My Ram Express

[The_Bishop]

Got a little bored, decided my truck didn't look mean enough.

http://home.comcast.net/~The_Bishop/truck/beforeafter.jpg

Not a bad change for ~$30. Got another change on the way but it's still in transit.

[LTb1ow]

Needs moar stack brah

But, I do dig the debadged look, nice work!

[madness410]

wow that one simple touch makes a hell of a difference. plasti dip?

[The_Bishop]

Yeah, Plasti-dip. Wanted to see if I liked the look and it looks pretty right to me. Mayhap when I need tires again I'll have them permanently satin-blacked. Did all the emblems, too.

LTb1ow - Stacks? On a gasser?! :laugh:

Thanks.

Got a set of these on the way:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51K0cqQsksL.jpg

They conveniently show an example pic of a gray truck, too:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5119uajR5KL.jpg

[Blackbirdws6]

Looks clean and I was just about to recommend a set of black bezel lights to continue the theme.

[The_Bishop]

It's amazing how some relatively minor alterations changed the look of the whole truck.

[sweetbmxrider]

Tint!

[The_Bishop]

Was considering a light tint on the front windows. Back windows are factory tinted already. On the fence about it, though.

[ar0ck]

Those headlights will really tie it together!

[The_Bishop]

I hope so. Will know in a few days. :)

Now, the evil little voice in the back of my head is telling me I need to turn up the volume and do something with the exhaust...

[sweetbmxrider]

I was going to say exhaust in my last post! hahaha

[The_Bishop]

Are... Are you the evil little voice in the back of my head?!

:laugh:

[V]

Leveling kit for the front.

A few weeks ago, I installed a leveling kit on my friend 2012 Ram, I think it was the 2" version. Doesn't sound like much but I think it made a huge difference in the overall presence of the vehicle. Took just under 2 hours to install, that including searching for the right tools in my disaster of a garage and working half in the street, lol.

https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11694022_10205163369425821_4757365091249392712_n.j pg?oh=7bf5ab127f7a4326ab274c5491df9206&oe=56783EBA

[The_Bishop]

I had a 1.5" leveling kit on my truck. Had to pull it off.

Starting in '13, the front upper control arms changed design, probably to accomodate the air suspension. If you level the front, the upper ball joint doesn't have enough angular travel when the suspension is in droop, and it starts to jack over to one side, ovaling out the hole in the arm. To level it the upper arm needs to be replaced.

Mevotech makes one that'll work. The arms are about $80 for the pair plus an alignment. It's on the radar, just mixed in with a lot of other things that I'd rather do first, like the heads and cam swap for my Z.

[V]

ah, i didn't know that.

so lower the rear? lol

[Paul Huryk]

We can get you Magnaflow, MBRP and Flowmaster systems at large discounts to list. Dave has a Magnaflow on his Hemi PU.




I hope so. Will know in a few days. :)

Now, the evil little voice in the back of my head is telling me I need to turn up the volume and do something with the exhaust...

[The_Bishop]

I'll keep you in mind, Paul. Thanks.

[The_Bishop]

So, after 16 spark plugs, an air filter and an oil change I yanked the front apart and this is the result:

http://home.comcast.net/~The_Bishop/truck/complete.jpg

[madness410]

she's a beauty

[The_Bishop]

Thanks!

[Blackbirdws6]

Looks real nice.

[V]

Starting in '13, the front upper control arms changed design, probably to accomodate the air suspension. If you level the front, the upper ball joint doesn't have enough angular travel when the suspension is in droop, and it starts to jack over to one side, ovaling out the hole in the arm. To level it the upper arm needs to be replaced.

Mevotech makes one that'll work. The arms are about $80 for the pair plus an alignment. It's on the radar, just mixed in with a lot of other things that I'd rather do first, like the heads and cam swap for my Z.


Do you have any more info about the upper control arm issue? My friend who I did the install on for his 2012, just leased a new truck, a 2015 Ram. I'm betting I'll get a call soon about leveling this one too. I saw online it said 13-14 model years. Was it maybe fixed for 2015? or should I still tell him to buy the better upper control arms for the install?

[The_Bishop]

I'd say that the control arms haven't changed, as they haven't changed the suspension design on the 1500. The Mevotech part numbers are the same to 2015.

If he's leveling, a wise investment would be to swap out the control arms at the same time.

The other option is to go with the Bilstein 5100 adjustable shocks. They adjust height by moving the lower spring perch, so the overall droop is the same which eliminates the control arm issue... They also ride better.