Looking for Used 3" Lifts for my 2001 Tahoe

[Ansin529]

Good Evening Guys.. I'm Chris and I'm new to the forum. I have purchased a 2001 Chevy Tahoe LT with 210000 miles on it. I paid 2500 for it and it came with 15 pages of carfax history with significant maintenance history! Seems to run great! Pictures to come!

I'd like to get my hands on a cheap 3 inch lift, which generally consists of Front Keys and Shock Extenders along with Rear Coil Spacers and Shock Extenders. Some kits apparently came with the Tie Rod Extenders.

I am not going out 4-wheeling but I'd like to put a set of 33s on it to assist with boat ramp entry and exits and for the look. This is not my daily driver so ride quality is not as important if it were.

If anyone has one of these sets laying around and would like to sell, please link up with me!

My first concern with vehicle was to locate a parasitic drawl and correct it! After some probing, it was determined that my oem radio was the culprit behind a parasitic draw that killed batteries in 3 day increments!

My second hurdle was dropping the fuel tank as the aftermarket fuel pump they installed went bad just over a year after being replaced.

While replacing the fuel pump, I replaced the rear main seal (the only oil leak I had) and the oil pressure sending unit at the same time. Dry as a bone now!

I look forward to getting to know my new conquest and many of you!

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Good Evening Guys.. I'm Chris and I'm new to the forum. I have purchased a 2001 Chevy Tahoe LT with 210000 miles on it. I paid 2500 for it and it came with 15 pages of carfax history with significant maintenance history! Seems to run great! Pictures to come!

I'd like to get my hands on a cheap 3 inch lift, which generally consists of Front Keys and Shock Extenders along with Rear Coil Spacers and Shock Extenders. Some kits apparently came with the Tie Rod Extenders.

I am not going out 4-wheeling but I'd like to put a set of 33s on it to assist with boat ramp entry and exits and for the look. This is not my daily driver so ride quality is not as important if it were.

If anyone has one of these sets laying around and would like to sell, please link up with me!

My first concern with vehicle was to locate a parasitic drawl and correct it! After some probing, it was determined that my oem radio was the culprit behind a parasitic draw that killed batteries in 3 day increments!

My second hurdle was dropping the fuel tank as the aftermarket fuel pump they installed went bad just over a year after being replaced.

While replacing the fuel pump, I replaced the rear main seal (the only oil leak I had) and the oil pressure sending unit at the same time. Dry as a bone now!

I look forward to getting to know my new conquest and many of you!

View attachment 235630

Welcome, Chris!

Good job finding your parasite! Which pump did you use this time?

Guys lift these trucks different ways for different reasons. You DO NOT need any magic to run 33s. Some z71 rear springs and a couple turns on the stock keys are it. Here's mine with 33s (275/70r18).

Forget shock extenders, just buy some adjustable Bilstein 5100s. Much better bang for the buck.

Wanna go little bigger? Maybe 35s? Some 3" lift keys and rear spacers will do ya with a little trimming.

 

[Ansin529]

Welcome, Chris!

Good job finding your parasite! Which pump did you use this time?

Guys lift these trucks different ways for different reasons. You DO NOT need any magic to run 33s. Some z71 rear springs and a couple turns on the stock keys are it. Here's mine with 33s (275/70r18).

View attachment 235631

Forget shock extenders, just buy some adjustable Bilstein 5100s. Much better bang for the buck.

Wanna go little bigger? Maybe 35s? Some 3" lift keys and rear spacers will do ya.

Thank you for your response. I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond.

I think the 33s will suffice (even though the thought of 35s is tempting). I'm going to try the simple route when it comes to the lift, if one is completed. I live on a budget (as kids and early college suck me dry lol).

I ended up going with the AC Delco Fuel Pump Assembly. It replaced some name brand/I've never heard of!

I'm in the process of replacing every speaker in the Tahoe as each and every one of them were blown. The cones were destroyed. I replaced the stock sub with a 600 Watt Boss 4 Ohm, dual voice coil sub. I run it in parallel so it would meet the stock 2 Ohm level. It performs well considering it is run by the stock amp! The rear and front speakers are next!

The Tahoe has had a stock entertainment center installed in it at some point. You can tell the wiring was aftermarket but the components are stock. It has the VCR, Power Inverter, small TV Screen, Center console, etc installed... I'm working on a no volume condition for this set up as we speak.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Thank you for your response. I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond.

I think the 33s will suffice (even though the thought of 35s is tempting). I'm going to try the simple route when it comes to the lift, if one is completed. I live on a budget (as kids and early college suck me dry lol).

I ended up going with the AC Delco Fuel Pump Assembly. It replaced some name brand/I've never heard of!

I'm in the process of replacing every speaker in the Tahoe as each and every one of them were blown. The cones were destroyed. I replaced the stock sub with a 600 Watt Boss 4 Ohm, dual voice coil sub. I run it in parallel so it would meet the stock 2 Ohm level. It performs well considering it is run by the stock amp! The rear and front speakers are next!

The Tahoe has had a stock entertainment center installed in it at some point. You can tell the wiring was aftermarket but the components are stock. It has the VCR, Power Inverter, small TV Screen, Center console, etc installed... I'm working on a no volume condition for this set up as we speak.

View attachment 235763 View attachment 235764 View attachment 235765

I don't think that's a stock center console. Can we get some more pictures of it? Never seen anything like those top cupholders.

Any chance it's a conversion like a Regency or Ducks Ultd or something like that?

 

[89Suburban]

Welcome. Don't forget pics of the boat too.

 

[rgosart]

Good Evening Guys.. I'm Chris and I'm new to the forum. I have purchased a 2001 Chevy Tahoe LT with 210000 miles on it. I paid 2500 for it and it came with 15 pages of carfax history with significant maintenance history! Seems to run great! Pictures to come!

I'd like to get my hands on a cheap 3 inch lift, which generally consists of Front Keys and Shock Extenders along with Rear Coil Spacers and Shock Extenders. Some kits apparently came with the Tie Rod Extenders.

I am not going out 4-wheeling but I'd like to put a set of 33s on it to assist with boat ramp entry and exits and for the look. This is not my daily driver so ride quality is not as important if it were.

If anyone has one of these sets laying around and would like to sell, please link up with me!

My first concern with vehicle was to locate a parasitic drawl and correct it! After some probing, it was determined that my oem radio was the culprit behind a parasitic draw that killed batteries in 3 day increments!

My second hurdle was dropping the fuel tank as the aftermarket fuel pump they installed went bad just over a year after being replaced.

While replacing the fuel pump, I replaced the rear main seal (the only oil leak I had) and the oil pressure sending unit at the same time. Dry as a bone now!

I look forward to getting to know my new conquest and many of you!

View attachment 235630

I did something very similar to @HiHoeSilver. Motofab keys from amazon (0-3" lift), z71 springs, and 275/70r18s. With wheels and tires it was ~$1500 and the wheels and tires were a majority of that amount. I installed it all myself including mounting and balancing the tires and the alignment (perks of having a friend who is a tech at a Chevy dealer), so the labor total was $10 to buy my friend lunch. I'd recommend just buying the parts new. The most expensive part of it is shocks and including that you could have all of your parts for ~$300.

Springs: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00498ZR7A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Keys: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N4LOPMF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can add rear spacers for even more lift, but that requires cranking the keys even more and you'll run into issues with down travel in the front end. Basically when you crank the keys to raise the front end, the resting position of the front end is higher. There is only so much up travel in the control arms before they will be sitting on the upper stops and you will not have any travel left.

 

[Ansin529]

I don't think that's a stock center console. Can we get some more pictures of it? Never seen anything like those top cupholders.

Any chance it's a conversion like a Regency or Ducks Ultd or something like that?

I'll take some more this evening and show everyone. I didn't think it was original equipment!

 

[Ansin529]

I did something very similar to @HiHoeSilver. Motofab keys from amazon (0-3" lift), z71 springs, and 275/70r18s. With wheels and tires it was ~$1500 and the wheels and tires were a majority of that amount. I installed it all myself including mounting and balancing the tires and the alignment (perks of having a friend who is a tech at a Chevy dealer), so the labor total was $10 to buy my friend lunch. I'd recommend just buying the parts new. The most expensive part of it is shocks and including that you could have all of your parts for ~$300.

Springs: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00498ZR7A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Keys: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N4LOPMF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can add rear spacers for even more lift, but that requires cranking the keys even more and you'll run into issues with down travel in the front end. Basically when you crank the keys to raise the front end, the resting position of the front end is higher. There is only so much up travel in the control arms before they will be sitting on the upper stops and you will not have any travel left.

View attachment 235768 View attachment 235769 View attachment 235770

 

[Ansin529]

Sharp looking Tahoe brother! Man oh man!

Seems like the general consensus is to use the Z71 springs on the rear and keys on the front! Buy the lift shocks and enjoy the lift for what it is! May be what I end up doing.

Your opinions and shared expertise is truly appreciated!

By the way... My precious career demanded much of my time and sold my two previous boats. I now own a small river boat! After some work, it is a solid mode of transportation!

 

[Ansin529]

I don't think that's a stock center console. Can we get some more pictures of it? Never seen anything like those top cupholders.

Any chance it's a conversion like a Regency or Ducks Ultd or something like that?

 

[Ansin529]

View attachment 235861

I got off work late this evening and ran out of day light! I'll get some close ups tomorrow while at work!

 

[Ansin529]

Good Evening fellas. Work has kept me extremely busy as of late. And, I'm restoring a 45 year old rifle for my son for Christmas!

So I have a question and I have gone through countless threads in an attempt to locate the answer prior to asking for help.

If correct, my stock rims are 16x7s and currently have 265 70 R16s on them. I would like to replace my tires with 33s ( maybe 35s going forward ). In a week I will be increasing the lift by approximately 3 inches. Although I love to modify vehicles, I'm not quite sure I want to massage wheel wells and trim other components!

So, as I prepare to purchase the 33s, what is the widest wheel you guys have tested and managed with stocks rims?

Your guidance would be greatly appreciated!

P.S. Next Spring, I'll be installing a cold air intake, new front grill and areplacing the stock exhaust with a to be determined aftermarket exhaust.

Thanks!

 

[rgosart]

Good Evening fellas. Work has kept me extremely busy as of late. And, I'm restoring a 45 year old rifle for my son for Christmas!

So I have a question and I have gone through countless threads in an attempt to locate the answer prior to asking for help.

If correct, my stock rims are 16x7s and currently have 265 70 R16s on them. I would like to replace my tires with 33s ( maybe 35s going forward ). In a week I will be increasing the lift by approximately 3 inches. Although I love to modify vehicles, I'm not quite sure I want to massage wheel wells and trim other components!

So, as I prepare to purchase the 33s, what is the widest wheel you guys have tested and managed with stocks rims?

Your guidance would be greatly appreciated!

P.S. Next Spring, I'll be installing a cold air intake, new front grill and areplacing the stock exhaust with a to be determined aftermarket exhaust.

Thanks!

Offset makes a much bigger difference than wheel width. Mine are 18x8.5 +24 offset. They are factory 2016+ z71 wheels and I have 275/70r18 BFG KO2s. You could definitely fit a 285 width tire on that rim, but 285s are generally more expensive with an 18" rim. If you're keeping the 16s, 285/75r16 is a common ~33" size and should clear (haven't tested it). If you do a lot of off road driving, it will probably rub. On the street, you should have very few issues.

You CANNOT run 35s with only keys and spacers. I know some people have done it, but the front upper control arms will be on the bump stops and the truck will ride awful. The right way to clear 35s is a full lift kit.

What is your plan to get ~3" of lift? Keys and z71 springs? Spacers?

 

[HiHoeSilver]

I personally wouldn't run wider than 275 on a 7" wheel.

 

[rgosart]

I found my original measurements. Stock height with 265/70r16s my fender heights were 34 3/4" front and 36" rear. Now it sits at 38 1/2" front and ~39 1/4" in the rear. The tires account for 1 1/4" of that, so I gained 2" in the rear and 2 1/2" up front. Thats about the limit for just keys.

I agree with @HiHoeSilver on the width. 285s is pushing it for me personally, but I know people do it all the time. My friend has an 04 Duramax with the stock 16x6.5" wheels and he runs 285/75r16s.

 

[Ansin529]

Offset makes a much bigger difference than wheel width. Mine are 18x8.5 +24 offset. They are factory 2016+ z71 wheels and I have 275/70r18 BFG KO2s. You could definitely fit a 285 width tire on that rim, but 285s are generally more expensive with an 18" rim. If you're keeping the 16s, 285/75r16 is a common ~33" size and should clear (haven't tested it). If you do a lot of off road driving, it will probably rub. On the street, you should have very few issues.

You CANNOT run 35s with only keys and spacers. I know some people have done it, but the front upper control arms will be on the bump stops and the truck will ride awful. The right way to clear 35s is a full lift kit.

What is your plan to get ~3" of lift? Keys and z71 springs? Spacers?

 

[Ansin529]

The lift is as described! I was pretty sure the 33s were the way to go per earlier comments! I just wasnt sure how to choose exact tire size/width. The online calculators confused this podunk fella lol!

 

[HiHoeSilver]

The lift is as described! I was pretty sure the 33s were the way to go per earlier comments! I just wasnt sure how to choose exact tire size/width. The online calculators confused this podunk fella lol!

Www.Tiresize.com is very useful

 

[rgosart]

The lift is as described! I was pretty sure the 33s were the way to go per earlier comments! I just wasnt sure how to choose exact tire size/width. The online calculators confused this podunk fella lol!

The most important question then is what wheels? Stock wheels?

 

[Ansin529]

By the way! Your Tahoe is bad ***! I love the entire look and stance!