Body Lift Install? - questions

melloyellow · Post by **melloyellow** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:18 am

I am having a heck of a time finding somebody to install the PA192 body lift. Some just tell me it isn't safe. Has anyone had this done in Central California. I can travel. I did find this info <http://www.louisvilleoffroad.com/pub/bltech.html> Item 2 isn't to good as I have an automatic. Did anyone do this with an automatic transmission? Also was any welding required?

Split this topic , to make it easier to search- HJ

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 6:39 am

The body lift really isn't hard to do yourself...just time consuming. Most of what you'll pay for a body lift at a shop is the labor to install it...and that will be about $250-$300. Not worth it in my opinion.

All you really need to do the install is a decent socket set, a set of small open-ended wrenches (metric and standard) for those hard-to-get-at brake line bracket nuts, a couple drill bits, a 10" socket extension, and about 10-12 hours to work on it. A friend or two to help out would always be good too.

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 6:42 am

melloyellow wrote:I am having a heck of a time finding somebody to install the PA192 body lift. Some just tell me it isn't safe. Has anyone had this done in Central California. I can travel.

Are you up to doing the install yourself? It can be done with simple hand tools.

Too bad you're not closer, I'd be more than happy to help.

Of course any long distance support can be accessed here.

I did find this info http://www.louisvilleoffroad.com/pub/bltech.html Item 2 isn't to good as I have an automatic. Did anyone do this with an automatic transmission? Also was any welding required?

That list is "notes" for all the lifts kits , including all makes.

Only notes *attached to a specific lift apply.

There is no problem installing this BL on a S-series crew , they all have automatics. The manual transmission was not an option ( I would have had one if it had been an option)

These threads have some useful information:

2" BL?

Questions about 2" BL

2" BL is on

BL installed part II

Conman · Post by **Conman** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 6:55 am

melloyellow wrote:I am having a heck of a time finding somebody to install the PA192 body lift. Some just tell me it isn't safe. Has anyone had this done in Central California. I can travel. I did find this info <http://www.louisvilleoffroad.com/pub/bltech.html> Item 2 isn't to good as I have an automatic. Did anyone do this with an automatic transmission? Also was any welding required?

Are you near Vista, CA? If so check out http://www.stinkyfab.com/ this is a Isuzu Owner who just opened a shop. mostly metal fab but he does installs as well. He just did a SAS Swap on his Amigo and a GM 4.3 into it so I think a body lift should be pretty easy for him to do. I've don't personally know him but from what I see, he's pretty good at what he does.

Good Luck,

Con

Mike H. · Post by **Mike H.** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 8:14 am

HenryJ wrote:These threads have some useful information:

2" BL?

Questions about 2" BL

2" BL is on

BL installed part II

The last in that list was my experience with it.

If you are a regular do-it-yourselfer around the house, you shouldn't have any problem. If you don't regularly do "do-it-yourself" stuff like that, it might be better to let someone else do it.

Worst case you run out of time over the weekend to finish. You could do it over 2 weekends, if you don't mind the cab and bed being at 2" different levels for the week in between. Do the cab completely, then do the bed completely. If you were to jump in and get into trouble, we'd help you all we could on here, and maybe over the phone if you e-mailed us your phone number. I can e-mail you the current instruction book in .pdf format if you want it. Let me know.

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 11:11 am

One of these days I'm going to get the 152 Kit I need for my blazer -- none of this bed then cab crap there--I'm inviting everyone over of BBq and beer if you'll help me lift the body

lol

melloyellow · Post by **melloyellow** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 1:17 pm

I just happen to be going to Idaho next week HenryJ. I could probably leave Sunday be there Monday. I would be willing to pay for the help. I haven't worked on trucks in years. Could a PA192 kit be procured locally? Also the Boise Steel leafs? How about the tires? It could all just get done. Is their any hotels in your town with internet access? What do you think? Sometimes I just don't wait when I am ready to do something.

I also should look how to get there. Maybe go up through Bend.

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 1:47 pm

melloyellow wrote:I just happen to be going to Idaho next week HenryJ. I could probably leave Sunday be there Monday.

See what I get for opening my big mouth

I would be willing to pay for the help. I haven't worked on trucks in years. Could a PA192 kit be procured locally? Also the Boise Steel leafs? How about the tires? It could all just get done.

Local parts

this town is pretty much mail order. You'd have to bring the parts, The spring kit should be no problem. It only takes about an hour to make up the kit. Give Mike a call and He'll have it ready.

Is their any hotels in your town with internet access?

I'm sure that there are a couple that do.

What do you think?

Get all the parts gathered up, let me know what date Sept. 29th or 6th of Oct.? and I'll make sure that I have an open bay in the shop.

Sometimes I just don't wait when I am ready to do something.

I'm willing to give it a go! Plan on it taking a very long day(maybe two), since we will have to figure out the best way to raise those side bars.

I also should look how to get there. Maybe go up through Bend.

Bend is about 3 hours west of here, Ontario is right on the Snake river 53 miles west of Boise, Id. population 9700.

I have a couple extra days of annual leave, that I can take to work on it. Just letme know so that I can have a clear bay

melloyellow · Post by **melloyellow** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 4:00 pm

If your serious about this. I will be leaving on Sunday the 28th. I will try to come up with the PA192 right away. I will need an address to have it shipped to you. Also it is to late to contact Boise Steel. As it is only an hour away. Can probably do it on Monday. It is 760 miles to your place. I will need an address and phone number. You can email that to me directly. Let me know if this is really ok. I don't want to intrude. My wife gave me the ok.

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 4:43 pm

melloyellow wrote:If your serious about this. I will be leaving on Sunday the 28th. I will try to come up with the PA192 right away. I will need an address to have it shipped to you.

If you're wanting to do this on Monday you better pick it up on the way here. Freight would never make it in time.

Also it is to late to contact Boise Steel. As it is only an hour away. Can probably do it on Monday.

Yea, that will not be a problem, Mike can make it up by the time it takes us to drive there.

It is 760 miles to your place. I will need an address and phone number. You can email that to me directly. Let me know if this is really ok. I don't want to intrude. My wife gave me the ok.

No problem I happen to have a free bay, and I'll take Monday - Tuesday off.

melloyellow · Post by **melloyellow** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:28 pm

http://www.central4wd.com/store/itemdetail.asp?ID=2078

I want to confirm this is the lift kit I want. I will call and see if they have one in stock for pickup on the way. I will find this kit for pickup.

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:44 pm

melloyellow wrote:Part desc.

I want to confirm this is the lift kit I want.

Looks right just confirm that it is #192 and be darn sure that all the correct parts are in the box when you pick it up (there is an inventory, in the instructions). Some kits have been shorted parts.

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 7:31 pm

HenryJ wrote:
melloyellow wrote:Part desc.

I want to confirm this is the lift kit I want.
Looks right just confirm that it is #192 and be darn sure that all the correct parts are in the box when you pick it up (there is an inventory, in the instructions). Some kits have been shorted parts.

Pretty much all the kits are shorted parts. Make sure to have them check for the oil filter relocation brackets...those were missing from both mine and Hobie's. Also...the nuts for the bumper brackets are too big. You'll have to make a run to Home Depot, or search through your spare parts bin, for some that fit. That's about all I can think of that was a problem with mine.

Hey brule...you'll finally get to see an 03 without a fuel filler vent hose too.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 10:29 pm

there he goes about that vent hose missing ghost story again

so bennie, how far are you from los angeles? i could help you but it real easy to do. i did it by myself.

also, it took 2months from the time i ordered from the time i got all the parts and instructions.

there is a 85 percent chance that your kit will NOT come with all the parts. its a sad situation. so i wouldnt mail it to brule. i would get it and then start itemizing everything....good luck!!! -hobie

Mike H. · Post by **Mike H.** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 12:19 am

HenryJ wrote:Looks right just confirm that it is #192 and be darn sure that all the correct parts are in the box when you pick it up (there is an inventory, in the instructions). Some kits have been shorted parts.

Mine came with the parts, just not the up-to-date instructions and inventory. I got the .pdf from them when I questioned the parts list differences.

Correction: I did not have the steel tubes to lengthen the fuel filler and vent hoses, but did not need to use them anyway.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 5:00 am

Well so far the plan is for him to pick up the BL kit on his way north , Sunday.

You guys are right about missing parts, I got lucky with my kit, I had extra parts

Hopefully it all works out, and we get it done in one long day Monday.

The plan will be to start early, do the bodylift, I am pre-making the gap guards to save some time , as with the fillers for the fan shroud spacers. Then raise the stepbars, make a run to Boise for the spring kit, install it, crank the T-bars, get an alignment.

The tire switch may or may not happen right now, We haven't talked about what he wants to do there.

Mike H. · Post by **Mike H.** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 5:36 am

HenryJ wrote:......I happen to have a free bay......

What do you do that you are blessed with such facilities?

You guys are attacking this all-out like an off-road magazine would. On day two maybe you can do the TM lift, supercharger, soft top conversion, and maybe an in-dash TV over your lunch break.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 5:45 am

Mike H. wrote:
What do you do that you are blessed with such facilities?

I work for an Irrigation district which has to maintain a fleet of 75 vehicles. The shop isn't the finest but it is not too bad either.

That is my full time job, I'm also a part-time firefighter, and do Streetrods on the side.

My shop at home is a little small, but works for the personal stuff pretty well.

melloyellow · Post by **melloyellow** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 8:18 am

It is coming together. The shop in Sacramento has 5 PA-192 kits in stock and they are open Sunday for me to stop and pick them up. Spacers, I will be looking for those. Pretty exciting. We are also going to document it all with pictures.

As for the super charger I thought that was going to be a Sunday evening job when I got there.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 10:27 am

Tires are kind of slim pickens here.

Highest price was- $603.80 for Bigfoot XT-

Bigfoot AT - $575.80

Cooper Discoverer AT- $478.32

Cooper Discoverer LT- $460.08

Trailcat - $382.60

Wildcat - $421.04

Wildcat AT - $479.84

Wild Country XTX - $502.24

Mud Terrain SXT - $558.12

Wild Country TXR - $541.88

Wildcat EXT - $482.84

Another option would be to grab some tires you like and bring them with you. I can mount'em at the shop. Then we can take them to town for a good spin balance.

Mike H. · Post by **Mike H.** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 11:50 am

Might be best to hold off on the tires until he gets his rear wheel spacers. They'd be pretty tight to the frame. Maybe he can round up a set of spacers before he gets there. Hobie - did you sell yours yet?

NTXCrew · Post by **NTXCrew** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 11:59 am

OUCH!!! Talk about spur of the moment

.

Mike H. · Post by **Mike H.** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 12:32 pm

NTXCrew wrote:OUCH!!! Talk about spur of the moment .

?????????

NTXCrew · Post by **NTXCrew** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:15 pm

Spurs....worn by cowboys on their boots to "prod" their horse along. It was a play on words, but maybe it was too Texas

.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:19 pm

NTXCrew wrote:Spurs....worn by cowboys on their boots to "prod" their horse along.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:24 pm

Mike H. wrote:Might be best to hold off on the tires until he gets his rear wheel spacers. They'd be pretty tight to the frame. Maybe he can round up a set of spacers before he gets there.

Tires should clear OK without spacers. I have about 3" clearance with my spacers, so there should be a 1.5" or more with no spacers.

There is no doubt that it will look better with them though.

One more thing I forgot to ask. What gear ratio do you have?, Hopefully the 3.73:1 and the G80 rear.

If you got the 3.42's , maybe we should be looking for the 30x9.50/15 instead?

melloyellow · Post by **melloyellow** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 7:52 pm

One quick last question. You all think I should put on the Bilsten shocks as long as we have it apart? I can probably pick those up tomorrow. If anyone has some part numbers that would be great.

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 7:54 pm

dang --- while you're at it you might as well take the front and rear differentials apart and swap em out to 4.10's too

melloyellow · Post by **melloyellow** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 8:07 pm

What gear ratio do you have?, Hopefully the 3.73:1 and the G80 rear.

The above is exactly what I have. So we are a go. 31's

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 3:16 am

melloyellow wrote:One quick last question. You all think I should put on the Bilsten shocks as long as we have it apart?

You'll be much happier with the ride and handling-

Front: B46-1410

Rear: B46-1681

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 4:45 pm

how fast do you think you can put that bl on???

lets have a race

NTXCrew · Post by **NTXCrew** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 7:17 pm

Good gosh this is getting crazy................when's my turn?

melloyellow · Post by **melloyellow** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 7:50 pm

The place in Sacramento thought I was crazy inventorying the parts. It took all 5 kits to find the oil filler brackets. Only 1 box had them. He is calling PA tomorrow to find out why. Only got the front shocks. I am going to talk to a couple of companies and see if they can get the spacers and shocks here Tuesday am delivery. I will leave with all mods done. Ok, maybe not the gas tank mod for another 20 gallons.

Post by **HenryJ** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 11:49 am

Well we've done what we can for now.

I had to "chicken out" on doing the step bar raise, it just didn't look like we would have time to ,cut, lift, weld, the brackets.

The tires around here we're dissapointing, to say the least. But with a few calls Melloyellow had that solved and will pick up tires tomorrow in Spokane, WA.

Stock measurements:

RR- 33

RF- 30.75

LF- 30.25

LR- 32

+2" BL & TB adjustment:

RR- 34.75

RF- 33.5

LF- 34

LR- 34.75

+Boise Springworks rear spring kit & Bilstein front shocks:

RR- 37

RF- 33.75

LF- 34.5

LR- 37.5

All these measurements were taken right after being let off the jacks, so it was not very acurate. After some driving ,settling and installation of the new tires it will be interesting to see just where it ends up.

Sits almost the same as mine, once the tires are on it will be.

Melloyellow has the install pics, since you all know how lousy I am at taking pictures during!

I will say that there are advantages to the front bumper used on the 2003, it doesn't require any trimming to re-install after the BL.

And you guys with the newer crews, my condolences, you really did get short changed in the fuel tank and size of filler hose. That is a really tiny filler hose, and there is no vent to the filler. All venting is done through the EVAP system, whose size has doubled in the later model.

There was plenty of hose on the filler neck, to gain the two inches needed for the lift

The 4x4 actuator seems to have a longer cable on these also. There was plenty of slack in the cable after the bodylift, so we did not re-locate it.

Even with a couple "screw-ups" (brain fade) we did the lift in 8-9 hours. The only addition was to add fillers for the fan shroud.

The next day , messed with the stepbars, added front shocks, rear leaf kit, built gap guards, and had it aligned, which took 5-6 hours.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 6:04 pm

8 to 9 hours. come on. i was expecting 6 max

Post by **HenryJ** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 6:16 pm

a2b wrote:8 to 9 hours. come on. i was expecting 6 max

He would have probably been done quicker if I had stood back and read the directions to him

Actually things went pretty well , no matter what stories you may hear!

Seems like I can do my best to mess things up when I have an audience