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Airborne
Dodge Dakota
9/25/2001
17:19:33
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 Subject: Body lift completed
IP: Logged
Message:
To all those out there that may be interested to know, I have completed my 3" body lift on my 98' dak. There are a few things of note that may help out the next man (or woman).
I got the kit on Saturday and after a long hard look at the directions, there are a few things that I wasn't prepared for so I had to get things in order before I started, and they were:
1. Being as I have a manual tranny, I had to cut the transfer (4x4) lever in half and weld a 3" long 1/2" piece of stock in its place to make up the difference for the lift. It was provoded in the kit.
2. The stick shifter had to be either taken out or done in place, "heated and bent 1/2" forward".
This I chose not to do because of time, and although it works good, it hits on the lower plastic in 1st and 2nd. I will go back and fix that. The other kits I have done have a 3" extension with them that make up the difference. This kit does not, however.
3. The rear bumper brackets...there are none. It states you must drill 3 holes 3' above where the existing three are...at the time I had no drill bit big enough...problem solved. The front bumper did in fact, have spacers and hardware for the application. It did need to be welded for the support sides of the internal housing.
4. Oops, I too, forgot to take the spare tire assy. apart before I LIFTED the bed and I bent the rod a bit. Took hammer to that one and fixed it right up.
5. The bolts supplied for the cab mounts were too short for the body mounts with my nerf bars installed, so I had to go and get 4 more of the same size but an inch longer. This may be because of the style of nerf bars I have.
Aside from that, the kit was very complete and I thought it was the best one I have installed (and hope the last). I did take Hawkeye's advice and get ALOT of Gatorade, being as I put in on in Phoenix, so "Thanks Hawk".
I still have not gotten the tires and am still in a quandry about the 32' or 33's. Seems like there is alot of room in the wheel wells, but I hold your all's advice as far to go with the 32's so I don't have to cut anything.
I love how the truck feels and especially looks. Can't wait to get the tires.
So with that said, thanks again. I am glad I recieved the info you all put out there for us up and commers. I hope to take pics soon to show it off a bit.
Thanks again.
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Hawkeye
*GenIII*
9/25/2001
17:24:57
|  RE: Body lift completed
IP: Logged
Message:
Congrats man. Didnt know there was that much difference in the 97-99 vs the 2000's. Glad you got it done though. 32's on 15x8 rims will look fine. 33's will fit as well, just might have to round off the plastic on the bottom of the bumper just a little. I think my problem is just my tires being a little wider through the tread area than most. Anyway, you will love the new look.
'00 QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
33x12.50 Pro Comp X-T's
http://johnammons.tripod.com/home.html
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Hawkeye
*GenIII*
9/25/2001
17:53:05
| RE: Body lift completed
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Message:
After thinking for a minute it dawned on me, I have an auto and you have a stick so I wasnt even thinking about the linkage for that. Also forgot that the 4x4 shifter linkage on the 97-99's is different. I only weldedd in about an inch of the supplied rod and prolly didnt even need it. We didnt have to use the extension at all on Vipers truck. Wierd on the rear bumper brackets. Mine had them in the kit. You are right, your nerf bars prolly acount for the diff on the cab bolts. Another reason why I like frame mounted bars. I was thinking about all this while washing dishes and thought I would repost.
'00 QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
33x12.50 Pro Comp X-T's
http://johnammons.tripod.com/home.html
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Airborne
Dodge Dakota
9/25/2001
20:08:19
|  RE: Body lift completed
IP: Logged
Message:
Hey Hawk;
Appreciate you thinking on it while washing the dishes...I guess I need to do them a little more often..lol.
I am going to go out and get the tires this weekend. How much does it throw off the speedo? I still have to check on what type of diff. I have. Hope I have enough to turn the tires with some power. Looking at the Gibson exhaust and the Jet II chip. Trying to keep up with the "jonses", ya know? By the way, did you have to lower your fan shroud? I am hoping that with the 3 or so inches, my truck won't start to run much hotter in the heat here in AZ.
Thanks again.
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Blizzard
*GenIII*
9/25/2001
20:24:05
| RE: Body lift completed
IP: Logged
Message:
Good job, Airborne! I just picked up my truck from the offroad shop tonight, lifted. They said there were a few changes from 2000 to 2001 too. Performance Accessories told me that the 2000 kit would bolt right up to my 2001 too, but come to find out they had to do a little fabricating on the steering setup (not sure how involved it was). I wasn't there to watch them scratching their heads so don't know if it was a big deal or not!
Anyway, you guys are better men than I am for installing the kits yourself. I took one look at the instructions and knew I didn't have the help or tools to do it right. I paid a little more for installation, but I'm sitting up 3" taller like the rest of ya!! ;o)
Congrats man!
'01 QC 4x4
5.9L, 3.92 LSD, loaded
http://shakin-notstirred.tripod.com
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TallQuad
Dodge Dakota
9/25/2001
21:04:11
|  RE: Body lift completed
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Message:
Do any of you guys know if the overhead console/computer can be re-programed for 33's? I know there has been some posts on the subject but it wasn't clear to me if it works or what needs to be changed.
I'm sure most people don't have the "overhead" option, but if you do I would like to know how to fix it. I wouldn't want to waste such a good feature! Thanks
Good job Airborne - get those pics up!! :-)
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Blizzard
*GenIII*
9/25/2001
21:19:09
| RE: Body lift completed
IP: Logged
Message:
Superlift makes a gadget they call "Tru-speed" or something like that. It corrects the information to the computer and makes the speedo and computer compensate for the bigger tires. There's another gadget I read about somewhere too, but can't recall what it was or where I read it.
The "tru-speed" contraption is one of my next purchases-to-be.
'01 QC 4x4
5.9L, 3.92 LSD, loaded
http://shakin-notstirred.tripod.com
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TallQuad
Dodge Dakota
9/26/2001
00:34:40
| RE: Body lift completed
IP: Logged
Message:
Hey Blizzard, I must say - that lift looks sweeet!! Even with 32's it still looks as good as 33's. NICE!!
I'll have to try the "tru-speed", sounds like the fix. Thanks!
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4wDakota
Dodge Dakota
9/26/2001
09:52:48
| RE: Body lift completed
IP: Logged
Message:
Any of you guys consider the 33x10.50x15 BF Goodrich AT's. Under a body lift they may not rub since not as wide. I have the stock 31x10.50 on 8" rims and they look plenty wide enough I'm just wondering what 2" would do (31 to 33).
Any thoughts???
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Hawkeye
*GenIII*
9/26/2001
10:02:42
| RE: Body lift completed
IP: Logged
Message:
They would definitely fit with the lift. Wouldnt be a bad idea if you like that width, and you would get the extra inch in height.
'00 QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
33x12.50 Pro Comp X-T's
http://johnammons.tripod.com/home.html
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4wDakota
Dodge Dakota
9/26/2001
10:15:53
| RE: Body lift completed
IP: Logged
Message:
Thanks Hawkeye
I wonder if they would fit my 98 4x4 if I just put a 2" body lift and crank the torsion bars 1/2" to an 1". It seems the interference problem comes more from the width and not the height. On stock rims with just a 10.5 wide tire I don't see a problem. My frend has a Z71 with 255x85x16 (33.5x9.5) dunlop mud rovers They look great under his 3" body lift They are about the same width as stock (265) but are so much taller looking. (kind of like the difference between a 35x12.50 and a 33x 12.50, the 35 is only 2 more inches but boy does it look huge!) He gets much more travel than trucks with 33x12.50's.
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Hawkeye
*GenIII*
9/26/2001
10:32:49
| RE: Body lift completed
IP: Logged
Message:
Well, your height and width are relative to each other. The taller the tire the closer it brings the outside edge of the tire to say the bumper edges when turning. You just have to find the right height/width combo for what you have and want. The 33x10.50's would probably work with the 2 inch lift, but it may be a little close. Only 1 way to find out.
'00 QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
33x12.50 Pro Comp X-T's
http://johnammons.tripod.com/home.html
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