specify cutting a mount tab off the front differential in some cases and I suspect this one applies. Here is the easiest solution I can come up with:

 

-Take the 02 Chevy 2500HD, and remove the lift kit, tires and rims.

-Swap these goodies into my 01 Chevy 2500HD (crew cab also).

-Put the factory parts from my 01 onto the 02 truck.

 

Here is a potential problem where I need your help.

My 01 has the 6.0L w/4spd auto tranny. Will the diffs interchange?

I plan to swap both the front and rear diffs on each truck to keep each one matching.

 

I could be misinterpreting the whole thing though... :thumbs:

 

 

NO, You are correct. My point was that some lift kits require alterations to the frame. He was saying that a tab was cut off of the diff and he wanted to swap them. As long as they are the same ratio I think he should be ok there. I was adding the possibility of there being frame alterations. I guess we are talking about two different things. Sorry. I misinterpreted your post somewhat. I guess my answer wasn't very plainly stated...

2000DV4.8 Senior Enthusiast

2000DV4.8

Posted
Posted
NO, You are correct. My point was that some lift kits require alterations to the frame. He was saying that a tab was cut off of the diff and he wanted to swap them. As long as they are the same ratio I think he should be ok there. I was adding the possibility of there being frame alterations. I guess we are talking about two different things. Sorry. I misinterpreted your post somewhat. I guess my answer wasn't very plainly stated...

 

You better f*ckin apologize! :lol:

 

:thumbs: To be honest, I really don't even know what's going on anymore, my dog woke me up by licking my face at 5 this morning, and I've been up ever since... :D:dunno:

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted
NO, You are correct. My point was that some lift kits require alterations to the frame. He was saying that a tab was cut off of the diff and he wanted to swap them. As long as they are the same ratio I think he should be ok there. I was adding the possibility of there being frame alterations. I guess we are talking about two different things. Sorry. I misinterpreted your post somewhat. I guess my answer wasn't very plainly stated...

 

You better f*ckin apologize! :lol:

 

:thumbs: To be honest, I really don't even know what's going on anymore, my dog woke me up by licking my face at 5 this morning, and I've been up ever since... :D:dunno:

 

Done with those tests yet?

2000DV4.8 Senior Enthusiast

2000DV4.8

Posted
Posted
Done with those tests yet?

 

One more tomorrow at 10:15. Still have to study for it, I've been putting it off for 2 hours... :thumbs: I think I did well on my physics exam though, I know I passed, but I think I got somewhere in the 80 range, and that drafting final was beyond easy. And the professor brought donuts in. :D

Supersporter40 Enthusiast

Supersporter40

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It could be the tab mount was cut off the frame and I got it mixed up with the diff, that would be nothing new for me to do. :lol:

Hopefully it isn't the case but only time will tell.

  • 4 weeks later...
Supersporter40 Enthusiast

Supersporter40

Posted
  • Author
Posted

As a bit of an update I *think* we got the truck, should be here in a week or two I hope.

A young fellow I talked to recently put the same lift in his Duramax so I took a look at it, doesn't look too bad to remove.

I have to wonder though whether it is worth the effort to put the lift in my other turck or maybe I should just get another front diff and brackets etc for my new truck and in essence cut the work in half?

 

Is a like new lift kit and the tires and modified front diff sold as a complete kit going to get better money or should I put it in the other truck?

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