Delica Spacegear L400 Liftkits

[BigBirdy]

We are wondering if anyone has lifted their L400 and can share their experiences. I have had many lifted trucks and assuming these will be similar, I was hoping we could get a couple/three cheap inches with maybe some coil blocks or extra leafs. Or, are there off-the-shelf lift-kits available for the Delica's?

[Big-Bird]

There are 2 types of kits for the L400.

One is a ball joint spacer and coil spring spacer kit. The ball joint spacers fit between the ball joint and the upper control arm. The spacer method does have some risk with incresased stress on the plate area where the upper ball joint is secured. There a few variants out there and I know one or 2 Delica members make these kits in Canada. (You can also obtain about 1" to 1.5" lift if you simply 'clock' the stock torsion bars a few notches which will advance the loading point of the front suspension). When you lift the rear you also need to check your rear sway bar links, pan hard bar and brake lines to ensure proper length so as to avoid binding, ripping, etc. Needs longer rear shocks with this kit. Would benefit from low profile bump stops up front from Energy Suspension who makes lots of universal bump stops.

The second method are full carriage drop kits which allows the unibody/engine and tranny to be raised anywhere from 2" up to 8" above the front and rear suspensions.(AKA-differential drop kit). These kits are very expensive and hard to find. Lots of brackets, bushings, spacers, shocks, brake lines, linkages...the list just keeps going!

A stock height L400 will fit up to a 30" tall tire with zero suspension lift over stock. Go into the 31" and the front tires will rub on the inner wheel well in turns or full suspension compressions. This usually requires some creative metal reshaping with a hammer near the front door mud-flap area.

[Polar_express]

I have a l400 with a 6" lift with 35" tires no rubbing at all.
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/1200x ... 07932b.jpg

[BigBirdy]

Thanks kindly fellas (great coincidence on our pseudonyms!) "Big-Bird"!

Do you recall which member(s) had/make those kits?

[izack98]

Have a look at this thread http://www.delica.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=15522
I bought my 2" lift from Stefan and he was great to deal with. I'm not sure if he still has them available though.
His email address is in the thread.

[Big-Bird]

I know I wasn't sure about doing a lift like this last year but I think Stefan has the kit nailed down.

If his ball joint space has the right angle then the upper control arm plate (ball joint contact point) should be fine.
I just sent an email to inquire as well. I want 31" tires on my ride and can't do that until I get lifted!

[Krazyistkarl]

I know I wasn't sure about doing a lift like this last year but I think Stefan has the kit nailed down.

If his ball joint space has the right angle then the upper control arm plate (ball joint contact point) should be fine.
I just sent an email to inquire as well. I want 31" tires on my ride and can't do that until I get lifted!

I can confirm 31x10.50R15's will an un-lifted S1 and S2.

I bought my S2 with them and swapped them over to my S1, all I had to do was wedge a 2x4 between the wheel and where it rubbed mildly and turn the steering wheel onto it. No more rub.

[thelazygreenfox]

The second method are full carriage drop kits which allows the unibody/engine and tranny to be raised anywhere from 2" up to 8" above the front and rear suspensions.(AKA-differential drop kit). These kits are very expensive and hard to find. Lots of brackets, bushings, spacers, shocks, brake lines, linkages...the list just keeps going!

Alignment still remains a problem with front end ball joint spacers. Do any of the various forums have detailed info on the lift points for a full body lift. The other questions is "can rear spacers and a front end body lift be combined?"

CCA drops out the engine when they change the belts on an L400 gasser. There's no access to a "normal" rear valve cover leak unless they drop the engine out. That made me wonder how difficult lifting the front end from these points would be. Of course lots of rad hoses, brake lines would need replaced too. "Nothing a rocket scientist can't do."

tks
TLWF (gotta love white)