Body lift tips

[navigator]

Mike, when you plan on doing the install? I might be able to come give you a hand and learn somrthing, I ordered Mark's 3" kit today and wouldn't mind seeing and helping on a install before I tackle mine.

I'll bring the O'DOUL'S!

I'm a long ways away from you. Plus I haven't ordered mine yet, I wanted to learn about it first. We'll be ordering ours shortly. My plan is to do it next month before TECORE.

Mike, I almost think Rory was talking to me. He seems to call me Mike from time to time. He is about 2.5 hrs from me. I just picked up my body lift last week and it sounds like he just ordered one too.

[mikekey]

........

[navigator]

hey, I totally understand the confusion!

[NC_IslandRunner]

Yeah I do call Chris Mike a lot... I bowl with JJ and Bruce and I regularly call both of them Bruce.

[navigator]

I'm almost done installing the body lift. The biggest pain to me has been the bumpers. Having not seen how everything I have to read the instructions several times and try to picture it in my mind before making those cuts.

Just to verify, I have to cut the bumper mounts off (loosing 2 mounting holes) right behind the first bolt hole. Is that correct?

[v7guy]

yup, that's correct. I think I've got the stubs from another guys bumper laying in the garage, I can text you a pic of what you're cutting off if it would help

[navigator]

I think I've got it. Zone does ok giving before pics but it would be great to see the after pics to know you are doing what they want. I actually cut a 1 inch notch there before I realized what they meant.
The good news is that one hard to reach driver side bolt for the rear bumper, it doesn't look like I have to put one back in there . I'll see for sure next week.

I don't have my front bumper cover on yet, I might take some pics of how that all mounts and put up in a thread.

[TSAdventurez]

Cant wait to see in progress pics and the end result!!

[navigator]

I didn't take a bunch of pics, just some things that I got stuck on or thought might make it easier next time. I'm not sure if I'm just not great at following directions or if Zone's directions just suck but I had a hard time with the bumpers.

This is pic of how the front plate mounts to the frame and to the impact bar in the front.
It is upside down.

This is a pic of it installed from the passenger side.

Moving to the rear bumper now.
It took me awhile to realize you actually have to cut the bumper rails off.
I initially cut out a notch (in red) based on how I pictured it from Zone's images.
That notch is not necessary

You do however have to notch out the rear frame tube on both sides.

When drilling out all those holes make sure to drill the hole out liberally, it will make it all go together that much smoother.

I found I had more slack running the wiring under the frame than running it over the frame like it was.

this is the front frame bolt on the driver side. The factory bolt is 21MM and a pain to
get out. The replacement is a 24MM bolt which I don't have a wrench for. It is much easier to get to after the lift. If i had it to do again, I might wait to get that bolt out after the lift was installed.

I guess this is the tire winch relocation bracket.
I installed it best I could by the directions. I ended up having to drill out the bracket to accept the factory bolt.

[navigator]

after reviewing the instructions over and over it looks like the winch part of the spare tire doesn't get relocated, only the crank part.
This is a pic of the crank part with the new bracket installed.

here is a pic of the lower mounting point with the the relocation spacer.

a pic of the winch back in it's original location.

Driver side bracket in place.

Passenger side bracket installed.

Make sure when you are tightening down the nut strips that their flap doesn't interfere with the other bolt holes. This is one spot where another set of hands would have been really nice. One to turn the bolt and one to hold the nut strip in place. In the previous pic you can see the nut strip covering one bolt hole. I had to loosen the bolt up enough to move the nut strip to put the last bolt in that I missed.

Finished install still sporting skinny (30") tires.

[HARDTRAILZ]

What wires are under frame now?

[Regulator1175]

It looked like the trailer harness.

[JorDaneeKey]

I was wondering what ours would look like if we do the body lift this weekend. Those 30in tires look hilarious. Guess we'll have to chuckle for a while until we get the new rims and tires to replace our 30s.

[djthumper]

I was wondering what ours would look like if we do the body lift this weekend. Those 30in tires look hilarious. Guess we'll have to chuckle for a while until we get the new rims and tires to replace our 30s.

LOL, I guess you will be slowly stepping up into the lift. Just as you get use to it you will get the new rims and tires.

[JorDaneeKey]

Not too slow, I hope. Mikekey has the rims picked out. We're still looking at tires. We're also in the process of doing 3 different fab projects with my step-dad, or more rather MikeKey and my step-dad. I just throw in ideas/suggestions and watch.....something about this being a guy's job.

Until the wrenches start turning that is, then it's "your truck, honey, so you crawl under there....".

[navigator]

yours will look even goofier because I only have the 2" BL and 2.5" suspension lift.

[Diacom]

Mine was pretty uneventful. My body bolts came out easily, but we don't use salt on the roads here. I put them back in with anti-sieze.

When doing the steering extension, pull the upper boot way back to expose a hole in the steering rod. Shove a screwdriver into that hole and use it as a handle. It'll make more sense when you are under there. I advise taking a couple shots both before and after dealing with the steering.

Yes, This was the PITA part of this job. Beings I picked up a used body lift, the extension cover wasn't included so I had to make one. No biggie, but getting the damn steering to go back together.... Well, I had a drunk father in law to help with this part as my buddy bailed at that point. NO, drinking did not help him at all. Had to call my buddy back over to get it. Was still a pain.

Question however. The steering has gotten "tight" since. Not so much a bind feel, but it is a tad more difficult to turn than it was before. Is this normal or unusual? Also, is there some adjustment to the steering column that may alleviate this?

Thanks

[ErikSS]

I want to check out a set of these new brackets sometime. Did not realize they changed that much.

You can look at mine at the Meet. I have the new brackets.

[fishsticks]

Mine was pretty uneventful. My body bolts came out easily, but we don't use salt on the roads here. I put them back in with anti-sieze.

When doing the steering extension, pull the upper boot way back to expose a hole in the steering rod. Shove a screwdriver into that hole and use it as a handle. It'll make more sense when you are under there. I advise taking a couple shots both before and after dealing with the steering.

Yes, This was the PITA part of this job. Beings I picked up a used body lift, the extension cover wasn't included so I had to make one. No biggie, but getting the damn steering to go back together.... Well, I had a drunk father in law to help with this part as my buddy bailed at that point. NO, drinking did not help him at all. Had to call my buddy back over to get it. Was still a pain.

Question however. The steering has gotten "tight" since. Not so much a bind feel, but it is a tad more difficult to turn than it was before. Is this normal or unusual? Also, is there some adjustment to the steering column that may alleviate this?

Thanks

Normal. Mine did it as well. You get used to it.

[navigator]

I haven't noticed any tightness per say but I can definitely feel a little play in the steering extension.
I need to crawl back under there and make sure everything is tight.