Sas 01 2500hd 8.1

Charlie

New member
Mar 21, 2012
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Well I am finally getting around to starting this thread. Ive been super busy working on this truck so I havent had much time to do anything else.

A little over a year ago I had this: 2003 Z71. 6in procomp 3in body on 36in iroks. Pretty standard issue around this site

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I started getting the bug to start tug-a-truckin and I knew it would need a lot of work and money and thought why not just get an 8.1 and start with a beefier platform? So I traded my Z in on this: 2001 2500HD 8.1 w/ ally.

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Since then I have been saving like crazy and sold my snowmobile, also am trying to sell my quad.

A guy in our truck club had a 79 Ford Dana 60 HP w/ 4.10s and I snatched it up for $800. Heres what it looked like.

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I had a friend of mine go through the axle and check it all out and replace the things needing the most attention. Once the axle was cleaned up and close to being ready to go in I started spending that moldy money.

Here is the parts list as far as I can remember:

ORU-
+6 kit w/ 8in springs
sway bar kit
sye (still waiting on that)
trac bar ext. bracket
11in rear springs
front u bolts
braided lines front and rear
crossover steering kit
6 bilstein 5150s
4 blind sector shaft

other stuff-
GM 4.11 ring and pinion for rear 11.5 (waiting till this winter)
master install kit
dana 60 master overhaul kit
16x10 black procomp steelies to put my old iroks on
ruff stuff ubolt flip kit for rear
new perches for rear
new calipers and rotors and pads for front. and hardware kit
new calipers and pads for rear (broke bleeder screws)
new tie rod
kingpin rebuild kit
new shock tabs for rear
new studs and lug nuts for front
misc nuts and bolts and fluids

Im sure there is more but i cant remember at this time.

here are some of the parts laid out ready to install:

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Now some teardown and progress pics. I didnt take very many so sorry its kind of lacking. It was a very frustrating process for various reasons and I wasnt ever in the mood really to take pics.

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It took a full weekend then two weeks of working on it after work (had to drive an hour each way to my friends shop where it was) to get it drivable. More pics, sorry all of my pics have been with my phone...

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Ive cleaned it up a little since the pics were taken. If you want to see more or anything specific just ask and ill take some.

There is still a lot to do but im pretty tapped out on cash for now and I really need to concentrate on school. Only two more quarters until graduation!

It has a little bit of cali lean so i need to decide on either a shackle flip or block. I will prolly need the rear shaft lengthend too.

I havent really decided on wheels and tires yet. I like the black diesels in either an 18 or 20. Tires will hopefully be either a mudgrappler or mtz in a 38x15.50

My 4.11s/4.10s will only be run while I run the 36s, which may be awhile since wheels and tires will cost so much. This winter I want to get the gears and sye installed and get a front shaft made. Then Ill get my comp retuned, already by nelson.

for exhaust im running a dual in dual out magnaflow w/out cats, dumped right after the cab. Its pretty quiet but I like it. I got really annoyed driving it cut off right after the o2 sensors.

I know I didnt document it nearly as well as most people on this site but it was my first time actually lifting a truck and my first time making a thread like this. Im open to all suggestions and any help in making this better is greatly appreciated!

I have the cap back on for now and have added a dual steering stabilizer kit. Down the road when I get my 40s-42s ill get hydro assist. More in the near future, well after March at least, shackle flip, completely rebuild front axle, install SYE, get a front shaft, gear the rear axle, and some traction bars.

heres how it sits now:

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The springs dont ride too bad... no worse than riding in a lifted super duty, mine probably rides a little better.

Still turns the tires over easily at will, still stock 3.73s in the rear.

Axle isnt moving, its beneficial to have it pushed forward and that is how the kit is made too. With everything pretty much bolted to the U bolt plates I dont think it could be moved :confused: A different bumper will be added very far down the line.

This is still very much a learning process to me. Its the first lift ive actually put on, lots of help from two friends though. Progress is pretty much postponed until I have an income, I cant even afford to put gas in this thing!

I have this waiting to go in, i need to find a clocking ring for my tc first though.

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Well the time has come, only 2 finals left and I graduate. Sooooo that means parts parts parts.
Ive been talking with a local shop and Im just going to bite the bullet and have them get all my stuff and put it on for me. Lima is coming up and I will make sure its done and I fully intend on pulling at Wapak. Here is what the shop is getting me prices for and I will have them do:

42x15 pittbull rockers
5.13 gears front/rear
ARB lockers front/rear. Might as well take advantage of the tank promotion going on.
Lengthen rear shaft and have a front made
Install SYE
35 spline front axle shafts
new lock outs
1410 yoke on the 60
PSC hydro assist kit from ORD
High Steer kit from ORD
Shackle flip from ORD
Change rear shock set up and add some sort of traction bar setup

Im pretty sure thats it, and ill order a retune from Nelson. After all this the truck wont get much more spent on it. Need to find a tow rig and trailor hopefully sometime this year. The next few weeks can not go fast enough!

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Truck is still in the shop. Some slight change in plans, ARBs were on back order so I opted for a spool in the rear, mainly because I cant see spending 1000 bucks for the grizzly. For the front I hoped for an OX locker but they were also not available, so the front gets a Detroit. And the tires and wheels are now 39.5x16.5 - 17 Rockers on 17x10 DI17's

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Well here's how shes gonna be for Lima. Kinda ran out of time so after Lima the rear shackle angle will get perfected along with anything else that needs attention. But, finally 4wd! Some final specs:

5.13s F/R
Spooled rear, Detroit front
35 spline front shafts with bushing style ujoints (lifetime warranty)
warn premium lockouts
PSC hydro assist kit with 2" ram and cooler
shackle flip
1.5" x .375 wall tierod
ORU SYE installed
single cv front shaft, 1410 yoke at pinion
traction bars
heavy duty front diff cover
39.5x16.5-17 Pittbull Rockers on 17x10 DI17's
retune from nelson, and I think thats it

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First tug carnage:
Yeah it wasn't fun putting it in drive from under the truck without an emergency brake. Here's a couple carnage pics.

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First to make it through

Passenger's view point

Couple more

And some racing...
 
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Thanks :beer:. I'd like to lose the steps but I occasionally have to take older clients to leases so they come in handy. I'd shoot for AMPS but with as many muddy lease roads as I go down (I've been known to be dragged out by a dozer a few times) I would probably have them ruined in no time. Any thing done to your PSD? I know it says mostly stock but I didn't know if you had it tuned or anything.
 
I love my steps I think they are just like yours. I think they look good and help keep my seats nice. My psd is only straight piped and it had an aem on it when I got it. I don't really want to do anything to it till I have to. I'll try to find a good pic of it. What's done to yours?
 
I absolutely love that color. I also wouldn't mind having cab lights on mine either. My old 99 F-350 had them. I've got a leveling kit up front (have yet to put my blocks in the back - fucking time), straight piped, and an H&S mini maxx. Definitely a work truck for me. Hard to see but I've got the transfer tank in the back and simple things like a built in cell phone booster. Not most peoples cup of tea but it serves a purpose for me. I'd love to have it looking like my brother's truck:

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Both nice trucks man! You should join over at powerstroke army. My name is Only Tons there. I may get rid of mine this year. Don't hardly drive it and my commute is 70 miles a day so it's not very economical to drive, hence the civic.
 
I feel you on that. I drive over 200 miles a day at 11-12 mpg. Thank God for company fuel! I'm thinking seriously about going with a 2010-11 and leaving it bone stock (maybe).
 
One more old pic
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How it has been sitting since March 2012
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It still has gas in it from June 2011. After the holidays I'll order some shit for it and get it up and driving again.