Looking at upgrading my winter beater. What I need/want is a full-size half-ton 4wd pickup. (Have one, it's just got a ton of miles and rust). I've found a couple of likely candidates (this one, for example) but lifts are not my cup of tea.
From what I can tell, these will require stock shocks, springs, etc. to be reinstalled to get rid of the suspension lift, and the body lift is usually just blocks between the frame and the body...but is there anything extremely complicated or expensive associated with bringing something like this back down to earth? Quick googling said that Tacomas that get lifted like this usually have to have a major cross-member cut and re-welded, and that it's pretty major surgery to reverse.
It would require taking a decent look at everything to figure out what's been changed and would need to be swapped back to stock.
First off don't go buying a lifted truck with monster energy stickers in the window and worn out tires.
Honestly if its just lifted 4-6 inches and does not have a body lift just drive the thing.
slefain
PowerDork
7/20/16 1:33 p.m.
Smaller tires?
A body lift should be easy to undo. Suspension stuff not so much if original mounting points were hacked up. You can always ask the seller what brand lift it has, and if they kept any of the stock parts. Then look up the lift kit install instruction online and see what it requires.
If its just bolt on stuff you maybe able to put an add in Craigslist or something offering to swap suspension with someone who wants the lift. Free and they supply half the labor? Then worse case youd need new shocks that you were expecting to buy anyways
In reply to chiodos:
Honestly, even trade + cash on their end would probably generate a lot of interest
Once IFS Chevys are lifted in the front, they generally can not be unlifted. The front diff mounts get cut off during the lifting process. Could probably weld in different mounts from a boneyard, but its not worth it.
Ditto to the lift/bald tires/stickers comment above. Those trucks are generally really worn out. But good chance of finding a dime bag and a flat brimmed DC Shoes hat behind the seat, if thats your thing.
In reply to 93gsxturbo:
Not to mention worn out ball joints, inner/outer tie rod ends and leaking differential/axle seals.
outasite wrote:
In reply to 93gsxturbo:
Not to mention worn out ball joints, inner/outer tie rod ends and leaking differential/axle seals.
If it's a Dodge, it came from the factory with a differential pinion leak and ball joints under recall. That's just part of the charm.
I unlifted the front of my pre-Tacoma Toyota pickup. But it had torsion bars, so all I had to do was put an impact gun on a bolt and loosen it off. Voila, ride height change. Lazy PO never did anything in the back.
I would not bother unless the truck is virtually free. Otherwise I would be looking for a non lifted one.
I'm picturing a GMT400 with a subframe lift and drop spindles. Because those parts probably exist.
