Lift recommendations for a stock 96 Tacoma

Just bought a 96 Tacoma standard v6 4x4 for $500 needed a timing belt and water pump I fixed it and it's been running great, I'd say I got a steal! Looking to lift it a little and get bigger tires. Trying to clear 32's or 33's on stock 15" wheels. What lifts would be recommended size and brands please?

 

Depends on your budget really. A decent lift is going to be around $1000, but I don't know if you want to spend twice as much as you spent on the truck for a lift kit. If you want to do it without spending that much, I'd suggest Bilstein 5100 adjustable struts for the front, either with the stock coils or spring (get it) for some Eibach coils. For the rear, go to a junkyard and pull the leaf springs from an old S-10, or anything with the same length leafs as you have now, then add in a couple of the leafs to the middle of your pack. This will take some trial and error to get right. You can also add longer lift shackles to pick the rear end up a little - don't go all crazy with them though. You'll also need longer rear shocks (Bilstein's as well), and probably a longer rear brake line too ( ).

You can get 2-3" of lift this way, and along with some serious trimming of your fender liners, pinch weld, etc, you can clear 33" tires. With the stock wheels you may also need wheel spacers (SpiderTrax) to avoid rubbing on the frame when you turn the wheel all the way.

 

I have a '97 3.4L extended cab and installed this: http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/Ultimate-Tacoma-lift-with-Bilstein-shocks_p_394.html

I got the medium coils and the Dakar leaf packs. On the 1995.5-1997 Tacomas, the leaf pack gives quite a bit of lift (I think it was close to about 4.5 inches over stock) but you can take a leaf out. I found they settled a bit and with a fiberglass camper shell on, so it's perfect with the leaf left in.

I did end up needing an extended brake line and cut the exhaust pipe so it wouldn't interfere with the suspension (I tried the bracket, but I was still hitting the leaf spring on the pipe...).

I also found that I kept pinching holes in my upper ball joint boots (MOOG) and ended up opting to upgrade my upper control arms with Light Racing ones.

When all was said and done, I ended up with the following:
Toytec Ultimate lift package for 95.5-2004 Tacoma with 600# springs (this included differential drop bracket, brake portioning valve bracket, longer u-bolts and bushings for leaf pack)
Dakar leaf springs for 1995.5-1997 Tacoma
Light Racing UCAs
Extended brake line
carrier bearing bracket (I tried washers first and they didn't eliminate as much vibration as I had hoped)
exhaust pipe bracket (but didn't end up using it, since I cut the pipe instead)

The ride on the street is a little more rough than it had been prior to the upgrades (though not uncomfortable, even on longer road trips). Off-road ride is much improved as is general cornering and handling. I've been very happy with this setup.

After the lift, I got 265/76R16 Duratracs and am pretty confident I could go taller.

These aren't the greatest pics, but hopefully you get an idea.