jimmymac said:
I'm thinking about putting a 3 1/2" suspension lift on my 77 stock uncut fenders.Besides the lift what else will I need to change or do.I see parts for sale for example, Fan shroud for 3" lift. Please advise
As stated before, the shroud only needs to be changed if you do a body lift.
As for the suspension lift, it depends on how complete the kit is. Most kits are fairly complete. Park brake cables are not included in any of the kits I know of and can limit travel when you flex a bunch. Depending on how you drive this may not be an issue.
At 3½" of lift, steering and track bar geomotery start becoming a factor. The softer the springs, the more you will need to deal with it. Personally I am not a fan of the drop frame bracket that will come in most kits. That was the easy bolt on fix for lifting in the 70's. Bolts don't hold tight enough so everyone learned to bolt it on and drive it over to a buddy who would weld it in place. Then people learned that after a bit of abuse the frame would crack due to the added leverage of that drop bracket. The adjustable track bar works for centering the axle staticly, but will do nothing for controlling the funny sideways feeling you get as the springs work while driving down the road.
Steering is a whole other game. for bone stock and what most kits will include is a drop pitman arm. this is a great match for the drop frame bracket. If the truck isn't subject to abuse then this combo can live. Start driving hard and the tierod will start bending (if not already bent). Bumping into stuff doesn't help. After this, it is time to get rid of the drop pitman arm and consider a tie rod over (brings geometery back near stock and gets the tie rod away from the ground) or a heim joint steering system. Keep in mind that if the tie rod goes over, the drop style track bar bracket on the frame tends to hit the top of the tie rod if the suspensin es while the wheels are turned.
Front driveshaft rarely needs replacment.
Rear driveshaft may need it.
Pinion angle may need adjustment.
Brake lines may need replacment with longer ones.
Axle vents may need replacement.