hi guys, im getting a PA BL (3") and i have 3 days (+friday nite) to install it. i hear it takes 2 people about a day and half to do. can i do it myself having never done it b4 in 3 days?

do i need a other person to help with a lot of lifting?

i have to be finished at the end of monday so i can goto work :(

thanks guys!

ps any tools that i will need other then normal (socket set and stuff)?

 

There is a how to somewhere on here i think....But yes you can do it by yourself, just alittle bit tricky...

Make sure you have PB blaster or some kind of penatrating oil......a little torch to heat up the nuts so the frame bolts come out....

Rocky

 

id have somebody else there to help with the lifting..

but yes it CAN be done with one person but it would be a PAIN in the ***..

well how will you get the body bolts off with one person?

 

It's completely possible. I did mine by myself for the first time in about 8 hours. I had 2 other guys that were there but they didn't want to help. I'd say that you would need an impact wrench more than anything. Sockets and breaker bars just won't cut it. A floor jack with some good 4x4's cut to different lengths is going to help too if you're by yourself lifting the cab. And also more than anything, a lot of patients.

 

i did mine by myself. it took me all of 2 1/2 days and im not that experienced.

that is a very good list of things to have and you will prob want all of them.

 

day and a half!!!???!!!??? what???

one friend and myself throw on a 1" bl in about 3 hours. First timers too at body lifting.

anyway...find a buddy, get yourself a MAPP gas torch, a 1/2 inch metric socket set....and a nice breaker bar. Can't forget it's ALOT easier if your have access to an air compressor and an air impact. My cab mounts were really on htere....thread lock on the entire length of the bolts...so the impact wouldn't take it off. Out comes the breaker bar with extension. That was the most time consuming was just breaking those cab bolts loose.

 

Use a propane torch on the bottom of the cab bolts. Helped SOO much.

Oh also, Andy and I did my truck in one day, something like sometime early afternoon to about 7 PM. And we stopped because there was a tornado.

 

and how helpful are the PA instructions, what im most warryed about is the stearing extention... that is the most unknown...

and ill get some PB blaster. i have a electric (craftsman) impact gun, but its big and bulky. and i have a small brazing torch (lil blue bottle, propane i think, for doing copper pipes)

 

Bed bolts were no problem for me....get yourself a T55 socket for those torx bolts. The bed is quite easy....just have the friend lift the corner of the bed while you slip in the spacer. The cab bolts and core support bolts......I heated them just until the rubber started smoking.

I'll post a pic of this mods best friends.........

EDIT:



I used a floor jack with a 6x6 wood block with a 2x4 screwed to the top of it to spread out the load. I uncscrewed all the bolts, left one side half way threaded in and lifted the other side. I lifted the cab enough to slide in the block.


I hope any of this helps. Keep in mind....mine was just a 1".

 

thanks for the imput, ya glade to hear the lil propane torch will work, i get done posting that i have one and 2 people say to use it while im typing lol

thanks everyone for the imput!!

i might be able to talk my GF into helping me with some lifting, im going to my mom's house becouse im in a condo (apparent style) and all the tools are over there, my dad would help me but he is going to be in montana hunting (poor guy)

i dont wanna ask my mom to help lol

 

She would be helpful holding the wrench for you and setting the bed pucks in.

Oh also, those lil metal brackets you put underneath your bed(you will see) do not need to be tack welded in. Both Andy and I never did, and they haven't even moved.

 

a other member is sending me his lightly used kit, so once i get it ill take a look at it, im sure ill have some more questions once i look at the parts:P

weee i feel like a kid waiting on santa!

 

i would love to be done in 5 hrs, and enjoy the 3 day weekend lol

im hoping for the best and trying to plan for the worst

 

ok im going to make a check list of everything i need, since once i start i will not have a truck i can drive to get parts
[ ] metric tool set (sockets and stuff)
[ ] T-xx set
[ ] PB buster
[ ] lock tight (to put on once im done)
[ ] scrap wood 4x4 and 2x4
[ ] floor jack
[ ] torch (small propane brazing torch ok)
[ ] Impact gun
[ ] PA body lift kit
[ ] beer

 

when we lifted Brian's old truck it took about 6 hours with 6 people working/BSing on the truck

 

My brother did his 89 F150 by himself in one night if I remember right.

 

I just did my PA BL in about 12 hours solo, except for the bumpers. It is much easier to put the bumpers back on with two people. I couldn't get the bumper lined up and on myself. Also make sure your sockets are deep dish sockets. Not shallow. For some of the bolts, as on the bumper, the deeper sockets will really help. I didn't use a torch for anything, just a breaker. But one thing that sucked was that PA didn't pack in two 200mm bolts, they ended up putting in two extra 160mm bolts???? I ended up going to a hardware store for those, no biggy though, they were just for the bed. Oh, I didn't use any torx sockets, probably better if you did, but I had some allen head sockets that fit snug and worked fine. Just so you know in case you run across some torx bolts and don't have the right size....

 

I did mine by myself with just hand tools. No torch. It took me about 20 hours total. That includes the 3 hours for the front bolts that were a PITA. Also includes the 2 hours I tried getting the bumper brackets to work but will not since my bumper is slightly bent.

Was not too difficult I just took my time and enjoyed working in the HOT August sun while I was doing it.

This also includes putting on the new tires which back then prolly took an hour or more (now I can do it in 30 minutes remember no air tools and a small hydraulic jack)

 

Yeah I did mine by myself with just basic tools in my apartment parking lot, took about 20 hours, including breaks and going to the auto parts store to get things I needed. The cab bolts were a pain cause I had the door open with a pipe wrench holding the bushings and a socket wrench cranking the bolt. fun stuff

 

I highly recommend have a buddy for safety reasons. I just finished a BL and a superlift install. I am new here, but just finished both (first time). The only issues I had were aligning the rear bumper, I broke the bolts holding the bed, and now I have to modify the brackets for the Westin Bull Bar. Take your time, and let PB blaster soak in!