Chris the wheels do look good man. Quick question for you though, I was looking to get a set of wheel locks for my truck (it is parked on the streets overnight sometimes) and was wondering why you hate them so much, is it just the way they look? Or the actual function they provide is no good, just wanted a little input on them from you, thanks.
-Patrick

 

LOL that's exactly what I was thinking. What's up Chris? You can put dressing on the tires when you're taking pics of stock rims but not the chromies? I always thought that the stock wheels chromed looked nice, but I personally think that our trucks look better with chrome 20" versions of any year wheel. But like I said they do look good with that drop

 

Chris, those wheels look great. You have one of the nicest trucks on the forum.

 

Yeah. The Lightnings should of came from the factory with 20's. They fill the wheel well up so much nicer.

 

on 18"s? I think it'd look funny? it'd make the wheel well opening look even bigger than it already is... now if I had some 20s, then definately. plus I like the traction that the F1s provide, I think they do a GREAT job for a factory spec tire, especially given what they are up against... LOTS of TORQUE!

Hotchkis suspension kit 1"/2" drop (ends up being slightly more on '03+ trucks) w/ Hotchkis sway bars and QA1 adjustable shocks.

I sent a set of factory '03/'04 wheels to www.santaanaplating.com

my experience with them:
good quality workmanship, very fast turnaround, but they screwed up my order by forgetting to polish the inside of the wheels (barrel polish) but they didn't forget to bill me the extra $25 per wheel for it. however they were apologetic and quick to refund the error. I just got the wheels last week and noticed the error, and I received the refund check in the mail yesterday.

do your research on shipping, you should be able to get 4 wheels shipped for no more than $125 each way (coast to coast). they were HIGH on their return shipping to the tune of $180 but there are packaging and handling fees to consider.

oh, sorry, don't get me wrong. wheel locks work just fine. as with anything, if somebody wants it bad enough, they'll find a way to steal it. however, I do believe that wheel locks are a good DETERANT, and at the very least they would slow a potential thief down, or make him/her think twice about hanging around your vehicle long enough to remove the wheel locks. hopefully, they would encourage a thief to simply move on to an easier target. I don't have a problem with their functionality, I just don't care for the fact that on our wheels, you can see one oddball wheel lock hanging there on each wheel. also as a professional mechanic, I hate wheel locks with a passion. it never fails that I get a car set on the lift and raised in the air only to pop a center cap off and find that I've got to lower the car back down and begin the search (glovebox, trunk, ashtray, console, who knows where) to find the wheel lock key which is at least 25% of the time lost or missing. at which point I have to get the master kits (about three boxes of them) out and start going through the keys one by one until I find the one that fits. and the worst part is, I usually find that the wheels with wheel locks are THE LAST wheels that any sane person would want to steal. so long story, short, I just have personal issues with wheel locks in my life.


and to everyone else, Thank You Very Much for the compliments.

and yes, I know I need some tire shiney stuff.

i'm on it.

later,
chris

 

Thanks for taking the time to respond Chris, I appreciate it. Looks like a set of horrid wheel locks are on there way to my truck

-Patrick

 

Ah!!! Put some tire dressing on there!!!


Anyway, the rims look sweet, hoping to get some chrome for mine this summer.