Has anybody done a 1.5" body lift?

[crankyjew]

My truck is sitting on 32's right now, with a tt/shackle lift. been happy with it so far, but I'd like to move up to proper 33's soon.
I found the 1.5" body lift thread in the 02-05 forum (http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312012), and would like to give my trac a similar treatment.... Has anybody done a body lift, NOT 3"?

 

[MidnightRebel07]

They don't make a 1.5" BL kit for the ST. You could probably modify a 3" kits parts to be only 1.5" but I don't see the point of doing all that work only to lift the body 1.5". JMO.

 

[crankyjew]

Right, I know they don't. I was planning on buying five 3" pucks and cutting them in half. Then buying replacement bolts separately.
I'm a welder-fabricator, so any bumper mods that need to happen... aren't a concern.

My reasons for wanting a 1.5" lift are: 1, to do something different. 2, I don't want my center of gravity raised that high. I don't plan on going bigger than 33's with the IFS.

I know on Rangers, a 1" lift is fairly common; it doesn't require modifying the fan shroud or steering shaft.

Would anyone say the same for a 1.5" lift on a ST?

 

[MidnightRebel07]

You should be able to get away with not needing the steering shaft extension for a 1.5" BL but you'll need to fab up some drop down brackets for the radiator, possibly the e brake cable extension bracket which is only a piece of angle iron with a couple holes on it. The bumper brackets won't be too hard but it's not just a straight up and down bracket for those. If you're a welder fabricator just build your own steel bumpers like I did on mine.

 

[crankyjew]

ah, I forgot about the e-brake. doesn't seem like too much of a headache. thanks for the heads up.

Steel bumpers are on the to-do list, believe me. I've been thinking about a bumper that is a hybrid tube/plate design. But, one thing at a time.

thanks for the input. I have to get a registry going at come point here.

 

[OffTrac]

Center of gravity gets too much attention in body lift discussions. The weight of the body is nothing compared to the frame, drivetrain and suspension; all of which don't move at all. I really don't think center of gravity should be a concern with a body lift.

 

[crankyjew]

Ok, I can believe that. I'm also trying to avoid some of the other issues with a 3" BL- the hitch and exhaust sticking out, bumper and light alignments, gaps. and again, it seems everybody does the usual BL-TT-Shackle lift combo. trying for something different.