Straight-Axle Chevy Suspension

by FAITH DUMONT May 01, 2008

After getting a great deal on an old 1970s-era K5 Blazer, we wanted to get it outfitted for a little more off-roading than this old Chevy might have seen in its previous life. We had some 35-inch Pit Bull Rocker tires to squeeze on, and a good 4-inch-taller suspension would not only get our tires fitting (with some minor trimming), it also wouldn't cost us too much either since old solid-axle trucks are fairly inexpensive to lift. We got a basic kit from Skyjacker for about $700 and ordered it with rear blocks to keep costs down. Later we'll call Skyjacker back for some replacement rear leaf springs, but for now we were able to get our old Chevy up in the air with some good front leaf springs for not too much money. This is the same suspension that would fit any Blazer or half-ton truck made from 1973 to 1987, so if you're looking for a cheap entry into off-roading, trucks of this era can be found (running) for less than $1,000 and have tons of readily-made modifications available in the aftermarket.