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2THEXTRM
GenIII
3/23/2003
09:29:51
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 Subject: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Finished last night around 5:00, took 15 hours total with me and my buddy using air tools and a lift(my uncles auto shop). That includes all new ball joints and alignment as well as running to the hardware store to replace a broken drillbit and Rancho shorted me 4 bolts/nuts and 8 washers to reinstall tranny crossmember after dropdown, grrr. Lotsa work, but the lift is great... better than stock ride(RS9000x's have alot to do with it) with more altitude for my 35's that will prolly go on next weekend. I still gotta crank up the tbars another 1.5-2" to level truck out as I am only at 42" from ground to fender flare and the back is noticeably higher than the front.
As forexfour mentioned, I did notice that the tbars are VERY close to the tranny dropdown brackets, you might be able to slide a sheet of paper between the two, hopefully at a certain point the tbars don't continue to move towards the center of vehicle as preload goes higher. You(2000+ Rancho owners) guys crank up more yet to know if they actually hit when attempting to crank near max or not?
I'll have some pics once the 35's are mounted and I re-install the Rollbars next weekend.
Special thanks to the only other two peeps I know of with the 2000+ Rancho lift, Chris and James, for helping with awesome pics and info on the install, definately saved me some time and headaches!!!
Flowmaster cat back, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
3 inch body/3 inch Block Lift, 315 70-17 on AE 251's, Rancho 9000x's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6) Hella's, Manik Nerfs/Tailight Guards, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$ Rancho lift ordered!!!
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BlackDak02
*GenIII*
3/23/2003
10:52:51
|  RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Nice job, congrats! 
Don't forget the pics, LOL! 
2002 Black CC SLT 4x4
4.7L 45RFE 3.55 LSRD
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forexfour
GenIII
3/24/2003
00:05:31
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Message:
Killer Bud! Glad it worked our good!!!
Chris
Never late for a Tee time or wheelin with my buddies! Always ready for both!!!Forexfour's home
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conig
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/24/2003
11:21:35
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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definately can't wait to see pics of the 219's and 35's.
uhm 35's. maybe I need to trade my 2wd cc in for a 4wd quad. lol
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Selcher
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/24/2003
14:06:37
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Do you think the ride quality would improve a great deal over stock if I replaced the stock shocks on my truck with a set of Rancho's?
Regards,
Aaron
'02 4.7L CC 4x4 - Cold Air Intake, H.O. Cams, MBRP Split Duals
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2THEXTRM
GenIII
3/24/2003
18:27:57
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Selcher the Rancho 9000x's will greatly improve your ride over the stock shocks!!!
Here is the link to my photoalbum with some pics I took today: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/realbobolama/lst?.dir=/My+Rancho-Body+Lifted+Dakota&.view=t
I'll have some more pics later this week once the 35's go on, it is going to be a very tight fit and I am concerned that the tire may rub on the ball joint as forexfour has described already with only 5" of backspacing on my 219's. I may have to find a 1/2" spacer to keep the tire off the BJ, or worst case scenario get new rims(trying to avoid that one).
Chris or James, does your driver side cv joint not appear to be straight(from diff to hub)? The passanger side looks fine. Mine has a noticeable angle when looking down on it(not from front), I have rechecked my diff brackets and they are installed correctly. I have no binding and 4wd works just fine with no extra noises, but it does concern me. Thx!
Flowmaster cat back, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
4 inch Rancho/3 inch body Lift, 315 70-17 on AE 219's, Rancho 9000x's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6)Hella's, Manik Nerfs/Tailight Guards, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$ Rancho lift ordered!!!
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conig
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/24/2003
18:31:37
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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I thought the balljoints were close to the spindle? or am I mistaken? will the ire rub them or the rim because the factory rims are 5.5 so I don't see why less backspaceing on a 17inch rim would or could be worse. unless its the larger tire that causes the problem.
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2THEXTRM
GenIII
3/24/2003
19:20:26
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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My 33x11.50-16's on stock rims are within a 1/16" of an inch from touching the upper balljoint. The BJ sticks out past the spindle, I'll assume that the new spindles that Rancho provides with the lift kit bring in the wheel at least 1/4" if not more. No idea, why they would do such a thing expecting people to use wider wheels after lifting. But anyway, my 35x12.50's stand a good chance of being about 1/4" into the upper BJ by my calculations since they are about 1" wider and the rim is .5" further away from spindle, divide the .5" balance by 1/2 and it I can expect the tire to be approx 1/4" closer than my current set-up which could mean serious rubbing, I may be able to grind some material off from the BJ, not sure, but either way I really won't know until tomorrow when I test fit one of the wheel/tires. I don't want to mount all the tires to the wheels until I know what I have to work with.
Flowmaster cat back, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
4 inch Rancho/3 inch body Lift, 315 70-17 on AE 219's, Rancho 9000x's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6)Hella's, Manik Nerfs/Tailight Guards, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$ Rancho lift ordered!!!
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forexfour
GenIII
3/25/2003
10:22:10
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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XTRM,
I have the same clearance with my 285x75x16 AT's 1/16th or so. I ordered a .25" spacer to corect that problem and instead of buying new rims to run my 33x12.5x15 MT's I went out and bought 5 33x10.5x15 BFG MT's. Lots of reasons I went 10.5 instead of wider the biggest is I wheel it pretty good and I am for off road performance and not the look. Plus every Tom, Dick and Harry has the wide tire and then the wear and tear on the front suspension and steering parts. These tires articulate very well as wel as my AT's.
I checked the the Drivers CV drive shaft connection and I DO see what you are talking about, it is not a severe angel but it is slightly noticable. Maybe this is also why the Shock comes so close to the CV on this side. Did you have to add some washers to keep your shock from rubbing the CV? I now see some gear Oil kind of leaking not bad but I am gonna keep my eye on it. It would be hard for me to speculate if it is from the lift or just wheelin it hard. I spent 2 weekends pounding the lift to break it in but not to break it! The seal at the Diff is not dripping but has some slight oil residue on the bottom. I am going wheelin again this weekend so I will keep a close eye on it.
Here is how I plotted out what rims and BS might work good. Not sure if you have done this but this may help seeing the difference in the BS and the rim size. using a 16x8 as an example
On paper draw a fixed position line from top to bottom. Then from the line measure back the amount of BS for Stock, 5.5" then measure forward of the line the rest of the rim width 2.5". this is 8" total so that is the rim and how it sits on the hub. Now add the rest of the tire width left to each side by dividing the left over width 4.5" if you are using a 12.5 wide tire so that would be 2.25" on each side. This is a approximation of how the tire should sit. Now do this for each of the different rim sizes and BS you would like to use and you will see how much further or closer the tire will sit in the well. Also you know the less the BS the moore it sticks out from the well. This will also change the tire swing angel in turns which will affect where your tire will rub if the tires are out to far or to wide or just plain to big. Confused??!!! Sorry but it works. I ploted the 15x7 rims with 5" of BS and I think I may have a shot at clearing my 12.5's on the GEN II rims I let some one borrow. WHen I get them back I am gonna mount one to see. I know 12.5 on 7" rim but it will be for serious of road only no on road use and it may work out OK. Damn I got 3 sets of 33's now and running the 12.5's in serious mud will be nice.
Sorry for the book but I think this is all good info. Someone please correct me if my info is inaccurate!
Chris
Never late for a Tee time or wheelin with my buddies! Always ready for both!!!Forexfour's home
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2THEXTRM
GenIII
3/25/2003
19:00:00
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Message:
I'm glad it's not just my driver side cv joint that is slightly cocked and that you have wheeled it without any problems:) Did you also notice that the front diff vent tube stem is tight against one of the rack-n-pinion bolts/nuts? Makes changing diff fluid by taking cover off nearly impossible without dropping front-end to do so as well as changing the rack if needed. My front diff also has some leakage/seepage where the axle enters the diff from passanger side which has been there a while, the dealer looked at it several thousand miles ago and stated it was normal seepage that doesn't hurt anything but they would keep an eye on it and check fluid periodically to make sure the seepage is not turning into a leak.
You say you ordered 1/4" spacers, where, how much and how do they work? any pics of them? I expect that I am going to be about 1/4" short on keeping the new tires at least 1/16" of inch from the ball joint. Only thing I have going for me is that my 315/70-17 BFG AT KO's are actually 12.0" wide when used on a 8.5" wide rim per their website, I will be using an 8" rim. I didn't have time tonight to test fit a wheel/tire, hopefully tomorrow after work, I'll post my results.
I am going to get some 285/75-16 MT's for my off-road and winter tire to replace the 285/75-16's AT's I currently have. I'll use the 35's for road queen driving and Shows.
I did not need to add any extra washers to the front shocks to keep them off from cv joints, they are at least 1/4" away on both shocks.
Flowmaster cat back, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
4 inch Rancho/3 inch body Lift, 315 70-17 on AE 219's, Rancho 9000x's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6)Hella's, Manik Nerfs/Tailight Guards, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$ Rancho lift ordered!!!
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forexfour
GenIII
3/26/2003
14:53:15
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
IP: Logged
Message:
Xtrm,
I will look at the vent tube. Since I did not install I am not familiar with all of the changes.
I do know this, the first oil change was a freakin mess! I wanted to see how the oil would drain and it went everywhere so have a funnel ready to catch it so it does not get all over everything.
I have yet to receive the spacers but I got them ordered through a place called Speed Merchant out here. I should get them today but I wont use them til I change my tires after wheelin this weekend. They had to be made, that is why they take so long. Being only 1.4" it should not create any problems.
The concern on the shock was in turns it comes close to rubbing the cv boot, that was all.
Looks good!!!
Never late for a Tee time or wheelin with my buddies! Always ready for both!!!Forexfour's home
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durtydog
GenIII
3/27/2003
18:34:40
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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BIG BAD BOB!looks great there bud!when are the 35's going on and are you going to change gears?
98 club cab sport 5.2 4x4
busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest
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dakfubar
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/27/2003
23:29:08
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Message:
Hey there 2THEXTRM
With your passenger side axle seal seepage I
agree with the dealer just keep an eye on it.
Try cleaning the area really well ( a heated
power washer workes well ). My dak has 31K
on it and my same seel started to leek/seep
so I changed it. When I got the old seel out
there was nothing wrong with it. But on the
other hand it was really easy to change and
know my diff stays clean.
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2THEXTRM
GenIII
3/28/2003
01:33:30
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Message:
35's went on tonight durty!!!! and it feels GOOOOD... guess what?.... no rubbing:) My cab-length Manik nerf's are the only thing that is kinda close to the tires at half lock, otherwise it seems that even at 3/4 flex I am ok from my preliminary tests and all I can say is SWEEEETTT looking!!! I have finally reached my Climax for what I wanted my Dak to look like, it only took two years of waiting for a suspension lift that was worthy of my Dak:) I dod have to remove the front mudflaps that took a beating this winter and where bent towards the wheel well due to rubbing, could prolly straighten them out and reinstall if I wanted too.
Already had two peeps approach me today/tonight questioning how I did what I did lol. One dude had a 2003 RC Ram 4x4 with a Hemi and I will be installing a body lift next weekend in his ride while leveling out the front torsion bars for 33's comfortably.
I am reinstalling my rollbars and HELLA's tomorrow so I should have some pics of what my Dak will look like on the outside for quite awhile... short a pre-runner bar and two more 6" round Hella's that I have on order:) I am getting wood just typing this description of my Dak...:)
I have a front/rear set of Mopar 3.92's that I was going to put in my Dak, but instead will be installing in the wives Dak that only has 3.55's. I will wait for the 4.10's to come out(6/03?) from Randy's R&P and do it right. I have a Powertrax locker I will install next weekend in the meantime. The powerband is not really too bad IMO, I have no complaints, it's not a race truck anymore:) but I want to make sure the tranny is not working to hard.
Thx for the advice Dakfubar, I have 25K on my Dak now and I'll be keeping an eye on the front axle;)
forexfour, let me know about your front diff cover vent tube. The dude that will be installing my new gears will not be pleased when he see's what he has to work with, basically taking apart at least one side of the front-end to drop it. I Could not wait until June for the 4.10's to come out though:)
Flowmaster cat back, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
4 inch Rancho/3 inch body Lift, 315 70-17 on AE 219's, Rancho 9000x's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6)Hella's, Manik Nerfs/Tailight Guards, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$ Rancho lift ordered!!!
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bjlindsey
*GenIII*
3/28/2003
06:28:14
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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2THEXTRM
Now you get to update your signature!!!!!
01 QC 4x4 5.9L 3.92 LSD
3" Body Lift, 305/70-R16 XTerrains,
K&N clone, Clear Corners, Carbon FiberTails
www.FreeGasForYou.com
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4wDakota
GenIII
3/28/2003
09:40:44
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
IP: Logged
Message:
Extrm,
That new Ram will be able to fit 35's. There are some guys on Dodgetrucks.org clearing 35's on there trucks with just torsion bars cranked to 1.75" and no body lift. Tell the guy to get 35's!
Is Randy's going to have 4.56's coming out for you guys? That would be a better match for 35's.
Lets see some pics.
BTW: for all those who said I was crazy when I told them 35's will fit on a Dak with the Rancho lift and body lift, looks like I was right! Ha
Corey
98 CC 4x4, 5.2 Auto 3.55LSD
3" Body Lift, 1" Torsion Bar Lift, 33" BFG A/T KO's
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BlackDak02
*GenIII*
3/28/2003
15:19:15
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Sounds sweet!!
Get the pics up!! 
2002 Black CC SLT 4x4
4.7L 45RFE 3.55 LSRD
"Let's roll"
-Todd M. Beamer
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saharascott
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/29/2003
01:36:27
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Message:
Hey guys I realize that this is off subject but I see in your first post 2THEXTRM that you changed all 4 ball joints. I have a 01 QC 4.7 and as far as I understood no one makes after market ball joints. Did you use OEM or is there something I am missing? Any info would be a great help because I have to replace my passenger upper soon and I want to stay away from the OEM POS parts.
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2THEXTRM
GenIII
3/29/2003
09:19:44
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Message:
saharascott, I used the MOOG part#'s listed for a 99' Dakota 4WD and they fit just fine, the upper BJ holes are smaller than the holes left by factory rivets, you can drill out the holes in BJ to 3/8" and get new 3/8" bolts/nuts to attach or do what I did and install as is with loctite making sure the BJ is centered is all. Either way it is much cheaper and easier than replacing the entire A-arm you have to buy from Dodge. Napa and AC Delco also make BJ for the Pre 2000 Dakotas that are cheaper but like the stock BJ, they do not have zerk fittings, although they are much better since you can grease them with a mechanics needle and should last OK if the are maintained. Big thing is they are not liftime warranty like the MOOG's! Good-Luck.
4wDakota, I kinda figured that 35's would fit the new Ram, not without bodylift though, although the wheel well openings are HUGE(his stock 31's looked like they were off a Ford Festiva:) The dude already had 33" super swampers that I actually put on last night after cranking torsion bars about 1.50(within .5" from level with rearend), he is going to wait another month or so to install the bodylift and maybe go with 35's on aftermarket rims(MMM... I already installed a body lift and waited another two years for a suspension lift just so I could clear 35's, now that sux:) There is no plan in the works for 4.56 gearing for our 8" IFS front diff:( 4.10's will be are only option and that still is 2-3 months away. Hopefully enough peeps want this gearing and we can do a GB to save some $$.
You can hit-up my photoalbum again for some updated pics I took last night:
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/realbobolama/lst?.dir=/My+Rancho-Body+Lifted+Dakota&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/
Only thing that is missing from the picture reinstalling my tonneau and my ORW pre-runner bar with 6" round Hella's for front-end. Hopefully that should be on and installed by next weekend and then DONE... Except for cleaning up and detailing the undercarriage since it can so easily be seen now:)
Well I am off to update my Profile Pic and Signature!
Flowmaster cat back, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
4 inch Rancho/3 inch body Lift, 315 70-17 on AE 219's, Rancho 9000x's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6)Hella's, Manik Nerfs/Tailight Guards, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$ Rancho lift ordered!!!
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BlackDak02
*GenIII*
3/29/2003
13:45:15
|  RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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Well done Bob! 
Truck looks sweet! 
2002 Black CC SLT 4x4
4.7L 45RFE 3.55 LSRD
"Let's roll"
-Todd M. Beamer
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SaharaScott
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/01/2003
17:39:55
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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2THEXTRM thanks for the info on the ball joints. I called NAPA today to order them. I hope to have them installed this weekend. By the way the truck looks sweet. Hopefully down the road I will have the extra time and money to get the Rancho lift if not just the body left and new tires.
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ian
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/01/2003
22:12:21
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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if there's a group buy for 4.10's, i'm in.
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SaharaScott
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/01/2003
22:48:19
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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2THEXTRM what ball joints did you order? Did you order the ones for the 5.2 or the 5.9 or is there even a difference?
Also I would be interested in the 4.10s if there was a group buy. I had that gear in my 99 Jeep Wrangler with the inline 6. That thing went anywhere and everywhere. Besides they would make the 4.7 run pretty good off the line I would think.
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2THEXTRM
GenIII
4/02/2003
06:54:18
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
IP: Logged
Message:
I actually mistyped when I stated above that I got the Moogs, I used the AC Delco's and saved myself $70 since they are greasable with needle and my uncle owns an auto repair shop so I get an "extended warranty" beyond the one year AC Delco gives;)
I used the BJ's listed for a 99 4x4, there were no different applications for engine size as they all use the same BJ.
I am thinking that a GB on 4.10's will prolly start coming together just before their release by Randy's R&P since there are several peeps running 33's on 2000+ Dak's that could use the lower gearing.
If you want to save some money, get these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33580&item=2409484841&rd=1
Good-luck man!
Flowmaster cat back, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
4 inch Rancho/3 inch body Lift, 315 70-17 on AE 219's, Rancho 9000x's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6)Hella's, Manik Nerfs/Tailight Guards, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$
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Brandon
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/07/2003
13:52:53
|  RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
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BAD ASS dak 2THEXTRM!! i love it. you and i have alomost the same truck... lol kinda! ide love to get a higher lift but the damn things are too expensive! im thinking about leaving mine where it is, and just buying some old ford to use as a woods truck. See post "Lift and Tires, Check It Out" for my link with the pics of my truck. let me know what you think. peace!
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2THEXTRM
GenIII
4/07/2003
19:38:45
| RE: Rancho is IN!!!!!
IP: Logged
Message:
Nice Dak Brandon, I like the color;) RC Dak's always look taller when lifted IMO. Too bad bout your other Dak, least you came out OK and got another Dak:)
Flowmaster cat back, Volant Intake, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs, full synthetic fluids
4 inch Rancho/3 inch body Lift, 315 70-17 on AE 219's, Rancho 9000x's
Grizzly double/single rollbar with (6)Hella's, Manik Nerfs/Tailight Guards, Line-X, Hard Work & $$$$$$$$$$
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