Well now that I have decided to go ahead with all my plans for the truck I figured now would be the time to create a build log. Here we go...
This is how I got the truck back in 2009 with a little over 7000mi on her. Garbage pic, I know, but its all I got from before.

Only thing done to it over stock was the topper that my grandfather put on her before he passed away along with the bug screen and deflector.
As time went on, the Dewification began. First mod was the "DEWEY" along with the Fish vanity plate.

Next came the get stuck mod..

then I never realized how funny it looked with the stock 28's until I got some 31's

Then I decided that the rims were too plain and took care of that

It made the truck look better to me.

Then I got some seat covers and upgraded the stereo a little with my first sub.


Then I upgraded the stereo again with a double din and back-up camera when my dad sold his old truck and put the stock one back in his.

Next came the "was that a telephone pole I just hit mod"


Pulled the bumper off and fixed it, can't hardly tell now.

Went on vacation and found out someone in another country had the same idea I had

Next I decided to upgrade the stereo again and go bigger

Also did some led lighting along the way, under the doors and such.
Next thing was the Tough Country AAL which was pretty darn easy if you ask me.
And this is how she sits today


I recently decided to go ahead with the lift I have always contemplated and now have parts accumulating at the house.

(pay no attention to my foot)
Ordered my JD traction bars the other night along with my new 4.88 Yukon ring and pinion. The ring and pinion should be here today and the bars should be here Monday.

the only things left on the shopping list as of now are the Detroit Trutrac, rims, and some 35" BFG AT's or MT's maybe. Already got the spindles, BL, F-250 Shocks, Belltech 6400s and repair manual. Updates will come as soon as more stuff arrives! Hoping to have the lift done by the new year!

 

Truck looks good! I like the red on the stock rims!

 

I did end up getting my Yukon Ring and Pinion yesterday, sure doesn't look like $230 though.

But I guess if you're gonna go big, you're gonna have to spend big.

My traction bars should be here Monday hopefully!

 

Well, got my JD traction bars about a week ago,

Settling into the new semester of college along with the end of the mowing season. Hopefully I'll be able to start installing in a month or so.

 

Came to the decision that I'm going to do a rebadge on the truck along with the 06+ mirrors. Probably start ordering in the next week. I'd also love to get an STX grille, but that will be in the distant future unless one falls in my lap(highly unlikely).

 

Nice! I ordered some custom badge overlays a few days ago, and installed 06 mirrors yesterday. I still need to paint the caps, though. I'm seriously considering an STX grille too since I'll already have the header panel off during the motor swap, but it wouldn't be hard to do any other time.

Sounds like we have a lot of the same ideas going haha

 

Nice progress so far

 

Nice. A suggestion before you install the traction bars is to lightly scuff them with a red 3M pad and spray them with rustoleum undercoating. The quality of the powder coating on the traction bars is very poor. Mine looked like **** after a few months but at least you don't have snow down there in FL lol

 

Yeah, when I opened the box there were already deep scratches all over them since they only packed then with a little newspaper. I think we have some under coating left over from my dads car laying around.

 

Just ordered my 06 power mirrors with the paintable caps off Ebay, should be here by next week

 

Got my new mirrors this week. Trying to decide if I want to paint the caps red or if I want to paint them chrome, or buy a chrome pair, or even a different color. Decisions, decisions.

 

If you buy chrome caps, I may take the paint to match ones off your hands lol

you'll be surprised how much more viewing area you'll have with the new mirrors

 

That's what I'm hoping for! I'll probably go with red since nothing else on the truck is going to be chrome except for the 06 badges, which I picked up 3 today. I'm still waiting on the ford oval though.

 

What're y'all using to paint the mirror caps? I had some of that Rustoleum 2x paint laying around that I tried to paint mine with, but it didn't turn out as well as I would've liked. I was going to get some Krylon but just haven't had a chance yet.

 

I'm gonna try to use some rustoleum I have left over from when I backed into the telephone pole. Scuff it, spray it, and clear it. If it dont look right, ill try again.
I think Pedro bought some ppg color matched paint in a rattle can and just cleared over it when he was done.

 

I was planning to make a trip to Home Depot this evening. I'll see what I can find. Thanks

 

What did you come up with. I grabbed a can of krylon for plastic and some clear from walnart

 

Ended up getting some Krylon Colormatch gloss red and clear. I've been using their satin black on all of my interior parts and been pretty pleased, so I figured I'd stick with what I know. I sanded the old paint down, and laid a coat of primer, 4 coats of red, and have the third coat of clear drying right now. I'll put another coat or 2 of clear on in the morning and let it sit all weekend while I'm out of town before I try to put them on.

 

Got my 06+ Corners today in the mail! Too bad its love bug season down here or I'd go put them on right now But oh well, I've already been waiting for years to lift her in the first place

 

Just made the most expensive purchase to date


Now all I need is rims/ tires and everything will be taken care of! I think I picked out my rims too



Gonna have to wait a little while though. but I'm liking them. Opinions anyone?

 

The UPS man left me a couple presents today!

 

Nice! I've seen the DC's on a few Rangers before. Some looked good with them, others not so much IMO. Just depends on if it goes with the rest of the truck. I know those wheels aren't exactly chrome, but if nothing else on your truck is going to be chrome, are you sure you don't want wheels that are primarily black?

 

I've been looking for a while, but nothing is really floating my boat. I was contemplating the Ultra Nomads on Summit, but I was going to have to paint them black/red before even mounting a tire. I liked the style, but they were just gray and chrome. I like the looks of the rims I have now with the polished aluminum and the red, so I was wanting something close. I kinda was looking for an aluminum rim though so if it gets scratched it wont want to rust. But I haven't clicked "purchase" yet so i'm definitely open to suggestions. I know a guy that has them on his dodge 1500 with 35s. I like the look on his, but his truck is white too. I want something simple, but that still catches the eye.

 

I don't like any dick cepek wheels but thats just my opinion lol

 

I think they'd be better if they didn't say his name on them.