2002 2500HD - Solid Axle Tow Rig

Dude...that floorboard is waaaaay too clean. You need to add about 15 pounds of dirt to it so I feel better about mine. :lol:
 
a_kelley said:
Is the clamp to tighten up the bearing/bushing so it doesn't rattle?
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Yep. It doesn't fit very tightly in the lower part of the steering column.

Scooter402 said:
Dude...that floorboard is waaaaay too clean. You need to add about 15 pounds of dirt to it so I feel better about mine. :lol:
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I just dumped it out before I was all up under the dash, don't worry.
 
I picked up some 09 Dodge wheels. They look very similar to the 03-07 3rd Gen wheels, but ever so slightly different. These are 17x8 and around 6" of backspacing. Hopefully it'll pull the tires just inside the fender flares. We'll see.

I just can't decide which center caps I want to use....so here's some pictures!

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So, which ones? I like them both...
 
rcalexander105 said:
Black truck, black center caps
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Good point! I kinda like the "retro" look of the 90s center caps. I need to see how well they clean up and decide if I need to try and find another set in better shape or not...
 
Croatan_Kid said:
Good point! I kinda like the "retro" look of the 90s center caps. I need to see how well they clean up and decide if I need to try and find another set in better shape or not...
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So I like the look of the old center cap better by itself, but the newer cap looks better on those wheels.
 
Since I retuned with RidgeRunner, I've been seeing a constant black haze and can't decide if it's something in the tune or if the injectors are having issues. I put the injectors in before the new CP3, but I've never heard of any contamination issues from weakened CP3 pumps. Worst case, I'll be pulling the injectors again to send them off for testing.

We'll try some tune adjustments first...if I can ever get an update, that is.
 
There was a trade-off that I was willing to take.
Tony tunes a LOT of stuff. All over the country. Mail order, sells through different people, online, etc. So he is VERY busy, but that just shows that he's pretty damn good at it. He responded to my email about tuning changes, but it'll take a few weeks before he can get around to it. I suppose I can wait. The tunes definitely rip....it's impressive for only +125 hp on the big tune. No more loping, transmission acts better because of more precise fuel control, etc.

Dustin...well....he could work me in the the schedule, but it always meant taking a day off and driving to Wilmington from New Bern and then it was ALWAYS an all day affair. Not to mention that after the SAC45s were put in and then I went back and did the SuperSport CP3, he could never make it stop loping at idle because of the different fuel pressure regulator. The fuel mileage was also terrible...about 13. I was just floored that he told me I should have just gotten SAC65s since he already had tunes written for those. Oh...sorry...should have asked you before I purchased what I wanted.

I'm doing slightly better now with 15, but it'll be better once it's not hazing constantly. That's just fuel out the tail pipe.

The only thing that's rubbed me the wrong way about Tony thus far is he said SAC injectors were just a gimmick. I asked him why LLY, LBZ, LMM, LML, and L5P trucks all have them along with every other manufacturer. He said he didn't think they were necessary and that stock injectors were easier to tune. Sure, they probably are, but if he doesn't want to do what I paid him to do...I'll get someone else to do it.

All in all, not sad one bit that I switched tuners. It was nice to get an AutoCal this time too. I can use that to data log and read stuff with the VCM portion of EFI Live. Plus, he's in SC and only about 30 minites from where my cousin lives in Summerville, so if I have to go down there, it won't be the end of the world.
 
As much as I know that ATF doesn't do anything in a fuel system, I can't deny that it has drastically helped me in getting this thing to stop smoking....weird.

Anyway, I finally picked up a new HVAC box for this rig. Mine has been cracked since I wrecked the truck. I'll just clean the new one real good and swap everything over to the new one since everything still works. There are two small holes busted in the new on that I'll fix with some plastic cut from the old box and epoxied in place.

I wanted to replace the carpet anyway, but since the AC drains right in the floor I don't have much of a choice. I ordered new carpet with the mass backing to help make it a little more quiet. I figure while the dash is out I'll replace the carpet. Then, since the seats will be out it will be the perfect time to pull the headliner and have that done....finally. I'm tired of looking at the front part sagging down in my face!

Oh, and I picked up two more heater core quick connectors, some cabin air filters, a shifter boot, and the cabin air temp sensor that goes in the headerliner above the driver. It's been making noise and apparently that means they're bad.

I've also been thinking about picking up two more bulb sockets for the front turn signals and putting them where the DRLs currently reside. I don't have bulbs in them anyway and I think it'll look better without an empty spot.

Stay tuned!


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I called to get a price on having the headliner done. The local place told me 185. Sold! Doesn't matter if I take it out and give them just the headliner or if I drop off the truck and they pull it out. I'll definitely let them have the pleasure of removing it if that's the case!
 
Well sheet far! I didn't expect my carpet to get here this quick, but it was on the front porch when I got home. It looks like some nice stuff and the mass backing is hefty and I feel like it will quiet down the cab a bit. I'm also planning to snatch the factory firewall insulation off and stick some Fat Mat on it that blocks noise and heat. Once the transmission comes out to be built, the trans tunnel will be Fat Matted as well.

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I had some comp time to burn, so I took last Friday off and headed to the local upholstery shop at 8 am to get the headliner done. When I came home I started taking out the rest of the interior. The back seat came out in four pieces because I was working by myself. The seat bottoms come off and then two bolts let it come apart at the 60/40 split. It's MUCH more manageable that way.

All of the removed interior pieces were painstakingly cleaned too...holy hell.

I had also ordered a new aspirator/cabin air temp sensor and shifter boot. I figured since the headliner was down and I was doing interior stuff, I might as well. The blower motor works properly now, so that little thing was probably the issue with that all along. I swear this truck has the most air ducting I've ever seen.

The headliner doesn't match exactly, but it's a muuuch better material and I'm not that worried about it. The new carpet is a lighter color too and you can't see any of it once the WeatherTech mats are in there anyway!

The last thing to do is pull the dash out and replace the HVAC box. I just have to clean up the new one and get the time to swap them out before it's time to need the AC again!

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Nope...not upside down, it's supposed to be straight. The airbag bent it during the wreck.
 
Truck looks great, I may have missed it somewhere but what did you do about your drag link end contacting the trac bar? Finishing up my swap and it's looking like it's going to be an issue for me as well.
 
I took the grease fitting out and put a plug where it used to be and then kinda rotated the drag link some so it barely rubs the panhard bar. Aside from cutting the panhard bracket off and moving it a little, there's not much else I could do.
 
Croatan_Kid said:
I picked up some 09 Dodge wheels. They look very similar to the 03-07 3rd Gen wheels, but ever so slightly different. These are 17x8 and around 6" of backspacing. Hopefully it'll pull the tires just inside the fender flares. We'll see.

I just can't decide which center caps I want to use....so here's some pictures!

View attachment 279468


So, which ones? I like them both...
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You ever put these wheels on? I had no idea that was an option and I’m curious to see how it looks!

I love this truck and love how much you love this truck btw!
 
hightide said:
Thanks, if wfo had put the hole even 1/4" lower it wouldn't be an issue
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Or if it was moved forward a little...possibly a slightly shorter pitman arm.
 
@77GreenMachine Not yet! I'll get there one day though. I've got a few pictures of them on some other trucks. One has the earlier 8 lug center caps and the rest just used the PYO center caps. Both look equally awesome to me.

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This thing desperately needs a winch bumper up front, but I'm having a hard time finding one that isn't huge, gaudy, ugly as sin, and somewhat affordable. The one that ARB offers probably looks the best to me. I don't think I'd be opposed to having someone build one for me either.
 
Croatan_Kid said:
This thing desperately needs a winch bumper up front, but I'm having a hard time finding one that isn't huge, gaudy, ugly as sin, and somewhat affordable. The one that ARB offers probably looks the best to me. I don't think I'd be opposed to having someone build one for me either.
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You might of said already but are you opposed to a tube style bumper?

Where’s the intercooler/radiator stack on these trucks?


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I don't think it would go with the look of the truck. They usually look unfinished to me too.

The intercooler and radiator are right where you'd expect them to be. The trans cooler is right behind the grille, then the condenser, the intercooler, radiator, and fan.
 
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