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If I had seen this about 5 months ago I would have been all about trading! I've already painted mine black though.
I've been bitten by the truck bug again and been doing some upgrading to my truck again (it comes in waves). Started the black and white transformation about 5 months ago mostly in effort to restore the faded plastic trim, but that eventually turned into a full on appearance change. It started with bumpers, rash guards, bed caps, grill, emblems, and wheels.
Before (bumpers are done):
After (with wheels):
Then it turned into new headlights to replace the yellowed stockers, HID's, LED interior bulbs, new antenna, LED cube fog lights (not installed yet), adding a Homelink, and in the next two months all new brakes and rotors, and 4 new shocks.
Before with stock headlights:
After:
Looks good! Unfortunately our bumpers wouldn't have bolted up so eachothers trucks anyway. 06+ changed front and rear.
Did some maintenance to my 2004 Lariat this weekend at 21,944 miles.
Had my mechanic/neighbor change my spark plugs/boots that I've been dreading. Turned out it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. While cracking the plugs to soak he ended up backing 6 of 8 of them out without a problem, no soaking at all. There were 2 that were sticking a little and were soaked for a hour and they also backed right out, 8-8. Hard to believe I know. I did run 2 bottles of Chevron Techron before the change and the truck has under 22k miles so I'm guessing one of them or both contributed to the plugs coming out so easy.
Also cleaned the Throttle body, MAF sensor, fuel filter change, oil/filter change, syphoned my power steering fluid for the third time in 6 months = 1quart.
I cant believe how great the truck feels and drives. It honestly feels like when I drove it off the lot 11 years ago.
Last edited by tg150; May 4, 2015 at 01:26 PM.
Reason: iPad Grr
Had my mechanic/neighbor change my spark plugs/boots that I've been dreading. Turned out it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. While cracking the plugs to soak he ended up backing 6 of 8 of them out without a problem, no soaking at all. There were 2 that were sticking a little and were soaked for a hour and they also backed right out, 8-8. Hard to believe I know. I did run 2 bottles of Chevron Techron before the change and the truck has under 22k miles so I'm guessing one of them or both contributed to the plugs coming out so easy.
I've been thinking about doing the plugs on mine as well one of these days, even though I have only around 3000 miles on the truck. I figure that right now we are kind of in a "sweet spot" where mechanic's have done enough of these 5.4's that they pretty much know how to do the job without boogering anything up -- plus, I'm afraid if I leave the factory plugs in there for another 20+ years they might be an absolute bear to extract if I ever have to!
On the other hand, I can't conceive of a scenario where I would ever put enough miles on this truck to come close to the 100k change mark, so maybe I would be just fine leaving the factory plugs in there and not worrying about it.....
ddellwo- It's true, mechanics are getting better at removing the plugs I agree and my mechanic had tons under his belt. But I think, and was told they came out easy because there was low mileage on the truck and the Chevron (i believe). This was a very rare accurance for him.
My truck was running perfect and I didn't need them changed due to issues but for me it was just for piece of mind. Ive been thinking about removing these plugs since the day I bought it and now I'm so relieved and ready for the future with this truck because im not selling it. All I can say is longer you wait the tougher there going to be to get out and I'd be devastated if I waited longer and had broken plugs, porcelain in the engine etc.. Not for me.
It's 60k now. And I'm in the same boat as you. First 2 years I owned the truck I put nearly 12k miles on her and since then, life changes, I've put barely 10k miles the last 9 years. I don't see any changes in the future and im guessing I'll never even reach the 40k mark it's whole life.
Welp the 2inch drop shackles went in today! Also ordered the 5inch flip kit from djm, soon will be ordering the djm control arms!
Are you going to take off that Amber emergency light? Looks good. Just upgrade the wheels and mirrors and you're all set. Those 2004 xl work trucks came looking very similar to the higher end xlt.
Are you going to take off that Amber emergency light? Looks good. Just upgrade the wheels and mirrors and you're all set. Those 2004 xl work trucks came looking very similar to the higher end xlt.
I was going to but everyone keeps telling me to keep it on and make up my own company name and put it on the doors. I was thinking about getting KMC Slides but I'm not too sure what I want rims I want yet! I want the other mirrors just need to go to the pick a part here and get them!
I was going to but everyone keeps telling me to keep it on and make up my own company name and put it on the doors. I was thinking about getting KMC Slides but I'm not too sure what I want rims I want yet! I want the other mirrors just need to go to the pick a part here and get them!
#1. Farmed out the dreaded 5.4L spark plug change, plus swapped out 2 failed COPs.
#2. Swapped out my plugged cats for Magnaflow High Flow cats.
Still getting the P0012 code that I am chasing down. I fear that it is deeper than just a VCT Solenoid, and I might end up having to swap out the phasers, or chains... Ugh...
It appears that perhaps I didn't get the nuts fully snugged down on the drivers side manifold / cat connection. Need to crawl under there with extensions / wobblers and a ratchet tonight and run them home...
For anyone interested in swapping in the Maggie cats, they are a pain, the orientation of the upper cat gets in the way of access to the nut on the inside of the bend, making using a Universal joint mandatory to get them on...
I am still troubleshooting the front end noises, but closing in on it. I suspect tie rod ends, and will be ordering a set for good measure, everything else is good and tight. I don't have the special tool for the inner, so I will likely farm this out...
Was planning to go with a full Retro projector mod replacement headlights with HID's and still will at some point. In the meantime, I pulled the trigger on an Extreme HID kit (5000 color) from Xenon Depot. Installed it this evening and have been blow away happy! The difference in night visibility is shocking!
Kit was plug and play and super easy to install. Difference is niight and day from halogen.
Installed both ballast with supplied two sided tape:
Drove over to a parking lot to check how the beams look on a wall. Passed quite a few cars and not one complained about glare.
Swapped out new inner and outer tie rod ends, ball joints check out good, new sway bar end links. Still have a #$%^ clunk in the front end... The big LOUD one is gone, but there are little clunks up there still...
Well had to take the LED headlights out today just got them and they stopped working on me the other night on my way home. So stock headlights are back in until i get new ones!
