Hi All,
I started this thread to share (maybe inspire, feel free to add posts on your own) fellow 2nd gen owners on the refresh of my truck as while its getting older, I think there are simple ways to make it fit better into the modern world.  This mindset started when I started considering buying a 4th gen, and while they are awesome I realized that with a little TLC my 2nd gen could fit better into the modern truck world and I could avoid a truck payment! 

What I have done thus far:

1.    New shocks on all four corners (no pics, sorry)
2.    Additional lighting upfront (I can get a picture this weekend)
3.    Removed, cleaned and remounted the weather-stripping (no pics, but made a huge diff in wind noise).
4.    Replaced the front / rear sway bar bushings (pics below, 100% improvement in ride)

 

Future Items (next few weeks/months) – Will be better on pics!

1.    Heat wrap downpipe to trans mount (heat / sound reduction goal, manifold & turbo already wrapped)
2.    Big Line Kit from filter housing to vp (I have my upgraded fuel pump feed into the stock housing).
3.    Traction bars for the rear (goal is improve power transfer / remove axel twist)
4.    New front control arm bushings
5.    Interior deep clean
6.    Additional sound deadening under carpet
7.    Updated speaks / stereo (still researching)
8.    Attempt to Fix my cruise control
9.    Fix my dripping transfercase
10.    Valve Adjustment Check and new injectors    
 

Not sure my carpet would even roll back that far without cracking in half. 17 years of coffee, soda and god knows what spills has my carpet pretty stiff.

@NightHawk, now that you have driven on it for a few days, would you do it again? trying to gauge the benefit against the time investment. Although, mine would definitely benefit from a good deep cleaning. I don't have carpet in mine though, so i am sure that the plastic liner does little if anything to dampen road noise. 

 

If i opened it up, i suppose it would be a good time to add a speaker box behind the rear seat...

7 minutes ago, adamey1000 said:

I don't have carpet in mine though, so i am sure that the plastic liner does little if anything to dampen road noise. 

 

Actually be very careful the rubber floormats are known for rusting out the bodies quicker being that they seal in more water. There is a foam pad below that holds the moisture longer. Where people with carpet tend to be more careful not to drag in all the mud and water. Where rubber floor people get sloppy and assume the rubber floor is keeping the moisture out which it won't. It will leech under the edges of the rubber flooring and wick up in the foam pad. It's worth it to lift the door trims and check yearly. 

that is good to know. i had not even considered that possibility 

51 minutes ago, adamey1000 said:

that is good to know. i had not even considered that possibility 

 

Very common out here. A lot of the ranchers opted for the rubber floor mats but end up rotting the cab floors out because the amount of mud and snow they drag in. Then go home and hose the cab out and the water automatically pools under the floor mat and the rot begins. 

On 8/3/2018 at 6:40 AM, adamey1000 said:

@NightHawk, now that you have driven on it for a few days, would you do it again? trying to gauge the benefit against the time investment. Although, mine would definitely benefit from a good deep cleaning. I don't have carpet in mine though, so i am sure that the plastic liner does little if anything to dampen road noise. 

 

If i opened it up, i suppose it would be a good time to add a speaker box behind the rear seat...

 

I took a 150 mile trip this weekend and the results were fantastic!  I was able to cruise down the freeway @ 65mph, with the windows crack 2-3 inches for ventilation, the music on low while holding a conversation at normal volume.  The "extra" noise from the engine/turbo (no silencer ring) and road is reduced, there is no doubt its a second gen but the cab ride is way less "wearing".   I have a few more summer trips planned, don't know if they'll all be in the truck but it gets some redemption points from the other passengers. 

Hello All,

 

Its been awhile, I kind of did a "mod" to my truck life that has distracted me for some time now but I still have the old rig / will soon pick-up where i left off as now I need a tow rig!

 

Hope you like the mod......