I'm going to start putting a lift together for my truck. I'm looking for about 5-6" of lift. The truck is my daily driver and used for work. I don't tow or haul all that much but may be more in the future.

It sounds like the long arms of choice are made by Dick Cepek. I can't seem to find anything other than their tires online. Does anyone know where I could order some for my 97?

Also I could use some spring suggestions. I'd like to get all the lift from coils up front and avoid AAL and huge blocks in the rear. It sounds like Atlas makes good leaf springs, has anyone here used them?

Thanks

 

when I researched lifting my truck (and I spent a year or 2 doing it) What I found out was that the DC long arm kit, skyjacker 7" front box kit, and atlas rear springs were what 90% of the people felt was the ultimate lift for a 2nd gen. my truck is a daily driver and I was afraid the man was going to harass me for being to high so I went with the skyjacker 4.5" kit and full rear leaf package from skyjacker. the truck went up about 6". With the addition of billstein shocks it rides better then it did stock. Very nice rideing. Now however I wish I had gone to the 7" (who knows how high it really would have been) since neither truck we have has had a problem with the fuzz. All lifts seem to be leveling lifts witch I personally dont like at all. So I took the bottom most spring (that big thick flat one) from the original pack and added it to the bottom of the SJ pack. I also added a 1" block on top of the factory blocks. Truck seems to sit just right. handels great. try rocky mountain suspension in NC. I get most of my stuff there and they can order just what you want. Like if you want springs from SJ, a drop pitman from rancho or something they can handel it. they might be able to get the DC arms too. (they do involve some cutting/welding if you didnt know)

 

How much cutting and welding are we talking about? Moving/adding a few brackets?

6" lift is the most I want to go just becuase I jump in and out of the truck so much.

Anyone here have experience with a shackle flip on our trucks? Did you keep the factory block? How is pinion and shackle angle afterwards?

I was thinking maybe a 4" atlas on top of the factory block or just a shackle flip...

I will for sure be going with the Thuren track bar and bilstein shocks.

 

yeah id say deffintly those bilstein shocks, they made all the differance. the cutting and welding is for the front body mount on each side of the frame. You ahve to cut notches out to clear the swing of the arms and then weld in a reinforcing bracket. You also have to cut with a hole saw some holes in the frame for the mounting bracket of the new arms. Lastly I'm thinking you might not be able to use the DC long arms on a low lift like that? since on a 6-7" you have to cut clearance out of the body mount on lower lift it might still hit? im just not sure. my arms on my skyjacker with 6" really dont seem to bad and unless you want tons of suspsnion travel the ride is still nice at only 6"

 

The lower factory control arm bracket has to be cut off as well as notching the body mount with the Dick Cepek kit. I wouldnt run less than 6" of lift with the DC arms.

Make sure you have some good drill bits as there are a lot of holes to drill. I think I went through 3 1/2" and 1 9/16" bits when installing the frame brackets. I didnt bother drilling holes and bolting the body mount reinforcement brackets on and just welded them.

 

Rock Krawler makes set of long arms that look pretty nice. They are around $600 on Ebay.

I'd like to piece something together but Top Guns has RCD 6" long arm kits for $1200 right now. Although it may not be the best of everything it looks pretty good. All I would need is a DSS and Thuren track bar to take care of the whole suspension. I could do a shackle flip or buy leaf springs later to get rid of the AAL and blocks if I didn't like the ride...

 

Extreme Suspensions Inc. sell the Dick Cepek Long Arm kit. Here's the link:
http://www.extremesuspensions.com/li...lift_index.htm

 

DC long arms- $570
TS Lift Kits 4" leaf springs (actually came out to 5-6")-$170
Custom 3" blocks- free
3" coil spacers- already on truck
SJ Extreme drop pitman- $170
DC 6" springs- free for me but similar 5-7" from SJ are about $200
Thuren Track bar- $320
36" Pro Comp shocks- $130
SJ dual steering stabilizer- $120
Extended rear brake line- $80

All I need now is Thuren crossover steering and a DSS Steering stabilizer, and to build some traction bars for the rear, or I may 4 link and bag it........and some new tires.

 

When I was researching long arms, I was told that all of them had rubbing issues . I went with the DT radius arms (they're great) I understand that Thuren is coming out with a set as well. You should check them out.