I have a 1996 Ram 1500 4x4 and I was told by top gun that it came from the factory with 3.5" lift. I am new to trucks and I am looking to increase the lift and looking for suggestions. I don't want to go too radical. If you have suggestions, please tell me why you recommend this. I am trying to learn as I go. Any other upgrade suggestions are welcomed also.

 

No lift from the factory. It may have 3.5" blocks on the rear axle though.... not really a 'lift' per se......

What size tires do you want to put on there?

Welcome to DF!

 

Yes, you are correct. It was 3.5" rear blocks. So that is only in the rear? I would like to go with 33" or 35" tires. I am mostly doing this because I love the look of a lifted truck.

 

Yep, blocks are only in the back.

You can probably get away with 33's, with a minor lift, and call it a day. Your 'out of the hole' performance will suffer for it though.... 35's will most certainly require a gear change..... If you cannot do that yourself, you are looking at 1500-2000 bucks there...... Does require some specialized knowledge and tools... so, not something the average shade tree mechanic tackles regularly.

I think the general rule of thumb here is 3" lift for 33's, and 5" lift for 35's. The 5" kit is going to be significantly more expensive, as it will more than likely include longer control arms, and require relocation of the frame brackets. (i.e. requires cutting stuff off, and welding other stuff back on to the frame.) So, installation starts getting expensive as well. The 3" kit you could prolly put on yourself in your driveway, with just a selection of hand tools. You also might be able to just do an add a leaf (aal), and leveling blocks up front, and get your three inches that way. New shocks would probably be necessary. Not entirely sure there. (certainly the least expensive way to go.)

What kind of budget are you looking at??

 

3" lift is fine with me. I don't want to have to change gears and all that. Would a 3" kit give me a 3" lift in the rear and level the front or will it still sit up in the rear? Price really isn't an issue. Most 3" kits I have seen are well with in my price range. Do the kits with blocks, stack blocks or replace the stock ones on the rear, so like a 6.5" block? Thanks for all your help.

 

you dont ever want to stack blocks. it could end bad with your driveshaft. just get a 2" add a leaf for the rear and a 2.5" leveling kit for the front. you can get it all at www.topguncustomz.com you will also want to replace your shocks if theyre the original ones that came on your truck from the factory.

oh and btw. my sig pic is my truck when i had 35's on it. they were 35/12.50/15 bfg mud terrains. all i had was my diesel coils in the front then. i had a bit of rubbing on the lower fender. but other than that i had no problems...that is until my tranny sh*t the bed from having the 35's with stock 3.55 gears and a tranny with 160k on it.

 

My suggestion, CLICK
If you dont like the level look or if it seems to be higher in the front an add-a-leaf can get some rake back

 

From what I have seen, a lot of the kits give a shorter block, and require stacking them. I really don't see that as a good plan, but, when wandering thru a truck show a while back, it seemed to me there were a LOT of trucks that had stacked blocks, and these were with lift kits from big-name manufacturers...... I am not a suspension engineer, but, from my point of view, blocks in general are just not a good idea. They act as a nice lever arm for the axle to do rude things with the springs. (rear.) AALs are a far better plan. Replacement springs even better. (and of course, more expensive...)

 

if yu stack blocks in the rear more than what is there stock it will create axle wrap and could seriously damage your truck. i wouldnt recommened this at all.

i picked up my skyjacker 2" HD Add a leaf for less than a hundred bucks including shipping. i got them from summit racing. they install quick and my truck is nice and stiff now.(i tow in the summer and plow in the winter)

 

Having ANY blocks at ALL in the rear, is going to contribute to axle wrap/wheel hop. Stacking yet MORE blocks back there will make what is already a problem, worse. This is the main reason I don't like blocks.