Here's a little update on my progress. I was going to do this last summer, but eventually I ran out of time. I looked at getting a new truck not too long ago, but alas, I decided to keep mine. I'm happy right now and, after this weekend, hope to be even more happy. Anywhoo, here's my project:

Current look after some modding:






New shocks and steering stabilizer from 4wheelparts. Ordered black boots as I think they'd look better on my truck than the other colors:

 

Gap guards and PA body lift from sportztrailers (aka crash aka josh - thanks!):





New wheels (hard to find those darn 7-luggers) from e-bay:



New tires aren't shown - I'm going with Kumho Road Venture A/ts in 315/75/16. They've gotton good reviews, are dirt cheap, and will get my foot in the door if I decide I want to go with mud tires if I don't like the look. I can always run these as winter tires (although I just bought some )

 

And I ended up getting a hypertech programmer for dirt cheap. It'll also get my foot in the door for custom tuning down the road. The main objective was the abilty to change speedo / odo info. easily, especially if I run my stockers in the winter.



I'm debating about whether or not I should leave the brush guard on. In all honesty, it serves it's purpose of keeping some debris off my truck when I'm offroad / on service / back roads. But, I'm not totally in love with it. Plus, I think it takes away from the grill and headlights (I also have depo clear fogs coming tom. as well). Any thoughts on the grill? Maybe a black bullbar with offroad lights?


Thanks for looking!

 

Oh and thanks to all who helped me out getting this all together. To name a few, wandell, jk007, keith_bennett, PHS79, crash_lucky13, thump (and anyone else I forgot, I just quickly went off my priv. messages box) It's nice being able to ask questions and get honest answers quickly. And thanks to this stupid azzed forum for emptying more money from my wallet.

Hopefully it'll all come together this weekend as planned. I'll post pics hopefully monday

 

I will be waiting monday to see how it turns out. Should look good

 

That grill guard looks huge. Too huge. Maybe its an optical illusion, but it sticks out super far on the sides. Or is it an illusion?

 

I was thinking the exact same, It looks like it goes to a dodge ram front end


You have some mods to keep ya busy it looks like. How much was the Body lift? I was considering one myself so i can run 33x10x50's. I have 295 pro comps right now on stock suspension.


Nice truck man, But loose the grill guard

 

I say take that grill gaurd off and get one meant for your truck! I think mine "SET OFF" my truck. Also mine hugs my truck much tighter and follows the grill lines!

This should be a fun project! Ill keep an eye on it!

SIDE NOTE: I should also have some intresting pictures for F150online.com on Monday!

 

I agree. Unless you just have to have it to protect the front of your truck, I would get rid of the cow catcher. I think a nice bull bar looks pretty good or just go nekkid.

 

Thanks guys. I decided yesterday that I was going to take the guard off, and, after reading this today, y'all have confirmed my thoughts - it doesn't flow the best. I loved the fact it was big / beefy (and yes, a "cow catcher" starquest, which is what I always call em ). But, as I started to "clean up" the front, it just didn't look right. Plus, I still need longer bolts as it sits a little slanted from the side angle.

Ranger, the lift is part #863 if I remember correctly. It was $140 and the gap guards were just over $70. The kit is a PA kit, and is complete with everything you need included front and rear bumber brakets. The gap guards aren't anything too special, although they are very heavy/good quality, so to me it was worth buying them. Hope that helps

And thanks for the help and support so far guys

 

Gonna look great.

 

From this:


To this:




Thanks again to all those who helped. I have yet to recieve my clear fogs, the right shocks, and I have yet to put the rear gap guards on. I'm going to run the hypertech tom. to change for the tire size and I should be all set.

 

wow, huge improvement, very nice. makes it look like a whole new truck and good call on the grille guard

 

how will a hypertech get your foot in the door for custom tuning? that's the only reason I ended up selling my hypertech, I needed custom tuning and the hypertech couldn't do it.

at least it will work for the #1 reason you need it.


leave that big 'ole brush guard off the truck it looks tacky

 

The truck looks great!!!!