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New Member looking to put some loving in my B2

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:23 am
by drizzle10390
Hey everyone, figured id do a intro thing in here....and maybe i can get some questions answered I've had running through my head.

It's a 88' Auto with push button 4x4. Bought it when I was a junior in HS for $1,000. Guy I bought it from paints for a living, motorcycles, hot rods, etc...he had painted it for his son. Joined the army after HS so its been sitting at my dads place for 2 years. He goes out starts it once and a while and uses 4 wheel drive make sure it doesn't lock up. In my absence though the scratches on the corner of the hood, thanks to the previous owner driving it into a barbwire fence, have caused all the clear coat on the hood to peel off. Also the top clear coat has started to peel. Still up in the air if I'm going to try and save the paint job or just go with a new one, all one color, when i get back.

Blew the 2.9V6 that came with the truck and replaced with another 2.9 short block with around 30k on it. Engine probably has around 40k now.

Image

Got a few more months in lovely Afghanistan, then a year in El Paso, TX. Then back to MN where I can finally start on it. Do the things i always wanted to in HS.

Now for the questions....

First off I plan on lifting it eventually but with a new kid soon and moving states and all i think all im going to be able to do is tires for now. I don't know a whole lot on the whole requirements for tires, susp etc... Im a decent welder, fabricator from my prior machinist jobs before the army so a lot of what I do is going to be by me on the cheap.

Will i be able to fit 32"s or 33"s under it stock with fender trimming and still have it be driveable? We have a brand new 2011 VW Jetta TDI for main car/wife and the BII is going to be my DD to work and all so i want it to still be road worthy.

Reason i want to try and jump up to 32 or 33's is because when i do get my lift, a minor one, i think they will still fill in nicely.

Lifts - I need schooling on. Now im under the impression its generally better if you can only do one, body or susp, to go with susp. Can someone tell me pro's/con's of both? I think i was leaning towards a 2.5 or so susp lift for starters.

That's really my only goals for when I make it home. Hopefully I can sell my 84' 1/2 GT350 20th Anny Mustang when I get back to Texas for some money for the Bronco project. I keep thinking I should keep the mustang and toss the engine in the bronco but thats something i can always do farther down the road. Blew the original 1984 5.0 engine up too in texas. That thing had to be beat on before I got it. Snapped the crank right in half!! Got a short block for that too with around 70k on it.

Well, pleasure meeting all of you!! Your trucks are my inspiration to do this!!

Re: New Member looking to put some loving in my B2

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:05 pm
by Mud Addict
Re-do the clearcoat, love the paint job :cool:
As for the lift, 4in suspenion is what you will need for 32's :beer:

Re: New Member looking to put some loving in my B2

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:24 am
by drizzle10390
So I've been looking at susp lift kits from Duff, Sky Jacker and Rough Country. It looks for the price I get the best deal from Rough Country.

Rough Country 4" $441
Duff for 3" $600
Sky Jacker 4" $2,000!!!!

I think if i get the blessing from you guys here the 4" I can get easily and still have $$ for my tires without pissing the wife off.

Also will i be able to use my stock rims for the new meats till I get money for better rims without a problem?
Bare with me im new to how everything fits together here and what is logical. :)

Any help appreciated! Thanks!

Re: New Member looking to put some loving in my B2

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:36 pm
by Mud Addict
I have run 33x12.5's on stock rims, had no problems. An added bonus is narrow rims keep your tire on better at low air pressures :D Had no problem running 10lbs of air :redneck:

As for the lift, get the Duff kit, is worth the extra $200 compared to the Rough Country kit :beer:

Re: New Member looking to put some loving in my B2

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:44 am
by drizzle10390
Mud Addict wrote:I have run 33x12.5's on stock rims, had no problems. An added bonus is narrow rims keep your tire on better at low air pressures :D Had no problem running 10lbs of air :redneck:

As for the lift, get the Duff kit, is worth the extra $200 compared to the Rough Country kit :beer:

Can you school me on why the Duff is better than Rough Country??

Plan of attack so far after moving back will be 31"s with fender trim.
Lift
Then start looking for better axles etc.

Re: New Member looking to put some loving in my B2

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:42 pm
by Mud Addict
Duff is smoother ride, and higher quality of workmanship.

Mine is running Skyjacker 6in class II lift, not much street time mostly trail :redneck:

Re: New Member looking to put some loving in my B2

Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 9:48 am
by drizzle10390
Yea mine needs to stay pretty streetable. Ill look into the Duff more.
You the only guy on this forum or what? Where is everyone else?

Re: New Member looking to put some loving in my B2

Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:24 pm
by Mud Addict
There around, but it is kinda slow around here :laugh:

Re: New Member looking to put some loving in my B2

Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:57 pm
by drofman
Just got a Mini 14 instead of the Duff stage 3. But will do it soon. I like the long arm option and still be able to street it, Before anybody give me crap about a 14 instead of AR, I live in California.

Re: New Member looking to put some loving in my B2

Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 8:22 pm
by Mudhog1977
Duff does specialize in b2's and rangers mostly

Re: New Member looking to put some loving in my B2

Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 7:31 pm
by drofman
My B2 just pop a head at 227k but just got a promotion at work so looking forward to do a lot to the bucker in about 6 months. Like I said I just got a mini and dumping a lot of money playing with it. I like this MINI!!!! Reminds me of an old M1 Carbine I had when I was a kid. I have another engine in the garage so might just rebuild that one and do the Duff 3 at the same time. My Marine buddy comming back from deployment and said he'd give me his 93 expolder diffs cause he's doing full size Bronco to it. Looking forward to make the B2 mo better.