Well I made peace with the wife (who thought it was incredibly sweet of me to hand off my truck to others for install work just to spend time with her, see "ARG! Suspension thread), and installed all sorts of goodies this weekend:

Chrome Street Scene grill:
They say it works for a 2001L, they are just flat lying. The little clips they give you simply don't fit, plus the bars behind the grill look bad.

about 30 zips ties and a dremel later, my grill looks awesome! I'd recommend it if anyone likes the look.

Metco driveshaft loop:
Don't try it on jackstands! very nice loop, pretty simple install (tightneing the bolts without a helper was a vice-grip experience). Now my slicks are all good for tech...

Ruslow Panhard bar:
not to bad on the install, I think my frame bracket was screwed up (missing the snubber hole), but that was easily solved with a drill. Haven't had a chance to play with it since it's been raining around here, but even 20mph turns feel more "solid" It's hard to describe, but I'm sure it will be a big help on the dry pavement..

Two questions for all:
QA1's: what do you have them set to? I'd like as soft of a ride as possible for my wife when she is in the truck

Exhaust: I've got the silver-bullet (single muffler) and long-tubes anything that will quiet down the truck cab (again for the wife)

Coldie

PS: She never complained about the truck until she got used to the Mercedes...

 

Well I have the QA1 shocks and have them set at 5 from soft. This seems to give the best ride. Any softer and it starts bouncing. I hope this helps, good luck!

 

Coldie:

Either soundproof the cab of just cover the holes on the back wall directly behind the seats. Keep in mind, those holes expel air in the event of airbag deployment.

BTW, good job!

 

Thanks Tampa, your grill was the main reason I wanted a Street Scene grill...

What effect would covering the holes have in an accident? Could it theoretically blow out the windows?

If I wanted to cover them, should I just slap a piece of dynomat over it?

I may rip out the carpet and lay down a bit of dynomat. The floor vibration is a bit much.

Note that noise seems to be worst from 45-60 or so (around the street is fine until I get on it).

Coldie

 

Coldie:

It's not the windows you have to worry about blowing out....



Dynamat them and see if you notice a difference. I just disconnect the pass. side air bag. Nobody's crazy enough to ride with me anyway...

What you're hearing is most likely resonance from the mufflers. Maybe just dynamating the floor and covering the pass. side hole would make a difference.

Rich

 

Street settings:
Rear - 5
Front - 8

Track settings:
Rear - 6
Front - 11

"Spirited" street setting:
Rear - 6
Front - 9 or 10

After running the infield at California Speedway, I forgot to change them back before leaving the track. I drove to Arco, got some cheap 91 octane gas, a cup of coffee and got on the freeway. Initially I thought the I10 was really screwed up. I kept on changing lanes trying to find one that wouldn't rattle my coffee out of the cup. Then, I remembered that I forgot to change the shocks. I ended up leaving them like that for several days.

Spike

 

I've blown my ear drums numerous times... (SCUBA diving). They've got a nice preforation line, so it won't be a big deal <grin>

I'll try adjusting the shocks and see how it goes.

Any idea how hard it is to yank the carpet for dynamat install?

Coldie

 

Pulling the seats requires a Torx bit.(15 minutes).
Pulling the trim pieces(5 minutes).
Pulling out the storage box(5 minutes).

Rich

 

Cool, looks like I'll do it next weekend when the wife is in Chicago.

Coldie