How to lift your truck CORRECTLY!

[@IgobySensei]

Don't have a square body, but I have a NBS 2002 2500HD 8.1 liter Allison. Did a SAS, 10 inch lift with custom leafs, 40 " tires, 79 Ford D60 kingpin HP, 5.13 gears. I have spent more than I anticipated, I am at $21,000. Thought I would be at $14,000.

[@johnjr3870]

My burb is shackle flip rear, 6" front (with mil wrap, short spring out). You mentioned blocks up front, illegal in most states. Most people over-shock also and forget the tire and its pressure is big part of the suspension. I still bounce between 35s and 37s for tire size. I rarely run full PSI.

[@MerricksGarage]

Blocks like the add an inch or easy inches. Yea I don’t even get into damping! Ha ha.

[@hawkie333]

I have a Cummins swapped 94 on 35’s with GM 14 bolt in the rear. Clearance at the diff is not great. I think you either have to equip for overland/light offroad or go full rock crawl.

[@MerricksGarage]

nah, these things are pretty smooth on the bottom (especially if you shave the lip off). I think the rock hang up thing is waaaay overhyped. Better line selection and you are gold

[@josemiguelgl]

I’m running a Rough Country 6inch full suspension and 37’s and runs great, no rubbing I paid $850 dollars for the complete suspension. But I agree with you James with a 4 inch and 35’s you can do most of the obstacles without breaking and modifying the rest of the truck

[@MerricksGarage]

What about drivelines?

[@josemiguelgl]

@@MerricksGarage what do you mean? I’m running a 6.2 Detroit diesel, 700r4 transmission, NP208 transfer, 10 bolt diffs 4:56 gears with posi limited slip

[@MerricksGarage]

With a 6” lift did your drive lines still work? Long enough?

[@josemiguelgl]

@@MerricksGarage the suspension kit comes with a steering arm drop and I had to drop the transfer 2.5 inches. Everything works as it should, the only downside is that steering is wider now

[@Derpymech]

Really excited to see how the ORD leafs ride! I thought my k5 rode and drove horrid until i rode and drove a few rough country lifted jeep’s 😂

[@MerricksGarage]

You and me both!

[@MerricksGarage]

My friend Duke who had the sas’d 1500 had the ORDs in his setup and I couldn’t believe how good it was.

[@Derpymech]

@@MerricksGarage that’s good news! I debated heavily if i should shell out the extra$$$ for 4 link, but with it being a weekend warrior, and mostly used on the highway when it gets driven i figured ORD leafs were a good middle of the road option!

[@MerricksGarage]

it will be amazing

[@jrbarriga8357]

I got 35's with 6inch lift it handles ok I wonder if I went to 4inch it would be better since I take the kids out alot and occasionally drive it to work

[@retrocashgaming]

Keep the 6 inch lift and get ORD springs, and cross over steering. You will be happy. I went from a 4 inch lift and all never go back

[@jrbarriga8357]

@@retrocashgaming thanks for the advice I just wanna make it safe as I can to take the kids out for a spin just gotta get that rear seat conversion so I can put the wifes 3rd row seats out of her Tahoe & in to my blazer

[@madeinamerica2531]

Hey Merrick, I’ve been watching many of ur vids lately after taking possession of my dads ‘85 K5. Trying to decide what to do. He’s collected many vehicles over time as well that I have access to. One being an ‘80’s gm service truck with a PTO generator and air compressor. It does have a 14BFF and Dana 60 king pin. I also want to take the 2001 5.3L out of my old Chevy 1/2 T pickup that has about 230k on the ODO. This vid had some good info, I just need to decide how far I want to go. Thanks and I enjoy your videos a lot.

[@retrocashgaming]

Sounds like you got the right recipe, for a badass k5

[@madeinamerica2531]

@@retrocashgaming thanks, I just don’t know how far I want to go with it all at once. Maybe start out with 35’s and see what I think. I want to keep it as low as possible without a lot of fender trimming. Can I get away with a 3” lift and it clear the tire with moderate wheeling at first.

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea that sounds rad. Keep it low and stock. Kinda sleeper

[@retrocashgaming]

@@madeinamerica2531 i would do the 5.3 swap first and let everything else follow the LS platform is a game changer in these old trucks

[@madeinamerica2531]

@@retrocashgaming sounds like it from everyone that’s done it. Now I just need to do more homework. Thank you.

[@AZ-Z71]

It sucks having IFS, but I am more than happy with my 6 inch lift and 35s. I have gone many places and probably places I shouldn't have lol but good tires and tire pressure is a big help 👍🏽🌵

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea but look at it this way, the money you would have spent on a Dana 60 and drive lines can be spent on killer IFS stuff that is out there now. I don’t think IFS has to always be a yes or no thing. When done properly IFS can be incredible

[@AZ-Z71]

@@MerricksGarage You are absolutely right 👍🏽

[@supersport1986]

I love the fact your building the burb I have always had a soft spot for square body's in general I have had a bunch of them over the years. Currently I have an 1985 Chevy k30 reg cab dually that was my dads I have wheeled a lot and it really does great definitely turns heads when your either leading or following a group of jeeps was at an off road park near me not the Moab lol although I would love to go there someday. current setup is stock lift general grabber at2 tires 305 with a turbo 400 cast iron transfer case has dana 60 kingpin front and dana 70hd out back open diffs I know it sounds crazy but it is actually very capable. I'm wanting to do a versions 2 with it but currently a lot of my flex is via the frame and yeah that's not good just wondered should I box the frame or would cadging it be the best way to add rigidity and I want to remove some leves from the rear set to help aid in the flexing department I am planning on putting a flat bed on it and I know that will stiffen the rear section up greatly up front I'm planning on getting ahold of ORD and ordering a set of springs and I want to put a locker in the rear. I have a few engine options I'm considering but haven't decided which route to take yet. 1st option 1969 lt1 with a 69 z/28 cam camel hump heads with a 750 double pump and the th400 all freshened up with a reverse manual valve body also has trans brake (had used the truck for sled pulling in the past till I blew my pulling engine hence the 305 even with open diffs she would dig with all the biters it has was just for something to do in the summers so my budget was extremely small) option 2 is a drivetrain out of a 95 dodge 3500hd 12valve Cummins 4speed auto rebuilt and has a heavy duty converter in it. This is a back burner project so I have a lot of time to consider my options

[@MerricksGarage]

the boxing the frame argument is wide and varied. I believe there is benefit to boxing, but I also believe leaving some flex in the frame is a good thing too

[@supersport1986]

@@MerricksGarage yeah I have seen the argument go both ways just not sure what the best route to take would be I'm thinking a little bit softer suspension would probably benefit more than anything thus allowing more suspension travel and less rigidity in the suspension and hopefully less frame flex

[@ransomsgarage8311]

My first truck (‘90 Ford ranger) I ran a 6” lift with 3” body lift and 35”s. I broke and upgraded tons of stuff along the way. Learned a lot when I built my current truck (‘95 F150, SAS) I planned 37”s and built it accordingly but still run a 35” cause for what I do it’s bulletproof,

[@MerricksGarage]

🤘🏻👍🏻

[@carlsandvik2893]

Sound advice man! 35s and 4" lift did great for years and gave me time to collect parts and money (3 years) to go to stage 2! It was hard to wait, but worth it in the end. You're absolutely right, at least in my book. The thin pack leaf setup should be awesome for the burb and make a world of difference. It would be good to discuss the challenges with steering setup with thin spring packs (thicker/taller stack) depending on the steering setup. I had some lessons learned (wasted money) there! :( Cant wait to see the burb come together!

[@MerricksGarage]

Dude, you are the perfect example of this. Build it, wheel it, then see what else it needs!

[@Rays_Bad_Decisions]

Unless your actually rock crawling 30s will go over anything. Just look at trophy trucks

[@caseyharris82]

Completely unrelated to the video but why isn’t “lockers before light bars” a shirt?

[@MerricksGarage]

You know. That’s a damn good question. I need to fix that

[@caseyharris82]

I will order the first day it is available on your website

[@jacobellis8135]

Wait... It's not Friday..

[@MerricksGarage]

SURPRISE!! Sneak attack video!! Ha ha

[@Johnny9ers]

I have a 74 blazer..what brand of lift do you recommend fir a 4" lift

[@juanfo7307]

Money

[@ltethan649]

i have a k5 that i bought with 2.5" blocks front and rear. i want to do it right. If i put the 52s in the front, do i use the old fronts in the rear for the shackle flip? the fronts currently are frowning, are they sagging or are they supposed to be this way?

[@MerricksGarage]

The stock will frown eventually. They were pretty flat to begin with. The tip in the back is to run 56” from a suburban. That gives you some lift with a shackle flip. But they will be very stiff. It’s all about compromise when doing it cheaper

[@ltethan649]

@@MerricksGarage Ok so my plan is shackle flip rear, and new tuff country springs for the front. seems the simplist way. Your channel is great dude, keep it up.

[@BenLeBlanc1]

If you had a choice and were going to run 35s, would you go with a K10 or a K20?

[@MerricksGarage]

K20

[@retrocashgaming]

I run ord custom 6 inch leafs on my blazer, im amazed on how amazing it rides.

[@MerricksGarage]

The first time I felt “good” leaf spring suspension I was like wait it can do that!?! 😂😂🤘🏻

[@retrocashgaming]

Hahah same here, but anything ord is always good

[@markottinger]

Don't forget when you go to 1 ton's because your bigger than 35's you have to get crossover steering then you need to install the ord steering box brace and maybe the plate but if you go with 40's you should go hydraulic assist steer as well. That's the can of worms being opened! $$$

[@MerricksGarage]

yea, I didn't really even get into Phase 2.0 lol. And based on all the questions I have been getting through email and IM, there is a lot I still need to cover!

[@jonbui1904]

did you find a new home for the Suburbans drivetrain ? I tried emailing you .

[@MerricksGarage]

I have a bunch of people interested but no one has arrived to pick it up yet. Where are you located?

[@MerricksGarage]

Just saw your email

[@MerricksGarage]

Emailed.

[@jonbui1904]

@@MerricksGarage i emailed you back.

[@americanhomeimprovements7932]

🤘