1” Body Lift Best Option and Questions

[Magnolia]

Hey y’all,

I’m looking to do a 1” Body Lift on my 1970. Reason being I’m looking for additional space underneath the body as I begin replacing lines and wiring underneath. I don’t have a full vehicle lift to make the job easier for me. Long term goal of the project is to add one of the wild horses 1.5” on top of the 1” body lift as is.

Questions

Would the 1” lift be enough to clear my tires from the uncut fenders because I have very little margin and serious tire rub on my sidewalls especially if I have people rode in the back?

Would the 1” body lift cause any problems with current lines right now.

What’s the best 1” body lift on the market.

Thanks for the help. I’m working everything in stages as the process goes.

 

[SteveL]

It's been a while but I doubt a 1" bl will need much adjusting. Linkages like throttle and clutch come to mind. Fan clearance depending on what you have. Wh sells a good kit. Also you probably want to buy the hardware kit. Finding the grade 8 hardware locale isn't much cheaper and the big washers can be a pita to find

 

[DirtDonk]

Whether any lift helps clear the tires, depends entirely on where the tires are rubbing.
You said the sidewall, and that sends up a red flag immediately if you're talking about the rear?
Where exactly are the tires rubbing? Front fenders? Rear? If front, only when turning? If the rears, is the outside sidewall rubbing the middle of the rear wheel opening? Or is it rubbing on the leading edge of the rear wheel well opening?

Got pics?

Paul

 

[Magnolia]

Whether any lift helps clear the tires, depends entirely on where the tires are rubbing.
You said the sidewall, and that sends up a red flag immediately if you're talking about the rear?
Where exactly are the tires rubbing? Front fenders? Rear? If front, only when turning? If the rears, is the outside sidewall rubbing the middle of the rear wheel opening? Or is it rubbing on the leading edge of the rear wheel well opening?

Got pics?

Paul

Rear drivers side is the worse side. Photo is when no one is in back.

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[bmbm]

The tire rubbing may be from the common occurrence of old rear springs sagging. You can measure to verify how much they have sagged.
The offset of your wheels could be contributing to that condition also so verify that measurement.
I used the WH 1" bl kit on my 66 with no problems. You will also find that the rubber body bushings, between the frame and the body, are flattened out most likely. I got new rubber ones from WH to install same time I did the 1" bl.

 

[Shimmy]

WH also sells a 1" integrated body lift so you don't need to use rubber bushings. i'm running this kit and install was straight forward, done in my garage.

https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/early...MIm5e3rafNlQMV2dTCBB2ayDGLEAQYASABEgK9ofD_BwE

 

[SteveL]

#sawzall

 

[turbotim2]

X2 on the 1" integrated WH bushings.

 

[bmbm]

WH also sells a 1" integrated body lift so you don't need to use rubber bushings. i'm running this kit and install was straight forward, done in my garage.

https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/early...MIm5e3rafNlQMV2dTCBB2ayDGLEAQYASABEgK9ofD_BwE

Certainly a good option. I felt the rubber bushings between the body and frame 'may' 'possibly' reduce some of the NVH.

 

[Shimmy]

Certainly a good option. I felt the rubber bushings between the body and frame 'may' 'possibly' reduce some of the NVH.

yah definitely a consideration! i'm sure it helps

 

[Magnolia]

The tire rubbing may be from the common occurrence of old rear springs sagging. You can measure to verify how much they have sagged.
The offset of your wheels could be contributing to that condition also so verify that measurement.
I used the WH 1" bl kit on my 66 with no problems. You will also find that the rubber body bushings, between the frame and the body, are flattened out most likely. I got new rubber ones from WH to install same time I did the 1" bl.

I found a previous post talking about sag in springs and what stock height for everything should be and went through and measured and there wasn’t anything abnormal there. I’m gonna start with the recommend kit from WH that was the one I was thinking of getting anyways


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[DirtDonk]

Where you show the tires rubbing is a lucky break. It can definitely be helped by lifting the body and/or suspension.
But it's only so much help. As mentioned, the wheel and tire combination is wrong for a Bronco that does not have more lift.
So the cures are:
1. Narrower tires. Not a favorite answer!
2. Narrower wheels. See above comment.
3. A wheel with more backspacing (more positive offset) to tuck things in closer to the frame.
4. More lift... The default go-to in most cases.

As it sounds like you found, stock rubber body mounts are 3/4" tall. Anything below that is sag, but not an issue since you're going to be replacing them anyway.
Stock ride height in the rear is approx. 6 inches between the top of the axle and the bottom of the frame.
Figure you found that info already, but wanted to post it up here in context.

Paul

 

[SteveL]

I could be wrong but I think the wh 1" bl are a hard urethane not solid plastic so you're still getting a little cushion. Nowadays most replacement bushings are also urethane unless you specify rubber. Urethane stiffens things up a bit and are longer life than rubber.

 

[bmbm]

Where you show the tires rubbing is a lucky break. It can definitely be helped by lifting the body and/or suspension.
But it's only so much help. As mentioned, the wheel and tire combination is wrong for a Bronco that does not have more lift.
So the cures are:
1. Narrower tires. Not a favorite answer!
2. Narrower wheels. See above comment.
3. A wheel with more backspacing (more positive offset) to tuck things in closer to the frame.
4. More lift... The default go-to in most cases.

As it sounds like you found, stock rubber body mounts are 3/4" tall. Anything below that is sag, but not an issue since you're going to be replacing them anyway.
Stock ride height in the rear is approx. 6 inches between the top of the axle and the bottom of the frame.
Figure you found that info already, but wanted to post it up here in context.

Paul

I recall now that my old original bushings were real flattened when changing them out. Wish I had taken a picture of them. At the time I figured I was getting closer to a 1.5" lift between the rubber bushings and the 1" body lift!
PO might be tempted to change out those smallish 215/75/R15 tires for 30 or 31's.