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Bigdakota97®
Dodge Dakota
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9/08/2002
22:25:22
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 Subject: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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I want to raise my 1997 dak so bad, just dont know which way to go. Body or Suspension...... I dont do much, if any off-roadin', if i do, its very minor. i just love the looks of bigger tires and minor-moderate off-road capability, and to me, a truck aint a real truck unless its V8, 4x4, which i have, i just want bigger tires, and more height, by spending the least amount of money, with a 3" PA suspesion lift, can i fit 33" tires?? and will i have ne problem with steering or ball joints or ANYTHING at all, i dont care bout the frame showin, if it even does, ill just gloss it black, and would i need better shocks if i do this?? Will y'all boys please help me, u always do!!!!!
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born2steel21
GenIII
 
9/09/2002
01:08:50
|  RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Ok...I'm going to lay it all out for you...Here are the facts...
With a body lift you maintain the trucks factory ride.
With a suspension lift you alter the factory ride, usually by stiffening the suspension. This means its probably going to ride like a truck. (No more smooth ride for me)
With a body lift you can clear 33's.(You might have to crank the torsion bars or do minor trimming)
With the rancho suspension lift you can clear 33's.(You might have to crank the torsion bars or do minor trimming)
With the Tuff Country suspension lift you can clear 33's easily and clear 35's as long as you don't do any serious off-roading.
With the Hanson bumper you can run 33's stock, I believe. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong)
A body lift shipped to your door usually costs less than $200.00. A little more if you get gap guards.
A suspension lift runs around $1400.00 shipped to your door.
A body lift can be put on fairly easily by someone with a little mechanical know-how.
A suspension lift takes much more mechanical knowledge to install. A professional install cost about $600-$900 on average.
A body lift can be installed in 1 day.
A suspension lift usually requires 2 days.
A suspension lift requires an alignment afterwords.
A suspension lift sometimes calls for replacing worn components while installing the lift to insure the integrity of the lift. (Ball joints, tie rods, etc.)
A body lift requires you heat up and bend the shifter (sometimes, some people have said they didn't have to do anything but most have had to) if you have a standard transmission.
A body lift requires welding or fabricating your own extension for the 4X4 shifter if you have one.
A body lift doesn't require new shocks.
The only way you get better ground clearance is if you go with bigger tires, regardless of body lift, suspension lift or both.
I believe thats about everything. If anyone see's a discrepancy or something I missed, chime in. Hope that helps.
-- Death Before Dismount --
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born2steel21
GenIII
9/09/2002
01:23:08
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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What I mean by the 4x4 extension is the Performance Accesories body lift kit comes with a 3 inch extension for the 4x4 shifter. You have to cut the shifter rod and weld the extension in. Some people have used a threaded extension to get the job done instead of welding. You can search the threads and probably find some help with that if you need to.
-- Death Before Dismount --
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4wDakota
GenIII
9/09/2002
09:54:53
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Damn Scott,
Not bad for 1:00 A.M.
I think you covered all the bases.
My truck has a body lift and 33's and I love it. Check my profile.
<---------------------
98 CC 4x4, 5.2 Auto 3.55LSD
3" Body Lift, 1" Torsion Bar Lift, 33" BFG A/T KO's
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born2steel21
GenIII
9/09/2002
18:00:18
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Yeah, I was up a little late studying because I was at the Ohio meet all weekend. Figured I'd check the boards before I went to bed.
-- Death Before Dismount --
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Bigdakota97®
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/09/2002
21:49:24
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Message:
dang man, thanks a lot. thats all i needed to know, i knew one of u guys could help me. i belive i might go with the PA #" Lift, JC Whitney sells it for $156.95, how much to have a pro install, on average?? ne way, thanks a lot man!!!
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AZ_Purple
GenIII
9/09/2002
22:28:21
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Message:
Scott, no more clearance from the lift? I was looking at a rancho suspension lift and thought I would get something out of it. But I can put bigger tires on the dak.
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born2steel21
GenIII
9/09/2002
23:53:16
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Message:
The reason you don't get any more clearence with any lift is that your only lifting either the frame off the axles or the body off the frame. The only way you can get better clearence is by getting bigger tires. The bigger tires increase the gap between the axle and the ground, thus giving you better clearence. The suspension lift does raise the engine compartment which helps when fording through water so you decrease your chances of flooding your engine. Basically, if you have a truck with a 3" body lift with 33's and a truck with a 3" suspension lift with 33's, they both have the same amount of clearence through the axles. So its all about the bigger meats.
PA body lifts is what most of the people on this site are using and recommend. I don't know what the price for an install would cost but someone here is bound to know.
-- Death Before Dismount --
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HemiDakota97
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/10/2002
17:25:55
|  RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Born2steel, I don't hink you could clear 33's on a stock Dak even if you cranked the torsion bars some. The problem you would run into is that the Tire would be way to close to the back of the fender and would rub severly. Just some input from my experience with lifting trucks.
'97 Dakota 3" body, 4" susp.
33x15.50x15 Swamper SX's
"If you don't try it, you'll
always wonder if you could
have made it"
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born2steel21
GenIII
9/10/2002
17:44:56
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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if I knew how to post pics I would...check out forexfour's profile pic...he's running 33's with the torsion bars cranked and the hanson bumper
-- Death Before Dismount --
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born2steel21
GenIII
9/10/2002
17:47:46
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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I should have added this before...the only ways he's been able to run 33's is with the stock wheels...with aftermarket backspacing you can only go with 32x11.5 tires.
-- Death Before Dismount --
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scott
Dodge Dakota
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9/10/2002
19:26:21
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Hemidakota97,
Where did you get a 4in susp. lift for a 97 Dakota? The only lifts I`ve been aware of are the 3in Rancho and the 5.5 TC. Do you have the rancho kit and the torsion bars cranked? Just wondering.
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born2steel21
GenIII
9/10/2002
22:57:11
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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from what I've heard the rancho lift is actually 4" with the torsion bars cranked...same as the tuff country being 6" with them cranked
-- Death Before Dismount --
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HemiDakota97
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/11/2002
18:28:44
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Your right born2steel, it's a rancho 3" cranked to 4, but it more like 4.5" up front, it's the only way i could keep the lugs on the tires from ripping apart my fender flares.
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gmackDAK
Dodge Dakota
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9/11/2002
20:57:50
|  RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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What about the steering linkage? With the 3" body lift, wouldn't the steering shaft have to be lengthened?
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HemiDakota97
Dodge Dakota
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9/11/2002
23:07:44
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Gmack, the steering linkage doesn't have to be lengthed, if i remember correctly the only thing i had to lengthen on my truck was the t-case shifter.
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gmackDAK
Dodge Dakota
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9/11/2002
23:14:48
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Well, I have the electronic T-case switch, so I shouldn't have to lengthen anything. Great:)
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BIG TYMER
Dodge Dakota
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9/12/2002
00:12:42
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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You can put on a body lift yourself with little knowledge about cars. Just take off the fan shroud and cut the bottom half off. Remove the bumpers. Loosen the body bolts a little on one side then take them out on the other and jack the truck up. Slide the blocks in and bolt it on. Then do the other side. Now use the parts they supply to relocate the bumpers. I didn't have to use the steering extension on mine nor did I use the shifter extension. Instead I went to a hardware store and got a threaded rod coupler and put that on then put a new shift knob on. I also did a little trimming and with the body lift, cranking the torsion bars a bit and the trim I can clear 35's.
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Bigdakota97®
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/24/2002
14:54:54
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Message:
so, let me get this straight, i know this has to be the hottest topic on the 4x4 boards so far, ne way. On my 1997 5.2 4x4 V8 Dak, putting a 3" body lift on it, i dont have to lengthen the steering, but lenghten the 4x4 floor shifter, the lift comes witht bumper mounts, to make everything look good, i can clear 32s, but will have to crank torsions up 1" to moderatley clear 33's, will cranking the torsions 1", i know it will toe in the tires, but will it be bad to the point where it wears out the tires real bad?? id like 33s, but can live with 32s, thats cool, is there ANY thing else i need to know, al details, i know y'all have covered a lot, and could prolly all togther write a book on ne thing to deal with Dakotas... ne way, thnak ya,
o, ne thing to do with the fuel and brake lines, i know bout the radiator hose, needs a universal one, right?? ne thing else at all??
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HemiDakota97
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/24/2002
15:45:50
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Message:
actually big, there is a spacer you get with the body lift kit for the steering that does have to be put in. When it comes to the effects of cranking the torsion bars it changes all the alignment specs, after you crank the torsions you should take your truck for an alignment. and the radiator hose shouldn't have to be changed mine is the same year and model as yours and i didn't have to change mine. At the most you will have to flip it bt i doubt it.
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Bigdakota97®
Dodge Dakota
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9/24/2002
21:35:30
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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aight man thanks, so everything is cool, other than that, dont want to mess the alignment up, so ill stick with 32s, ne way, ne thing else i need to know?
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HemiDakota97
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2002
16:13:18
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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you might still have to raise the torsions a little with 32's if you decide to go with 15x10's.
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dakslt
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2002
15:11:30
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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i am looking to do the PA lift as well, can i stick with the stock wheels or would i have to buy new ones if i put on 33's....if so, what kind of wheels do you suggest?
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dakslt
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2002
14:41:24
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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anyone out there?
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HemiDakota97
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2002
14:44:48
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Do you have any lift besides the PA Body lift your wanting to get?
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jeff
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2002
19:00:55
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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Sorry to change the subject, but I have question and I am in dire need of suggestions. I have a '99 RC Dakota RC 2WD with the stock 16x8 rims on. I am installing a PA 3" bodylift soon and was wondering what size tires would look best. I want fairly large tires, but I also really want the look of clearance over the tires as well. So basically what I am asking is: What is the largest tire I should get that I can still have a good amount of clearance over? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
-jeff
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dakslt
Dodge Dakota
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11/07/2002
14:47:50
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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i was also looking at the tuff country lift
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seth
Dodge Dakota
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3/06/2003
20:37:00
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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how much of a body lift will i have to put on my truck to clear 33x15, and if i wanted to lift my truck 6 inches could i go aheead and just put two 3 inch body lift kits on, it would be much cheaper than to go with the suspension???? thanks fo the help
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lizard
Dodge Dakota
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3/10/2003
22:19:50
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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sry guy you cant combine body lifts; body lifts simply raise the body from the frame. As a result you can put biggerm tires. What no one told anyone on this page is that a body lift truly lifts the body enough to allow tires three inches bigger in the tire wells. A suspension lift actually only lifts the truck enough that tires half the suspension lift taller than the stockers will fit in the wheel wells. Also, body lifts do only raise the frame from the body. This means more of the engine is exposed to the elements. If you mud at all than expect to have to fill in these gaps. If you really want to lift your truck that high than you need to combine a body lift and a suspension lift. If I was you id pick either a 8" to 11" Whiplash kit without any body lift (body lifts are easier to install and much cheaper but there are many bad effects) or go with a 4" suspension lift and a 2" body lift without crankin the torsion bars. Crankin the torsion bars an inch is ok, but any more will really destroy your truck over a little time. If there is anyone out there that has had cranked torsion bars (over an inch) on a daily driver/mudder for over three or four years without any negative effects Id like to hear about it (including simply an awful ride that is worse than any suspension lift)
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Ric
Dodge Dakota
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3/10/2003
23:02:22
| RE: im so confused, help me lift my 97 kota
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I live in tallahassee, fl and i saw earlier that you asked how much it is to install a body lift, well around here 350 has been the cheapest and the guy said he would put my tires and wheels on free, they used to be cheaper but everything has gone up lately i guess, other prices were 375 and 400 and they wouldnt put the tires and wheels on for free. the place was truck n car concepts so if u have one call them and see what they say. everything in this gay town is more expensive anyway, some state capital crap, especially the gas. but pretty much call around and thats the best deal i have gotton so far.
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