I would like to add that a leveling or lift kit is not my goal. I am satisfied with the height and the suspension characteristics and it is and remains a work truck and not a show truck. I want to carry out the overhaul with high-quality and low-wear parts. A different tire size that can be driven without major changes is not out of the question for the look. The wider the tires, the greater the load on the steering and suspension. Which brings us back to the overhaul, where I will only take this into account when selecting the parts.
I am in the same Situation with the Chevy. I could use bigger tires but you all is surely well known the bad steering on that trucks. The Hardy-Steering is really bad. We have change in the rebuild on the u-joint Steering shaft but at least there is still the old Suspension configuration with one pitman arm which have to handle both wheels on a rigid axle. I am not sure if it is the right translation. The Truck have no independent wheel suspension like the Sierra. Overcross-Steering Systems only avialable with a lift-Kit... So we stay with 235/80R16 tires.
2020 on one of the less rides before we decide to go in a frame-off-restauration
Truck sat 15 years in our shop - the engine run but we failed always after a short time of IP Problems
Towing is aweful - always disconnect the driveshaft and you need another Truck to tow...
Still a few month and he is back on the road as that what he was M1008 ExArmy after now 3 long years
it is a full oldtimer restoration and all added parts like the lightbar, bullbar, Dacota digital, 4L80e ...are easy to remove as we have all original parts like Th400 and its driveshafts, original instruments, brushgard in our shop.
I bet he is the only one which have brand new factory status after a real frame off restoration.
Here you have only full oldtimer value if you have a 100% oldtimer restoration.
I would like to drive complete original but the light is very bad with that old H4 headlamps - the lightbar is really necessary at night - also if the headlamps are brandnew and the TH400 in additonal with 4.56 Rear axle was the dead of the engine. Engine is complete rebuild and should not be harm again just as here is the traffic on highways almost in high red area of rpm (Trucks 80 km/h usually on Highways with around 90 km/h. You be an obstacle for any other vehicle on the highway if you dont reach this speed. Also if any vehicle is allow on Highway which have a minimum speed about 60 km/h. All below are not allow to drive on highways.
The change on red color and civilian appearance was in 2000 for our metal company. We own the truck since 1996
The truck was since 2005 in storage, we never could give him away.