OK, I sold my 91 blazer to my best man and he now wants to "hook it up".

He wants 36" or 38" tires and a soft ride. Technically, I am his mechanic and advisor so I thought that I would look for a little advise from the experts myself.

I am thinking that I will take the four inch blocks out of the rear and install the ORD shakle flip kit for starters. I am not sure how much lift I need to clear 38" tires but I would assume a four inch lift spring added in with the ORD flip kit in the rear would be enough?

I am hoping that longer shakles and a 6" or 8" lift spring in the front. Any idea on what shakles to use, or how long to make them?

I am trying to steer clear of a body lift if possible but if I have to it will be last (if necessary).

I am thinking about calling national or deaver and buying some springs from them but I am also hoping that someone can give feedback on some skyjaker softrides or maybe some recomendations? This will be a street truck 95% of its life so not hardcore wheeling stuff is necessary, but I do like to do things right. I can/will cut and weld new spring hangers if longer springs are the way to go, what are you guys running?

Thanks for your help!

If you are going 8" lift in the rear, go with an 8" front spring. A lifted front shackle will mess up your steering geometry unless you drop the front mount the same distance.

How wide of a tire is he going to run? That will have a lot to do with clearance. If he gets a narrow tire, he could get by with 6". Otherwise it will probably be 8". Unless he doesn't mind cutting sheetmetal.:D

I would prefer to not cut sheet metal as the truck has not been abused (YET) and still looks pretty.

Hoping for a 14.5 or 15.5 tire width. Rather go higher and look cool than get a 12.5 with not as much lift, My bro is mostly interested in LOOKS:)

I am just wondering if it takes 6" or 8" or 10" lift springs in front to clear 38" tires? I have not bought the springs yet and I want to know what to shoot for.

my friend has a 81 chev pickup with a 8" lift springs f/r and a 3" body lift and his 38/14.5/16.5's get into the front fenders while flexing, u will have to cut the back of the front fenders to clear the 38's with a 8" lift. i dunno if the body styles are different or not so its depends

Another thing to consider is driveline angle. With that much lift, you will probably need to call Jess @ Highangle Driveline. Also, wheel width and backspacing will have something to do with weather the tires hit. If you need to get more lift once you get the springs, Off Road Design (http://www.offroaddesign.com/) has a 1" body lift and a 1" add-a-leaf kit that should help fine tune your needs.

here is an older chevy done by deaver springs....came out nice

www.race-dezert.com/wwwthreads/files/6-22279-Dsc00171.jpg

If he wants to keep a soft ride you should change your mind about not putting in a body lift. Depending on your wheel backspacing you can get by with a six inck lift and a 3 inch body lift and have a lot softer ride than if you went to a eight inch spring. JMHO but thats what i would do.

I used to run 8" Alcan springs on the front of my blazer and they were awesome I would still be using them if I had not recieved an offer that I couldn't refuse to go to a 3 link and coils. But back to the question 38's are tough to fit with out trimming sheet metal. I'm looking at putting a set on the wifes burb and the front fenders are already cut pretty good for 35's with a 6" lift. Thank fully my wife has a great attitude, "It's only sheet metal cut it straight and clean untill they fit, damnit, I'm goin' wheelin!".

You pretty much have to cut sheetmetal for 38s on a reasonable lift. I ran 38x15.5 Swampers on 15x10s with 4.25" of backspacing and had to cut some serious metal on the front fenders. Even then the tires would get freindly with the firewall when it was flexed with the wheels turned. You'd probably need to go with 10" of total lift to clear 38s without trimming, and even then they might rub the corners of the fenders in the front. That is, unless you did a 10" spring lift, then the thing would so damn stiff that it would probably never rub.

Is this thing still on 10 bolts? What's the gearing on it? If it's all stock he's going to be breaking parts pretty regularly.

I agree with Shaggy on this one. I am running 37x12.5x16 with a 6" lift on a '90 Jimmy, no body lift, extended front shackles, and 1" add a leaf in the rear and had to cut the front fenders back to the wheel well. If done carefully, loosing a little sheetmetal isn't noticalbe to anyone who doesn't know it is supposed to be there.

BANG BANG!!!!!! whats that sound?

it's the sound of those 10 bolts snapping like a twig the second yer friend puts his foot into with those 38's:eek: