Lift options for GMC Sierra

96tacolx

96tacolx

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Location
Gastonia
I`ve pretty much searched all posts that had to do with "lift" and didn`t really find what I was needing to know.

I`ve got a very young friend that has a `85 GMC Sierra 4x4 with a 305 and 4speed man. trans.. This will be his daily driver (once he gets his license)

He`s wanting to be able to put 35`s on it so we are in the process of researching what kind of suspension lifts are available.
Anybody have experiences/opinions as to what is best to go with? (from best to worst) Will he need to regear? I tried to talk him into going with 33`s for now but he`s got his mind made up on the 35`s.

This truck will more than likely be a street queen with very light offroading if any at all.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
I can't imagine that he would need much lift to run 35s. But On that truck you could block rear since he isn't going to be off roading much if at all, ($20 at auto zone or the like), and then probably new springs on the front. Or just a small body lift.
 
Check out ColoradoK5.com . Lots of good info there about full-size GMs.

I have fit 33x12.50's on stock aluminum rims (15x7, approx 3.5-3.75 inch backspacing) on my 1990 K5 Blazer and 1990 Suburban. No lift, no trimming.

If you have wheels that stick out further (wider, less backspacing) you may need to trim the rear lower corner of the front fender opening so the tire doesn't rub there.

Many people run up to 4-inch lift to fit 35-inch tires, but I know a friend with 36-inch TSLs on his K5 with 2-inch lift and front fender trimming. I also think there was a post on ColoradoK5 about a guy fitting 36's on a K5 with no lift. Search over there.

What axle gears does he have? My K5 with 33's, 3.73 gears, TBI350 and TH700R4 does fine. Overdrive works fine on the highway. Since your friend has no overdrive, and the 4-speed trans has granny-gear (if it is SM465), his 305 would probably be OK with 35's and 3.73 or 4.10 axle gears.

Hope this helps!
Richard
 
im running about 2 inches in the front of my '86 k-5 and about 4 inches in the rear and i can fit 36 tsl's with very little trimming. its all about what look you want, because he is obviously not going to 4 wheel it much. if he wants the "big truck" look id go for a rear shackle flip and some 4in TC springs in the front. that should look decent and will perform well off road if he chooses to use it for that.
 
Thanks for everyone`s input. I forwarded the coloradok5 link to him so he could do a lot of reading and research
 
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