4 hours into it.....

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 5:24 pm

I started my bodylift at 3:15pm and did an oil change all at the same time

It's now 7:15 and I just finished pulling the rear bumper off, which was the last step before starting to lift the body off the frame--I wish I had a crew so I wouldnt have to do the whole thing at one time -- but oh well.

Taking a lil break while the fiancee goes and gets me a chick-fil-a sammich

I think I'm making pretty decent time seeing as how I have taken a break or 2 along the way. I'll post pics after I'm done of the finished project.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 6:35 pm

good luck....

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 11:03 pm

Well it's 12:45am now and I've put up tools, come in, showered, and gotten ready for bed.

The body spacers are all installed, loc-tite'ed, and ready to begin the re-assembly stages.

Only 1 little complaint and one BIG complaint with the Performance Accessories instructions -- little complaint was that a picture didnt match up with an instruction in one step....BIG complaint is that it stated that 2001 and newer vehicles will have 10 body mount posiitions plus the 2 on the core support. It sias that prior to 2001 tere were only 8 body mount positions down the sides of the truck and in the back. Since my truck was a 2000 model, I found my 8 points and removed the bolts and started jacking the body up -- the core support and mount right behind the front tire lifted with no problem, the mid frame mount didnt seem to have as much space, but I could get a spacer in (Figured it was just the placement of my jack or something).

I couldnt get the mount just in front of the rear wheel and at the back of the truck to raise more than an inch. I moved the jack further back and the same results. I found a bigger block of wood to lift with --- at this time when I was maxing out my 22 inch lift 3.5 ton jack, and the rear tire came off the ground---While I was lifting with the body structure---I knew something was wrong.

A little more poking round onder the truck revealed another body mount above the rear axle and al,ost in accessible on the pass side because of the exhaust, and drivers side by the gas tank. I had to take all spacers back out, set the truck back level, jack up the rear end, take off the rear wheels and still couldn't get enough leverage to break those bolts free. I finally rigged up a device I have called the ghetto-sling. I was able to put the ratchet on the bolt, and thread this sling (Improvised from one of my ratcheting tie down straps I carry in the truck) over the frame and looped around the end of the ratchet. That way I could put everythig I had into pulling on the sling and got the bolt to break-free. I've never used nylon strap as a cheater-bar before.

Any-who, I did take a few hours break earlier to eat dinner and watch American Chopper/Monster Garage then go get back to work.

7 hours in and I'm going to start re-assembly tomorrow--not too bad a timeline I don't think.

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:51 am

Hey, better to take your time and do a good job!

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:20 am

Lol -- day 3 and I'm @ work, and my truck is still sitting in the carport -- waiting ont the final steps of re-assembly.

Yesterday tunred into a pain in the butt cause of the rear bumper. It required a lot more effort to make it line back up than I was prepared for, but using a cutting wheel is therapeutic thing right?

Then of course I had to get cleaned up to go visit with everyone's family, cause it was Sunday, and that's just what the rules are.

Come back about 8 pm, change back into dirty clothes, and realize my hitch doesnt want to slide back over the frame rails. I have the Hidden hitch class 3, and I guess the PA Kit rear bumper brackets are wider than stock, and it's just not quite sliding back over. I'll wail on it with a BFH today and see if I can't "convince" it that it is a little wider.

I moved on to the rest of the truck and had a real pain in the a$$ working on the fan shroud. -- there's just not much room in there to get a hand in to hold bolts and thread on nuts and such, but I eventually all made it work. (It also didnt help that PA sent me 3 2-inch long spacer sleeves, and one that was an inch an a half -- dunno why -- I happened to have some spacers laying around and added the half inch I needed.)

I called it a night after getting the battery back in, firewall groundstrap legnthened, brake lines stretched, and fan shroud reassembled and stuff.

The Instructions told me to re-drill new mount holes for the battery tray, and front 4x4 actuator that is under the tray, but after test fitting them, both seemd to bolt right back into their stock locations just fine -- anyone else find this to be so?

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 8:37 am

Yeah...mine was the same way with the actuator and battery tray. They only wanted you to move the holes 1/2 inch anyway. But there was plenty of slack...and getting a drill in there was not really an option either.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:01 am

adrenalnjunky wrote:
Then of course I had to get cleaned up to go visit with everyone's family, cause it was Sunday, and that's just what the rules are.

i dont have any family to visit on sat

anywho....of course if you were doing this in december, i would come over and help....

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:31 am

If yo're going to be in Shreve in december, let me know-- we could meet up or something. It's always cool to put a face with a name.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:51 am

oh ya i will be there...and of course i have to stop and see all the members along the way....

i want to try to see as many members as i can...

Jay-Bird · Post by **Jay-Bird** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 1:42 pm

I live in Calhoun, La 15mins. closer to shreveport than adrenalnjunky.. But i need to know what day and every thing and where to meet....
well i hope to see some pictures of your blazer soon...
dont forget about this weekend......

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 1:56 pm

Jay -- I shall dub thee "Master of the double post!"

Jus kidding.

The truck should be done tonihgt, and I'll be ready to go playing in the dirt this weekend as far as I know.

Street tires don't fail me now

You don't happen to have a 31 on your spare tire rim do you Jay? I have a BFG AT on a rim -- I could at least put 2 AT's on the rear for a little off-road confidence.

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 1:58 pm

a2b wrote:oh ya i will be there...and of course i have to stop and see all the members along the way....

i want to try to see as many members as i can...

You better stop in Phoenix on the way.

Jay-Bird · Post by **Jay-Bird** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 2:09 pm

I dont have a spare 31 sry... dad has a teachers meeting in the morning so it depends on that if i can go for sure.. but i am crossing my fingers that he'll let me go this weekend.. so whats going on in dec.??? in shreveport?????

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 2:13 pm

Hobie has family in, or is from Shreveport -- I assume he's coming in for the holidays.

Jay-Bird · Post by **Jay-Bird** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 2:14 pm

oh ok well ill have to see about that before i say i can go.... my g-maw lives over there so i might can swing by her house and say hey then meet yall... lol

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 3:30 pm

Jay-Bird wrote:oh ok well ill have to see about that before i say i can go.... my g-maw lives over there so i might can swing by her house and say hey then meet yall... lol

sweeet...lets all get together and go muddin. we can be sure to take better pics than paul and gary

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 3:31 pm

AZS10Crew wrote:
a2b wrote:oh ya i will be there...and of course i have to stop and see all the members along the way....

i want to try to see as many members as i can...
You better stop in Phoenix on the way.

i heard phoenix was pretty rough, i dont know if i want to stop there or not

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 4:21 pm

a2b wrote:
AZS10Crew wrote:
a2b wrote:oh ya i will be there...and of course i have to stop and see all the members along the way....

i want to try to see as many members as i can...
You better stop in Phoenix on the way.
i heard phoenix was pretty rough, i dont know if i want to stop there or not

It can be...depends on the neighborhood.

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 9:19 pm

a2b wrote:
Jay-Bird wrote:oh ok well ill have to see about that before i say i can go.... my g-maw lives over there so i might can swing by her house and say hey then meet yall... lol
sweeet...lets all get together and go muddin. we can be sure to take better pics than paul and gary

Sure thing -- I'm sure I have a PowerWheels Barbie Jeep around here somewhere

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 9:31 pm

adrenalnjunky wrote:
a2b wrote:
Jay-Bird wrote:oh ok well ill have to see about that before i say i can go.... my g-maw lives over there so i might can swing by her house and say hey then meet yall... lol
sweeet...lets all get together and go muddin. we can be sure to take better pics than paul and gary

Sure thing -- I'm sure I have a PowerWheels Barbie Jeep around here somewhere

nice!!!!

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 9:31 pm

BTW -- I got the BL completed tonight--spent 2 hours rigging my hitch up again --- it was a P.I.T.A. but it's all secure again.

I put the front bumper back on, but left the lower valence off for now--I plan on working with the front frame horns, and tow hooks -- I might be able to get away with some very mild trimming of the valence, and cutting and reinforcing theframe horns with some sheet steel I have laying around.

There's nothing like doing a job this big, by yourself......and having a box full of leftover bolts and parts. But that's how every project I take on seems to end.

Havent put gas in it yet either, and I'll have to in the a.m. on ym way to work -- I guess we'll find out then if my fuel filler neck extension is good and snug

NTXCrew · Post by **NTXCrew** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 7:09 am

I live in North Texas, so stop on by....

Mike H. · Post by **Mike H.** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:28 pm

adrenalnjunky wrote:....and cutting and reinforcing theframe horns with some sheet steel I have laying around.

That's the fun part. Did you raise your hitch?

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 6:05 pm

Unfortunately, no. The Hitch I have just isnt built properly to be raisedThere's no room to re-drill the frame, and none on the mounting plates for my hitch. If I did re-drill my hitch, I would have to cut off a support, and even then the most raise I could get is half an inch

It doesnt look too bad where it is though, and I doubt I'll spend $$$ to buy one that can be modified when mine will work just fine.

Unless anyone knows the secret to raising a Hiddenhitch Class 3 1 piece.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 7:21 pm

NTXCrew wrote:I live in North Texas, so stop on by....

hmmm, we'll seee. i have to go thru pheonix, then i usually go to el paso...i will let you know

coffeedrnkr · Post by **coffeedrnkr** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 11:49 pm

A little more poking round onder the truck revealed another body mount above the rear axle

So I'm not the only one!!

That same exact thing happened to me it took us like 20 minutes to figure out what it was b/c the directions didnt really say too much about it.

Ya my hitch is one peice too but it only hangs down about 1.5" below the bumper, doesnt look too bad.
I just hate how the frame shows, but i painted it with black rustoleum hammered and it is less noticable now

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 7:43 am

wow -- I had forgotten about all of these long a$$ posts I made -- kinda cool for someone to bring them all back up.

As far at the frame rails go -- I custom cut and welded a pair of westin stepbars to fit like they would without a bodylift, and they hide most of it.

coffeedrnkr · Post by **coffeedrnkr** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:43 am

I was planning on getting some sliders to hide the frame but only after I get out of debt from buying my trailmaster and tires.

I was going to have my friend make me some out of 2x2 sqare tubing like the ones on www.demello-offroad.com