Any lifted HD Duramax trucks out there? [Archive]

PBR

09-30-2003, 16:36

my buddy has the fabtech 8" kit and he bends tie rods all the time. he has gone so far to carry an extra one in the truck because it is just a matter of time before he bends another one. i think the rcd and the cst kits are a little more quality, but that is just my opinion.

as far as speedo recal, superlift makes a unit, if you get the hypertech programmer you can change tire size accordingly, same goes for the predator.

Hammer Down

09-30-2003, 19:31

I got the exact truck but it has a 6" trailmaster lift on it. I love it so far and have had no major problems with it....yet. Good luck.

VWLURE

09-30-2003, 20:53

I have the 6" RCD lift and love it. When I did my lift, Fabtech just came out with their 8" lift. The thing that I found out is that Fabtech is know to have more of a stiffer ride. I also know that with the 8" you have to modify the drive line so I opted to stick with the 6".

BassinRVer

10-01-2003, 02:53

DMAXDIVA has the sweeeeeeted lifted truck.

20050528|8|000731|000000|205.188.117.71

10-01-2003, 06:12

Thanks for the help! These trucks are so darn low in the stock form; it takes a lot of lift to get a 35 under them. I was at the Indy show recently, and from what I saw the 6 inch lifts required lots of bumper trimming. The truck I am looking at is running 37 inch BFG

PBR

10-01-2003, 08:18

he is running 37x12.5 on 17's with a 4.5" backspacing. there is another topic in this forum on custom tie rods because there are a lot of them bending/breaking when you go to a bigger tire. i am running a 4" spindle with 315's(35") and i had to trim the bumper a little bit but it fills the fenders, rather than sky the truck out and leave the fenders open.

good luck.

DinoMax

10-01-2003, 13:20

WI Huck, I have an '02 HD C/C w/ a 6" Superlift and 315/75/16 BFG's. No problems at all w/ suspension, ride quality, clearance, etc. Very slight trimming done to plastic spoiler under front bumper to avoid scrubbing at full lock on steering is all that was needed. You can clink on the link in my sig. for pic's of my truck. DinoMax :D :D

Riverholic

10-02-2003, 21:41

WI Huck, I have a 8" CST lift on my truck with 37" BFG Muds. I have had no problems with it. I love the way it looks and get many compliments. It does ride a little more stiff but not enough to bother me. After all it is a 3/4 ton truck. You can click on my sig. for pics. Enjoy!!

LMorse

10-07-2003, 15:29

I have the 6'' fabtech and 3'' body, and 39'' MT Baja Belted tires.. I had to buy the gas body lift and modify the mounting of the fan shroud (used 3'' by 3/8'' pipe nipples as spacers).... Just make sure nothing is in a bine.. Loosen most everything to start with and then retighten at the end.. I have only one regret.. The Baja tires seem to want to bounce while cruising between 30 and 40.. As far as fuel mileage, my last tank was 16.4.. I was impressed, though it was mostly highway driving.. It also ran a 14.51 @ 93.6 mph with hot juice, predator on 85 and no tranny limp... That's with the 39's.. Don't be scared to go big with the tires.. Only helped me.. My best time with stock tires was 14.81, with 35's was 14.72, and now 14.51 with the 39's.. Exactly opposite of what I expected.. I hope this helps...

afp

10-08-2003, 14:52

LM,

Did you have all the same power settings and the same gearing with these different tire sizes?

I currently have 265s and regular juice, and my best time on a G-tech was 14.49 @ 96. I suspect the G-tech is a couple tenths rosy, based on what guys were running at the track with a combo similar to mine. Mileage is 14.5ish in town and a tad over 20 on the freeway. I only want to go to 285s, but don't want to hurt mileage or performance.

Blaine

20050528|8|000731|000000|205.188.117.71

10-08-2003, 15:13

Thanks for all the help everyone! I just hope I can sell my Ford now and pick up that truck. Anyone want a Ford?

There was someone at the Union Grove drag races last weekend that bent a tie rod. It seems that when these trucks squat down in the rear, either from a hard launch or pulling a sled, the IFS lifts up causing the tires to tilt in. That stresses the tie rods, and the problems occur. It will only be a matter of time until a fix is out there. At least I hope so! My Ford did pretty well around here this summer at the pulls, but my brother kicked butt in his Dodge. I don

LMorse

10-08-2003, 15:52

Actually with the same setting it ran about the same as the 35's.. The thing is I don't really think it even shifted into fifth.. No limp.. So I added more
power.. I did the 60 setting (predator)and juice and did 14.77.. Then went with the 85 and ran the 14.51.. I was gonna try the 100 though the time trial lane shut down.. My 60' times were in the 1.9's.... 2wd... Launched around 1700 rpm.. with the 35's I launched at 1200.. Any more rpm's causes wheelspin.. The gearing is stock.. My mileage was mostly highway, though it did include my trip to the track, and the truck was never shut off.. If you'd like pics, my email address is kysuprman@aol.com....

ryeguy

10-08-2003, 18:55

How many miles have you guys got on your lifted trucks? Any comments other than "I like it"? I'm toying with putting a lift on my truck (now) but it still has to work (hard). Any parts backing/loosening off? Any signs of stress (other than on tie rods)? Any affect on track widths (these are IFS trucks, after all)?

FabTech lifts the front 6 inches, but the rear only 4. And doesn't address any axle wrap issues with a simple 4 inch block. And if you want to take off the lift kit, you need to find a replacement center section for the front diff.

Explorer Pro Comp does deal with axle wrap with a traction bar set-up, but I'm told that the kit is "light duty" in comparison, doesn't have Bilstein shocks, and eats pitman arms. It has are welded steering components too, which are illegal here. But the kit looks complete - some 20 pages in instructions alone.

RCD...looks similar to FabTech but their tech line sends me around in circles. It comes recommended by the guy who didn't like the Explorer Pro Comp kit.

CST...no clue about this kit either.

Superlift...unknown, thinking I'll call them tomorrow. DinoMax, nice truck. I like the idea that their lift kit can be simply unbolted from the truck.

--Rob

tophog

10-08-2003, 23:01

I'll chime in with my 2 cents on the 4" Rancho. Was a very easy 4" in front and 2" rear. I could go close to 6" front easy if I had the tbars cranked up. At present the tbars are hardly cranked at all, but truck sits nice and level and the ride is car-like. I opted for the Bilstein SS shocks vice the rancho's and think they made a dramatic difference in the ride quality. I only have about 5K miles on the lift, running 315/70R-17's with no problems ... and tow a 25' toy hauler about every other weekend ... zero problems to date.

The only drawback I can see are the larger tires and shift points ... would like to possibly look at re-gearing to get the stock ratio back ... but with Juice, etc. it still has gobs of power.

I forgot to mention ... with the Rancho 4" and 35's I can still park in my garage (standard size) ... the only thing that hits is the very tip of my radio antenna. If I wanted to park outside all the time I may have gone with the RCS 6" lift but feel I could get very close to that lift with the Rancho ... overall with the the lift and tires I gained about 6" up front compared to stock.

LMorse

10-09-2003, 07:03

I have around 12000 miles on my truck, about 11000 since lifted... I like the fabtech, though the front tracking width is wider than the back.. Not getting in the garage is also a disadvantage.. My truck is actually faster with the large tires on it, though it doesn't pull as well..

Riverholic

10-09-2003, 17:54

I have 39,000 miles on the truck, 11,000 of those since the lift. My gas mileage is about 14-15 MPG around town and 16-18 on the highway(depending on how heavy my foot is at the time). CST was recommended by a friend. Their website is www.californiasupertrucks.com (http://www.californiasupertrucks.com) for anybody who wants info. They do offer traction bars but I didn't opt for them. Their lift kits go from mild(6"-8") to wild(9"-12"). Another good company I have heard of is bulletproof suspension. Just my .02

Yellow '03 H.D.

10-12-2003, 17:12

I just got my truck lifted last week. http://www.tmdnet.com/mark/hulkstruck/handjob3.jpg http://www.tmdnet.com/mark/004.jpg http://www.tmdnet.com/mark/005.jpg

flhrciblueice

10-12-2003, 19:18

Yellow '03 H.D.,
I really like those steps/bars. Who makes them and where can I get them? I normally don't care for nerf bars/running boards, but my young 'un will probably need them in a little while. Also, where do you go for the $5 hand job? :eek: :D :eek: :D

Yellow '03 H.D.

10-14-2003, 12:55

Those are N-Fab nerf steps, www.n-fab.com (http://www.n-fab.com)

You have to come down to Texas for the $5 hand-job. :D

flhrciblueice

10-14-2003, 21:19

Originally posted by Yellow '03 H.D.:
Those are N-Fab nerf steps, www.n-fab.com (http://www.n-fab.com)

You have to come down to Texas for the $5 hand-job. :D I noticed the web site states "minor drilling" for mounting on the GM trucks. Where/what did you have to drill to mount them?

Yellow '03 H.D.

10-15-2003, 15:45

you drill into the bottom of your rocker panel where the body is pinch welded together.

HoustonDMax

10-15-2003, 18:43

Yellow '03, would that Pewter truck next to yours in one of the pictures belong to a guy by the name of Forest? I can't quite see enough of it to tell if it is is.

I have had my truck washed there. Cost more than $5 for the "hand job", and all I got was a clean truck. Oh well!

Yellow '03 H.D.

10-16-2003, 16:01

The pewter H.D. belongs to a friend named Mark. It has the 8.1L

That carwash is at jones rd. just n. of F.M. 1960

What side of town are you at?

HoustonDMax

10-17-2003, 04:02

Truck is not the one I was thinking of.

Car was is just north of 1960; used it a couple of times.

Off Grant, between Louetta and Spring Cypress.

How about you?

I have seen another bright yellow '03, but it belongs to someone else that visits here occasionally. Guy lives off Jones, near Cypress North Houston, IIRC. I got his name and number somewhere. We had talked about installing a fuel filter on his truck, but nothing ever came of it. He may have just done it himself.

Yellow '03 H.D.

10-17-2003, 16:06

Originally posted by HoustonDMax:
Truck is not the one I was thinking of.

Car was is just north of 1960; used it a couple of times.

Off Grant, between Louetta and Spring Cypress.

How about you?

I have seen another bright yellow '03, but it belongs to someone else that visits here occasionally. Guy lives off Jones, near Cypress North Houston, IIRC. I got his name and number somewhere. We had talked about installing a fuel filter on his truck, but nothing ever came of it. He may have just done it himself. I am that guy, I was talking to you about help w/ the fuel filter install about a month or so ago. I got side tracked and did this instead.
I am ready to do the filter install now, should be easy to do since it is not that hard to crawl under the truck now. I will give you a shout when I get the parts rounded up.

Cheavyduty

10-19-2003, 04:49

Yellow 03 What manufacturers kit did you use? It looks great! Where ther any unforseen difficulties with the install? Thanks

Yellow '03 H.D.

10-19-2003, 12:46

That is a 3rd coast custom lift, www.3rdcoastcustoms.com (http://www.3rdcoastcustoms.com)

Kevin @BNC offroad did the install. took 1 1/2 days.

20050528|8|000731|000000|205.188.117.71

10-25-2003, 06:14

I am close to making a decision on what truck to buy. The 02 that is already lifted is nice, but I think I would like a 03 better and do the lift myself. I want to try the NITTO 365/65R16 (35x14.5) tires. I like the wide tire look. Fabtec told me that they do not recommend using a 16x10 inch rim.

LMorse and Riverholic, are you guys having any problems with ten inch wide rims?

Thanks for the help!

Mark

Riverholic

10-26-2003, 11:52

I have had 0 problems with my rims or the width of my rims. I personally like the look of a 10" wide rim versus an 8". I was just wanting to be able to turn without any rubbing issues and in the end I don't have any rubbing. Good Luck!

FIRELT

10-26-2003, 18:05

WI Huck ==== I HAVE 10 IN. RIMS WITH THE 6 IN. FABTECH ,NO PROBLEMS ,I HAVE 36X14.50X16 PJ'S NOW AND I WANT TO GO TO THE SAME NITTO'S YOU WANT WHEN THIS WEAR OUT,MIKE

20050528|8|000731|000000|205.188.117.71

10-27-2003, 07:19

Thanks Mike & Riverholic!

Do you think going to the 8 inch lift would be beneficial, or not worth the extra $?

Thanks again,

Mark

LMorse

10-27-2003, 14:25

I would advise to go with the 8'' kit if you want to do it.. I went with the six and did have tire rub with 35's and a 10 inch rim.. A little trimming took care of it.. I've now done a body lift and 39X15 MT's... Surprisingly they clear.. They ride horrible though.. I'm gonna go with the 38 swamper STS radial.. If you're gonna race or pull with the truck, I don't advise lifting it at all.. 4X4 launches are impossible in my truck with the larger tires.. The front tires bounce off the ground.. I tried one sled pull with the 39's.. Broke both tie rods, and cv joints.. Also somehow screwed up my pitman arm.. I love the look of a lifted truck, just consider these downsides..