I have been lurking here for quite awhile. I caught this bug from a crazy guy I met at divide ride 2007 in Montana, GinericLC, thank Erik. It is nothing more than a full blown addiction now.
I have done a ton or reading on here and found that this site has to be one of the most informative forums I have ever been on.
So , I found a super clean, decent mileage 97' LX in CA and bought it and had it shipped home to Montana. 129k on the clock, 2 owner and all the records. Never seen any off road at all and has no rust, so I was very pleased. It has factory lockers, CDL switch, no roof rack and no factory hitch.
First thing was to call Cdan and get my PHH kit and a few acc's to bolt on. Then I needed to baseline my fluids and check all the vitals. Now that I know all fluids are good and vitals are in tact, it was time to get to work.
My first mod was a set of hand built rock sliders. I looked at many threads on here as well as vendors and deceided that i wanted to use several ideas from different sliders on mine. So I contacted my friend Ryan Weber at Montana Auto Fabrication,406-459-4847. He and I came up with a plan and a drawing of what we wanted to make.
The great thing about these sliders IMO is that they are 100% removable and easily to boot. Ryan drilled 24 holes in the frame and tig welded 24 grade 8 nuts on. Then we put a counter sunk hole on the bottom of each support to house a allen head bolt for ease of centering upon installation. So as you will see in the pics, the bolts and lock washers go through the slider plates and tighten right up in the frame. No u-bolts and no welding. pretty cool. Next we needed to address the cat skid plate. Ryan bent 2 pieces of 120 dom 180 degrees and plated it with 1/8" steel. You can balance the truck on it.
We also made a brace from the skid to the frame and bolted it up also. We used 2x4" steel bar for the main beams and 120 wall dom for the tubes. They are WAY overbuilt, but suprisingly easy to put on and take off.
Next plans are the 4" 'J' springs, shocks and spacers. Then I have a set of 315's to bolt up. Then it is on to the front bumper, we will fab that too and then I believe I will get a 4x4labs DIY rear bumper and do a few add ons to it. 4:88's or 5:29's will be last and then the creature comforts inside.
I will update this thread as I go, but i just wanted to give a little back to this great site that has helped me a ton already.
Here are some pics of the sliders on the truck.
I have done a ton or reading on here and found that this site has to be one of the most informative forums I have ever been on.
So , I found a super clean, decent mileage 97' LX in CA and bought it and had it shipped home to Montana. 129k on the clock, 2 owner and all the records. Never seen any off road at all and has no rust, so I was very pleased. It has factory lockers, CDL switch, no roof rack and no factory hitch.
First thing was to call Cdan and get my PHH kit and a few acc's to bolt on. Then I needed to baseline my fluids and check all the vitals. Now that I know all fluids are good and vitals are in tact, it was time to get to work.
My first mod was a set of hand built rock sliders. I looked at many threads on here as well as vendors and deceided that i wanted to use several ideas from different sliders on mine. So I contacted my friend Ryan Weber at Montana Auto Fabrication,406-459-4847. He and I came up with a plan and a drawing of what we wanted to make.
The great thing about these sliders IMO is that they are 100% removable and easily to boot. Ryan drilled 24 holes in the frame and tig welded 24 grade 8 nuts on. Then we put a counter sunk hole on the bottom of each support to house a allen head bolt for ease of centering upon installation. So as you will see in the pics, the bolts and lock washers go through the slider plates and tighten right up in the frame. No u-bolts and no welding. pretty cool. Next we needed to address the cat skid plate. Ryan bent 2 pieces of 120 dom 180 degrees and plated it with 1/8" steel. You can balance the truck on it.
We also made a brace from the skid to the frame and bolted it up also. We used 2x4" steel bar for the main beams and 120 wall dom for the tubes. They are WAY overbuilt, but suprisingly easy to put on and take off.Next plans are the 4" 'J' springs, shocks and spacers. Then I have a set of 315's to bolt up. Then it is on to the front bumper, we will fab that too and then I believe I will get a 4x4labs DIY rear bumper and do a few add ons to it. 4:88's or 5:29's will be last and then the creature comforts inside.
I will update this thread as I go, but i just wanted to give a little back to this great site that has helped me a ton already.
Here are some pics of the sliders on the truck.
