Ever since our economy took a nosedive the staff here at Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road has been preaching the economics of DIY projects and budget builds. Why? We want to see you out on the trail. Doing the work yourself saves a boatload of money in labor costs since the average shop mechanic and fabricator charges $90-$100 or more an hour. In theory, the cash saved on labor for a full suspension install could purchase a bunch of tools or a great set of wheels and take a big dent out the cost of tires. Skyjacker suspensions for the '68-'72 Chevys are available in 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-inch lifts. With the 6-inch lift, the 35-inch-tall tires didn't rub when we made our way through the trail. The system comes as a complete kit and is similar to other early Chevy leaf-sprung models; these basic install steps aren't just specific to this Suburban but will work with GM trucks.Skyjacker suspensions for the '68-'72 Chevys are available in 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-inch lifts We love old 4x4s big and small, so when we ran across this '71 K10 Chevy Suburban we had to work our magic by lifting it with a functional suspension and adding some performance off-road wheels and tires. We called Skyjacker Suspension for a 6-inch leaf spring suspension, and the guys at Dick Cepek for some cool new DC-2 wheels and 35-inch-tall Mud Country tires. We then spent a warm sunny day in the driveway installing the suspension and thinking afterward that if we had paid someone to do the work for us we would have spent well over $1,000 in labor. Instead, we picked up some extra parts and had fun driveway-wrenching with a friend. So our advice to you is to do the work in your driveway if you can, and invest the savings back into your 4x4. The great part about most old iron these days is that it can be found for cheap. Our cool Suburban is in great shape and will give lots of years of dependable trail service. The powerplant was fresh, but the worn-out aftermarket springs needed replacing and the shocks weren't suitable for off-road abuse.The great part about most old iron these days is that it can be found for cheap. Our cool This 6-inch system also comes with a raised steering arm, which should be used on lifts of 3 to 6 inches. The arm will provide correction for the added height. This is a quality part, but the best way to correct the goofy GM steering design would be to install a crossover steering system, which can be expensive.This 6-inch system also comes with a raised steering arm, which should be used on lifts of Make sure all the new bushings are well lubed. A silicone-based lubricant should do the trick; this will make installing the bushing easier and keep them from squeaking.Make sure all the new bushings are well lubed. A silicone-based lubricant should do the tr To remove and install the new leaf springs, the weight of the vehicle needs to be off the axles and springs. This can be accomplished by supporting the frame with jackstands and the axle with a floor jack so the axle can be moved up and down. Make sure the spring eye bolt is well lubed with antiseize before installation.To remove and install the new leaf springs, the weight of the vehicle needs to be off the The suspension comes with new 1/2-inch U-bolts. Though stronger than the factory parts, mock them up and torque them to factory specs. There is one larger U-bolt for the passenger side of the vehicle, which bolts around part of the differential.The suspension comes with new 1/2-inch U-bolts. Though stronger than the factory parts, mo The Skyjacker suspension comes with braided stainless steel extended brake lines and can be order with Hydro 7000 or premium Hydro 8000 shocks. We chose the 8000s, a definite upgrade over the inept old gas shocks we had removed. The 8000s provide a stable, more comfortable ride on-and off-highway.The Skyjacker suspension comes with braided stainless steel extended brake lines and can b The factory tension shackle on the rear leaf springs must be disassembled and added to the new leaf spring before installation. Over the years the bolts on these old rigs will rust and freeze up. We recommend spraying all nuts, bolts, and fasteners the night before installing the new components.The factory tension shackle on the rear leaf springs must be disassembled and added to the The front and rear springs have caster shims. The wide part of the shim should face forward on the front leaf springs and rearward on the rear leaf springs. Also, the rear U-bolts will need to be trimmed after installation.The front and rear springs have caster shims. The wide part of the shim should face forwar The Dick Cepek DC-2 wheels we picked up look great, and they really churched up the wrinkled old K10. The strong aluminum wheels are manufactured with a durable finish that should last in harsh environments, and they are TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) friendly. The Dick Cepek Mud Country tires are turning out to be a favorite. Even with the aggressive tread pattern they are quiet at highway speeds and offer good traction off road. The tires are constructed with a three-ply polyester sidewall and three polyester and two steel belts on the tread.The Dick Cepek DC-2 wheels we picked up look great, and they really churched up the wrinkl SOURCES Skyjacker Suspensions P.O. Box 1678 West Monroe LA 71294 318-338-0816 www.skyjacker.com Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels 4600 Prosper Drive Stow OH 44224 330-928-9092 www.dickcepek.com By Kevin McNulty Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
