Torn between lowering and lifting....

keakar · September 5, 2014

Well I checked, in my carport at work there is a 01 Z71, 10 Ram , 14 GMC and 3/4 01 Ford diesel all about the same, try to take a photo, too dark yet. Then I measured inside the bed of my 92 Chevy and my 14 GMC 11/2 inch differents, so I guess lowering or steps is in your future. Cant make them much longer people cant fit them into some garages now.

yep, you gotta be a 7ft tall guy to use a truck with sides that tall

crushNchowda · September 5, 2014

Lowering a truck has got to be one of the more pointless things in automotive culture I've seen. I HATE it, but hey some guys like "lambo doors" on their escalade, big wings on their civics, some like hydraulics on their buicks, and camo wrap on their trucks - to each their own.

But - and I really don't feel the need to explain this - loweing a full size pickup truck makes about as much sense as lifting my vette, which makes no sense at all.

On the other hand - the huge lifts are also just about as dumb unless you wanna dump a ton of money in supporting mods too. Lift kits put more stress on ball joints, steering racks, gears, tranny, engine - while a 6" lift may make you feel/look more manly, may make your pee pee grow in your head, you actually just neutered your truck from a power standpoint. So unless you wanna do the axles and the engine - like blower or cam or have the 6.2 or a diesel, you end up w/ a tough LOOKING truck that underperforms compared to its standard suspension counterpart

racerkvn · September 5, 2014

Lifting a pavement queen makes about the same sense to me... LOL But I do respect the guy for putting his truck together how HE wants it and I ain't gonna say he wasted his money in doing it that way.

KARNUT · September 5, 2014

Lowering a truck has got to be one of the more pointless things in automotive culture I've seen. I HATE it, but hey some guys like "lambo doors" on their escalade, big wings on their civics, some like hydraulics on their buicks, and camo wrap on their trucks - to each their own.

But - and I really don't feel the need to explain this - loweing a full size pickup truck makes about as much sense as lifting my vette, which makes no sense at all.

On the other hand - the huge lifts are also just about as dumb unless you wanna dump a ton of money in supporting mods too. Lift kits put more stress on ball joints, steering racks, gears, tranny, engine - while a 6" lift may make you feel/look more manly, may make your pee pee grow in your head, you actually just neutered your truck from a power standpoint. So unless you wanna do the axles and the engine - like blower or cam or have the 6.2 or a diesel, you end up w/ a tough LOOKING truck that underperforms compared to its standard suspension counterpart

Makes as much sense as buying a new Corvette, when you can get the same thing in a Camaro for a lot less money. Ive seen lifted Vettes by the way, every one has their own canvas its all good.

galliher_nc · September 5, 2014

I vote leveled on 33's. I can't stand the factory rake.

keakar · September 5, 2014

Lowering a truck has got to be one of the more pointless things in automotive culture I've seen. I HATE it, but hey some guys like "lambo doors" on their escalade, big wings on their civics, some like hydraulics on their buicks, and camo wrap on their trucks - to each their own.

But - and I really don't feel the need to explain this - loweing a full size pickup truck makes about as much sense as lifting my vette, which makes no sense at all.

On the other hand - the huge lifts are also just about as dumb unless you wanna dump a ton of money in supporting mods too. Lift kits put more stress on ball joints, steering racks, gears, tranny, engine - while a 6" lift may make you feel/look more manly, may make your pee pee grow in your head, you actually just neutered your truck from a power standpoint. So unless you wanna do the axles and the engine - like blower or cam or have the 6.2 or a diesel, you end up w/ a tough LOOKING truck that underperforms compared to its standard suspension counterpart

I also am not a fan of lowered or lifted trucks but at the same time I say to each his own.

however since GM has decided that ALL trucks shall now come jacked up with GM designed in 4" front and rear lift above the normal truck stance people loved for the last 50 years, well undoing GM's "personal" style choice being forced upon me seams to be a necessity if you plan to use your truck as a truck and not like a car or SUV where you don't need access to the bed for loading and unloading things

Blue Line · September 6, 2014

I have a 14 CC LTZ Z71 with the 5.3 and 3.08's. Was wantng to level it just for a "little stance" looking but I notice a couple of you showed concerns running 33's with 3.08. I was hoping a 2.25/2.5 level with Fuel Kranks 18x9's and 275/65/18 or 285/65/18 (or something similair). How much is the difference running something along these setup compared to factory 20's? I am not a mechanic and have been doing somereading on this website to try and gain some understanding. Will I notice a difference in keeping the 3.08? What would it cost to replace them?

I leased the truck, but have all intentions in purchasing it since the buyout is pretty decent.

Thanks for any help!

Jeff

keakar · September 6, 2014

I have a 14 CC LTZ Z71 with the 5.3 and 3.08's. Was wantng to level it just for a "little stance" looking but I notice a couple of you showed concerns running 33's with 3.08. I was hoping a 2.25/2.5 level with Fuel Kranks 18x9's and 275/65/18 or 285/65/18 (or something similair). How much is the difference running something along these setup compared to factory 20's? I am not a mechanic and have been doing somereading on this website to try and gain some understanding. Will I notice a difference in keeping the 3.08? What would it cost to replace them?

I leased the truck, but have all intentions in purchasing it since the buyout is pretty decent.

Thanks for any help!

Jeff

if you have a good truck without any issues then congrats on getting lucky with that but ....

you might want to hold off for a while and read through the problems and issues threads because with the things going on with these trucks you may soon find reasons NOT to want to keep it. just sayin

as to rear end gear swap my dealer said its several thousand to do it so I would guess it costs in the $1,200-$1,500 just for the parts if you go GM but an aftermarket kit and void the GM warranty it might not be that bad

Archaic2021 · September 6, 2014

I have a 14 CC LTZ Z71 with the 5.3 and 3.08's. Was wantng to level it just for a "little stance" looking but I notice a couple of you showed concerns running 33's with 3.08. I was hoping a 2.25/2.5 level with Fuel Kranks 18x9's and 275/65/18 or 285/65/18 (or something similair). How much is the difference running something along these setup compared to factory 20's? I am not a mechanic and have been doing somereading on this website to try and gain some understanding. Will I notice a difference in keeping the 3.08? What would it cost to replace them?

I leased the truck, but have all intentions in purchasing it since the buyout is pretty decent.

Thanks for any help!

Jeff

Your gonna loose maybe 1-3mpg depending on how you drive.

The power loss isn't gonna be that noticble but will be there.

KARNUT · September 6, 2014

I agree with the last post, with the power of these engines most people don't change the gears when the go bigger tires.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

crushNchowda · September 7, 2014

I also am not a fan of lowered or lifted trucks but at the same time I say to each his own.

however since GM has decided that ALL trucks shall now come jacked up with GM designed in 4" front and rear lift above the normal truck stance people loved for the last 50 years, well undoing GM's "personal" style choice being forced upon me seams to be a necessity if you plan to use your truck as a truck and not like a car or SUV where you don't need access to the bed for loading and unloading things

To each his own is basically what I was making a point of. There are extremes of every taste and each has its own merits or detriments, I was just pointing out that you could look at either scenario as a poor choice depending on how you look at it

keakar · September 8, 2014

To each his own is basically what I was making a point of. There are extremes of every taste and each has its own merits or detriments, I was just pointing out that you could look at either scenario as a poor choice depending on how you look at it

understood, and likewise I was also just explaining that my choice was based on the thought process of "restoring" the trucks normal stance and making it a utilitarian vehicle with normal person over the rail bed access as it should be by removing the lifted look chevy designed into it.

my own personal style choice is I liked trucks stock because I use the trucks as trucks and not off road or as a road princess and every persons style depends on how they use it yet chevy has broken this rule and chosen to force a factory "built in" lift kit on us which makes someone like me, who would NEVER consider changing the trucks suspension, to start looking into aftermarket parts to "redesign" the truck I just bought to return it to the way they used to make them a few years ago.

KARNUT · September 8, 2014

understood, and likewise I was also just explaining that my choice was based on the thought process of "restoring" the trucks normal stance and making it a utilitarian vehicle with normal person over the rail bed access as it should be by removing the lifted look chevy designed into it.

my own personal style choice is I liked trucks stock because I use the trucks as trucks and not off road or as a road princess and every persons style depends on how they use it yet chevy has broken this rule and chosen to force a factory "built in" lift kit on us which makes someone like me, who would NEVER consider changing the trucks suspension, to start looking into aftermarket parts to "redesign" the truck I just bought to return it to the way they used to make them a few years ago.

The way the trucks comes from the factory is for fuel mileage. The effect is airflow that's the only reason. It for lower drag. You can pull the blocks off the leaf springs and get the inch and half back. The rake locks more normal.

haciendadad · November 24, 2016

I would like to get a truck but I am not into 4 wheeling. The look is cool but quite expensive and makes the gas situation even worst at that height. I like the idea of a nice higher end truck, upgraded exhaust, maybe the 6/9 drop (I saw a Silverado on page 4 that looked about right). I might even add sway bars to enjoy the power and lowness and racing around winding roads. The way I see it, it is almost a hot rod at this point, not that I am looking to make a hot rod but you already have a powerful engine, with less modifications you can have a fun ride that is safety of a truck in general.