8" Lift for Ex with 38" Swamper Questions

[cack999]

Hi, gettin tired of the small look of the 35" BFGs on a 6" Skyjacker lift on my Ex. So I want to go with the bigger lift with bigger tires. But before I do, I want to have some questions answered.

1) Lift - what should I use? National Spring, Skyjacker or Fabtech. I am looking for something that will fit 38" Swamper Radials. What's a good lift? What parts should be in the kit that's not on the 6"?

2) Tires - What tires? 38" Swamper Radials? How long do they last mileage wise. I put 25K miles in 1 year. Just want to go bigger with the knobby agressive look. No offroad. I also do a lot of driving to Tahoe in winter snow and lakes in the summer, 200 - 400 miles roundtrip on hot Central California temp, 110degF. I'll have to cut my plastic airdam, and remove my molded mudflaps for sure.

3) Driveline mods - never had it done on my 6" but will most likely need it. What mod do I do?

4) Should I go with Bilsteins? Can I? What would give me a good ride. Current Skyjacker Nitro 6" too stiff.

Thanks!

[Bad SUV]

The bigger the better! I've kinda been thinking about doing this same thing to my truck in the future. This is what I've found :

You can buy a complete new lift, but adding to what you've already got will be a little easier on your wallet. First, get a leveling kit with new spring hangers ( Fabtech 3.5" ) and have your rear springs re-worked by a spring shop ( usually adding several new leafs and rearching ). The dropped pitman arm you currently have will be fine. Although, Skyjacker is coming out with a 8" dropped pitman arm soon. You'll need to get an adjustable trac bar to keep your trac bar and drag link parallel ( Skyjacker has these ). The new longer shocks will be your personal preference.

There are two meaty tires in the 38" range with the proper load range you can pick from. One is the Super Swamper and the other is Parnelli Jone's new mudder. The PJ will ride a little quiter.

You will need to have a CV joint put in your rear drive line and the tube lengthened to stop the vibration. And possibly the front drive line will need to be lengthened as well.

Hope this helps and good luck.