I've never sound deadened anything so I wouldn't know but I have heard good stuff about that hushmat stuff Korey made a how-to on and Dynamat.

you can leave your bumper and valence alone. they don't have to be changed.

 

After some browsing around online looking at reviews and prices, I decided to get some MurderMat last night. Looks like some really good stuff. I only got 80sqft. Not quite enough to go crazy with, but plenty to make a big difference over what I have now.

Took the door panels out yesterday afternoon. Those and the dash are all that's left to paint. Everything else is looking really good so far. I'm still waiting to get my Dremel back from being repaired so I can finish the gauge cluster. If it wasn't under warranty I would've just got a new one by now since it's taking so long! Going to try to get the seats taken to the upholstery shop and take the motor to get rebuilt this week. Just have to get the time to do it.

 

yessss

 

I'm impressed with MurderMat so far. Order shipped today, and I didn't place it til around 11:00 last night!

 

Got the MurderMat in! Going to start on it this evening. I'm painting the front door panels right now. After that, the only thing left to paint will be the dash.

 

Sweet! Let me know how that stuff works out I want to do my truck.

Started on your corners teaser pics to come.

 

I'm being conservative with it right now and not completely covering everything since I only ordered 80sqft, but once I hit all of the big spots I'll go back and apply some more.

It'll be awhile before I have a road test, but I can tell just from what I laid down today that it's some good stuff. Even with my interior completely stripped out, the 2 doors I've done so far sound so much better than they used to when I close them. Much more solid and more of a thud sound. They definitely feel heaver too. The doors will get most of what's left over when I get done with everything else so that'll only make it better.

 

Teaser of what's coming to go with the projectors

 

Those are gonna look so sexy with the projectors! Related question: I'm going to change the corner lights out with LEDs. Do y'all think I should get white or amber ones? I'm going to use these switchbacks for the turn signals.

 

Talked to the guy that has the Expo today.... He called to say the axle seals that came with my master install kit wouldn't fit, so I had to go get some new ones. Good news is he'll be done with the rear end tomorrow.

I'll be out of town most of next week, but hopefully the motor will be apart from the transmission so a buddy of mine can take it to the engine builder while I'm gone. They should only have the engine a few weeks.

Also got new tails and some LEDs delivered today. Got reverse lights, corner lights, and some switchbacks for the headlights. Old tails will be for sale!

 

Update time!!

Got the gauge cluster done! I figured out how to attach it to the dash trim piece, and I cut it down to just the right size so that it doesn't need any extra bracing like I originally thought I'd need. The white you see in the pic is some of the bonding material that seeped through. I've since given it all a fresh coat of paint. I ran out of daylight today before I could finish masking off the windows in preparation for painting the dash. It'll be tough, but I want to paint it this week.

Also finished the Murdermat install. I obviously haven't driven around yet to try it out, but my doors are much more solid and all I hear are thuds when I bang around the floor and roof of the cab. I expect some major improvements when the time comes.

I have some left over if anyone wants it. I can figure out exactly how much it is and we can work out a price. It's probably around 25 sqft or so.

I got ahold of Erica with the TM headers a few weeks ago, and she took my info, but never got back with me about making any payments. I've tried emails, but all I got was a reply saying she's been busy. I'm going to try it again tomorrow. The last thing I want is a running engine/drivetrain and no exhaust.

The last update is a good news/bad news thing... Bad news is I don't have a "swap shop" anymore. The Ranger is still at my house getting the interior worked on, and the Explorer is still at the transmission shop. Good news (bad for my wallet) is that I should be able to get the engine guy to do the swap for me so that I can drop off the Ranger with the 3.0, and pick it up ready to run with the 347. It'll save me the time because I won't have to just work on it at night, it'll just cost me more money. Considering all the work I've done on the interior and the planning I've put into every other detail, it doesn't hurt too bad knowing I probably won't get to do the full swap myself. It'll also save me the potential headache of troubleshooting issues when the swap happens.

To be continued...

Edit: Almost forgot I installed a 13-inch shorty antenna the other day. No pics though. And I got in my 8.8 axle swap kit from RuffStuff today. I'm either getting old or I'm doing way too much work at one time on this thing! I'll take the latter since I'm 24 lol

 

Officially placed an order and put down a deposit on some Torque Monster headers today!! Erica said they should be delivered in about 8 weeks.

Dang, someone besides me needs to post in this thread. I feel like I'm talking to myself lol

 

I've been lurking. If I try to post at work I get blocked from the internet haha.

Looks good so far man. 8 weeks is a long time but it'll give the shop time to do the motor work you're wanting to do

 

I know exactly how you feel and I'll only be 23 next month.

Truck will be badass when it's all done though. Wish I could do a engine swap in mine, but lack of place and funds is keeping me from it.

BTW gauges turned out pretty good.

 

Haha yeah, I know what you mean. I can still post on here from work, but I can't get on AR15.com anymore which kinda sucks.

I was honestly a little relieved to find out it was only going to be 8 weeks. It should work out pretty well with the time line of everything else going on.

Thanks man. I took a little inspiration from the 06+ gauges minus the information screen. I still need to put the blinker lights and CEL in before it can go back in the dash though.

This whole rebuild is something I've been wanting to do for years, but I never had a place or funds to do it either. I still don't have a place to do it, but I've been saving up the money for this for a long time. I know it'll never be completely finished because I'll always be tinkering with it and making improvements, but this will put it as close to finished as it has ever been.

 

This project has be really wanting to tear mine down and do a swap. I've been seeing V8 Exploders around for small money lately, and very tempted to scoop one up. My 3.0 has been reliable, but I'm really getting burned out on it's lack of power.

Keep up the work. This truck is going to be sweet.


Use your phone.

 

Same! All these v8 swap threads have me thinking lol. Although the blower is a lot of fun, not sure I could give up the whine.

 

I don't see why you can't have both!

 

Don't put it past me to do something like that one day down the road lol

 

I don't get any 3 or 4G inside which sucks lol. Sometimes when I'm really bored I use a proxy server though haha there are a few that aren't blocked.

btw, do a v8 swap! it would be awesome.

 

Yeah, all of y'all need to do a V8 swap!

 

SAS first for me then maybe a big V8 swap...

 

SAS isn't in the cards for me right now. Maybe one day. I'll just stick with lift spindles, skyjacker rear springs, and 35s for now. That's what the plan is anyway lol

 

Got a few coats laid down on the dash

 

Also, does anyone have the part numbers or a link to buy the interior Cristmas tree retainers? I pulled out some long (~ 1 11/16" shaft) and short (~ 7/8" shaft) ones. I'd like to get some that are already black if possible. I can paint them if I have to get gray ones though.