New van, want a 4" lift

[juan]

Hi everyone , I just got a safari awd 2003 with 100k and I really want to put a 4" lift, and I wondering what would be for me the best to do, just take it to a pro and pay the money or get the parts my self and do it, I don't have many tools and if I have problems would be hard for me to fix it, any way I like the fact that if I do it my self it would be much cheap and I like that.
If anyone can tell me what to buy I would star from there.
Thanks I been lookin at this page and I see a lot of sick rides, and that got me so amp to do it
Thanks Juan

[doyoulikeithere]

Hi, and Welcome.
I suggest you read a thread called something like "Homebrew Lift" to get an idea what you will need.
Good Luck.

[MountainManJoe]

Ask Gerald at Overland to send you the installation instructions. Then you can decide if you want to tackle it yourself. Most shops will shake their head at you.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I always try to do my own repairs and figure any tools I need to buy are offset by the labor costs I save. You will need at the very least a 3 ton floor jack and jack stands, 1/2 drive socket set in metric from about 12mm to around 21 mm as well as extensions and a ratchet and breaker bar. You will also need assorted combination wrenches.

No need to ask Gerald for the instructions...I have them here!

[juan]

Thanks already, I been searching and reading all u guys been talking and I kinda of want to try it but I'm a rockie and I learning abou and the cost and how hard would be to do it and I want to make sure that the car is solid b4 I spend all that , like I need to do the rods and all that abouth the angle, And the transfer case, transition as well, so I kinda of going crAzy about it, one think I know, is that I want to look at my window and see that shit looking bad ass..
Any way thanks and I all ears

[doyoulikeithere]

Seems to me the most disappointing thing about the cheaper OLV kits is they use blocks or shackles to do most of the rear end lifting, and re-use your old used leafsprings.
The shipping and cost of the expensive OLV kits is just, because they are shipping new leaf springs, that anybody can get locally near most any town.
Its probably the biggest expense, but gives the most bang for the buck when you consider how good new springs will ride compared to old springs probably at least 3/4 worn out already.
Adding a leaf is also a reasonably good way, cuz your beefing up the springs, not just lifting up the old springs.
The happiest rear lift that works the very best is a set of new springs built for the task. Old springs, lifted up on shackles, or blocks, just dont perform well.

[juan]

and what kind of lift spring i would look into? from a s-10? and u need to change the shocks or can do with out , cos i got new shocks? thanks

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Go into the Off Road section of the forum and look under Lift Kits for the Homebrew lift.

As for shocks, you can reuse the stock ones but you need to move the mounting point up about 4" by welding on a new bracket to the axle tubes.

[juan]

I want to do it right, I see u can buy all the parts separate or u can just order the kit from olv, so if I really know all the things that came in that kit I may start looking around , I want to put new lift spring and the good shocks too, so I going to call olv and see what he saying, thanks, I very exiting for this

[thegreenmachine]

I collected my own, through info on here as to what parts I needed.

I sourced them individually through various local sources.

2" pucks from north shore off-road
bolts from local machine shop
springs from the local wrecker
shocks from local auto parts store

was still a day of driving around and pulling parts, I could have ordered the springs through the dealership but, not at what they wanted for them.

everyone here has everything you need jack up your ride. have fun

shane