What did you do to your Gen3 today?

Probably looks the same as the last few pictures but many more coats of Rage has been applied. I burned through a whole gallon, running to Summit first thing tomorrow to grab more. It’s very close to being done. I got a quote for about $350 to have the bed and one door painted. I’m hoping to drop it off at the paint shop Tuesday. Hopefully back to me by Thursday and I will call this project complete!

xtremewlr said:

You could re-add the overload when you go to sell the truck, yes. Rearranging the spring pack would work but you would completely ruin the load carrying capability of the truck. I wouldn't do it personally, even if I wasn't hauling **** with my truck. I'd remove the overload and that's it. Actually, with the drop, I have a flip kit and removing the overload wouldn't accomplish anything for me. Moving the main leaf to a different position would lower the rear more but then I wouldn't be able to haul anything. And I wonder if the ride quality would suffer as well since you would essentially be eliminating one or more of the springs that work with the main leaf to keep the rear of the truck up. It would affect how the truck handles corners too, as in make in handle worse with more body sway.

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what he said, i wouldnt do more than removing the overloads, you can still do alot without those since those only do anything when you reach a certain load level, with the overload gone and the shackle removed your truck should be right around level with the front

Demon-HeMi said:

what he said, i wouldnt do more than removing the overloads, you can still do alot without those since those only do anything when you reach a certain load level, with the overload gone and the shackle removed your truck should be right around level with the front

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Nice. And yeah... I don't really tow or haul with it. Worst I've towed was a 12x6 work trailer with two walk behinds and a push mower on it. Worst I've hauled was 360lbs of sand, and maybe 500lbs of scrap [separately, I think]. All with my presumably ~100 pound plastic bedliner still installed.

Speaking of which, I'm finally gonna do my bed liner Sunday, kid helpers be damned. They already re-sanded it for me last night, and I went and took off the tailgate and got it. It'll be gtg by 3:45 pm Sunday whether it's ready or not, cuz I'll have something to go do by then.

So, in the end of the rear level talk, my options are shackle only for ~1.5" [still haven't told me which shackle more consistently gives closer to the 2" advertized], shackle+o/l removal for a complete/almost complete level, or pack rearrangement and shackle if I want to **** it up.

How much do lowering springs cost, how low do they get you, and do they retain full load capacity[O/L spring]??

Drunken Hamster said:

Nice. And yeah... I don't really tow or haul with it. Worst I've towed was a 12x6 work trailer with two walk behinds and a push mower on it. Worst I've hauled was 360lbs of sand, and maybe 500lbs of scrap [separately, I think]. All with my presumably ~100 pound plastic bedliner still installed.

Speaking of which, I'm finally gonna do my bed liner Sunday, kid helpers be damned. They already re-sanded it for me last night, and I went and took off the tailgate and got it. It'll be gtg by 3:45 pm Sunday whether it's ready or not, cuz I'll have something to go do by then.

So, in the end of the rear level talk, my options are shackle only for ~1.5" [still haven't told me which shackle more consistently gives closer to the 2" advertized], shackle+o/l removal for a complete/almost complete level, or pack rearrangement and shackle if I want to **** it up.

How much do lowering springs cost, how low do they get you, and do they retain full load capacity[O/L spring]??

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we did answer the shackle question, they all get you the same, they are pretty much all identical,

lowering leaf springs are hard to come by but they get you around 4" of drop and as far as load goes that you would have to look at the specs from where ever you buy them from

Drunken Hamster said:

Nice. And yeah... I don't really tow or haul with it. Worst I've towed was a 12x6 work trailer with two walk behinds and a push mower on it. Worst I've hauled was 360lbs of sand, and maybe 500lbs of scrap [separately, I think]. All with my presumably ~100 pound plastic bedliner still installed.

Speaking of which, I'm finally gonna do my bed liner Sunday, kid helpers be damned. They already re-sanded it for me last night, and I went and took off the tailgate and got it. It'll be gtg by 3:45 pm Sunday whether it's ready or not, cuz I'll have something to go do by then.

So, in the end of the rear level talk, my options are shackle only for ~1.5" [still haven't told me which shackle more consistently gives closer to the 2" advertized], shackle+o/l removal for a complete/almost complete level, or pack rearrangement and shackle if I want to **** it up.

How much do lowering springs cost, how low do they get you, and do they retain full load capacity[O/L spring]??

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Pick a shackle, any shackle. They are all the same. I had the BellTech ones I think. If I was doing it all over, I'd probably get these Maxtrac ones since they have a nice urethane bushing and are greaseable.

https://www.amazon.com/Maxtrac-Suspension-412120-Lowering-Shackle/dp/B00D3XUDQ2

Okay, so will I need different spring clamps or something to deal with the removed O/L?

Drunken Hamster said:

Okay, so will I need different spring clamps or something to deal with the removed O/L?

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You dont have to deal with it, just remove it, a spring clamp wont give you any load capability, if you are really worried about losing load capability the get helper bags

Demon-HeMi said:

You dont have to deal with it, just remove it, a spring clamp wont give you any load capability, if you are really worried about losing load capability the get helper bags

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What? No, I mean with it being removed. Or is the whole main spring pack just resting on the o/l with the axle clamps coming up to hold it all together?

Sent from my magic 5-inch

Go out to your truck and look at it for awhile, visualize how it works. Then look up info on how your new suspension works and bolts on. Maybe you can find pdf instructions on sites that you would buy from

Drunken Hamster said:

What? No, I mean with it being removed. Or is the whole main spring pack just resting on the o/l with the axle clamps coming up to hold it all together?

Sent from my magic 5-inch

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There is a bolt that goes through the pack in the center. You would need to replace that with a shorter bolt. Also have a look at the U bolts and make sure the threads go past the overload to determine if you would need to replace those as well.

Was planning on firing the truck up today... dropped the rebuilt engine in this week and got everything hooked up last night. Was filling the radiator when I heard coolant splashing on the floor, WTH. Took me a while to figure out I put the head gaskets on the wrong sides.

Stopped at O'Reilly's and ordered new head gaskets and bolts, should be in this afternoon.

Took apart those ebay retrofitted headlights, then replaced the amber with clear corners...


So much better!

RonJon '06 said:

Was planning on firing the truck up today... dropped the rebuilt engine in this week and got everything hooked up last night. Was filling the radiator when I heard coolant splashing on the floor, WTH. Took me a while to figure out I put the head gaskets on the wrong sides.

Stopped at O'Reilly's and ordered new head gaskets and bolts, should be in this afternoon.

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I’ve done that twice! Before the engine was finished though. Second time I already had the head done. Luckily I had ARP bolts and Cometic gaskets, I was able to unbolt and swap it

And installed...



I also did switchbacks...

Parking lights with LED fogs




Turn signals...

^^ Looks great

chrisp2493 said:

I’ve done that twice! Before the engine was finished though. Second time I already had the head done. Luckily I had ARP bolts and Cometic gaskets, I was able to unbolt and swap it

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OK I don't feel so bad now LOL

Primed. Can I drive with the masking on and bedline tomorrow or no?



Sent from my magic 5-inch

Drunken Hamster said:

Primed. Can I drive with the masking on and bedline tomorrow or no?

Sent from my magic 5-inch

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You're already there, start bed lining

Jdchambersjr said:

I recently got the "hots" for a new truck. Spent a lot of time plotting and researching "year-end" deals before I came to my senses. I realized that I love my 04 1500 SLT Quad 4.7 w/ 211k on it. So I decided to "fix" all the little things that have been bugging me and try to get 2-3 more years out of her.

My list so far:

Done
1. Husky Weatherbeater floor mats
2. Replace broken fog light right side
3. New bulbs in fog lights
4. Replace headlight assemblies
5. New stereo head unit w/ BT, Aux, USB

Ordered
6. OEM Replacement for driver's side visor
7. New lift struts for the bed cover

To Do:
8. PDR on bed panel
9. Tune-up
10. Detail inside
11. Polish & wax exterior

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Update on my 2004 1500 Quad Cab updating:

*Minor tune-up & replace #7 coil pack.
*Replace left front hub.
*Replaced bed cover lift struts.
*Replaced floppy driver side visor with OEM visor.
*Began polishing out the finish.
*Installed DeeZee tailgate assist.
*Replaced driver side seat cushion.
*Got the estimate on the needed body work (gotta wait to see how taxes turn out).

Almost there!!!


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Demon-HeMi said:

You're already there, start bed lining

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I'm losing daylight on an already dark overcast day and just had to deal with a neighbor coming over and "intimidating" me with his friend over a misunderstanding that he had no intention of, nor was he capable of discussing civilly.

Gonna do it in the morning after I donate plasma. Aiming to start around 10-11 am.

I started today at noon. It took longer than I thought. But it was my first time masking AND spraying, especially a project this size.

As far as re-masking, I'm thinking eff it. I can be real precise with the brush. Then again maybe not.

Do I really have to dab corners with the brush, then lay on a light first coat and wait 1-4 hours to do the second?(this is another reason why I stopped, the time)

And what's the real protocol for applying the first light coat and removing the tape line? Light with the brush only? Do I have to dab the whole thing? Does the tape come stay on despite the first coat drying and come off when the second coat tacks up?

Sent from my magic 5-inch

xtremewlr said:

Pick a shackle, any shackle. They are all the same. I had the BellTech ones I think. If I was doing it all over, I'd probably get these Maxtrac ones since they have a nice urethane bushing and are greaseable.

https://www.amazon.com/Maxtrac-Suspension-412120-Lowering-Shackle/dp/B00D3XUDQ2

Click to expand...

Bought it and got it delivered today! Deezee tailgate assist coming tomorrow, too.

(I have a busy day between laundry, donating plasma, and bedlining. Hope I can also install the deezee and tonneau as well. I won't be upset if I don't. After priming today the bedliner is my main concern being the oldest project aside from the tonneau, which needed the bedliner to be done. )

Thanks for the recommendation. At $45,it was much cheaper than summit, where the McG's shackles were $80.

Much beefier in my hand than they look in the pics, too. I was concerned about the models that didn't have the flat plate connecting the two bars, but holding these hefty things in my hands has alleviated all doubt.

It's a shame the grease fittings aren't already installed, though. Quick q, if I'm working my myself or with 1-2 young helpers, should I bother taking the bed off for this installation or no?



As far as the bolts under there go, the U-bolts seem fine and have enough threading to remove the O/L. IDK about this bolt that goes through the middle of the leaves, though, I couldn't see that one.

My spring pack seems a little bent to me, but idk. Towards the middle it's kinda flat, and if it were loaded all the way down, I'd say it'd start to look wavy/W-shaped. Is this as sign of the springs being toast?

Sent from my magic 5-inch