1st Gen 2" Front Lift Options?

Hello! First time posting on TW. Living in Ontario Canada.

Im driving a 1998 xtra cab 4x4 V6 155,000km original struts and coils. As you can see in attached photos.

Two months ago I got a local leaf shop to AAL to my Dorman leafs. I wanted them to even out my rear end. it had some big taco lean going on to the left side. They suggested i AAL to even me out and make the leaf packs stronger since (I do tow a small Boler camper). This raised me 3 inches in the rear. Then my old shock didnt fit. So they found me some longer Pro Comp shocks that reached.

Now i want to try and raise up my front end. 2"-2.5" to almost level out with the rear. Rear is 3 inches higher then front. I have been reading pages and pages of forums on this subject for as few days now until i cant see straight. Im pretty sure i will need to get new coils since they are 21 years old. I brought my truck to a local 4 wheel shop. they quoted me $3100CAD. For installing new LCA (they said mine will be seized and need to be torched out). Rancho quick lift loaded strut coil assembly. Alinement cam Parts (what are these?) and an alinement done. New tierods and carrier bearing. Total of 10 hours labor. From what I've read Ranchos are no good? They want 275$ for each side for them.

My current ride i would say is VERY stiff. I know the rear now is stiff because of the aggressive AAL that was installed. Any of these options below help me with a better ride quality?

From what i understand i have a few options:

1.) Bilstein 5100 struts with new stock coils set at medium for a 2 inch lift. (would i buy new stock coils?)

2.) Bilstein 5100 struts with Various OME coils depending on your needs, HD bumper or winch. Ive also heard some people say these are not designed for each other. The most common one I've seen written about it the Bilstein 5100 with OME 881 coil, strut set at 0 giving my truck about a 2 inch lift.

3.) Bilstein 5100 with Eibach coil. (what coil is this? Do they have different kinds? all the same for my truck?)

4.)OME Nitrochanger coils with OME 881's.

5.) OME coilovers $1,133CAD all in FRom toytech (are 4 and 5 the same)? 6.) Ranchos quick Lift loaded

Also what is the difference between the Bilstein 5100's with 3 notches vs 4 notches? some online retailers are showing them to both work with my 98. Isn't 4 notches for second gens and the 3 notch one for first gens?

I plan on doing the work in my drive way. With my brother who is a mechanic. This will be my first time doing a project like this and I am still learning about
suspensions.

Thanks for reading any opinions would be amazing!!!

 

Your frame looks a bit concerning. Were you the one who applied that undercoating? It looks like it’s hiding bad frame rot.

Is that a crack under the bolt in picture 3?

 

Hello,
haha yeah so the fame is another thing all together. been waiting to post a thread on my rebuild of the rear end of the frame. no it is not a crack looks like it in the photo though. its just the end of the LCA going into the bushing if you know what i mean. i have installed safe-t-caps with leaf mounts. cut out the cheese where the leafs mpunted before. and added some support along the bottom of the frame section above the leafs. also new cross member from toyota. (to late for the frame recall) yes i added the undercoating post frame repair. its a little dirty now but solid.

 

the front end had been "repaired" by a previous over. im bringing it to a fab shop next week to get the questionable areas attended to.

 

That’s good. I see too many people on here burnt out after buying a truck they didn’t know had frame rot.

 

Check out Wheelersoffroad. I’m sure they can help you with all your lift questions.