Bullitt's 2004 1500 build

Bullitt5339 · Aug 16, 2015

HeavyD said:
I don't know if you know this, but with a lowered truck, you cannot use airbags for a standard height truck.

Like the build, you went lower than me.

Yeah. I do plenty of research before I buy anything. I'm getting the McGaughy's kit for trucks with the flip kit installed. I've learned too many times over my 41 years not to buy something without doing the research first.

I'm starting to think about visual mods, which means that the suspension is winding down. The bumpers are both all beat up, the tailgate has the standard dents in dings in it and I'm not a big fan of the chrome/faded black combination on the front grille and bumper. I'm thinking about body color grille, upper and lower bumpers with some black billet inserts.

Bullitt5339 · Aug 16, 2015

Took a better picture once the sun started to go down. I'm liking it a lot so far. Still a long way to go, but a vast difference in the short time I've had her.

Bullitt5339 · Aug 17, 2015

The next piece of the puzzle arrives:

Bullitt5339 · Aug 20, 2015

Getting ready to place a large order for more energy suspension bushings. This should take care of every bushing in the truck.

Bullitt5339 · Aug 21, 2015

I had time to get one shock put on before dark. I'll do the other 3 tomorrow morning.

old vs. new

Bullitt5339 · Aug 22, 2015

I have to put this out there:

If you're lowered and haven't went to the Belltech Street Performance shocks, you're doing yourself a disservice. I waited on mine for too long, and it was only a month since I lowered it and I've only driven it 1500 miles since. I justified not spending the money immediately because my shocks were in great shape, they weren't even weeping and still had a lot of compression resistance and good rebound. Boy was I wrong.....

I swapped them out this morning and one of my front shocks was leaking badly already. I always had to take it easy going over large bumps in order to keep the front tires from rubbing. Not anymore. These fixed the few complaints I've had since lowering the truck. I tried to make the front wheels rub and couldn't. The truck rides stiffer, but it's a good thing, it actually feels more connected to the road and is a lot of fun again.

I can't wait to get the leaf spring bushings, control arm bushings and swaybars upgraded now, I'm really starting to love this truck.

HeavyD · Aug 22, 2015

I went with DJM shocks & they were a huge improvement to my truck as well.

Bullitt5339 · Aug 22, 2015

I need to weld the spring mounts and c-notches into the truck and it has been a couple years since I've actually welded anything, so I broke out the old MIG tonight and dusted it off to get some practice on some scrap metal.

Let's just say that I'm going to have to get some more practice in before I touch my truck with the welder. It's amazing how quickly you lose your technique.

HeavyD · Aug 22, 2015

Ive been putting off installing a c-notch & is I have to weld it, I have a 110v buzz box.
Sold the rest of my welders years ago.

Was also thinking of making my own c-notch.

Bullitt5339 · Aug 22, 2015

For anything that I dare weld here at the house, the 110V welder on 20amp setting with a pretty slow wire feed speed does pretty well. If it needs more juice than that, I have no business welding it to begin with and call my dad to bring over the truck mounted TIG/ARC setup and have him weld it for me.

I've watched him lay absolutely beautiful beads with his arc welder. He actually doesn't like using the MIG, he's so good at using arc that he will do exhaust work on his trucks using it instead of my MIG. I can weld with the arc, but I wouldn't dare do the thin metal that he does.

Bullitt5339 · Aug 25, 2015

Placed the order for the Mcgaughys helper bags for dropped trucks today. Going to get a lot of work done at the same time on the back, so I will pull the bed off and do it all at one time.

The plan is to get everything welded up, go ahead and take the factory bumper and hitch off in prep for the roll pan install, get the leaf spring bushings installed, get the bags installed and get everything cleaned up really well and give the frame a good coat of POR15 or chassis saver while it's apart.

Should be a solid 4 day weekend worth of work.

Bullitt5339 · Aug 25, 2015

Since I ordered the bags, I decided to go by the storage and dig for the old leftovers from a project long ago. Amazingly, they were right where I thought I had put them 10 years ago.

Now I have to decide what to do. Viair 330, which is a small compressor and a 2.5 gallon air tank. I think the air tank is overkill for what I need, so I will probably use only the compressor and order a gauge and controller to add air when I need it. Although using the tank would give me a remote fill capability if I isolate it from the bags.

Bullitt5339 · Aug 25, 2015

Hmmmmm......

While I was in my storage, I happened upon a pair of brand new Kicker SSMB 6.5's and a Sundown SAX-100.4 from my old car as well....... I had forgotten about those. I could possibly put these to use as well in this project.

Bullitt5339 · Aug 31, 2015

The airbags came in today and are awaiting install. I think I'm going to install them this weekend, although I've been thinking about waiting and getting the remote compressor setup and doing it all at one time.

Bullitt5339 · Sep 3, 2015

Got my samples from Monstaliner today. They sent me the 5 that I thought were closest. 4 of them weren't even close to the color of the truck, but there was one that will do nicely.

Bullitt5339 · Sep 5, 2015

Got one side installed tonight.

Bullitt5339 · Sep 6, 2015

Got the other side finished up this morning and got the lines plumbed. Now I have to call the boys to help me put the bed back on.

HeavyD · Sep 6, 2015

can you post the # for the air bag kit, I might do the same.

Bullitt5339 · Sep 6, 2015

HeavyD said:
can you post the # for the air bag kit, I might do the same.

It's 44012.

Bullitt5339 · Sep 6, 2015

Tomorrow I will get the bed put back on and figure out how to mount the license plate temporarily until my roll pan is ready.

I'm also going to pick up my subwoofers tomorrow if I have a chance. I'm starting to get too many small things going at one time instead of sticking to the plan, but I have to get the deals while they're available, even if that means they'll sit for a little while before the install.

Bullitt's 2004 1500 build

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