putting together

[GreyMatter]

Well I just recieved Mark's lift kit, (thank you very very much McMaster). I'm about to purchase struts, but I don't know which ones to get or does it make a difference? I was about to order these:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/ ... _129923_0_ . There supposed to be aftermarket Bilsteins'
But I don't have the tools or the space to do the job, that means I'd have to search for a shop in N.Y.C. that can do this in one day. This is my only way of getting around since being layed off right before thanksgiving. Any ideas out there? I'm all ears.
represents me running into a wall anytime I want to do something for myself. Story of my life.
If you can't reach me on-line, try here britebouy@gmail.com ,well wish me luck.

[fishsticks]

Not to be a buzzkill, but I would personally recommend against lifting your rig right now if you are searching for employment.

Lifting tends to make other weaks/worn spots in the truck show up as well as push the normal maintenance schedule up quite a bit. You may be in for more money than you bargained for.

[GreyMatter]

Thanks for caring man. Just getting really tired of having to wait and wait and wait. Feels like I have to
play catch up just to have some old fashioned fun.

[djthumper]

I am with Donny, I would hold off until you are employed to go any further. I have been there, and don't have a lot of extra to spend on things in one lump sum myself right now. It would really suck to go buy everything then not have the money later when you need it most in this economy.

[themightysteveo]

Dude... I've been there... I bought all my goodies while out on last deployment. Came home and fiancée lost job and grandma (raised me) got cancer. Our apt was littered with truck parts and Barton's big steel armor for MONTHS!! If I hadn't saved and put off my lift almost a year... We'd have been sunk! I know it hurts to look at the parts all over the place or drool over these guys' trucks but... If you can stomach it. Wait it out.

[navigator]

honestly unless you are living at home with no bills to pay I would follow the guys advice wait on lifting it as well and see how your job search goes. You can reward yourself when you get your new job.

If you can't wait then it might be there is a board member close to you with tools that will offer to assist if you drive over.

If you have some mechanical ability and some desire to work on your TB, you might be able to buy a few tools and rent a storage unit or a garage bay or something short term so you can do the job yourself. If you shop around you can likely rent a garage bay with tools cheaper than you can hire someone to do the work and you get to learn how the vehicle works so you can make repairs in the future.

I have a workshop but it is kind of small and I had so much stuff in there that I actually did my lift in the yard in front of the shop.

Outside of of the spring compressor to put on the lift spacer/struts the rest is pretty straightforward/easy.
I don't have an extensive list of tools, a floor jack, jack stands, basic sockets/wrenches (SAE and Metric) and a few allen wrenches, if I recall the only tool I had to borrow was a pickle fork.

[Skidder]

I would also recommend you check out one of the vendors on this site, Shock Warehouse, before you spend 82 bucks a piece for F4BE5A333H0. Shock Warehouse has them for 60.95 a piece.

Good luck.

[GreyMatter]

I'll be sure to check it out. Thanks for the heads up.

[Skidder]

Sure thing. 20 bucks saved x 2 = 40...which is almost the cost of one BDS 5500 rear shock. ~45 bucks per copy for those.

I've been acting a bit like pre-Christmas Santa Claus with my own plans lately...you know, making a list, checking it twice. Really, seems like the list is always running through my head. Save here, spend there...

[GreyMatter]

LoL
I'm trying to be a Santa to myself and girlfriend as well dude. It ain't easy.
Now I'm thinking about ordering those front struts since their cheaper on the web vs. the store.
I was just trying to support the local business, sorry guys, not this time.

[v7guy]

Are you using the stock springs or stiffer ones?

Just a heads up, i spent several hundred after lifting on maintenance.

[navigator]

.....I was just trying to support the local business, sorry guys, not this time.

I like to buy local as well when I can, even if it costs a few more dollars but not $20 .
It might be you can talk to your local retailer and tell them you can get the same item over the net for $20 cheaper.
They might not be able to come down all the way but maybe they can get down to a price you feel comfortable with that allows you to save a few $$$ and support your local guy.

I called my local advance auto the other day asking about golf cart batts, he said they were $109 each. I told him that was high and that I could get them for $75 from another local dealer and I needed 6 of them. He told me to give him a minute. He came down to $84 each. It was a little higher than the other guy but I have had good dealings with this store and know their history so I would rather buy from them. The other guy I could get the better price was kind of hard to get up with also so I paid a little more. Many time your local stores can help you out on price if they know you have shopped around.

[TangoBravo]

Just a heads up, i spent several hundred after lifting on maintenance.

As did I. We're just tryin to look out for ya man. We all know what hard times are like.

[GreyMatter]

Thanks guys. Really appreciate the advice on lifting. As for the springs, I'm going to have to use stock ones for now.
I have a few things in store for my rig. In due time.