Run to the Hills! - Jason's Completely Stalled Colorado GTFO Build

I wouldn't even bother changing the diff oil. There's enough oil and metal back there to absorb that heat. Just my opinion.

 

Looking good!
I wouldn't worry about strain relief for the valve, mine's been fine for a few years now.
The diff oil won't need changed, there isn't enough in the tube to be concerned about.
My e-brake cable still rides right on top of the leaves, no problems. Except the damn thing sticks now, so I don't really use it anymore. A large rock works pretty good.

 

I started doing that too, and then I just welded the bracket on.

Tell me about it. And you're even making me look bad knocking this out so quickly. All my big projects seems to take 2 months. Maybe I just work slow.

 

Thanks, gents! I’m just gonna check the level and let it ride!

I didn’t even think to weld the damn thing...

And don’t give me too much credit. When I did the front end over the winter that damn truck lived in the driveway for AT LEAST two months, I think. That includes me bailing on the bucket gussets because I just flat out didn’t want to weld on the truck anymore.

I swear, every time I plod through a big project there’s some guy on TW busting out a SAS in half the time

 

I might be wrong but doesn't the exhaust dump have to be behind the rear axle? Or can it dump in front of the rear axle?

 

Must be a Colorado thing? Mine is dumped the same way.

Looks awesome! I'd suggest setting the new BPV AFTER you put the bed back on as the added weight will make a difference.

 

yes

 

Huh that would suck.

I'd never dump it anyways. Makes it resonate in the cab .

 

I think you’re right, Ray, but the plan is to have the new exhaust in next month after we get back from our Griswold family vacation. This is just to get me by for a camping trip this week with my kid.

Great point. The bed and everything else should be going back on tomorrow. Can’t wait to see how it rides at that point!

See above, and I totally agree. I’m planning on trying to dump it out the back corner, and I’m also going to run a resonator.

 

Not when you are still running the stock muffler it doesn't.

 

yeah it does. From what i've witnessed with others doing it.

 

Easy dump club checking in.

 

Added some cable tie tabs to clean up this nasty wiring mess.




Just when you think you’re finally done welding...




These tabs are the shit! Many thanks to @ToyRyd04 for the idea.




Since more than a few of the stock harness clip attachment points got covered up by the box plates I added tabs every 18” or so on the driver frame rail and on the new rear crossmember.




So much better. I also pulled the factory trailer wiring harness since I’ll likely never need it. Definitely helped unclutter things. Just need to temporarily mount my license and I’ll be ready to drive it to work and then get the bed on this evening.

 

How much clearance did you end up with between your muffler and the body after raising the tank crossmember?

 

Looks really good! We have the same welder too.

Are you putting the bolts back in the leaf spring clamps or leaving them out?

 

Looks great! Did you remove the evap canister at all or did you find a way to box the frame around it? Mine is in the same spot as yours and it's one of the things that's stopping me from boxing the frame. Thanks.

 

I pulled it along with the fuel tank. It looks way worse and more complicated than it really is. The hoses are all formed to go to their respective locations and it made it super easy to reinstall. The evap itself is only held on with two or three bolts, I think. If you’re considering going to the trouble to box the frame, I highly recommend stripping it as much as possible.

 

Calling all the big brains!

I drove the truck to work this morning for the first time since the frame and shock work got done and my steering wheel is now off center. I know it’s possible that I’m getting some rear steer from possibly reinstalling the leafs a little off, but I don’t see how in the hell that could affect the steering wheel at all.

Any ideas, gents?

@Blackdawg @Squeaky Penguin @Speedytech7 @drr @malburg114 @cynicalrider @anyoneelsewithanopinion

 

How far off center? Did you do anything to the front? What about move the rear spring perches (weld on new ones?). Not sure why that would happen. Does it drive down the road straight or pull to one side.

 

I didn’t do anything to the front at all. Truck drives straight, pretty much. Wheel isn’t super off center, maybe 10-15 degrees.

Now that I think of it, I did swap leaf packs from one side to the other because I think I had flattened the former driver side pack a bit. Not sure how that would cause this, though. The perches are the same, but I’ve had a weird shackle angle mismatch from one side to the other for a while now and I think it’s still present. I need to verify that against some old pictures, though.