You sound like my wife...


I got the drums back together today, did some donuts in the parking lot, she's going good so far.

Tonight is a big bonfire party, so no more work today. Tomorrow I've got hockey in the afternoon, but I'm hoping to get started on the cab lift in the morning and maybe finish it before sundown.

After that, I'll just need my tires and I'll get it registered/inspected. Then the front suspension work can get down at some point down the line.

 

So other than putting the tail lights back in, nothing got done today, but I've got some questions.

Lifting the cab is going to be much trickier than lifting the bed. According to the body lift directions, I'll need to extend the clutch linkage.Where is it? Can I remove it from the truck and take it to get welded off-site? I didn't buy the kit, so what can I use to extend the linkage? Steel dowels/ATR from depot?

Other than that and the fan shroud/rad hoses, what are my most likely issues to run into?


Also, for the rear, I think I saw Crazy mention putting ram 2500 springs in for lift. Is there a certain year that is a direct bolt-on? Or would I be better off getting the leafs re-bent and adding a leaf? I'd like to get another 2-3 inches in the back.

 

I can't remember what the instructions say exactly about the clutch linkage but only if you have a manual transmission you would have to worry about it. If you have an auto you will need to extend the shifter rod. Both you can remove and get welded, just you will need a 2nd vehicle to take it to the shop.

Yes for the rear you can add Ram 2500 Leaf springs. 94-up is best some are 2.5 which is our width, some 3in which will not work.

 

I'll look into the 2500 springs and compare that vs the local spring shop for re-bending and adding leafs for me.

It's a manual tranny. I'm looking for the linkage, but all I'm seeing is a pneumatic piston that the clutch connects to, then a flexible hose going to the tranny. It appears to have plenty of play, so I'm not sure what would need extended there.

Guess I'll just start lifting the cab and see where my issues are.

 

So, we got a little bit done today.

Cab is lifted and sitting on pucks, but the bolts are M12x1.75x150 metric frackers and they won't be in until Thursday. Surprisingly, nothing bound itself up (aside from the fan shroud). I suspect that I may have to cut around the shifter to allow me to get into all the gears, but it's sitting in 1st with plenty of play, so hopefully it needs no mods there. Very surprised at how well that went.

Other than that, got the front frame/suspension painted, bumper off, fan shroud modified, got one front shock off and attempted to get the torsion bars off.

Any tips on removing the torsion bars? We lubed up both ends, removed the bolts and were pounding on the front end towards the rear. Nothing is budging. I need to get these off, those lift keys were my primary means of lifting the front end. Any helpful tips/idea would be greatly appreciated.

So now, I'm basically waiting on parts. I need the torsion keys and front shocks. I'll probably start painting it tomorrow if it looks like we'll have 2-3 days of sunny weather.

Pics of today's progress:

 

When I did my keys I did not take the bars out. Not sure if it was a bad idea or what but I had the same problem. I ended up using a pry bar and prying it down then putting another bar between my frame and step bar to hold it. With a little more force I was able to slide the keys off and on

 

I tried bending the bars down, but it seemed like I would have to really bend them hard to slip the keys off. The only part of the whole assembly that moved at all was the key on that end of the bar. The other end of the bar was holding fast. That might be my only choice if I can't figure out how to get the things apart.

 

Not much mechanical done today, but plenty accomplished. Got two coats of paint on the truck. Went to the junkyard and got new cab mount bushings, badges and a tailgate bedliner cover. Also went to the spring shop - $500 to re-bend + add a leaf, so I ordered the rough country add-a-leaf from jcwhitney for $53.

... and the pics:

 

Did you just paint the truck without removing all the parts?

 

Yep. I used the Redneck technique of Rustoleum and a roller. I did remove the headlights, taillights and grill. I probably should have painted the back of the cab while the bed was off, but oh well.

I'm not making a show truck here, I plan on beating the **** out of this thing on the trails. It looks great from 20 feet away and actually isn't terrible up close. It'll work for my needs.