Chevy & GMC Vans

LOL! I'm Scottish and now sunburned to heck...be careful what you wish for!

When we do the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, WI, while the weather isn't too hot, the mosquitos might as well be B-15's on crack...so count your blessings...lmao.

At least you don't have to deal with killer mosquitos up there when its snowing!...never mind the sweat, sunburn, and fireants!

Kev

Just the AWD have torsion bars.

Since you have coil springs up front you don't have torsion bars. The torsion bars are only on the AWD's.

The Scotsquatch wrote:
I might also get the 2 inch lift from Overland, since its only 140 bucks! Then I could use 235-70-R15s with NO rubbing, or maybe even the 235-75s...hmmmmmmm...Anyone ever do their lift before? My van is a Florida van, so there isn't any rust on the bolts, but how long does it take? Is it something that can be done in an afternoon? Since its a body lift in the front and a shackle lift in the back, it doesn't look like it will alter the steering geometry AT ALL, which makes me want to do it! Any comments or wisdom of experience?



Kev

I did the 5" lift which took me a good part of 2-3 days, the Front 3" HD springs took the most time, The body lift maybe took 3-4 hrs including taking care of the front. If you get rear blocks or an add a leaf, that is maybe a 2-3 hour job so figure a day for it all if you take your time. If you get a hair and decide to do a 5", get the Overlands 1 1/2" front spring and 3" blocks...those HD 3" front springs are murder to get compressed and installed, very dangerous and scary, not to mention jar your teeth out!!!!

The rear shocks work great, with a smooth ride at around 40 psi, and it jacks WAY up at 90 psi for loading it down....very cool!

I got the front end reassembled with new stock shocks, and it did lift the front back to what I would say was stock...with a tape measure, it looks like I'll be able to install 235-70-R15s after all! Getting the front stock coil spring back in was a pain in the arse though! I figured I'd just reinstall them for now, since their unloaded height was 15.5 inches, which is what the OEM height was when new.

I know that standard shocks don't give you any lift, but my old shocks were so toasted, that with the new shocks, the van sits level now.

Kev

I'm using Air-Lift air bags in the rear my '01 Safari. A HUGE necessity! They mount between the spring and the frame. They let me load the van up and also tow a camper or trailer at the same time.

Hey Phr,

Ours is a 2WD shorty that we use for our business at Renaissance Faires, and we tow it behind our motorhome, loaded up like a utility trailer, when we travel from faire to faire. I don't want a lift, per se, just room enough to fit 235-70-R15 dual purpose truck tires, both for load capacity, and for traction on some of the bad dirt roads that renfaires almost always seem to be on...lol. The back is all set now...with the adjustable shocks, there is more than enough room for the tires. With the new Monroe shocks in the front, unloaded there seems to be enough room. But at full lock, especially with the van loaded up, it worries me.

I was also looking at the Rancho R9000s. Seems to me that if the clearance is fine empty, but loaded they rub a bit a full lock over bumps, then with the R9000s, I could stiffen the ride when the van is loaded up, but soften it when the van is empty. That is going to be my next step if I have any clearance issues once the van is loaded up. I figure it won't be a waste of money, because even if I have to go with the lift later, the shocks will still work with the lift, and I can still tweak the ride under load, or with no load.

Kev

According to Overland, since a body lift doesn't affect the travel of the A arms, it doesn't really matter if I lift the body later: The shocks will still fit.

Thanks!

Kev

Great attention to detail, Phr!

I talked directly to the owner of Overland, and he explained to my somewhat mechanically-challenged self that when you lift the body, the suspension stays where it is unaltered...under the body. Its when you do extreme lifts with new steering/brake knuckles and new rear shackles and whatnot that you have to custom fit shocks.

Kev