1989 Chevy K5 Blazer Silverado Black 4 Lift 35 Tires
Mastiff
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Slight ramble coming here.
I don't mean this like the newbie question of which lift kit I should buy, but I'm interested in opinions on how much lift people would choose to go with if their build goal was 35" tires. I have a K5, a CUCV and a Jeep JK, all with 35" tires. The Jeep sits nice and low and my wife likes it. My K5 has/had a 4" lift, which was considered "marginal" by the lift kit manufacturers to fit 35" tires, and to the untrained eye looks like a jacked up redneck-mobile - my wife hates it. The CUCV has no lift and fit the 35's with very minor fender trim.
So compared to the Chevy's, I'd say the Jeep body is simply better optimized to fit big tires without having to go high. I can't even remember, but it's got something like 2.5" lift and looks totally normal that way. It might not be able to take advantage of all its articulation before something hits, but it's close. The CUCV is definitely a little tight with 35's and no lift. I'm guessing it works at all because of the thicker axles and frame.
I'm thinking about this because my new K5 lift sits so high, and every time I hoist myself up into the seat I remember that my Jeep has the same clearance and the driver's seat must be 8" (or more) closer to the ground. Maybe 2-3" of lift with more fender trim should have been my approach? On the other hand, my K5 body is nice so I'm not interested in an approach that butchers it too much either.
Blue85
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I would lift just a couple inches and trim a bit. That couple of inches gives the suspension some useable up-travel. You don't have to butcher the whole fender, just cut away at the inner lip at the bottom. Really, the trimming looks "less bad" than having too much lift for the tire. Leave that look to the Super Doodys and late model Silverados. All else being equal, a lower truck performs better and saves lots of headaches with driveline angles and such. Also fits in standard garage doors.
blazinzuk
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I like lower lifts I would say 2"s and mess around with axle placement to prevent any visible trimming
Mastiff
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Leave that look to the Super Doodys and late model Silverados.
Exactly. I want to avoid that cheesy look and reduced functionality.
- #5
4" with 35's.
Gets me in trouble with trails, obviously,,, borderline annoying if you have to get in and out all day long, but not horrible, decent road manners.
You can see where I trimmed the lower corner of the front fender, not a very clean job, but stuff was already messed up and I was at a trailhead when I cut them with the angle grinder and a power inverter barely supplying enough power to run it.
Mastiff
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Anyone actually have a setup with 35's and 2" lift? I'd be very interested in some pictures and possibly measurements. I'm going for a do-over on my recent lift springs and want to get it right this time.
- #7
Mudhog on here used to run 2.5" lift and 39.5s with not very outrageous trimming.
Mastiff
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Mudhog on here used to run 2.5" lift and 39.5s with not very outrageous trimming.
Really? Could the suspension actually move? 
- #9
It was no problem. The trick is he used stock steel wheels.
- #10
Here it is when he was on 38s and 2.5".
Richcz28
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I bet those 38s rub the inner rear fenders wicked with stock wheels.
-stew-
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You would have to ask him. But they must not have been too crazy if he then jumped up to 39.5s.
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I consider that a lot of trimming,especially for someone who doesn't really want to trim. When people ask about lift and 35s a lot is left out. The width of wheel plays a big part on marginal lifts,and even tire brand/design and type of spring. All 35s aren't the sale diameter or tread width. I have a 4" EZ-Ride lift on my (diesel) '85 Jimmy with 315/75-16 MT/Rs mounted on 10" d-hole wheels. It will rub the lower back of fender if not careful. I had an '84 K/20 (also diesel) with Superlift 4" back when all lifts were HD. The 35s were 12.50-16.5 BFG A/Ts mounted on 9.75 Kelsey Hayes steelies. They didn't rub. Another factor is that truck sat slightly nose-up. This keeps the weight better distributed off the front end.
8" wheels,which most run these days,allow much more clearance. The other thing people leave out when they say "35s" is width, We assume they mean 12.50s or 315/75s. There are narrower 35s out these days,such as 35/10.50s. These fit great on 8" wheels,but will work on stock 6" if you're really crunching the tire diameter vs lift numbers.
Mastiff
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Yup, that trim job looks good, but it also looks like about the max you could do without getting into the inner fender. I'm thinking about just cutting the corners a bit. I did it on my CUCV with a sawzall and I know it looks bad, but I'd try and be a bit cleaner on my K5, maybe even have a shop do it for me. But that's the basic idea. Here's my CUCV with 35's and no lift:
- #16
And looking Butch as Hell I might add....
AR_K5
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Just throw an 'add a leaf' helper spring under each pack if that's all the lift you want, or you could trade it for yet another Barbie car (Heep) since you like them so well, then you can blend in with everyone else, and won't have to worry about it being confused with some "redneck-mobile". (/sarcasm)
Deuling
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I like the look of 6" and 35s, but I like wheel well space and not the look of stuffed tires.
prairie
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Two inches up and 1" forward here.
I did a 1" ORD body lift, and a 1" ORD zero rate with the front axle moved forward 1", then trimmed the front of the front fender similar to Mastiff's picture on my CUCVM1008.
Run 315/70R17 Guard Dogs from Treadwright, they are supposed to be 34.7" @ 50psi, but mine measure 33.5" @ 30psi.
A true 35" tall tire would still work on mine, but don't think it would stay out of the rear of the inner fender without the axle being moved that 1" forward.
Moving the axle forward makes a world of difference.
Blue85
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Somebody in the aftermarket should start stamping Chevy fenders with larger tire openings. Possibly a stock inner fender could be bent a bit in the back and line up with the new fender.
Here it is when he was on 38s and 2.5".
"Not outrageous trimming"? That goes well beyond trimming - the stock wheel opening is completely cut out.
1989 Chevy K5 Blazer Silverado Black 4 Lift 35 Tires
Source: https://ck5.com/forums/threads/how-much-lift-for-35-tires.312815/
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