Tow hook dilema...

asilverblazer · May 5, 2004

I've been searching all the topics for body lifts (3") on the NBS trucks, I like the idea of adding a body lift to my truck mostly because of price but I don't like trimming (in my case butchering ) the air dam. Who has the best solution to avoid trimming it besides leaving the hooks off? And the same for the fan shroud? I want the shroud to cover the whole radiator... any suggestions?

Thank you very much amigo's...

Stryker · May 6, 2004

Sorry I can't help you. I had the same concerns too. I have an OBS and wanted to raise my truck. After learning about the fan shroud problem among other things, like the gap left behind and the tow hooks, not to mention the bumpers, I decided to go suspension lift.

There are alot of little things when doing a body lift as opposed to one big thing for a sus lift.

I'm sure someone could answer your questions here, I'm just adding my 2 cents. Good luck and be sure to post some pics!

Wingnut · May 6, 2004

I'm not sure about the fan shroud, but with the airdam...What's so hard about trimming it? Heck, even if you mess it up...They only cost like $30 or so around here for a brand new one.

Seriously, if you are mechanically inclined enough to install a body lift, you shouldn't have any problems trimming the air dam.

Rookie · May 6, 2004

I think you hit the nail on the head.. This is the reason body lift cost much less.

woyster_00z71 · May 6, 2004

I have a 3" body lift on my '01 Tahoe. After the installation I did minimal trimming on the air dam AND re-installed my tow hooks.

Air dam - To keep from cutting up the air dam too much, I instead cut off the "loop" section on the frame horns on each side

(located above the tow hooks). MountaineerTom also did this and he has some pictures in his body lift thread. This allowed

me to re-install the bumper and airdam with minimal trimming.

Tow hooks - Also after removing the "loop" you will find a hole that was previously unused (this hole is also shown in MountaineerTom's

thread linked above). If you swap the tow hooks left to right and turn them upside down you can reuse the long bolt in the original location.

For the shorter bolt (the one that originally installed from the bottom) you will have to reem out the new hole (the one behind the removed

frame horn loop) and use it to secure the tow hook. The new tow hook arrangement is a little different than stock but they are securely

mounted and still functional. You can see a picture that kind of shows the new orientation below (if it shows up dark, adjust the brightness

of your monitor).

If you have any questions, let me know.

Good luck,

B.J.

MountaineerTom · May 6, 2004

Here's what I did with my fan shroud. I bought some thin aluminum at Lowes, than trimmed it with tin snips to fit and fastened it to the plastic shround with some of thos plastic snap in rivet type things and existing mounting hardware. I've had no cooling problems whatsoever. It's been driven like that in the South Carolina summer heat going on 2 years now.

Good luck.

About halfway down the page there are more pics and a link to more detailed pics.

http://tommy3z71.homestead.com/body_lift2.html