Hydraulic Steer

[muddin77]

I am looking to do some upgrades with more lift this winter and it has came down to a cross steer or hydraulic steer on my '77 blazer. I am trying to find the most long term and univeral way about it. I am looking @ 10- 12 inches of lift and possible axle upgrade to a 1-ton or rockwells.

Currently the budget will not cover all this winter. First is the Drive shafts next month and figuring out the steering to order the right lift. I currently have the Dana 44 in and am looking to those that are fimiliar with the steering to give recommended name brands to look into/ or not to. The truck does see some daily drives. Thanks in advance!

 

[_Auzzy_]

i'd say after experiencing full hydro for the last week, its not a drive on the road daily thing. love it though, turns my 39.5"s with one finger no matter what. i'd say go with just a cross over steering setup with a ram assist, sense your blazer is obviously 4wd i'm guessing you have a push n pull kind of steering setup where the box's pitman arm hooks to your driver side knuckle. if so go find a 2wheel drive chevy box and do a cross over with a high steer arm then hook a ram to your tierod. thats howd i do it if it saw street least half the week.

 

[muddin77]

sounds like a good idea. Being fully dependent on a hydraulic system kinda made me nervous.

 

[BCGPER]

Full hydro is not legal here. If you're asking about hydraulic assist, then YES. Best bang for the buck, and will still pass safety inspection (plus you can re-use most all the parts if you upgrade axles).

Now, I've got to ask..

10"-12" of lift? You're kidding right?

 

[muddin77]

The truck is registered in Wisconsin. As for right now I am looking @ doing an 8 inch lift but looking at all options. Ideal would be on 44's and build it to fit and funtion. Offroad design's website has been helping me with a nice shopping list. My ol man has has a 1970 all original k5 blazer that was the monster truck to me when I was growing up. I'm just recreating the way it looked to me back then. lol

 

[Tacoma]

10-12" of lift and 44's is way too top-heavy....

You should probably be asking yourself more "why" questions and less "how". Form follows function.

 

[spaggyroe]

The truck is registered in Wisconsin.

Unfortunately, that much lift and 44's will still get you busted while driving in UT.

My ol man has has a 1970 all original k5 blazer that was the monster truck to me when I was growing up.

I'd love to see some old school pics of this. :greg: I'm not much of a chevy guy, but admittedly I'm a sucker for gen 1 blazers.

 

[Chevycrew]

Unfortunately, that much lift and 44's will still get you busted while driving in UT.

Although it takes a little work, it is doable...


Mine has 13", rockwells and 46's, back to daily driver duty...

I am looking @ 10- 12 inches of lift and possible axle upgrade to a 1-ton or rockwells.

But I noticed driveshafts first? Those will have to change with the lift...

It all depends what you use the truck for, work your way up. If you can do the 1 tons first, do that. A 6" spring is about the most that is bolt in with a decent ride. Rear you can do a shackle flip and a 2" block to help the budget. Then crossover with ram assist. A 2" or 3" body lift can help in the altitude without hurting ride, or d-line angles.

8" will clear 40+ with some trimming.



Best thing you can do at this point, is search and read, search and read. Most of the rigs on here are function over looks, built low and wide, barely clearing the tires.

 

[Tacoma]

6" and trimming cleared 42's on ORD's Blazer.

 

[muddin77]

The why's are just because. I was raised going to monster truck shows and I am more for mud then flexing in this truck. The blazers, unless I box-out the frame and buggy it,the body will twist right off. The skins are already starting to seperate from me trying to stand up to my buddys (owners of Jeeps, Toyotas and landrovers) trash talk. lol

I'll snap a few shots of the '70 next time I go back to Wisconsin. The ol' manis still trying to figure out the concept of e-mail.

That's right where I'm at Chevycrew, and that is a hell of a rig you have!:bow: Do you have any build threads on it? As of right now the 40's fit but get in the fenders a little. Sofar offraod design's website has giving me a great shopping list. A buddy at 4x4 shop was saying I could try an add a leaf in front for 2 inchs and switch out the rear leaf spring hanger and try out the total 8 inch to see if it satisfies me. Tom wood's driveshafts are going to make me a set of shafts that should cover me up to 10 inchs of suspension.

thanks for the inputs!

 

[mesha]

If you want help with steering contact clemsonkrawler on here. He is great with steering stuff plus a great deal.

As far as the 10"-12" lift, if that's how you like it build it that way. Its your truck do what makes you happy. I prefer lower, but so what it is not my truck.

 

[sixb]

You should probably be asking yourself more "why" questions and less "how".

Hmm... There's a few of us that should be asking ourselves these questions
Why so many projects.
How will they ever get finished.
Why is there so much junk in my garage.
How come it's still in the garage and not on my project.

 

[mesha]

Hmm... There's a few of us that should be asking ourselves these questions
Why so many projects.
How will they ever get finished.
Why is there so much junk in my garage.
How come it's still in the garage and not on my project.

Agreed! I ask myself those questions all the time.

 

[iamsparticus]

Do what ever suites you but beware of top heavyness, even if your just going for a mudding rig you still need a decent low center of gravity or you'll tip. As for The blazers they do require alot of lift i had a 1976 K5 with thirty threes and it almost rubed a little with a small lift but i would recommend shackle flips add a leafs and new leaf packs over lift blocks and body lifts

 

[OrvisKrawler]

As for The blazers they do require alot of lift

this is NOT true, I had 35's on my 80 with about 3-4" of lift and a little fender trimming, probably could have got away with 36's