2002 GMC 3500 AKA Juggernaut

[2j_macrae_z]

Well got my tires mounted on rims. Between the new born kid (9months old now) and my work schedule I don’t have a lot of time work work on it as much as I’d like..

Well even with the 3” coil spacer and 3” block I think it’s going to be tight fitting these, might need to bust out my grinder and hammer 😂

 

[2j_macrae_z]

Well I was supposed to install my coil spacer this week but my spring compressor never showed up and my curiosity got to my so I bolted the tires up to see how they’d fit..well the rear is fine, I’ll probably order 2” block and the front needed a bit of massaging and took of the rear fender part but looks like I “SHOULD” be ok to drive around town for now. I need to trim the front bumper yet

 

[2j_macrae_z]

Well after driving with my 285/75s for awhile. I got tired of the rubbing so I decided to attempt to install my generic 2” coil spacers for a 88-98 chev/gmc c2500/3500. After multiple attempts and the spring compressor trying to kill me. I have taken a break from working on it. Been currently sitting like this for about a month now. Going to try and get them in again on days off but I was looking at www.gmpartscenter.com and cross referencing the steering knuckles and it says they’re the same knuckle as 88-98 8 lug 2wd trucks. So I might try to order some actual 4” lift spindles for the van. Joys of working on something that has almost zero aftermarket support lol it’s all trial and error.

 

[2j_macrae_z]

Oh I also go a new sticker for my phone case lol

 

[2j_macrae_z]

As I wait and do some research on lift spindles I decided to add some 2” wheel spacers to the van

 

[2j_macrae_z]

Before

 

[2j_macrae_z]

After

 

[1stDeuce]

I would guess those spacers make you need a lift even more, as the tire now swings a bigger arc when you steer... I saw you asked earlier about a body lift... Hopefully by now you have noticed that your van is technically unibody, making a body lift impossible...

FWIW, I always tell people that tires have to fit at the extreme travel positions of the suspension, not just at ride height. What you did to make them fit without a lift will pay off in less rubbing once you lift it some too. I will suggest that putting more than about 1.5" of lift on a stock suspension has some serious tradeoffs, mainly with suspension geometry, but also with wear on the steering center link and pitman/idler arms... You might try to find a lower spacer setup and go with that... Jamming a huge spacer in is going to be very problematic, as you've already seen. I did see a lift that includes spacers from Journeys Offroad that includes a pretty simple spring compressor setup that lets you do it right in the van. Looks pretty easy to re-create...

Good luck!!

 

[2j_macrae_z]

I would guess those spacers make you need a lift even more, as the tire now swings a bigger arc when you steer... I saw you asked earlier about a body lift... Hopefully by now you have noticed that your van is technically unibody, making a body lift impossible...

FWIW, I always tell people that tires have to fit at the extreme travel positions of the suspension, not just at ride height. What you did to make them fit without a lift will pay off in less rubbing once you lift it some too. I will suggest that putting more than about 1.5" of lift on a stock suspension has some serious tradeoffs, mainly with suspension geometry, but also with wear on the steering center link and pitman/idler arms... You might try to find a lower spacer setup and go with that... Jamming a huge spacer in is going to be very problematic, as you've already seen. I did see a lift that includes spacers from Journeys Offroad that includes a pretty simple spring compressor setup that lets you do it right in the van. Looks pretty easy to re-create...

Good luck!!

No my van is definitely body on frame, not unibody. And yeah I’ve looked at Journey Offroads spacer and I am tempted to get that too since it’s such a smaller simplistic spacer. We’ll see I’m in no rush.

I put these wheel spacers on the other day and took it for a little rip down a FSR near me and didn’t have any issues rubbing, honestly I had more rubbing before the spacers than I do now

 

[2j_macrae_z]

Got around to installing my roof rack on too today

 

[2j_macrae_z]

Got my hi lift and traction boards mounted up on the rack. May move the boards eventually. Also ordered more cause it looks kinda goofy with only 2 😂

 

[2j_macrae_z]

Well as I wait for a few parts, my coil spacers I bought won’t work so I am going to just order the Journeys Offroad lift for the van. Just waiting for them to email me a price in CAD including Shipping. And I have a machinist friend who is going to make me a 1” body lift out of some spare aluminum he has. I bought a Plano Sportsman trunk and mounted it to my roof rack and I also bought 2 more 9” LED lights, just gotta figure it if I want them on the bumper or make a hood/a pillar mount 🤔

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I like the idea of pillar/hood lights, but these might loom better on the bumper. If, if you do camp a lot, one on either side of the roof rack headed sidewards

 

[2j_macrae_z]

Well I got my 3”/2” lift from Journeys Offroad on Monday, never got a chance to install it as I had to leave for work, I work 7/7 rotation so hopefully next week if the weather permits. It’s definitely turning into winter quick here. Got a high of 4°C (39°F) and a low of -1°C (30°F) today and it’s currently snowing at the mine I work at

 

[2j_macrae_z]

Boy I'm not great at keeping this updated. Van sat for quite awhile, lost motivation to work on it. Finally got the lift kit in, been slowly working on maintenance now. Just did upper and lower ball joints. Got front and rear shocks coming in the mail should be here next week, then next is all new steering, drag link, tie rods, leaky power steering line. My van still rubs pretty good with the 285/75/16s with the 3" lift. Going to be looking for a 1" body lift here soon!