did a custom radio delete last week, don't worry my radio wasn't stolen it's in my room mounted to the 08 dash kit ready to be reinstalled. I will be starting the 04 dash removal come this weekend so get ready for the dash swap to take place! I will be covering the main details in my swap thread which is now linked in my sig but i will show general progress pics in here.




Also after comparing several measurements with other trucks and searching online I am leaning towards getting some front 4" lift springs, i think the ride may improve and my pitman arm issue should be resolved (maybe) i will have several small springs instead of 5 really thick ones so I'm hoping it would be a small improvement.

 

Ordered a new Viper 5902V remote start last night, I should hopefully have it by mid next week and by then I plan to have the old dash out and to have started the new fuse block wiring

 

Looks like a sweet remote start. Are you wiring it in yourself?

 

I'm gonna attempt it yeah, ill get some pics of the install from the guys that did it last time it is literally a fire hazard under there with so much bare wire exposed.

My cousin also used to install them at his old shop so if i need him i can call on him for help. Once i get it in my door locks will work again finally. I thought about purchasing the extra sensor but decided against it for now, they can always be added at a later date if i want to get them.

I just ordered a bunch more stuff for my dash swap as well:
-cheap side panel off ebay for $15 (cheaper than new most used ones cost more for some reason)
-4 8 gauge wire ring terminals
-SEM Laudau black paint
-SEM Plastic and vinyl prep
-SEM adhesion promoter
-25' RCA cable for the rear camera
-2 plastic cases to install the relay block and fuse block in when i place them in the engine bay to keep everything dry and neat.

Also Justin my bad it is a 5904V remote start not 5902V but they are basically the same thing just updated models.

 

That all sounds real good Matt. Can't wait to see the dash swap done, should be cool to see. What will you be doing with your old dash, when you're done?


Also, I saw that you are thinking about going to full 4in springs in the front. I was thinking about doing the same thing when I redo my lift. I want to get rid of the stacked blocks in the rear, and like I said maybe go a little higher in the front. Its got a pretty good rake now, and I'm not sure if 35's would fit in the front now or not.

So I guess what I was thinking was if I got the 4in springs in the front, it would give me a little more lift and probably level it out a little more, but hopefully still have a little rake in the front, especially with the extra weight of the diesel.

I've got a total of 4in blocks in the rear, I think, and wasn't sure if I should go with a 4in or 5in block in the rear. I think I want to go with a 4in because someday I plan to go even higher, so I think that would be a good base to start from. So I was wondering how much blocks or lift in the rear you have, and how you think it will look in the rear? And was also wondering what you think mine might look like if I go to 4in springs in the front and a single 4in block in the rear?

 

I think I might retro fit my old dash into my 95 or sell it I'm still not sure yet lol.

I have a 5in black ontop of my 2" f250 block so I have a rear 5" lift. Personally I plan to remove my rear 2" block do she sits level eoth a 3" lift all around. If my trac bar mount and pitman arm dont work to fix my issue then I will bump it to a 4in lift so front 4" springs snd a rear 08+ 5.5" spring with a 1" block.

My reasoning gor the 1" block is so that I have a .5" rake and when I do the 12v swap I will maybe just buy some frobt shackles to lift it back to nearly level.

IMO 3" lift looks good with 35's the rear with 5" and 35's makes the tires look small again but the front where it sits I love it. Its 29" from hub to wheel arch if you wanna measure yours.

I think that with 3" it doesn't look so high that the tires look small and not too short that the tires look stuffed.

 

And just think You may be able to pull back your mirror switch soon and watch those mirrors fold in like magic

 

Can't wait man, been dying to get them working!

 

Ok sounds good, was just wondering with the dash.

Man that's quite a bit of block in the rear, especially with being stacked. Any issues with that setup? I think with taking out the 2" block will look good.

I like a little bit of rake, but level is good too. One reason why I like a little rack, is because one point made by someone a little while back, is that if you have some rake, when you tow or haul it will look level or at least not sag as much. I'm not sure if you tow much, but its something to think about. And I think a little bit of rake looks good.

I think I'm going to probably go with a 5in block in the rear and 4in springs in the front like Miles did. Should give me a little bit of rake, and then still look good once the springs settle in. Thanks for the measurements, I'll have to measure mine when I get it on a good level surface. I know what ya mean. I don't like the stuffed look or a huge gap either, I like it right in the middle.

 

No issues with the stacked blocks, I dont tow often but my plan was to add air bags because I wanted to swap in 08 rear springs which are known to squat.

I personally like about an inch of rake but at this height with 35s the rear tires look tiny and when I hooked my trailer up last summer she sat kevel and man I loved the look of it.

Airbags will fix the squatting though so I'm not worried about it really.

Also! Watch my dash swap thread guys the truck is out bsck and I got the dadh about half way off but it started raining so I had to stop today, I'll be updating it later tonight and tomorrow I want tge old dash out so look out for it!

 

Quick update, I got my remote start in and I will hopefully get it in this weekend and pull my dash. Does anyone have an install guide for a remote starter? The instructions are very vague other than what wire does what it doesn't really describe anything.

Also I thought this was strange, it seems like my truck has a tighter turning radius? Now i had the steering box replaced a few years ago because my mechanic said it was starting to get loose and when he went to the junk yard they said he could have on off the truck they were towing in for free is he could get it off so i got it replaced for free. Is that likely the issue, could my truck have some other year steering box off another truck that for some reason had a tighter turning radius? are the 05-07 ones the same as 99-04?

My truck all the way left:


Dennis' Truck all the way left (thanks dennis! ):

 

lol my truck is so rusty. Pure Michigan baby!

 

Yeah so is mine...I hate it lol

 

I'm not sure if the steering boxes are different, but I'm pretty sure my Dad's F550 has a tighter turning radius than mine. So I'm not sure if that means anything or not.

Yeah I hate rust. Not sure how bad mine is, I'll see how bad it is once I clean it real good here soon. But I know its starting to get some good surface rust on some of the frame/suspension parts. I think I'm going to try and POR everything I can before next winter, and probably keep most things good and oiled or fluidfilmed too.

Matt did you originally install your radio? I just bought an aftermarket radio, and plan to hopefully install it soon. So I was just wondering how hard it was to install? I am mostly concerned about the wiring, not too sure about that, lol.

Also I noticed that you had your front license plat mounted in your bull bar, so I was wondering how exactly you have it mounted. I'm "technically" supposed to have a front one as well , but I haven't put it on yet because of the bull bar. I wasn't sure how I could mount it. I wish I could leave it off since I think it looks better without it. Nobodies noticed yet....

 

it looks to me like its mounted directly to the bumper. however I'm probably wrong .

As far as you not having a front plate. I usually keep 1 or 2 "infractions" current on my truck and as long as whatever I'm doing isn't too bad they usually ticket me for those rather then say 10 over. Down by me cops don't usually bother you unless you're doing something stupid. So don't roll coal or go really fast through a school zone and you should be fine. I have tint and had my front plate mounted in the window. But recently installed the front plate because i got nailed and let go with a plate ticket and figured for as big a break as the officer gave me i should at least fix that one.