Yeah, I was looking at the 2" kits on Summitracing.com -- looks annoying
to install and from the photo doesn't include the proper extensions for
any of the steering shafts, shifters, etc. Last thing I need is the
lever on my 4wd shifter breaking in the middle of winter due to a crappy
design of a cheap kit, and I've yet to see a quality one for pre-97 Dakotas.
I'd need after market fender flares with these rims anyhow due to how
much they stick out of the fender wells on the front, the rear looks
fine but I'd end up having to put flares on to match. I dunno, when I'm
on vacation starting Thursday morning of next week I think I'll cruise
out to my Dad's place and do some test fitting to see what I can do
without spending another 14 hours straight cussing at the truck in the
garage... if all I have to do is unscrew the plastic factory fender
flares and screw on some 3" aftermarket ones, I'll do that. Once a
month is plenty for those sessions, thanks, and I just finished one this
last weekend!
MattB
Don Rey wrote:
> If you do manage to find a 3" kit that gives you front bumper
> brackets, let me know or buy a kit for me too (i'll buy it off you
> with your markup). even if you find a kit with bracket templates, i'll
> buy a copy of the templates from you.
>
> I managed to scrounge up a trailmaster 3" kit at some point in the
> past. I never installed it... for one thing my dak is a rust belt
> dak... so it will need some pb blaster soak time and i'm not ready for
> that aggrivation. plus my 31x10.5s fit just fine with the jeep rims
> (gotta love 5 on 4.5). but that kit didn't have brackets or even
> templates... and the steering shaft extension looks flimsy. it did
> come with a new 4x4 shifter boot (whoop dee).
>
> I guess if/when I replace the clutch, I'll force myself to also do the
> lift kit. An extra 3" of play in the tunnel will help enormously.
> That, a trans jack, and shelter with a concrete floor will make me
> wonder if I died and went to Dak heaven, compared to the last time I
> dropped the drivetrain.
>
> Eh I digress.
>
> Don in CT (depressed about not going to the BBQ)
> 89 DakVert 318 NV3500 4x4 (almost done with cooling system overhaul)
> 74 Dart Sport 340
> 98 Jeep ZJ
>
>
> Terrible Tom wrote:
>
>> I would not do option 3 - sawzall and hammer... thats something ya do to a
>> ford ranger thats rusted to hell and you dont care about its body lines
>> anymore.
>>
>> Body lift gets my vote. I don't know if you can find a 2 inch lift, I only
>> found three inch lifts when I did mine.
>>
>> It's not that bad to do really. You have 8 cab mounts with an extended cab
>> I think... and 6 or 8 in the back for the bed. Start with one or the other,
>> dont undo both cab and bed at the same time. The gas tank filler neck
>> should have enough slack init that you dont have to stretch it. Just have
>> to pull it out of the tank a couple inches and make sure it doesnt kink when
>> you lift the bed. The fan shroud has to be removedor have the bottom hacked
>> off by the fan blades.Worst part is the steering shaft extension. I bought
>> a Trailmaster kit - back when they were actually selling stuff... the slip
>> shaft extension isn't teh greatest, but perhaps another compant (performance
>> accessories?) will have a better solution. Best solution would be to have a
>> custom aftermarket shaft made.
>>
>> Radiator hoses did not need to be changed for the lift... there was no
>> adverse cooling effect to the body lift. The automatic trans gear shift rod
>> for the column shift will need to be lenghtened.... i found one off an older
>> Ram that fit very well... Trailmasters solition was a 3 inch rod you had to
>> cut and weld into place... cheap bastards. No wonder they went to hell. You
>> also need to lengthen the 4x4 gear shifter. Hopefully the kit will include
>> an extension - the gear shifter boot didnt need to be replaced. I
>> recommend changing the cab mount bushings while you have them apart.
>>
>> Also you will need to recheck the cab and bed mounting bolts from time to
>> time... as well as relocate teh bumpers up. I threw a roll pan on the back
>> which solved that issue - I still havnt remounted the front bumper. Good
>> kits will supply you with new brackets. Cheap kits tell you to "drill three
>> inches up andd remount"
>>
>
>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Sep 01 2009 - 00:06:01 EDT