How big is my Lift? Please help!

[syncrogt1]

Ok, I bought this 1984 x-cab 4x4 truck used and its got a lift but this is my first toyota so I can't tell how high it is over stock. Here are the dimensions:

rear shackle center to center: 6-1/4"
front shackle center to center: 6-1/2"
body bushing height: 2-7/8"
33" tires
ground to frame height: 24"(taken at lowest part of frame under cab)

I assume that the springs are lift springs also, that's why I included the frame height and tire size. By knowing the shackle lift and tire size, I should be able to figure spring lift too.

I've heard that rear shackle stock length is 3.5", is that right?
How big are the body bushings normally? 1/2"?
If anyone can provide stock dimensions, please let me know, It sits too high and I want to atleast get rid of some body lift, maybe get shorter shackles too, I don't know.
thanks in advance
frank

[KToy]

stock shackles are 4 inches eye hole to eye hole.

the stock body has no body mounts it has small bushings.

how big of a tire can u run ??

5 inches = 35's roughly and 33 - 2-3 inches roughly

it sounds like you have a 3 inch body lift and no suspension lift... but if you can fit 35's without cutting the wheel wells then i would say 2 inch suspension and 2-3 inch body lift.

[syncrogt1]

I know in many cases bigger is better but I'd like to stick with the 33's for now. I'm going down to a 1inch body lift cuz I hate the look of them but I want more cab clearance than no body lift at all. My shackles are giving me a 1 inch lift KTOY? So my springs aren't doing anything(i.e. stock then)? Man it sure looks high for no spring lift... I know all my steering stuff is rubbing the springs like crazy. I'll have to look into this. Thanks for your help.

[bbagwell]

If you are measuring eyehole to eyehole then the shackles are giving you one inch of lift. If you can post up a pic of the shackles and springs that would make it easier to tell what you got.

[KToy]

pics would help a lot. and u can fit 33's with a 3 inch body lift and 6 inch shackles no problems whatsoever.


can u fit 35's ?

[syncrogt1]

Yeah it seems that the truck sits too high for only a body lift and a 1 inch shackle lift. This is what I figured: a 1 inch shackle lift and if stock toys run 29" tires, then my tires give me an additional 2". Not talking about the body lift yet, that's only a 3" lift. This truck sits too high for only a 3" lift.
I'll post pics tomorrow.
I'm not worried about fender clearance in the front(i'll cut the fenders), and the back is soon to be flatbed so clearance is not an issue there either. I want to drop the 3" body to only a 1", so I can still weld rock sliders on a little easier than no body lift, and so that all the bushings would be new. I don't trust the 3" thats on there now.
Does anyone know what the stock height is from ground to frame on a solid axle 4x4 toyota? this might help me. Like I said, I'll post pics tomorrow of my junk so you can get a better idea of what I'm talking about.
Thanks again for the help.

[syncrogt1]

here's some pics of the suspension. Since I'm new to non-rack and pinion vehicles, what's the name of the link going to the steering arm and to the steering box arm that's rubbing on my springs?

[KToy]

stock leaves springs with shims in the front to help with the vebration and the death wobble.

you have a body lift and a shackle lift.

and a stock toyota can fit 31's no problems man

[syncrogt1]

KTOY, thanks man I appreciate it. What is the reason it can only fit 31"s? Is it fender clearance or do the tires rub on something else? I'll clearance the fenders if need be...
OH, did you see my drag link? It's hitting the u-bolt. Without going x-over is there a better design than stock?

[bbagwell]

Between the body lift and the shackle lift you probably have 4-5 inches of lift.

[KToy]

what i meant to say was a stock toyota of that year can fit 31's with no clearance issues.

so with your setup you can fit 35's with rubbing and some fender clearance.


but ya i would say 1 - 1.5 shackle lift and then a 2-3 inch body lift is on your truck.

a few questions so we may assist you better.

whats the purpose of this truck ??? rockcrawler/trailer queen

daily drive/ weekend warrior?

or just to have a lifted truck to drive around ?


ill give a different answer depending on what your doing and what not. toyotas are very basic to build and yours is gonna be like the rest of them

5.5 inch kit lift and 35's and lockers and dual cases.

[syncrogt1]

Good questions, I just want something to drive daily, with some tire and some flex. Body lifts aren't for me. I want to do a 1inch BL for rockslider clearance and wheel clearance but I hate seeing the frame under the truck.
I don't want 35's 37's etc. I can see that they give you more room under the axle and they look hella cool but I just want to go to moab and minimoab and try new stuff, exceed my expectations. I think that can be done with flex instead of lift. My budget won't allow much of either right now but this is a long gradual project.
I'm converting to fuel injection for reliability and that's where my knowledge base is. My cousin mike's truck is carbed and I can see some probs he has on the steep stuff.
I want to do dual cases, not gears, to retain as many stock parts as possible. I believe that some engineers are really good and companies like toyota can afford to do more thorough research/testing that Marlin/inchworm/whoever. With a non-factory thing like dual cases though, you have to go with the leader, someone with experience like marlin.
Long story not so short, I want to see what I can do with my truck only lightly modified. The reason I bought this truck is not for the lift, its because its an xcab and sr5. It has the options I wanted and was at a price that allowed me to personalize/fix it the way I wanted. I'm kind of relieved to find no suspension lift, I'll see what a basic truck can do and not get hassled by the cops when I drive it to work.
sorry about the long post....
again, what's wrong with my drag link, looks like the steering knuckle end should be mounted above the steering knuckle arm instead of below it, it wouldn't hit the ubolts that way.

[KToy]

your steering lies with the shims under the leafs most likely and a worn out tierod end.

convert to crossover or histeer asap and never worry again.


as far as a cheap offroad non ticket toyota.

i didt a body lift and cut the wheel wells and fit 35's on and a rear welded locker and went on 90 percent of the trails in moab and all the trails at minimoab.

but do u want a cheap truck or a built truck.

33's are fine and a locker with ur setup is fine.

[syncrogt1]

Yeah I think a locker is a good idea, especially where I won't have much lift. I didn't want to go welded because of tire wear and daily driving, I was hoping locrite or something similar.

As far as histeer/crossover, I thought that was for trucks with big lifts, can you do crossover with stock truck?

As far as "but do u want a cheap truck or a built truck" hopefully I can build it myself slowly and do it right, spreading the costs out over 6mos-1year+.
I want to focus on flex more than lift if thats possible...

[KToy]

well for 33's and a locker i would do

6 inch shackles eye hole to eye hole and 1 inch body lift.

or toy rear hybrid up front and 60 chevies in the rear or maybe some mazdas or something in the rear and then stock length shackles and no body lift or 1 inch body lift.

should give you more flex the 2nd way and ride good still and keep you at about a 3 inch lift either way.

[myota]

you have at least a 3" front lift in your springs. Your rear is lifted as well, but it's hard to tell from the pics.

For hi-steer you need 3" of lift to clear, so you are good.

If you want to continue running 33" tires but don't want to be so tall you can cut your bl chucks in half with a band saw(or whatever you have) and run a 1" or 1.5" BL.

It seems as though you really want flex though... if you post some pics of yourself flexed out we can tell how much flex you might gain from swapping other leafs in. It might or might not be worth it.

for now, good luck.

[myota]

here's a link for lowest lift w/ hi steer (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=387526)