Lowering from 10" to 6"

[TD444EVER]

I finally got my dream truck..2002..loaded..low miles..38's..built..but the mileage has been killin me lately. I wanna drop down to 35's with a 6" lift. From what i can tell the current lift kit is all leaf springs except the blocks in the rear. So should i just pull the blocks in the rear and pull some leafs from the front and get a new pitman arm? I can take pics tonight if that would help. Also the rear end has been tilted so would i have to get that corrected as well? Thanks for your help.

[Fall Guy]

Have you checked your gears? If yours are still stock you could lower your ratio to possibly help with mileage issues.

[TD444EVER]

yep i have 4.56's...i kinda figured that was part of the problem too...when im cruising about 75 i sit around 2300 rpms.

[Motomez]

I can get 18 with my 02 3.73s on 35s at <70 if i run it over 2000RPM it drops down to 16 or so. I think main problem is the 4.56's but if you change them you will have a whole new set of problems with the 38's I recommendation is to drive slower! its a lot cheaper$$

[ICED BOXX]

Originally Posted by TD444EVER

I finally got my dream truck..2002..loaded..low miles..38's..built..but the mileage has been killin me lately. I wanna drop down to 35's with a 6" lift. From what i can tell the current lift kit is all leaf springs except the blocks in the rear. So should i just pull the blocks in the rear and pull some leafs from the front and get a new pitman arm? I can take pics tonight if that would help. Also the rear end has been tilted so would i have to get that corrected as well? Thanks for your help.

Where are you located? i have a 6inch lift with 35 kuhmos, are you interested in trading?

[bwillis2003]

Drop the blocks down. NEW front 6 inch springs. 4 new shocks for a 6 inch lift. Done.

(unless you have an adjustable track bar/extended pitman arm..things like that, youll have to change those too).

Edit: Just buy a new lift. You might as well. Oh ya, shorter u bolts on the rear springs too.

[TD444EVER]

Thanks for the help you guys. Im in eastern WA. My main goal is to make it more of a daily driver and get around 16 and up MPG's. I love the power with 4.56's and my ride height with 38's but im not gonna lie its a pavement pounder. And whenever i wanna do oil changes or work on it i gotta drive 5 hours back home to my parents shop in western wa. So between buying 4 gallons of schaeffer oil and 2 tanks of fuel my last oil change cost me about 350 bucks lol

OR do you think it would be more cost effective to regear to maybe 4.10's or 3.73's and buy some 37's? The guy i bought the truck from said the tranny was good up to 950hp..its got a big ATS pan..shifts great.. but doesnt have a billet input shaft. The hottest i've seen my tranny was 180 and that was in stop and go traffic on a 100 degree day. Im right on the verge of needing new tires so im trying to decide what route i should take.

[bwillis2003]

I bring her down to a 6 inch like you talked about, 37s, and 4.10 gears.

[TD444EVER]

so this is my current plan. I'm gonna re-gear to stock 3.73s...i think i have enough mods to the motor and tranny that it wont be a turd or give it problems...i did the rpm calculations and i would be at 1450 rpms around 70...and im gonna drop down to 37x13.50s from my 38x15.50s and see what my mpg's do. Basically this keeps me from buying a new lift as well..i hope the 37's dont look goofy with the 10inch lift...

also...right now i have the edge evolution..i usually run the 80hp setting....should i dump that and get a DP tuner with some economy tunes or pick up a regulated return? Both are in my future but it always takes me a few months to save up extra money for my little side purchases..

[layson]

Find someone to swap axles with...