Is that your van in your avatar? If so, what lift do you have on the front?
Chevy AWD
- Thread starter kntr
- Start date
Is that your van in your avatar? If so, what lift do you have on the front?
TroySmith80
Adventurer
Any new developments or confirmations on the subject of AWD Express lifts?
kntr - I found a post of yours over at GMfullsize.com regarding body lifts. I think I may be getting more interested in body lifts for another reason and wanted to know if you found anything?
I ordered and received the sofa bed I am planning to bolt in and I may be hitting a very serious snag. (Post) The frame of the sofa (where it bolts to the floor) lines up perfectly with the frame rails under the van right where they get close. This creates a serious issue to be able to drill through the floor and secure the sofa. I'm new to body lifts but I'm assuming I'll get more separation between frame and body, enough to get this sofa to mount. I'm only talking 1" of lift.
Please left me know if you have done any continued research and what you may have found!
Thanks!
I ordered and received the sofa bed I am planning to bolt in and I may be hitting a very serious snag. (Post) The frame of the sofa (where it bolts to the floor) lines up perfectly with the frame rails under the van right where they get close. This creates a serious issue to be able to drill through the floor and secure the sofa. I'm new to body lifts but I'm assuming I'll get more separation between frame and body, enough to get this sofa to mount. I'm only talking 1" of lift.
Please left me know if you have done any continued research and what you may have found!
Thanks!
BajaSavana
New member
Savana Express torsion key lift supplier!
I just ordered this 2" torsion key/block lift which Auto Parts Warehouse promises will fit my 2003 GMC Savana 2500 AWD with blue torsion keys. Will report back... http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/d...uspension_Lift_KitQQ20032005QQDAYKG09119.html
I just ordered this 2" torsion key/block lift which Auto Parts Warehouse promises will fit my 2003 GMC Savana 2500 AWD with blue torsion keys. Will report back... http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/d...uspension_Lift_KitQQ20032005QQDAYKG09119.html
Please do report back! There are several people here that would be interested. I see you have a 2500 but hopefully this kit would work for a 1500 as well.
So a quick note regarding the quoted text I posted above. I was talking with a mechanic friend and learned something I hadn't considered. On the trucks, I guess Chevy is famous for using a 2-piece fan shroud with the upper half connected to the upper radiator support (part of the body) and the lower portion to the frame. When guys loosen the body mounts and start doing a body lift, they stretch and crack that fan shroud. There are bolts on both sides of the shroud that can be loosened to allow the 2 halves to separate, then you need some bushings to deal with the gap.
However, there could be a new issue. I was poking around the front of my van tonight and there is a lower "sub-body" support that seems to support the bottom of the shroud. If that support goes up with the rest of the body, it would be lifted straight into the fan. I don't know if the trucks have this extra support and I bet the guy that posted about his 1/4" lift didn't go high enough to encounter an issue. I plan to look at this closer this weekend to confirm or deny if it will work.
BajaSavana
New member
Savana Express torsion key lift disapointment
Well, the kit came and the torsion keys were indexed almost exactly like the stock keys, so no lift at all. There were two kits advertised, but rather than reordering I am abandoning the key lift idea.
I called my local GMC dealer and spoke with a credible sounding service guy who warned me against adding any lift beyond the adjustment range of the stock keys. He said the range of motion of all the ball joints in the front end would be exceeded with lift keys and I'd be replacing parts often. Also, by increasing spring tension the ride would get progressively more harsh.
I also called Day Star, who manufactured the keys. They said have not made or tested any keys for Savana or Express vans and Auto Parts Warehouse was out of line selling them for our vans. Other than selling me the wrong thing, APW was great.
In the end I just maxed out the stock keys and gained an inch or so of clearance. I may go for more lift with taller sidewall tires. BTW- I've used stock width tires extensively on sandy beaches and dirt roads and experienced no need for more width, just height.
The next idea is a body lift to allow for full suspension travel with taller tires. I've heard the stock transmission shift cable from the steering column to trans is too short. Anyone tried a 2" body lift?
Washboard road ride quality and more space between my plastic fuel tank and sharp rocks is the goal!
Well, the kit came and the torsion keys were indexed almost exactly like the stock keys, so no lift at all. There were two kits advertised, but rather than reordering I am abandoning the key lift idea.
I called my local GMC dealer and spoke with a credible sounding service guy who warned me against adding any lift beyond the adjustment range of the stock keys. He said the range of motion of all the ball joints in the front end would be exceeded with lift keys and I'd be replacing parts often. Also, by increasing spring tension the ride would get progressively more harsh.
I also called Day Star, who manufactured the keys. They said have not made or tested any keys for Savana or Express vans and Auto Parts Warehouse was out of line selling them for our vans. Other than selling me the wrong thing, APW was great.
In the end I just maxed out the stock keys and gained an inch or so of clearance. I may go for more lift with taller sidewall tires. BTW- I've used stock width tires extensively on sandy beaches and dirt roads and experienced no need for more width, just height.
The next idea is a body lift to allow for full suspension travel with taller tires. I've heard the stock transmission shift cable from the steering column to trans is too short. Anyone tried a 2" body lift?
Washboard road ride quality and more space between my plastic fuel tank and sharp rocks is the goal!
This is disappointing news but I guess not that surprising based on the difficulties and lack of info already encountered.
I'm ready to install a 1" body lift since I just need a little lift. I have all of the parts, just need to confirm a few more things related to the parking brake, fan shroud and steering linkage. It sounds like I won't have any issues with the brake or linkage but the shroud will probably need to be trimmed. I won't be able to confirm until I actually try.
At 2" of lift, you'll definitely have parking brake cable, steering linkage and shroud modifications to make and no one makes a kit for these vans. You'll have to fabricate and piece it together. I hope to report back after this weekend.
BajaSavana
New member
savana express body lift
One inch of body lift would get the fuel tank up so it does hang below the frame and allow for 2" taller tires. I look forward to hearing how it goes. Take some pics!
Check out this steering knuck lift for 2wd GM vans of our era. I spoke with these guys and it sounded like they might come out with a lift for awd vans if there was enough interest... http://www.boulderoffroadvans.com/gm__chevy_van_lift_kits
One inch of body lift would get the fuel tank up so it does hang below the frame and allow for 2" taller tires. I look forward to hearing how it goes. Take some pics!
Check out this steering knuck lift for 2wd GM vans of our era. I spoke with these guys and it sounded like they might come out with a lift for awd vans if there was enough interest... http://www.boulderoffroadvans.com/gm__chevy_van_lift_kits
I spoke with Boulder Offroad as well and posted their response in another thread:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/55578-Looking-for-info-on-a-lift/page4
The issue becomes what constitutes "enough interest" and at what cost? I'm not sure a company is going to want to invest tooling and setup into lifts that 6-7 guys want. We already have a decent number of man hour's exploring the problem with no clear solution. AWD Express vans are rare and those of use who want to mod them are even fewer but if they dedicate a R&D budget to do it, that would be awesome!
2006 Chevrolet Express 1500 AWD
I just finished lifting my van this evening. I used NEW LIFT Kit w/Keys for a Chevrolet Silverado 1500. This kit included: New indexed keys, shock extentions (Not Used), 2" lift blocks and u-bolts/nuts. First measured factory height on flat ground to bottom of both front/rear bumpers, I unbolted the factory shocks and discarded all 4, I installed the new keys (USE ALL THE RIGHT TOOLS SPECIFIED IN INSTRUCTIONS-FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS) and lifted to new height of 3" (measured on flat ground to bottom of front bumper), I installed 2New longer shocks. I removed old u-bolts on rear, installed 2" lift blocks, u-bolts and 2 new longer shocks. I will supply all part numbers, further information and pictures soon. Just got the lift finished, took about 6-8 hours to do (My first time, the next one I do would probably only take 4-6 hours). Got to get up in the morning and work then off to the alignment shop. I will probably install 17x8 wheels with a -0 offset and 265/70/17 tires, I was hoping to install 285's but I think I might have a tire rub problem, I'm going to try the 285's before settling on the 265's. MORE TO COME!
I just finished lifting my van this evening. I used NEW LIFT Kit w/Keys for a Chevrolet Silverado 1500. This kit included: New indexed keys, shock extentions (Not Used), 2" lift blocks and u-bolts/nuts. First measured factory height on flat ground to bottom of both front/rear bumpers, I unbolted the factory shocks and discarded all 4, I installed the new keys (USE ALL THE RIGHT TOOLS SPECIFIED IN INSTRUCTIONS-FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS) and lifted to new height of 3" (measured on flat ground to bottom of front bumper), I installed 2New longer shocks. I removed old u-bolts on rear, installed 2" lift blocks, u-bolts and 2 new longer shocks. I will supply all part numbers, further information and pictures soon. Just got the lift finished, took about 6-8 hours to do (My first time, the next one I do would probably only take 4-6 hours). Got to get up in the morning and work then off to the alignment shop. I will probably install 17x8 wheels with a -0 offset and 265/70/17 tires, I was hoping to install 285's but I think I might have a tire rub problem, I'm going to try the 285's before settling on the 265's. MORE TO COME!
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2006 Chevrolet Express 3" Lift
Re: More to Come!
The Suspension Kit Used to raise my Chevrolet Express 1500 is the Suspension Maxx Part #MAXXCAM2 Level Kit for 1999-2006 Chevrolet 1500 with 2" Lift Blocks for Rear Axle, Skyjacker #H7003 Front Shocks and Skyjacker #H7017 Rear Shocks. The Tires Used are 265/75/16 Kenda Klever A/T on factory steel rims. Total increased ground clearance is 6". Still trying to decide on rims, very limited on styles due to the side sliding cargo door that hits/rubs wider rims.
Re: More to Come!
The Suspension Kit Used to raise my Chevrolet Express 1500 is the Suspension Maxx Part #MAXXCAM2 Level Kit for 1999-2006 Chevrolet 1500 with 2" Lift Blocks for Rear Axle, Skyjacker #H7003 Front Shocks and Skyjacker #H7017 Rear Shocks. The Tires Used are 265/75/16 Kenda Klever A/T on factory steel rims. Total increased ground clearance is 6". Still trying to decide on rims, very limited on styles due to the side sliding cargo door that hits/rubs wider rims.
Attachments
TroySmith80
Adventurer
Thanks for the info Brian, is this an AWD van? We'd love to see some more daylight pictures. How did you manage 6" of lift out of a 3" lift kit? The tires added that much more?