Well after suffering through some terrible wheel hop I changed out my leaf springs (which turned out to be in worse shape than I thought), put on some Rancho shocks and put a set of L&L ladder bars. This is the second product I've purchased from L&L (motor mounts where the first) and I'm just as impressed with the bars. Installation was pretty straight forward, the only slow down was the tongue that sticks out on the factory lift blocks needed to be cut off for the bars to install. After logging a number of miles and hard launches I can report that wheel smoking starts are excellent and the ride is only marginally rougher, on the road. The truck is a long wheelbase which helps but articulation is definitely restricted. Depending on your purpose I would give these a thumbs up for the hard launching crowd who are willing to take the trade offs.
Next week we throw the truck in the shop for a top end re-do. I picked up some heavily ported DOVE C heads, after checking they required seats on both intake and exhaust. Since they where striped I had them milled 15 thou got some stainless valves, yadda, yadda, yadda and before you know it I'm wondering what I got myself into. Anyway the heads are done, I have a Comp valvetrain and new cam, noisy gear drive, Performer RPM intake back from ceramic coating, Weiand high flow water pump and all painted with POR 15 engine paint. Fel-pro for gaskets and ARP for bolts. It's not cheap using the big name parts but I'm tired of doing it sort of right a couple times. I'll let everyone know how the combo works out in Mid May when we finish and get some miles on it. I'll give the spec's and the ever useful do's and don'ts. Thanks for listening.
John

 

Do you live near a drag strip?

I am dying to hear what the quarter mile times will be.

A 460 swap could also be in my future also. I would really like to know what a potent one like the one you have will do.

 

Grand Bend Motoplex (Ontario)is about 11/2 hrs South of me, a really nice track that has seen a lot of investment in the last few years. They offer test and tune nights on certain friday evenings. I just have to get a puke can for the rad and I should be good for inspection.
I would love to find a rear wheel dyno and see what is making it to the rear wheels after the losses through the tranny. If enough overtime is available then the last addition this year will be some L&L headers that everyone seems pleased with. After that the kids have begged I save for the bodywork, embarrased at the old rusty girl I suppose.
John

 

Did you have the intake "ceramic" coated like exhaust headers? I had mine powder coated but you need to be very careful on the first installation. The coating can crack under the bolt heads. Problem seemed to go away after a few hundred miles of curing. In other words in got harder.

Bear Tracks

 

 

I don't have headers yet, I'm hoping if the overtime holds out I'll be able to pick up a set of L&L this summer though. I did have a set of aluminum valve covers ceramic coated last year. They have held up well and I really like the colour. Thanks for the heads up on possible craking, after the cost of coating I don't want to screw it up now.
John