After spending a lot of time doing research here, on the phone with Larry @ Discount Power Parts and PM'ing Patrick I finally started the modding on my '04 X, or at least the ponying up of the cash portion; installation's gonna be another chapter in that story...

Bilstein stock length shocks, Quadzilla Commander, BD Turbo Timer, SCT Xcallibrator (with ID tunes) and AiRaid complete intake (to replace the AFE filter [only] that came with it). Already has a turbo-back 4 inch Magnaflow exhaust. Adding the GPS antenna and nav discs to my Pioneer AVIC N1 head unit, along with XM radio and reverse/back-up camera. I bought blacked out headlights, with LED corners from eBay, and will probably buy the JDM or similar blacked out/clear lense brake lights and then tint the lenses (medium).

Arnott self levelling air suspension is definitely on the list, especially before any heavy towing, and upgrading the stock front and rear sway bars to Helwigs while I'm at it. Still looking for a decent, relatively high (at least D) load tire in 305/50/20.

This site is just an incredible wealth of information and I appreciate everything that I've picked up from reading the posts of everyone here. Thanks!

Matt

 

You caught my eye with the self leveling air ride. I don't know about the Arnott kit but I do know the small bags ride like poo. You can smooth them out a little with a resevour tank behind the bag. Makes the bag think its bigger. I like the 8" bags. I use a big truck Neway leveling valve. I don't know what you tow but if you are told to get a load dividing hitch you should either do some more suspension work or get a bigger truck.

 

Arnott (kinda of a funny name, no?...anyway) does the factory air suspension for the Lincoln Navigator, among other vehicles (which is my other truck). I was looking at Firestone bags to augment my rear suspenson, and besides being lazy, the fact that the Arnott is self levelling is pretty cool. It also accounts for almost a $500 price difference between just the Firestone air-bags and the complete Arnott self levelling kit. I saw a lot of guys using the Firestones and after doing some research and seeing the Arnotts on eBay I thought the Arnott would be better than me trying to guesstimate what the Firestone's PSIs should be. The Arnott's a no-brainer system (PERFECT for me, trust me!) and a level ride regardless of load is nice, especially considering that I'll be towing two different trailers. My current trailer is a 7x14 v-nose to carry two bikes and weighs out @ 4K pounds MAX. I'm looking at a car carrier/tow hauler/dual axle that will likely never see the far side of 10K pounds max; I thought a weight distributing hitch might be a little overkill but couldn't hurt. I'm thinking that the combination of the Arnott with the other two suspension mods (Bilsteins and Helwigs) would be more than enough for what I'm towing, but I've been wrong, at least once...

Did my first dealer service today since the truck is new to me. The OASIS had no entries, they did a recall reflash, oil change and tranny service. There was a 1/4 inch of play in the lower ball joints and the dealer said they'd replace all of them under warranty, which I thought was pretty cool. I originally got quoted $600+ for the 30K service, but the dealer only did what the truck needed (according to them) which came to $240+.

Parts are rolling in from my order and it's like Christmas already! Sweet...

Matt

 

Like I said before, The load distribution type hitch is dangerous. You are bridging from the trailer axle to the steering axle. If you hit something slick or a good wind whip and you will get an instant loss of control. Correct suspension mods, air lift shocks and stablizer and if you drive sane, whatever that is, you'll be fine. I'm in the heavyhaul trucking biz and I'll tell you, All the pulling single vehicle accidents towing i've seen that were either on there side or seriously tangled up had equilizer hitchs. I had a lowboy once with nitrogene accumilator system that bridged the last two axles. After a gaurdrail or two and a CAT D-8 over on its top it went to auction.

 

Ramsmoker,

Right on! Since my towing experience with anything bigger than what I have now with the 7x14 v-nose is a nice round number (meaning ZERO), I'm more than happy to heed to your advice.

Still looking for a front steering stabilizer, any suggestions?

Thanks,

Matt

 

Eric from Innovative Diesel just e-mailed me the tunes for the SCT Xcalibrator 2 I bought in my mini-Discount Power Parts spending spree that Larry and Patrick helped me out with! I got an aggressive tow, street and extreme street tune and am gonna try to get some before and after numbers at my local dyno shop. I have a AFE drop in replacement filter but will be installing the AiRaid in it's place, and want to see the difference, if any. I'm already enjoying educating the local ricers (I'm in a college town) about why they call them smokers the way my truck is now, can't wait to really start blowing soot over their sideways baseball hats when I get it dialed in...

 

Wow did I have a hard time keeping my signature below 300 characters...and I haven't even really started the mods yet!

 

Whoa!!!

Took a very quick spin today after uploading the I.D. Street tune in my SCT XCalibrator 2. Lots of smoke and crazy crazy crazy power. I didn't get the chance to run the Xtreme Street or Tow Brake tune but I'm sure I'll be more than happy. Proof's in the dyno runs; I'll get those done soon I hope...