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Tx-Hop
Dodge Dakota
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1/20/2003
10:56:39
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 Subject: Adding 3 more inches..
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I'm gonna bite the bullet..
I've got the 3" rancho on my '97 now...
I put 32x11.50 geolander a/t's on there with
a 10" rim and a 4.625 offset. Now that i had
the truck aligned they rub. Soo now it's time
for the 3" pa body lift. Anyone have any problems
with their body lifts? I've also have the westin
nerf bars. Is there anyone who makes brackets
to relocate them up 3 inches? Also does anyone
make a hide-a-hitch that will fit with the
3" body lift? I'm having it installed in the
morning. I should have pictures posted by the
end of the week.. --Hop
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97_blk_dak
GenIII
1/20/2003
17:23:32
|  RE: Adding 3 more inches..
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I don't know of any way to remount the Westin nerf bars. I have these too and haven't found any way to do it. I even took them to a local 4x4 shop to see if they could fab something up for me but they said they couldn't and that I needed new ones. They might just want more of my money though. I hate to buy new ones though because I haven't had these that long.
I really didn't have too many complications with the lift, except for remounting the fan shroud. You have to cut a square piece off of the thick plastic shroud near the bottom passenger side corner so it will fit snug against the radiator in its new position. I ended up buying a cheap dremel tool at Wal-Mart to cut it with because that was the only way I could get to it without having to take off the radiator. And also, for some reason, I had a hard time getting the fuel filler hose back onto the gas tank. If I were you, I wouldn't even take it off. There is enough room for it to stretch. The directions say to take it off, raise the truck, and then put it back on. If you do decide to take it off, disconect it from the opening at the gas door instead of at the tank. I think that the connection at the tank is heat shrunk from the factory which caused it to be hard to get back on as snug. Some people said they had problems getting the steering column extension to fit in properly, but it seemed to work fine for mine. Just make sure you get it on as tight as you can. (since it tightens with an alan wrench, you will need a small pipe or something to put over the end of it for leverage so you can get it tight enough)
The lift did take me quite awhile though because I was doing it myself with the crappy jack that came with the truck and a couple of crappy socket sets. I also had to borrow a drill to drill new holes in the frame to remount the back bumper because my sh!tty rechargeable drill wouldn't drill through a wet paper sack. As long as you take your time and read the directions carefully, you should have no problems at all. Hell, I've never even changed my own spark plugs before and mine turned out fine. Plus these Dakota boards are great for getting help on any problems you run across during installation.
Sorry for such a long post.
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1997 5.2L 4X4 CC
PICS
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Tx-Hop
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2003
10:24:46
| RE: Adding 3 more inches..
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Thanks, for the info! I figure i can get something to work with a welder and some steel on the nerf bars. I know i'll need to have the exhaust redone. It's gonna look funny with the tail pipe hanging down that low. Next up will be a set of 4:10's and ditching the 3:55's..
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97_blk_dak
GenIII
1/22/2003
22:30:27
| RE: Adding 3 more inches..
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Yeah, it does look funny with the tips hanging down so low. If you check out my pics page, you can see my old exhaust setup after I did my lift. It doesn't look so hot. If you get something to work with the nerf bars, shoot me some pics.
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1997 5.2L 4X4 CC
PICS
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Hoe
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2003
07:09:32
| RE: Adding 3 more inches..
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Why would a new set of nerf bars be any different mounting than the ones you have now. i have a 2" body lift on my 95 and i bought soem chrome nerfs that fit a 97 and up and it took me about 2 hours to fabricate me some new mounting brackets
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Tx-Hop
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2003
22:20:03
| RE: Adding 3 more inches..
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On the Nerf bars i'm going to buy a piece of angle iron 6x4x3/8".. I'm going to bolt the 6" to the frame/cab mount and tow the 3" toward the cab or up. Two holes to drill and i'm done.. So i hope.. i'll know more this weekend. And if it works i'll be sure to get some pics..
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2THEXTRM
GenIII
1/24/2003
08:49:05
| RE: Adding 3 more inches..
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Good idea, but I don't see how that would work with clearance issues due to the shape of frame/cab mounts unless your bracket was very very narrow and then flimsy. If it does work though, I would box the angle iron(if clearance allows it) once you cut it to length similar to the Westin factory brackets for strength if you plan on using them at all.
As an FYI I had looked into all different ways to mount nerfs after my Body lift and went with a frame mount set that I could mod to fit much easier than the body mount type like Westin. Since you already have the Westin's, I would try to make them work too before giving up. If it doesn't work, I recommend you go with the Manik's like I did and if you need any help with how I modded them just email me. Later.
Flowmaster cat back w/15 inch chrome tip, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
3 inch body/1.5 inch Block Lift, 305 70-16 X-Terrains on AR Terons, Pro Comp ES9000's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6) Hella's, Manik Nerfs, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$
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02GraphiteDak
Dodge Dakota
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1/24/2003
10:00:06
| RE: Adding 3 more inches..
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Hey TX-HOP Do you have a manual or auto. because if you do have a manual there might not be an extension in the box. I bought mine and they never figured in for a manual, so I waited 3 months for them to send a 3" piece of bar stock. They were too slow for me and weren't very helpful. Installing the lift is pretty easy, took me like 6 hours just by myself. So, Good luck installing it. Just watch the two ground wires that are under the hood on the firewall. The one I had to put a longer ground wire on the passenger side.
I'm not speeding Officer I was just Qualifying
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97 dakota
Dodge Dakota
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1/24/2003
13:10:52
| RE: Adding 3 more inches..
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when ordering the pa body lift is there anything else you need that doesn't come with the kit. the skirt that you can order is this a must? where does it go? ordering for a 97 4x4 ext cab. thanks!!!
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scott
Dodge Dakota
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1/24/2003
13:33:49
| RE: Adding 3 more inches..
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The gap guards aren`t a "must" , but it looks a lot better with them than with-out them. Some have made their own cheaper , but for the ease of the installation and the quality looks I bought mine.
BTW , the PA kit comes with everything needed...and then some , mine had a few extra nuts , bolts , washers , hose clamps etc...
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Blake
Dodge Dakota
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1/25/2003
15:39:29
|  RE: Adding 3 more inches..
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I have a 2002 Dodge Dakota with 31x11.00x16 Thornbirds on it right now. I want to run 33x11.50x16 Thornbirds on it and plan on putting a 3" body lift. Would putting a 3" body lift be enough to run these tires? What kind of body lift would you recommend? Or should I save up and get a suspension lift? What kind of suspension lifts are available for my truck besides a Truckin Suspension lift. I have heard nothing good about Truckin Suspension Lifts. Any advice would be greatful.
E-mail: who_am_I_1414@hotmail.com
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