2in lift with 33 or 4in with 35s

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Italianwagon

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2020
Posts
139
Reaction score
144
Location
Washington
First Name
Steve
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 Suburban
Engine Size
350
OK I can't decide on a lift What do y'all think for the 87 2500 burban? Biggest hold up is how the truck would do with its 3.73 gears and 35 tires. Any suggestions?
 

Swearbody

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2018
Posts
701
Reaction score
716
Location
Birmingham AL
First Name
Jeff
Truck Year
84
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
355 sbc
6.2 or 350 or 454

If diesel or 454 id say 35s be ok but not ideal with a 700r4....if th400/350 id stay 33
 

Goldie Driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
4,042
Reaction score
6,634
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Britt
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
2 in with 33's.

I think the 373s will do fine as I am sure that is what rear end was in my 77 half ton and it did fine - with no lift.

342s kind of suck - ask me how I know.

:)
 

Curt

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2017
Posts
676
Reaction score
1,141
Location
Loco Hills
First Name
Curt
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K-30
Engine Size
383
I had a 88 suburban with alcan 2” lift springs front and back.Used offroad design’s h.d. shackles and rancho 9000 shocks.Was a super sweet ride.Probably the best riding square body I’ve ever had.

Ran 33” tires.No steering correction.A 4” lift would need steering correction
 

Swearbody

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2018
Posts
701
Reaction score
716
Location
Birmingham AL
First Name
Jeff
Truck Year
84
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
355 sbc
I had 35s with 3.73 and th350 and it worked yes....but it didnt pull for ****. you noticed the difference from 31s to 35s for sure. never ran 33s on it.
 

45tt

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2020
Posts
272
Reaction score
1,023
Location
Florida
First Name
MJ
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
GMC Sierra Grande K15
Engine Size
350
Mine has a 2” lift with 33’s and it’ll still fit in a standard garage opening. I didn’t need to do anything with the drive shafts but I did upgrade to a dual Shock steering stabilizer because it felt loose driving after the lift and tires were installed.
 

Craig 85

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
3,917
Reaction score
4,116
Location
Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
With a 350 and 3.73's, I'd go with 33's. I think you would be really disappointed with your performance with 35's.

I had an '87 K20 with a 350, 33's and 4.10 gears. It did okay pulling my '68 El Camino with a flat bed trailer, but anything more would have been a struggle. I lifted that truck 4" and only added a steering arm and better steering stabilizer. No drive shaft mods needed. It could have used more I'm sure, but that was 30 years ago and I was young and dumb.
 

BKING33

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2020
Posts
278
Reaction score
795
Location
York Springs, PA
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
1987, 1989
Truck Model
K30, Suburban
Engine Size
6.2, 6.2 turbo
Would suggest 4" for 33 and 6" for 35's. 3.73 is good for 33. 4.10 for 35. If u r running over drive trans u can go 1 ratio lower.
 

RoryH19

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2015
Posts
1,668
Reaction score
1,082
Location
Texas
First Name
Rory
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10 Silverado SWB
Engine Size
350 TBI
My 82 K5 has a 3" lift, 33's and 3.73 gears.
It still fits in a standard garage, no issues.

Can't compare performance since I have LS 6.0 with 4L65e trans.
 

BKING33

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2020
Posts
278
Reaction score
795
Location
York Springs, PA
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
1987, 1989
Truck Model
K30, Suburban
Engine Size
6.2, 6.2 turbo
here is a pic of mine. 6" lift and 35's on a 1-ton truck.

You must be registered for see images attach
 

Frankenchevy

Proverbs 16:18
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Posts
6,084
Reaction score
7,759
Location
USA
First Name
Jeremy
Truck Year
Square
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
Small
33s and 3.73s with even 300hp/350tq is nothing to write home about in the acceleration department... let alone the less than 200hp the truck’s motor is/was putting out from the factory.

I wouldn’t do 35s and 3.73s unless I had better than 400tq. You won’t be able to get out of your own way.

An OD trans won’t help either, as 1st-3rd are the same ratios as a three speed. If anything, an OD trans just allows your to run shorter diff gearing.
 

Swearbody

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2018
Posts
701
Reaction score
716
Location
Birmingham AL
First Name
Jeff
Truck Year
84
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
355 sbc
An OD trans won’t help either, as 1st-3rd are the same ratios as a three speed. If anything, an OD trans just allows your to run shorter diff gearing.
I thought the 700r4 1st was a 3.06 and the t350 like 2.52 or something

Is the internet wrong again!!??
The TH350's gear ratios are as follows: 2.52:1 for first gear, 1.52:1 for second gear, and 1:1 for third gear. The 700R4's gear ratios are 3.06:1 for first gear, 1.62:1 for second gear, 1:1 for third gear, and 0.70:1 for fourth gear.


Not trying to be contradictory I just really need to know this
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,169
Posts
950,808
Members
36,286
Latest member
goodwrenchca
Top