My 2001 4x4 is paid off, has plenty of mods, TONS of maintenance performed, (she's as good as new) and only has 67K mi. on the clock. I'm thinking about dropping my entire tax return into her, but I don't know which to go with. I'm assuming each would cost around $1,300.

I have ProComp X/AT 33's on 17x9's with a 3:55 open diff. so I'd be nice to pickup that extra grunt, but I can't really imagine what the swap would feel like since I've never done gears. I've also never owned a limited slip. As it is, I run 70 mph @ 2,100 rpm / 80 mph @ 2,200 rpm, but I only get about 15 MPG mixed but mostly highway with e-fans and pulleys.

On the other hand, I have a black ext. cab 4x4 with the dreaded paint imperfections on the hood / roof and an about to self-eject Lund hood scoop. I have talked with Truckgasm (Line-X Xpert from Dallas) about doing the ENTIRE truck including all painted surfaces down to the mirror covers. This would solve any paint and hood scoop issues permanently. It would also enable me to beat the hell out of it offroading without worrying about trees / brush scratching the whole side of the truck. Not sure if I want to try the black Dupont Nason finish or the new Xtra. Guess I'd have to see them both and discuss with Truckgasm some more.

Just wondered what you guys thought and feedback on both mods.

 

you have a 2001 and its paid off?? take that $1,300 and buy a old ranger or something to beat the hell out of. who cares if it gets scratches etc..

 

Without seeing how bad the paint is, I would go with the 4.10 gears. Next year you can always get the line-x.

-Brian

 

4.10s and a limited slip/locker. And is that a MO plate I see on your truck?

 

I've had it paid off for 11 months now...only issue with it is the driver's side head gasket is "lightly seeping" but it's just slightly wet, no drips / leaks. The passanger side one was replaced at 20K mi. I wanted to put an ATI on it last August but decided to do the NA mods so I wouldn't have to mess with the in-tank fuel pump, expensive injectors, custom tunes, added maintenance, seeping head gasket, etc.

The paint is alright, looks better than most probably, but something needs to be done about it (chips, factory imperfections, gouge in fiberglass, etc.) and I think Line-X would be the *****. No more washing / waxing / door dings / scratches...EVER. The gears would raise my RPM's by what...300 - 400 at cruising speeds? Any chance of increased gas mileage? Does it make the truck seem lighter or engine feel stronger, or both? I already have the Xcal II to make the axle size change, but truth is I don't do much if any towing cept for bed full of dirtbikes / camping gear. Plus I have fresh Royal Purple in the front / rear.

If I did Line-X, I could ditch the cheesy Penda Liner and I'd have a slick new bedliner. Hell, the bed alone is usually $500+.

Good eye, it is a MO plate.

 

Gears

 

Add gears and a detroit locker to rear. And yes your Gas mileage will go up. your Gas mileage would probably go up if you quit using O.D. on highway. Truck working to hard with those tall a$$ed tires. That is my $.02

SCotty!

 

Line-X that bad boy. Post some pics when you're done.

 

It's a a 5-speed with the prototype Hurst short-throw. What is the desired crusing speed RPM for a 4x4 truck that lives mostly on the highway? Will I like all $1,300 worth of gears / locker? HAHAHA...sucks that I have to do both front and rear...the dealership said they had to drop the front axle...between that and them having to PROPERLY set the gears, I'm about afraid to trust them. Was thinking OEM 4:10 limited-slip since I get parts near cost...do you recommend something else?

 

Also, I wonder if the Line-X will cause enough friction / surface resistance to KILL MPG's or make for an even noisier ride. Wait, that's not possible. Plus, it's VERY permanent. I intend to keep the truck, but if something were to come up, how badly will I regret this if at all?

 

My vote is gears.

I didn't realize line-x was so great! You don't really think this will keep your truck clean of dirt, scratch free, and dent free do you??? You might get away with not having to wax it (only becuase you couldn't anymore), but if you wanted it to look like ****, you wouldn't you wax it in the first place. This stuff will NOT make you truck look good. Dirt gets stuck in the bumps in it and stays there after a while. And resale, well good luck reselling it, except to that one perticular person it appeals too, and at a great discount. I've seen in person trucks that this has been done to the entire body. It looks not so good. But if you use for like a 1 foot stripe on the rockers it looks good. I would consider doing this to a whole truck that had paint peeling off, rust spots etc., and just overall ****, but a 2001??? no thanks.

 

The only way you have a chance of seeing an increase in MPG is if you only do city driving. If you do allot of highway driving your going to see a decrease in MPG.

-Brian

 

Another downfall to the Line-X...it adds about 120lbs. I was worried about dirt getting in there, but haven't really seen any good used Xtra spray'd beds. Got any?

...but this is what it would look like:

 

Gears.

 

Man, these red ones look NICE too: