Should I Believe my Mechanic?

I agree. He's just giving you his ten cents and he obviously doesn't believe in modifying vehicles.

Now what he is saying is correct, any time you modify a vehicle outside of the way it was designed stock, you are changing other things that could impact the life of other parts of the truck.

For example, adding a SC or TC will impact the longevity of an engine. How much depends on how you abuse it. Doesn't mean that engine still won't take you 300-400K miles.

Adding lifts, depending on what type of lift and how high will impact your drive shaft, brake lines, fuel economy, CV, carried bearing, differential etc. You can't put on a lift and expect no changes to be made in the truck. Now most of these changes can be compensated for, so over all you will have minimal if no problems with the lift.

Running larger diameter tires will strain an engine, it's going to strain a 4cyl a lot more than a 6cyl. It's going to throw your odometer off and your speedometer off and lower your fuel economy.

This guy is just giving you an opinion and a perspective. You don't have to take it.

You need to be smart in how you modify your vehicle. Do you research and do things right. Understand what changes you are making in your truck over all.

 

Thanks for providing such a well thought out and comprehensive response.

I thought I was being smart with my mods by not going over 3" on the lift and not getting too crazy with tire size. Other than fuel economy, I don't know how those two things effect my truck. And I plan to add a header, so I'm hoping this mod doesn't create long term problems.

One question about running larger diameter tires -- you said it's going to strain my 4 cyl. and I understand that, but to what extent??? In other words, is the engine working only slightly harder or significantly harder for my 30.5" wheels?

 

You won't see any real problems. Many of us strain our trucks much much more than those wheels/ tires are going to do to your truck without any real problems. Drive it and enjoy it. Good looking truck, Brad. If you like the mechanic, he's affordable and honest, and does good work - stay with him. Just smile and thank him for his advice about your mods. He might even just be fucking with you to see what you actually know.

 

Muther Focker... never seen that in the store before.

 

The tires are about the same diameter as factory, but a lot wider. Yea, in the long run you'll wear out suspension components sooner with those tires and the lift. None of those mods are worth the negatives to me, but it's your money.

 

Perhaps so, but once I removed the stock tires and put on the 30.5's, the truck drives 10x better. It's sturdier, hugs the road, and just feels more powerful if that makes any sense. I don't worry about slipping in the rain, for instance. Being in the south, I haven't driven in snow, but I'll bet the bigger tires ride better in all kinds of inclement weather. Not sure about ice, though.

 

This makes a lot of sense. Hell, I'm just driving to work and back.