Daystar body lift?

[Degnol]

There was a 1" Daystar body lift on ebay, and I passed on it. I know that body lifts are generally frowned upon, but it looked like a "quality item" (in the words of Cousin Eddie). I have the mini truck power steering on my '66 with the big ol' bus steering wheel and I thought the body lift might give me a little more room between my knees and the steering wheel, besides I need to replace the body mounts with something as they are worn out.
So, does anyone run this?
If it is not a good idea, who's kit do you use? Energy suspension?
I'm not looking to fit any larger tires under it. I have about 3.5" of suspension lift, if that makes any difference. And i use mainly as a DD.


Ed

[LukeZero]

I don't think you'll be raising the body separately from the floor (unless you're doing something very, very wrong during the install) -- so, the distance from your knees to the steering wheel will be the same. The distance from your butt to the frame, however, will grow.

As for whether you need new body mounts, thats a different question, best answered by an expert, not a smart ass.

[Degnol]

Luke, thanks for the reply. I've thought about this and because the firewall, through which the column passes is forward from where I sit, I thought I might gain something, even though I'm raising the seat, too. I don't know how I ended up encroaching on the knee space, unless I cut the column wrong to weld on the rag joint. My install was not as simple as a later cruiser. I could just change to a smaller diameter wheel, but I dig the old bus wheel.
Ed

[Toploader]

I have the energy mounts and like them. Great product imo.
One thing to whatch for on doing a body lift with p/s is the shaft angle and your steering shaft clearance. If its a non telescoping shaft you may need to get a longer one.
Body lift on an early cruiser steering shaft "without" p/s will lower the colum as it is mounted directly to the steering box on the frame without any joints.

I would go with a smaller wheel, and just replace the worn out body mounts with a new kit. Less crap to move around and modify for a body lift.
There are others out there, but Energy is the only one I have used.

[Degnol]

Thanks Toploader. I am going to lower the seatmount first and I guess, just replace the body mounts with no body lift. If I can't get the clearance I need, I'll switch wheels.
It really isn't a problem for me, I'm 5'10", but the son is 6'2" with long legs, just like the UPS man.

Any good sources for the Suspension Energy mounts? I called Kurt at Cruiseroutfitters, but he is currently out of stock.


Ed

[Toploader]

Energy does not show a p/n for cruiser body mounts anymore.
Daystar shows one. Any cruiser shop should be able to get you one.
Here is some info.

Daystar p/n is 1-KT04004

Specter has a kit as well.



Hmmmm im 6'2....how old is your son?

[Degnol]

He's 21 and knows a shitload more than I do....if you know what I mean
The pic you show...Is that Daystar or Energy Suspension? Looks like a lift?

The son and me...


Ed

You can't see what my apron sez..."If its Dad's Weekend, why the fuck are the dads cooking?"

[lavazuk]

LETS GO BUCKEYES


Sorry.. OSU -2000-2004.. played hockey there...


sorry for the chit chat..

[LukeZero]

buckeyes don't stand a chance...Irish all the way.

We just sold our Fiesta Bowl tickets because our lodging arrangements fell through.

[Toploader]

[QUOTE=Degnol]
The pic you show...Is that Daystar or Energy Suspension? Looks like a lift?

[QUOTE]

Thats specter's kit. No lift, just replacement body mounts.

I need one of those aprons.

[65SWB45]

Ed, FYI I've had my eye on an Energy kit on Ebay; JTO's got 'em for less than my cost! D'oh

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Poly-...24337719QQrdZ1

As for your plans, I wouldn't lower the seat, but I would modify the clamps in the bottom of the dash that hold the column to make it hold the column a little higher.

That said, I would not bind up the rag joint between the column and the box, so I would want to cut and reset the angle on the box mount to match the angle of the column.

SO, what I'm saying is that if you're gonna do it, round up an extra pair of clamps to play with, cut 'em, put 'em in, see if you like where the column and wheel end up, and if you do, then cut the box mount to match. If the column move doesn't satify your needs, you've still got your stock brackets intact to reinstall and are only out the cost of the brackets you bought to experiment with.

I might even know where you could get a couple of those brackets at a good deal.