After HOURS of reading and research here (holy CRAP there's a lot of info in here!), I've decided on how to spend the $1,500 on my truck.

Here it is: a 2004 F-150 4.6L STX 4x4.

(Same crappy phone pic)



1.) Pro-Comp 285/70R17 tires. THey have a deal right now, buy 3 get 1 free, so that saves $225.
2.) Skyjacker 2.5" leveling kit.
3.) Airforce One Cold Air Intake System
4.) Edge Evolution tuner.

Total cost after labor and tax is right around $1,500.

Next I'll be adding an alarm (I've had a vehicle stolen before), window tint, and a Line-X bedliner.

I think this is the best start for me right now. Gives me practical truck use and good looks.

What do you guys think? Did I do enough homework? I hope so, my eyes are nearly bleeding from reading this forum for so long!

 

All looks good. How much for the Skyjacker Kit? I know the Autospring and Daystar Kits go for about $100 on ebay.

 

$119 from the guy at the shop. I think. I like the way they go on both the top and bottom of the spring, thats why I picked them.




Now if I could just find a place to buy the Edge Evolution tuner for $400 or better instead of $450 like I'm seeing everywhere I'll be happy.

 

Just my opinion, I have no first hand experience, but you might want to look into the Xcal tuner. Troyer just posted a group buy price for everyone here. Plus, Ive seen a lot of threads complaining about the edge and not very many complaining about the Xcal...Just my .02, might be worth researching a little more.

The Xcal is $379 shipped!!!


BREW

 

here it is for $324
http://www.discountpowerparts.com/ca...&products_id=7

hopes that helps....now you can get something else for about a $100 too!!!

 

Well, I thought about this a lot, but seeing as how my truck dosen't have hardly anything as far as gauges go except a speedometer, I thought it might be a good idea to be able to mount and monitor other variables in the truck if I plan on tuning it and such.

The Xcal tuner definitley seems like an excellent tuner but for a guy like me who is new to tuning my trucks performance I feel the ability to accurately monitor my vehicle is important.

Does this logic seem acceptable?

 

You....







...are my hero.

Thanks dude, Semper Fi.

 

I guess so and I see your point. Me personally, I dont like the look of the edge sitting on the dash. To ME it looks to big and bulky. The Xcal has proven to be an excellent tuner and at its current price, you can't go wrong.


BREW

 

Who says you have to put it in the dash?

What about the ash-tray like me?

 

I kinda agree, but functionality over asthetics wins me over any day. Tuning without being able to regularly check temps and pressures seems foolish to the untrained like me. I thought about the ashtray thing too... pretty cool.

Of course, if I had a full blown gauge readout like in a FX4 or something I'd go for the Xcal.

 

Hmm, honestly Thump, I didnt think it woul dfit in there. Ive always seen it mounted to the dash...

I stand corrected Dian...



BREW

 

Well, I had no idea this was a real problem even after all my reading, but ThumperMX113 has enlightened me as to the uneeded stresses that a 2.5" leveling kit will add to my trucks CV axles, tie rods, and ball joints. Knowing this, now I'm thinking of the 2" autospring instead.

 

Have you checked out the classifiedhere? I saw 1 for $250 shipped

 

I'm not sure on the price the guy at the shop quoted me on the Skyjacker 2.5"s, since I left the info he printed all out for me to read at my office. I really think he said $119 for them though.

I'm finding and reading about the Autosprings right now.

 

Sounds like most people are telling me to go for the 2" instead of the 2.5".

How much difference in overall height will there be between the 2.5" and 2" spacers?

Could someone maybe direct me to some comparison pictures?