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bobsgym
Dodge Dakota
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5/13/2004
20:22:43
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 Subject: Body Lift Question
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what is the largest size tire that i can put on my 1989 dakota 4x4 with a three inch body lift without trimming anything off? and is there any down side to installing a bodylift? any help you give would be great. thanks
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Grant
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2004
09:37:14
|  RE: Body Lift Question
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I put a 3" Trailmaster body lift on my '93. I chose to install 32" x 11.50. I needed to do some minor trim to the front fender (just the plastic piece and the bottom corner at the door) to stop rubbing during full turns and flex.
For extra off-road clearance I also went to the local spring shop and added a leaf in the rear. I then cranked the torsion bars for an extra 1"+ in the front.
My best guess is 31" x 10.5 would not pose any major problems. Realistically I would suspect that an extra 1" on the diameter from stock would not cause any problems. To go bigger you may need to tweak a few small things.
Use measuring tape to tell how much clearance you have now when the steering is fully turned and the front compressed. This will give you the minimum clearance. Just subtract the extra 1/2 diameter difference from your clearance. If there is still clearance left you should be ok.
One last thing to Check. Your new tires are going to be wider than your old ones. If you are useing the same rims there might not be enough clearance during turning. I purchase American Racing blakc steel rims to replace my stock ones. I made sure that the back spacing was smaller than tock, moving the center line outwards, so that during turning there would be no rubbing.
I hope what I said makes sense? Kind of a long way to not get you a complete answer though. Hope it helped.
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2004
21:43:59
| RE: Body Lift Question
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oh wow, finally some one got the question kinda answered. thank you.
grant,
i have an 87 that im goin to put the 3" lift on. do you have any pics of your truck and what all you had to trim? also do you know what the exact backspacing your rims have? also, whered you get your body lift from and what did it cost?
sory bout all the questions, but no one will give me any answers.
thanks
-steve
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Grant
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2004
22:00:26
| RE: Body Lift Question
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Pics at
http://members.rogers.com/patricia-grant/Truck/Truck1.htm
Lift was bought from a shop no longer in business. I paid approx $250 CDN for it. I have a recently started a business at www.ctmotorsports.ca selling lifts etc. We expect to be live online by the end of the month. Where are you located? I can get you a price tomorrow, just give me the vitals on the truck. Ext cab or regular?
Down side to body lift is you raise the body off the frame. This causes you to have to cut the fan sroud so the engine fan spins. Problem with this is it reduces your air flow through the rad. You may have to change the lower rad hose so it fits properly. If you have the V8 this can be a problem (According to the trailmaster install sheet) they don't recommend the lift for V8's (93' anyhow) because of this.
The lift took me and a buddy 8hrs to install. This was because one of the bolts under the front door was seized. Pretty easy to do otherwise. The instructions were clear. Just remember to remove the diff and tranny vents from their mounting on the body before lifting or you will break the tubes (I learned the hard way).
I will check the back spacing tomorrow. I think it is 3.75". I used the recommendation from Trailmaster for their suspension lift.
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My Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2004
23:31:39
|  RE: Body Lift Question
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I have a 93 extended cab and just want to find a way to raise it just a liitle.
My leaf springs are under the rear axles and I want to know if I can just put the axle on top to raise it up. I will also put spacers in the front springs to even it out because it is 2wd.
So I just want to know if that is the most simple and cheapest way to raise my Dakota.
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2004
16:21:44
| RE: Body Lift Question
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grant,
thanks man. you are the only person to give me an answer. btw, sweet truck, i like it alot.
i have an 87 reg cab 3.9 auto 4wd, im located near pittsburgh PA.
what all was involved in doin the work yourself? any special tools needed (im pretty good with tools), b/c if not, id prefer to do it myself, rather than paying a shop to do it. how much trimming did you have to do? i have my Tbars cranked to the max right now, so im hoping i wont have to trim too much.
also does the kit come with everythin needed to do the lift? i know some kits dont come with bumper brackets, ect.
hey my,
www.aimind.com sells an axle flip kit for your truck. look under lifted 2wd, then click dodge i thinks. it will give you about 4"? of lift in the rear. im not sure about the front, you could do the spacers, but i think they are only 2". not sure tho.
thanks for the help.
ill think of more stuff i wanna ask.
-steve
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Grant
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2004
19:31:20
| RE: Body Lift Question
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Message:
An air gun helps. Cranking using a ratchet would take forever. You will need a good floor jack for lifting one side at a time. WD40 or Liquid Wrench for the stubbrorn bolts. The trail master came with the front bumper brackets and the 4wd shifter extension. Not for the 5 speed shift, but it wasn't needed. Steering extension also. Don't know what comes w/ Auto. I don't remember extra parts. Check the trailmaster web site. http://www.trailmastersuspension.com/
Start with the Bed. Unbolt one side only and use the jack to raise it to put the spacers in. Insert the spacers and bolts, snug up the bolts. Do the same to the other side. Check that the bed is still in line with the frame, cab etc and tighten the bolts. Same procudure for the cab but you really have to check all the linkages etc. You will have to remove the shroud from the radiator, and trim it later for the fan. I replaced my fan with a flexlite 15". Better air flow when wheelin'(after half the shroud was cut out).
Also watch the brake lines, diff and tranny vents etc.
I did the lift at a buddies place 7 years ago so I don't remember all of it. It was pretty easy and the instructions were good.
Good Luck
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2004
20:50:36
| RE: Body Lift Question
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ok thanks.
one thing, what about fuels lines and such? there enough slack in them so that will still fit with out having to extend them?
-steve
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Grant
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2004
22:01:14
| RE: Body Lift Question
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I didn't have to do the fuel lines on mine or any others. Except as I mentionewd I split one of the vent lines because I did not disconnect them first.
I did have to "help" one of the brake lines into a new position though, if I remember correctly.
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2004
22:34:12
| RE: Body Lift Question
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alright, thanks man. you're a big help. if somethin else comes up, ill ask.
thanks
-steve
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Kenny
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2004
11:08:57
| RE: Body Lift Question
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where can i pick up one of these trail master 3inch body lifts? Ive helpped installed one on a 99 Z71 but i heard these were just plan easy. Ive only been able to find the 2inch performance accesories lift but i want 3inches. my truck is a 87 2wd 3.9L 2bbl A904 auto. Its got a 7 1/4 rear w/ an open 2.71 diff. I already got 30x11.5r15 TSL/SXs on the stock rims but i found some that are 15x8 w/ 2inch back spacing(i know they are gonna be way on out there but i want it like that so i can wrap the front of my truck up in a muddy field just from turning(hey its 2wd thats what i gots to do lol) but i wanna know more about this body lift i was hoping to put a lift on i this summer just b/c i want it to be a lil more fun. and also i was thinkin about relocatin the battery to behind the seat and takin out the inner fenderwells so i could run even bigger tires( my goals is run 35x12.5s when all is said and done) but do you think if i do a 3inch body lift take out the inner fenders and put 15x8 rims w/ 2inch back spacing i could run 33x10.5s? anyway thanx for you time
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2004
18:27:56
| RE: Body Lift Question
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im not too sure either, you might be able to order it straight from trailmaster, or search the web.
you could do the 3" body lift. rear flip kit, and run 2" spacers up front. you get about 5" of lift up front and about 7 in the rear.
check aimind.com, they sell taller coil springs i think. not sure, but take a look at their site.
-steve
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kenny
Dodge Dakota
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5/20/2004
17:00:38
| RE: Body Lift Question
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why would i want to lift the back 2inches over the front? and the stock front susp. cant handle over 3inches of lift b/c of the steering will bind.
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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5/20/2004
23:44:17
| RE: Body Lift Question
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well frankly, i dont know what you are gonna do then. if that aint good enough for ya. find somethin else.
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