Aftermarket exhaust and lift suggestions

Gremcat

Member
I was thinking of doing a 2" lift with shocks but I looked underneath and the Leaf Springs have a small helper spring in between the bottom two I don't think is stock so I am pretty sure just adding a rear leaf isn't going to do it. I am thinking of a 3.5" kit with shocks and all other pieces all included. I have a lot of speed bumps in my neighborhood and when I hit them my teeth rattle out. I want it to be aggressive for cruising the farm and going over all the logs the loggers left but not cartoonish high. More of a slightly higher than stock aggressive look with a comfortable ride. I also have noticed an exhaust smell in the truck and the engine has a tick that sounds like exhaust. I was thinking of using a header back exhaust like I think Addicted makes but it is a bit spendy at 800 not including mufflers, cat ( I may omit it I don't need to pass emissions here in NC ) and pipe. I may try and do a cat back and maybe a header and then piece the rest in. Any suggestions on a header or cat back would be appreciated. I have an 89 3.0. I absolutely love it. It is by far the most fun vehicle I have ever owned and I had a nice Benz with 20's and a Supercarger, a 71 Coronet, and my second favorite vehicle a 93 yota PU with the same 31's on it like I just put on the Runner.
 
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I was thinking of doing a 2" lift with shocks but I looked underneath and the Leaf Springs have a small helper spring in between the bottom two I don't think is stock so I am pretty sure just adding a rear leaf isn't going to do it. I am thinking of a 3.5" kit with shocks and all other pieces all included. I have a lot of speed bumps in my neighborhood and when I hit them my teeth rattle out. I want it to be aggressive for cruising the farm and going over all the logs the loggers left but not cartoonish high. More of a slightly higher than stock aggressive look with a comfortable ride. I also have noticed an exhaust smell in the truck and the engine has a tick that sounds like exhaust. I was thinking of using a header back exhaust like I think Addicted makes but it is a bit spendy at 800 not including mufflers, cat ( I may omit it I don't need to pass emissions here in NC ) and pipe. I may try and do a cat back and maybe a header and then piece the rest in. Any suggestions on a header or cat back would be appreciated. I have an 89 3.0. I absolutely love it. It is by far the most fun vehicle I have ever owned and I had a nice Benz with 20's and a Supercarger, a 71 Coronet, and my second favorite vehicle a 93 yota PU with the same 31's on it like I just put on the Runner.

You found an exhaust kit with headers for a 3.0 for under a grand? That's a great deal
 
I think it is just the headers and crossover so would still need a cat or omit it and the muffler/pipes. I may try a local hot rod shop and have them custom make one. On the lifts I tried looking at the lfts thread here but every truck seems to have a different lift height even with the same kits. Maybe it is camera angle.
 
If you have leafs and coils you have the Zuk mod. It was talked about extensively recently. Like within the last few days. And I would do 1.5" ball joint spacers and get 2" lift springs for the rear and use the torsion bars to even it out
 
As far as exhaust goes idk what sound you're looking for but I just did 2.5" pipe off the stock y pipe to a thrush welded muffler, no cat and I love the sound. I have a 94 w/ 3.slooooow but now its only a 3.0 sloow :smokin:
 
Ok, here's the thing. Lift will not get you over logs. Tires will get you over logs - with larger diameter tires, you'll have a better attack angle when climbing things and more clearance under the axle. I'm guessing that 33 inch tires aren't on the menu since you just bought 31s, so if you're clearing those tires at full stuff right now then my advice would be to roll with that. More lift isn't going to help you now. If you're looking to improve the ride on the cheap, yank the add-a-leaf and relax the front torsion bars to match, then get a good set of OME shocks. You'll be amazed.

Not to mention that a 3-4 inch lift on a little truck like yours with 31 inch tires is not going to look "aggressive", it'll look what we in the business like to call "stupid". That's a technical term, but I'm sure you're familiar with it :). So my other bit of advice is, don't mod for looks - modding for looks almost always leads to a reduction in capability. If this is a working truck, then mod for capability, and let form follow function.
 
My 93 PU had a small lift and 31's and we took it up Black River in the ravines and it impressed the crap out of me. We used to take it to climb up and get firewood where the 4 wheelers couldn't go and it was great there to. I am trying to get a similar stance with this new SUV but want it to ride some what smooth. I am not looking for a ridiculous look just slightly higher to clear stumps and small creeks without getting hung up. I went with 31's because it is my DD and I drive 200 miles a day on average. Don't want to get killed on the mileage. I may get a set of Kevlars in a larger size for wheeling if I wind up going a lot. Right now I just want to be able to get back in the woods to haul game out with. I have been back in there with a T 100 and it is pretty rough. I need to update the suspension anyway so that is why I was thinking of lifting it now while I am updating it anyway as part of the restore. I like the Rough Country kit because it looks like it replaces a lot of the old cruddy stuff on there now but it is 4-5" wish it was 2.5-3" Might just get the Fat Bob kit and have an extra leaf in it or take the helper leaf out. It may be stock but doesn't look it to me because it is a little spring.
 
As far as exhaust goes idk what sound you're looking for but I just did 2.5" pipe off the stock y pipe to a thrush welded muffler, no cat and I love the sound. I have a 94 w/ 3.slooooow but now its only a 3.0 sloow :smokin:

same on my 92 5 speed sounds really nice and cackles when letting of and down shifting
 
Lift is if you want to spend the money and up to you. Me I don't prefer lift as I dont off road a lot. Exhaust get a set of Doug Thorley's and straight pipe it the rest of the way! loud as hell but its on the cheap and on the 3.0 I think it sounds amazing. This is my set up--http://http://youtu.be/XeP2isTLyqM
 

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