95 2wd to 4wd"ish" look

[jeepwm69]

Have a 2wd 95 GMC that I inherited. I haven't ever really liked the look of 2wd trucks, so was thinking of putting a lift and bigger tires on this one just for appearance. Before any of you suggest it, yes I know I'd be better off selling this one and buying a 4wd truck. Don't want to do that, have my reasons. I have Jeeps for off roading, so a 2wd truck suits me fine, but I just don't like the low stance/ 2wd look. So.......

I've kinda nosed around a bit. My initial idea was to put 3/4 ton rotors on front (6 lug) with new coils and swap a 14 bolt out of a 4x4 88-98 truck into the rear complete with springs. Use factory Z71 rims (I like that rim, that's what I wanna use). That SHOULD give me about a factory 4x4 look right? (gonna run 265/75/16) Question would be, I know the 4x4 rear is wider, so by only swapping rotors would I need spacers to get the width right on the front?

Other options are a spindle lift on front/ blocks in rear. This is much pricier. What are advantages of this over simply replacing the coils? Rough Country has a 2" coil lift, but could the same be done with 3/4 ton springs on the front?

I thought about just putting new coils in front, blocks in rear, and running spacer/adapters on all 4 corners to let me use Z71 rims..... 2" in front, 3" in rear give me anywhere close to a factory 4wd rake?

Last is a coil spacer. I've heard these ride like crap, so unless that idea is totally wrong it's not something I'm interested in doing.

How much lift do I need on a 2wd to get the same height as a factory 4wd?

Don't like body lifts, before anyone suggests that.

Just curious as to what my best options are here. I started through the member rides on the 2wd offroad forum but there are just too dang many threads to wade through them all to find just what I'm looking for......

[jeepwm69]

Bueller.......bueller......

[93blackexcab]

Get the 4in rough county spindle and 2in blocks, Z71/4x4 rear end, 285/75r16 on the z71 rims you want and itll be about the height of a stock z71 if not a tad bit higher! and the spindles will push the front tires about 1.5 to 2in as will the rearend. This is the same setup i want to run but its hard to find a set of the obs z71 rims that are decent shape! Plus the advantage to spindles and blocks is you keep your factory ride.

[jeepwm69]

Thanks! I'm guessing the 2in blocks would level it, so if I wanted the factory rake I could do 3" blocks? I'm also still toying with the idea of using a Z71 rear end WITH factory 4x4 springs and that way no blocks would be needed. I've got 3.42's now, so I might possibly try to find a 3.73 rear end, but haven't decided for certain (buddy had a Z71 with 3.42's for fuel savings and it wasn't bad as far as power goes)

There are 3-4 sets of OBS factory rims on Craigslist around here, $200-250/set, but can't really tell about condition from the little pics they post.

[93blackexcab]

Thanks! I'm guessing the 2in blocks would level it, so if I wanted the factory rake I could do 3" blocks? I'm also still toying with the idea of using a Z71 rear end WITH factory 4x4 springs and that way no blocks would be needed. I've got 3.42's now, so I might possibly try to find a 3.73 rear end, but haven't decided for certain (buddy had a Z71 with 3.42's for fuel savings and it wasn't bad as far as power goes)

There are 3-4 sets of OBS factory rims on Craigslist around here, $200-250/set, but can't really tell about condition from the little pics they post.

Yes 2in blocks would level it with 4in spindles. im not sure about using factory 4x4/z71 springs in the rear havent heard of anyone doing this. i would try to get 3.73 with 285's. i actually have a set of stock z71 rims but there not in good shape, my cousin has a set he said i could have but i havnt looked at them yet.

[jeepwm69]

I'm probably just going to run 265's. I have a couple of Jeep CJ's I'll use for any kind of offroading. This truck will likey rarely leave the pavement. I just like the stance of a 4wd truck. The 2wd's just look wimpy for lack of a better word.

Found a 4" spindle kit with rear blocks for $315
OBS wheels $200ish
Spacers $250 ish

Cheapest way to do this is gonna be around $750.....

If I can get a whole rearend out of a junkyard for a couple hundred bucks looking at
rear end with springs $200
wheels $200
spindles only (no blocks) $250
spacer/adapters for front (or 3/4 ton 6 lug hubs) $100-130

Still comes out to about $750-775

Course then I'd have to get tires....lol

On the one hand, around here I can get a good Z71 for around $4-5K, BUT this 2wd truck was my grandad's. I know it's been taken care of and it's only got 45K miles on it, so $700-800 vs $4-5K sounds pretty good, and I get to keep the truck I'm sentimentally attached to.

[05bigblue05]

I would rock the 4 inch spindle and spacers.... I would also just replace all shocks at each corner. My ride in the front is bad because the stock 2wd shocks dont like the spacer. It honsetly doesnt ride bad at all.

Lifting a 2wd does have some purposes. Thats why i lifted mine but get knocked for it everytime someone asks if its 4wd. I have them fooled into thinking its 4x4. So do it for sure!

[93blackexcab]

I'm probably just going to run 265's. I have a couple of Jeep CJ's I'll use for any kind of offroading. This truck will likey rarely leave the pavement. I just like the stance of a 4wd truck. The 2wd's just look wimpy for lack of a better word.

Found a 4" spindle kit with rear blocks for $315
OBS wheels $200ish
Spacers $250 ish

Cheapest way to do this is gonna be around $750.....

If I can get a whole rearend out of a junkyard for a couple hundred bucks looking at
rear end with springs $200
wheels $200
spindles only (no blocks) $250
spacer/adapters for front (or 3/4 ton 6 lug hubs) $100-130

Still comes out to about $750-775

Course then I'd have to get tires....lol

On the one hand, around here I can get a good Z71 for around $4-5K, BUT this 2wd truck was my grandad's. I know it's been taken care of and it's only got 45K miles on it, so $700-800 vs $4-5K sounds pretty good, and I get to keep the truck I'm sentimentally attached to.

are you talking about wheel spacers or coil spacers? cause spindles will push the wheels out this same as the 4x4/z71 rearend will. therefore you dont need wheel spacers

[jeepwm69]

Well to use 6 lug wheels I'd have to either use adapter/spacers or 3/4 ton hubs. If the lift spindles push the wheels out I'll only need to swap hubs since the width will be ok from the spindles

[93blackexcab]

Well to use 6 lug wheels I'd have to either use adapter/spacers or 3/4 ton hubs. If the lift spindles push the wheels out I'll only need to swap hubs since the width will be ok from the spindles

Correct. I didn't want you to buy spacers if it wasn't neccissary.

[jeepwm69]

Thanks for the responses. Now I just gotta get some dough together.

[Waldog]

yeah let the haters hate. there's obviously a lot of 2WD trucks on here lifted, and they look damn good. :)