Yeah,Pres. DO NOT pizz off the Mrs.! LOL It's just so easy to lose yourself under the hood or under the D. While I'm here, why not do this, oh and this, and this, etc.! I'm thinking 10 hours would be able to get all the installs done on Zen's D! LOL I'd like to contribute to the food ordering, do you have a PayPal account? Nothing fancy, basically we're all gearheads and geeks, maybe a few of 6' subs? Or pizzas? You know, manly food! :mrgreen:

 

I'll have it covered. I'm ordering a giant sub and we can order pizzas if we need more food.
I'll have drinks.
Zen is bringing a cake.
Steve
DOC Pres

 

Then I'll bring my appetite! :mrgreen:

 

Then I'll bring my appetite! :mrgreen:

Mine too!

 

Cake is a sure thing! I'm gonna pick up a nice big one, so don't be too shy, feel free to gorge yourselves! :cheesy:

Meanwhile, my halo headlights and fog lights have been delivered. I have my e fan and all necessary mounting hardware. Just waiting on the resistors now and the VSC. I'll pick up some Prestone 50/50 mix coolant during the week and we'll be good to go!

On a side note, all the exhaust components I ordered for my truck have also been delivered! Flowmaster 50 Delta Flow muffler, Magnaflow hi-flow catalytic converter, and a pair of 18" long Magnaflow polished stainless steel exhaust tips! I'm bringing the D up to a local Meineke next week to get it all installed, she's gonna sound beautiful! :cheesy:

 

Love too but in MSP That weekend? Next time the D leaves the central time zone it'll be Carlisle in July

 

BAD NEWS!

Today when I took my D up to Meineke to have the exhaust done, the mechanic noticed my driver's side rear shock was busted! He ended up not doing the exhaust at all because he has to bring the piping around it and would rather the shock be changed first. This also poses a problem for the meet because I definitely don't want to drive all the way to Jersey with a busted rear shock!

When I bought my set of Bilsteins, I figured the 2 inches of chassis lift would be negligible and I could use shocks applicable for stock ride height?seems that was a big mistake that I'm paying for now. I can install the shocks easily enough and, if I buy them from Summit with next day air delivery, they should get to me in time to swap the rears out so I'll be good to go for this Saturday. I want to stay with Bilstein and am thinking either their 5100 or 5125 series shocks will do the trick. My question is, do I need to find a set specifically applicable for the D or are these all generally a universal fit? Can I go ahead and order a pair of 5100's or 5125's and be able to slap them right on in place of the previous rears??

 

Where's the shock broken. I know a lot of us have run with the torsion bar/shackle lift for a good number of years/miles with no trouble. Unless the shock has pulled the top of the tube out of the shock body, I don't think it was the lift that did this. I know I have about 100k on mine right now, with no problem other than wear.

 

Yea I know what you mean, but I saw the shock up close when the mechanic had the truck up on the lift, the shaft pulled completely out of the body. If the boot wasn't still attached it'd have been two totally separate pieces dangling. The passenger side rear shock still looks fine. Could it have just been a defective piece from the factory?

 

Yes it was defective. Just get a replacement as there's no way an extra 1.5" of lift pulled that apart.
Get a set delivered, slap em in there, and all will be well.
Steve
DOC Pres

 

The soonest I can get is a Saturday delivery! Not soon enough! Looks like I won't be able to make it. I'm guessing Sunday is no good for everyone? UGH! :wall:

 

Go buy a $20 Monroe or Gabriel as a temporary shock at an auto parts store so you can make the meet.
Steve
DOC Pres

 

I'll see what I can do but it's New Year's Eve and I can't use my D or work truck for driving around. My fan control still hasn't been delivered yet either! :wall: This sucks guys, I really don't think I'll be able to make it on such short notice, I'm gonna try though!

 

How long was shock broke, You didn't even notice
Just come anyway even if its just to hang out
Steve
DOC Pres

 

All of my driving recently has been light and local, would it really be safe to drive 100 some odd miles, especially passing through the rough streets in NYC? I don't have another vehicle to take, and now its supposed to snow all weekend. Its a veritable blizzard right now! I know it sounds like I'm making excuses but I'm really disappointed right now.

 

The answer: duck tape.

 

GO GET A SHOCK! PEP BOYS OR STRAUSS WILL HAVE ONE!
Steve
DOC Pres

 

Hello Steve,

It's a pity that the ocean separates us, because I'd be coming with my family!
We have done and know I'd take to install other accessories on my Ram!
I wish you all a good time!

Denis

 

All the shock really does (in normal driving) is control the bouncing caused by the springs as they're flexed. The english really have the name right. They call them snubbers, as they really snub the bouncing. It'd be safe to drive, as long as you know it's broken. Look, how long was it broken before you knew?

 

Hello Steve,

It's a pity that the ocean separates us, because I'd be coming with my family!
We have done and know I'd take to install other accessories on my Ram!
I wish you all a good time!

Denis

But alas Denis? you get to bar crawl until 7am now! Enjoy the New Year!

IndyDurango

 

Hello Steve,

It's a pity that the ocean separates us, because I'd be coming with my family!
We have done and know I'd take to install other accessories on my Ram!
I wish you all a good time!

Denis

Happy New Year Denis
We have 5 Hours to go! LOL

 

Honestly I don't believe the shop's story on the shock. I think you'd have noticed a noise or a bit of a bouncy ride no matter how short they were.
The shocks are the only means of limiting suspension travel when the D is raised up from the ground by the frame. My opinion, he raised the truck way too quickly and the shock slammed wide open and snapped. Unless it had just happened, there's no way the boot stayed on while it was snapped in 2? sorry, just don't buy it.
Hope you make it Zen.
50% of this GTG was planned to be working on your D.

Steve
DOC Pres

 

We can get your headlights done and watch the fan install on Dwayne's D so you can do yours at a later date
Steve
DOC Pres

 

Ok its settled then, as long as there's no risk of seriously damaging my truck, I'll just drive it carefully. I've been looking forward to this meet just as much as everyone else and who knows when we'll get another chance like this to organize so many of us together in one place. I'll be there guys! We can do my headlights and fogs, and I'll pay close attention when we do Dwayne's e-fan so I can get it done on my own.

So, next order of business? cake shopping! :cheesy:

 

OK. I'll be heading out at 6am tomorrow morning. I should be there by 8 and ready to start tearing into my D. I went to check the gas level in it tonight and decided to run it to the pumps to fill it up and viola? no juice at all. no click, no buzz, nothing. I threw the trickle charger on it and it fired after a few hours. I'll leave the charger on it until bedtime tonight and keep my fingers crossed in the morning. it's only been sitting a month or so. :wall:

BTW, if anyone coming tomorrow has an O2 Sensor tool, bring it. I'll be attempting an O2 sensor swap since I'm there.

See you all in the morning.