Lifting c4500 ambulance

[rossiter78]

It's time to start budgeting for one of my big mods to my c4500 ambulance - the lift.

I don't intend to do serious off roading in this. But I do like to explore the National Forest roads here in Colorado. I also like canyoneering in Utah, and to get to some of those trailheads can be a little rough.

So, what would it take $ wise do bring this ambulance to the same places I take my stock Toyota Tundra?

 

[Third]

I'm curious as well. I've been eyeballing a pretty sweet deal on a C4500, but like you the clearance is one thing on my mind. I'm pulling an off-road car, so I don't intend to need 4x4, but these things sit pretty low at stock height. All it has are the airbag system that was installed on the squad.

 

[Britboaters]

The 4WD version has a spacer over the rear axle about 5 inches thick, made from a piece of box section. Then you'll need new u-bolts at about $120 for a set of 4. If you make your own spacers be sure to include the location pegs and holes.
The front axle on the 4WD sits under the springs, I believe same springs as 2WD. The stock 2WD axle has the spindles quite a bit higher than the underside of the springs. You could probably put a spacer between axle and spring on the front as well.
I've just converted a 2WD C4500 to 4WD using a wrecked 4WD C4500 as a donor.
I kept original 2WD springs, and put the spacer in the rear axle.
For the front, I switched in the 4WD axle, which gave me the lift. No problems with steering. New U-bolts as well.
You'll have to figure out longer shocks. I was able to use mounts off the donor and original 2WD shocks.
The whole truck sits up about 5 inches, which is the difference between factory 2WD & 4WD as you'd expect.
I have a huge space under the front fenders now. The same cab is used on the C6500 which uses 11R22.5 tires, at 41" tall. The 245/70R19.5 are about 32" tall. So now you've done the lift and made some space, fit 335/80R20 tires. So now you'll be about 9 or 10" taller !! Singles on the rear, of course.
Sorry if I'm getting a bit carried away.....

 

[rossiter78]

The 4WD version has a spacer over the rear axle about 5 inches thick, made from a piece of box section. Then you'll need new u-bolts at about $120 for a set of 4. If you make your own spacers be sure to include the location pegs and holes.
The front axle on the 4WD sits under the springs, I believe same springs as 2WD. The stock 2WD axle has the spindles quite a bit higher than the underside of the springs. You could probably put a spacer between axle and spring on the front as well.
I've just converted a 2WD C4500 to 4WD using a wrecked 4WD C4500 as a donor.
I kept original 2WD springs, and put the spacer in the rear axle.
For the front, I switched in the 4WD axle, which gave me the lift. No problems with steering. New U-bolts as well.
You'll have to figure out longer shocks. I was able to use mounts off the donor and original 2WD shocks.
The whole truck sits up about 5 inches, which is the difference between factory 2WD & 4WD as you'd expect.
I have a huge space under the front fenders now. The same cab is used on the C6500 which uses 11R22.5 tires, at 41" tall. The 245/70R19.5 are about 32" tall. So now you've done the lift and made some space, fit 335/80R20 tires. So now you'll be about 9 or 10" taller !! Singles on the rear, of course.
Sorry if I'm getting a bit carried away.....

Carried away? What does that mean?
I need find out how to search for damanged 4wd C4500s. That sounds like a huge winner. :victory:

 

[cjken]

The 4WD version has a spacer over the rear axle about 5 inches thick, made from a piece of box section. Then you'll need new u-bolts at about $120 for a set of 4. If you make your own spacers be sure to include the location pegs and holes.
The front axle on the 4WD sits under the springs, I believe same springs as 2WD. The stock 2WD axle has the spindles quite a bit higher than the underside of the springs. You could probably put a spacer between axle and spring on the front as well.
I've just converted a 2WD C4500 to 4WD using a wrecked 4WD C4500 as a donor.
I kept original 2WD springs, and put the spacer in the rear axle.
For the front, I switched in the 4WD axle, which gave me the lift. No problems with steering. New U-bolts as well.
You'll have to figure out longer shocks. I was able to use mounts off the donor and original 2WD shocks.
The whole truck sits up about 5 inches, which is the difference between factory 2WD & 4WD as you'd expect.
I have a huge space under the front fenders now. The same cab is used on the C6500 which uses 11R22.5 tires, at 41" tall. The 245/70R19.5 are about 32" tall. So now you've done the lift and made some space, fit 335/80R20 tires. So now you'll be about 9 or 10" taller !! Singles on the rear, of course.
Sorry if I'm getting a bit carried away.....

Are you still looking into making rims for the c4500?
At some point I may be interested a getting a regular cab, cab and chassis 4x4. I’d like to possibly extend the cab slightly then mount a mini mod ambulance box. The crew cab with the box might be too long for my liking.

 

[Third]

Wish I could use the front dif, axle, transfer case. etc off the 4x4 1500 I have (4x4 is in great shape, truck is a mess).

Like Rossiter, I guess I'll start surfing for other solutions.

 

[rossiter78]

I'm still interested in knowing how one would go about finding wrecked C4500s.

 

[Third]

You might just Google it. I've seen them on eBay a few times. No transfer case, but I figure there must be some out there.

 

[Britboaters]

CJKEN
Yes still in slow process of building rims. I hoped this might turn into a commercial venture, but the liability insurance killed stone dead.

 

[Britboaters]

Very tough to find 4x4 Topkick / Kodiak transfer case, front axles, etc. My front axle was bent - center diff case distorted. So I had a shop build me a new axle using a Dana 80 rear axle pumpkin, new tubes, my original "C's" etc. Very expensive.
The original Dana 70HD is a heavier axle than Ford uses, also drive on the other side.
Some of the other heavy 4WD trucks use the same transfer case, but they are not divorced/front drive on wrong side.
Try "salvagetrucksauction.com" for a wreck.
Good luck

 

[rossiter78]

Very tough to find 4x4 Topkick / Kodiak transfer case, front axles, etc. My front axle was bent - center diff case distorted. So I had a shop build me a new axle using a Dana 80 rear axle pumpkin, new tubes, my original "C's" etc. Very expensive.
The original Dana 70HD is a heavier axle than Ford uses, also drive on the other side.
Some of the other heavy 4WD trucks use the same transfer case, but they are not divorced/front drive on wrong side.
Try "salvagetrucksauction.com" for a wreck.
Good luck

Ah! This answers a question I had on another thread. Thanks Britboaters!

 

[Third]

I've been looking mostly at med-duty ambulances. Really like the look and stance of the 4500's Internationals, Freight Liners.

But I have a 2000 1500 Chevy that I can use as a donor for the 4x4 bits if I find a smaller Chevy squad. Since nothing on it is viable for the C4500/4500 series though, I'm contemplating if I really want 4x4 (I'll be towing an off-road Baja car).

That leads me back to this thread.

Q: What options are there to just do a lift on a C4500/4500 (or Intl/FLs)? Almost everything I've found on the web revolves around 4x4 kits (bit more than I really want to spend given the cost and rarity plus the fact that I don't absolutely need it ).

Any thoughts?

 

[Capital E]

Deaver Springs will make a set for you. I just got some for my C5500 4x4. They will raise it about 2" from stock. Not sure how that translates to a two wheel drive. The ride is way better with the Deavers. Jeff at Deaver is the guy to talk to. He has tons of experience with Topkick/Kodiak suspension.

 

[Third]

Deaver Springs will make a set for you. I just got some for my C5500 4x4. They will raise it about 2" from stock. Not sure how that translates to a two wheel drive. The ride is way better with the Deavers. Jeff at Deaver is the guy to talk to. He has tons of experience with Topkick/Kodiak suspension.

Noted.

And thanks a TON !

 

[Capital E]

Noted.

And thanks a TON !

You're welcome. If you have any more questions about the lift feel free to reach out. I would do the Deaver's in the front and a block in the rear. Should run you approximately $2,000-$2,500 max.