Or if you have any tips on replacing the head gasket or anything, I'd love to hear it. The world of mazda enthusiasts seems to be spread pretty thin, at least for the trucks, but this site looked the most promising... lot's of good tips in the archives! :rockon:

 

i imagine that the body lift won't work on the auto because of the shifter, but im not too sure. i've never inspected an auto b2600i. as far as the head gasket, it shouldn't be too difficult if you know how to work on cars. i remember doing the head gasket on mine when i was 17, and it was a pain in the ass. After some years of working on cars now, i could probably do the job in less than a day without problems.

 

i imagine that the body lift won't work on the auto because of the shifter, but im not too sure. i've never inspected an auto b2600i. as far as the head gasket, it shouldn't be too difficult if you know how to work on cars. i remember doing the head gasket on mine when i was 17, and it was a pain in the ass. After some years of working on cars now, i could probably do the job in less than a day without problems.[/b]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too, but I wonder if I just have to extend the linkage... or maybe I'll just sink the shifter and transfer stick 3 inches into the floor... doesn't sound to common though. I was hoping someone had seen it or done it before.

 

If I were you, I'd go with a suspension lift instead. It will require a lot of fab work, but I think it would be less costly than try to lift the body, and it will probably give you better results. I'm not the expert on lifts however. It basically consists of cutting of the stock mounting points, and welding in blocks or spacers to the frame, then reattaching the suspension mounts to the blocks. A lot of welding, but its is actually fairly simple to do. You may also need to get things like brake lines extended, but also not that difficult to do.

 

If I were you, I'd go with a suspension lift instead. It will require a lot of fab work, but I think it would be less costly than try to lift the body, and it will probably give you better results. I'm not the expert on lifts however. It basically consists of cutting of the stock mounting points, and welding in blocks or spacers to the frame, then reattaching the suspension mounts to the blocks. A lot of welding, but its is actually fairly simple to do. You may also need to get things like brake lines extended, but also not that difficult to do.[/b]

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but besides an add-a-leaf for the rear, and a torqued torsion bar setup in front, that's the only other suspension lift for these trucks? Boy, I wish there were more support for this trucks, I really do.

 

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but besides an add-a-leaf for the rear, and a torqued torsion bar setup in front, that's the only other suspension lift for these trucks? Boy, I wish there were more support for this trucks, I really do. [/b]

so do i man.
i had to make balljoint spacers /shock extenders/shifter extenders.

for your body lift and auto trans.you'll have to likely make a new bracket to secure the linkage to the cab/frame after the lift.
i had to remove the speedo cable/park brake from the cab/frame and refit.

 

i had to make balljoint spacers /shock extenders/shifter extenders.

for your body lift and auto trans.you'll have to likely make a new bracket to secure the linkage to the cab/frame after the lift.
i had to remove the speedo cable/park brake from the cab/frame and refit.[/b]

Thanks for the tip... Do you know if 31" tires will fit on a stock truck? I had some guys tell me that it would rub on the wheel well, but I dunno...

 

Thanks for the tip... Do you know if 31" tires will fit on a stock truck? I had some guys tell me that it would rub on the wheel well, but I dunno...[/b]

31's will fit with minor cranking on the t bar bolts.

i've got a 3" lift with the tb's cranked abit and running 33's with alittle rubbing on the fenders at the door and the front bumper brace are gone.
will likely crank them more/max them out.

 

31's will fit with minor cranking on the t bar bolts.

i've got a 3" lift with the tb's cranked abit and running 33's with alittle rubbing on the fenders at the door and the front bumper brace are gone.
will likely crank them more/max them out.[/b]

Damn that's one hell of a canopy you got there!

Nice setup, those aren't the stock rims are they? What I want is the bfg a/t 31x10.5 tires, the guy at costco told me that I would need bigger rims because mine were too narrow... I thought it worked the other way, that you need to have narrow, otherwise the bead will unseat.


UPDATE: Well, pulled off the head today, fricking thing is warped and is headed to the shop to get flattened... I was getting water into all four cylinders, and some of the valves were stuck open too. good god, I thought I was getting a good deal when I snatched this truck up for 500 bucks.

 

Damn that's one hell of a canopy you got there!

Nice setup, those aren't the stock rims are they? What I want is the bfg a/t 31x10.5 tires, the guy at costco told me that I would need bigger rims because mine were too narrow... I thought it worked the other way, that you need to have narrow, otherwise the bead will unseat.
UPDATE: Well, pulled off the head today, fricking thing is warped and is headed to the shop to get flattened... I was getting water into all four cylinders, and some of the valves were stuck open too. good god, I thought I was getting a good deal when I snatched this truck up for 500 bucks.

[/b]

500 is what i paid. but mine had alot of body damage.just bought another(frame replacement) as well 3 others over 4yrs(parts trucks x-cabs)
chevy fullsize 6 bolt with the center enlarged to fit the hub.
if you can the km2's are great offroad.the a/t's my buddy has on his canyon and they plug up with the thick mud and turn into slicks.
a 31 a/t calls for a 7-9 inch rim.
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.ca/specs/all-te...-t-a-ko/44.html

 

500 is what i paid. but mine had alot of body damage.just bought another(frame replacement) as well 3 others over 4yrs(parts trucks x-cabs)
chevy fullsize 6 bolt with the center enlarged to fit the hub.
if you can the km2's are great offroad.the a/t's my buddy has on his canyon and they plug up with the thick mud and turn into slicks.
a 31 a/t calls for a 7-9 inch rim.
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.ca/specs/all-te...-t-a-ko/44.html[/b]

Well, with a new radiator, tires, head job, the truck will come out to about 2300 I think... ugh, I guess I was hoping for at least a cheaper truck... and now I find out the the ECS systems become faulty... throw another 200 at that problem! Well, my rims look like they're at least seven, maybe eight inches... I think that costco guy needs to stop smoking so much pakololo. Thanks for the tips and that link!

 

Well, with a new radiator, tires, head job, the truck will come out to about 2300 I think... ugh, I guess I was hoping for at least a cheaper truck... and now I find out the the ECS systems become faulty... throw another 200 at that problem! Well, my rims look like they're at least seven, maybe eight inches... I think that costco guy needs to stop smoking so much pakololo. Thanks for the tips and that link![/b]

if the rims your using are the ones in the pic above they're only 15x6 inch wide.widest stock mazda wheel.
so the guy is right about needing rims.
you could fit them but run the risk of poping them off the beads.the tire will look more like a balloon on the rim.

look up wheels with image here.
http://car-part.com

 

if the rims your using are the ones in the pic above they're only 15x6 inch wide.widest stock mazda wheel.
so the guy is right about needing rims.
you could fit them but run the risk of poping them off the beads.the tire will look more like a balloon on the rim.

look up wheels with image here.
http://car-part.com[/b]

Oh, ok, well, that's probably the case... I only took a measurement through the rims, not too accurate. Thanks for the tip, before I sounded too much more like a douche. How's your truck wheeling? It looks like it's got some time off the road, with the lift and all. Did those extensions give you two inches, plus another one with the TB torqued more? So many questions, but damn I'm glad to have found this site... I'm finally getting results! -instead of spending hours and hours trying different seraches. lol, right on man.

UPDATE: I found some stock Toyota 4x4 rims... six lug, 15x7. That should work right?

 

Oh, ok, well, that's probably the case... I only took a measurement through the rims, not too accurate. Thanks for the tip, before I sounded too much more like a douche. How's your truck wheeling? It looks like it's got some time off the road, with the lift and all. Did those extensions give you two inches, plus another one with the TB torqued more? So many questions, but damn I'm glad to have found this site... I'm finally getting results! -instead of spending hours and hours trying different seraches. lol, right on man.

UPDATE: I found some stock Toyota 4x4 rims... six lug, 15x7. That should work right?[/b]

rims will fit direct bolt on.

cranked my torsion bars to the max gave me almost 3inches but the shock and upper a-arm had limited travel.
gave the shock an 1 1/2 with extension and the balljoint space was 1" square steel gave the arm about 1" down travel.

with the body lift i had close to 6 inches lift.looked funny with 31's.
the new frame is off an 88 the gears in the diff changed and 87-88 models some had lockers/limited slip diff's. my luck it has it.
the truck will go almost anywhere now.

been doing more wheeling now that i hangout with other guys that like too get dirty/muddy.

 

rims will fit direct bolt on.

cranked my torsion bars to the max gave me almost 3inches but the shock and upper a-arm had limited travel.
gave the shock an 1 1/2 with extension and the balljoint space was 1" square steel gave the arm about 1" down travel.

with the body lift i had close to 6 inches lift.looked funny with 31's.
the new frame is off an 88 the gears in the diff changed and 87-88 models some had lockers/limited slip diff's. my luck it has it.
the truck will go almost anywhere now.

been doing more wheeling now that i hangout with other guys that like too get dirty/muddy. [/b]

Thanks mazdab, I have electronic locking hubs (maybe you do too), will that make a difference with these new rims?

 

Thanks mazdab, I have electronic locking hubs (maybe you do too), will that make a difference with these new rims?[/b]

my rfw system seized shortly after i got it.thankfully is stuck in with the diff/axle locked.then i just switched hubs to the 88 manual style(like the old fords).
the manual hubs from an 87-88 will replace the steel caps on the hub.
with the frame from the 88 i got rid of the rfw system.
either system is the same size-diameter and will fit no problems.

i have 6 stud rims from jeep/toyota/full size chev and mazda.they all fit.

 

here you go jay.my last run with the group june/7/09.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS52TXaUEQA

 

here you go jay.my last run with the group june/7/09.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS52TXaUEQA[/b]

hehe, damn dude, that sucks! the truck looked like it was loving the mud too! Do you use lockers or anything? Lucky you had some guys to pull you out

 

hehe, damn dude, that sucks! the truck looked like it was loving the mud too! Do you use lockers or anything? Lucky you had some guys to pull you out[/b]

87-88 models had something like a limited slip(i think i got with the frame swap both rear spin together)
i dont dare try something like that unless i have others with me.
more from today.
video near the end. get to do some rock pushing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XYgvXHz-9g

i'm stuck so i snapped this shot of my buddy winching himself and making his own trail.

 

Hey again mazdab,

Well, I decided to crank down my torsion bars... I have this feeling that they were already cranked. After I blocked the front end up, I started on the passenger side and went about 3 full turns (clockwise). Noticed a slight change in height, but only about an eight of an inch. So I went back to it, and after a couple of turns POP! there went the threading in the nut. :surrender: I have a feeling what I did was probably not the brightest thing I could've done -- I've never tweaked with a torsion bar before. But now I gotta replace that little guy, and hopefully go about this differently.

You ever think about making a bolt on set of extensions for the suspension? I would love to see something made, looks like you have a good idea. And with all the views this thread is getting, others might be interested as well? Just an idea, but it sure would be cool if someone fab'd up a few sets, they'd make a few bucks, and the mazda fans would be all smiles (at least this one would).

 

Hey again mazdab,

Well, I decided to crank down my torsion bars... I have this feeling that they were already cranked. After I blocked the front end up, I started on the passenger side and went about 3 full turns (clockwise). Noticed a slight change in height, but only about an eight of an inch. So I went back to it, and after a couple of turns POP! there went the threading in the nut. :surrender: I have a feeling what I did was probably not the brightest thing I could've done -- I've never tweaked with a torsion bar before. But now I gotta replace that little guy, and hopefully go about this differently.

You ever think about making a bolt on set of extensions for the suspension? I would love to see something made, looks like you have a good idea. And with all the views this thread is getting, others might be interested as well? Just an idea, but it sure would be cool if someone fab'd up a few sets, they'd make a few bucks, and the mazda fans would be all smiles (at least this one would).[/b]

not much money in a 1 inch square piece of steel.fabtech use to make them for the mazda b2600.
shock extensions was just 1/8 plate cut up and welded to the lower arm and bolted in the stock location with a piece of pipe between just to keep it from crushing.
i haven't put them in yet as i need longer bolts(2-2 1/2 inch x5/16).

shock extensions
balljoint extensions
bj - tb-bolt
rear spring blocks 3 inch taken out and beefed up the leaf pack(added leafs)

forgot in the summer it wheels and winter it works.

 

not much money in a 1 inch square piece of steel.fabtech use to make them for the mazda b2600.
shock extensions was just 1/8 plate cut up and welded to the lower arm and bolted in the stock location with a piece of pipe between just to keep it from crushing.
i haven't put them in yet as i need longer bolts(2-2 1/2 inch x5/16).

shock extensions
balljoint extensions
bj - tb-bolt
rear spring blocks 3 inch taken out and beefed up the leaf pack(added leafs)[/b]

Right on, it's just I don't have much for metal working parts, no welder, no cutter, besides a right angle grinder and a couple sawzalls. What do you think of the torsion bar incident? Was I torquing it too much, or was I doing it in the right direction? any suggestions where I can get replacement parts? The piece that popped was the threaded upper key that holds down and torques the rod. The bolt itself still looks cherry. I can't find anywhere that is selling it, but then again, I can't figure out the exact name of it either.

Hope you have a suggestion,
J

Thanks mazdab, nice pics too. I'm going to be putting my truck to work too, but just for hauling my tools and lumber around. No snow here!

 

Right on, it's just I don't have much for metal working parts, no welder, no cutter, besides a right angle grinder and a couple sawzalls. What do you think of the torsion bar incident? Was I torquing it too much, or was I doing it in the right direction? any suggestions where I can get replacement parts? The piece that popped was the threaded upper key that holds down and torques the rod. The bolt itself still looks cherry. I can't find anywhere that is selling it, but then again, I can't figure out the exact name of it either.

Hope you have a suggestion,
J

Thanks mazdab, nice pics too. I'm going to be putting my truck to work too, but just for hauling my tools and lumber around. No snow here![/b]

mine snapped as well on the first try.scared the bee-gee's out of me when the truck come down on the lower arm bumps. :wacko:
if you can find a new nut to fit the bolt. have it welded to the old part. unless you got room to hold it with a wrench.

 

very good

the machines are good, the site is good, well decorated, everything is clear and understandable