As the word got out that the Decking out the Dodge project truck was going to get off the ground...about 5" higher off the ground...Skyjacker was quick to step up to the plate and get involved. After visiting with Larry Conville of Skyjacker Corp., we were given his expertise on which way to go. He worked out the order and the next thing we knew the boxes arrived at the shop. Larry lined us up with the 5” Dodge lift kit #D45523 . It was like Christmas for Brad as he dug through the boxes sorting them.

The wheels were set in motion and Brad went home to think it through. When 02:30 the next morning rolled around, most of the front lift was installed. He still lacked a couple of holes to be drilled and bolts to be put in. He had rolled the Dodge into the shop and set the process in motion. He began by loosening the track bar at the axle housing then removing the other end from the frame, and lowering it down and connected it to the new drop pitman arm.

He then removed the drag link from the pitman arm and lowered it down. Next the upper shock tower and the lower shock bolts were removed and the shocks were pulled up through the coil springs from under the hood. The axle was then lowered down until the coil springs became loose.

At the front lower link adjustment cams, he marked the vertical line on the cam and the reinforcement bracket for reference so it could be realigned after the installation. The poly bushing in the end of the links was installed. A small amount of lube was placed on the bushings. The upper and lower links from both sides were removed and the lower links were replaced with the new Skyjacker links. To keep from having to drop the exhaust to remove the bolt on the passenger side upper control arm, Brad choose to loosen the bolt and slide it out far enough to cut the bolt head off and then slide it out from the outside. Then he replaced the bolt with a new 14mm X 140mm grade 10 bolt from the outside of the frame. This saved a lot of time by not having to drop the exhaust. Next he installed the new upper control arm relocation bracket over the factory bracket on the axle.

He marked two additional holes on each side of the bracket and drilled the 15/32” holes. The Skyjacker dual shock kit top and bottom were installed. Next, the 3 bolt tower ring is placed inside the top of the coil tower and loosely bolted into place. The coils are started in from the bottom with a rubber isolator on top of the coil and moved into position. The shock is fed up through the coil and then all is secured.

The stud ends were reattached to the front sway bar and then he removed the 2 bolts at the frame from each side of the sway bar and lowered the bar down. Install the new sway bar lower brackets with the offset sloping toward the front bumper. Next we installed the tires, removed the jack stands, and lowered the vehicle to the ground. We attached the drag link to the pitman arm and torqued it to specs. Then we raised the track bar up and bolted it to the bottom of the new track bar drop bracket using the 9/16 x 3” fine threaded bolt. We tightened each end of the upper and lower links and made sure the realignment of the marks on the eccentric cams were correct.

Now it was time to move to the rear of the truck. We placed a floor jack under the rear axle and raised the truck off the ground. Jack stands were placed under the frame to support the truck and the tires and rear shocks were removed. The u-bolts were unbolted and the axle lowered (watch that axle, it can now move around on you).
We had to loosen the fuel tank and lower it a bit and slide it toward the inside of the frame to get the front spring holder bolt out on the driver side, as again they put the bolt in from the inside at the factory.
We carefully removed the old spring packs from the Dodge and moved the new ones into place (now these things are heavy!). The axle was aligned and the u bolts replaced and tightened down. The shocks were replaced, tires put back on and the truck lowered back onto the ground.

STICKIN ON THE BLING
 
After the completion of the 5 “ Skyjacker Lift Kit, Brad cornered his brother, Matt.  Matt Austin is the owner and operator of Austin Signs and Graphics which is located in Oklahoma City.  Matt set out to make up the decals and deck out the exterior of the “Decking out the Dodge” project truck.
 
After getting the approval of Skyjacker, Matt downloaded the Rock Ready decal design and went to work.  Brad and Matt jumped onto the after hours project late on a Friday evening and then wrapped it up late Saturday.
 
There will be some additional graphic decals added later and we will bring you up to date as that transpires.  But, for now, we want to thank Matt and Austin Signs and Graphics for their help in “Decking out the Dodge”.

So in 2 evenings after work the entire kit was installed using only basic tools. This was a very easy kit to install and could be done by anyone with basic knowledge, common sense, and basic tools. The Decking out the Dodge Project truck rides as good if not better that it did in its stock form.

We want to thank Larry and the rest of the Skyjacker team for their support on this project and for building a quality product all the while giving Glory to God for their success. They are definitely the kind of company that we like doing business with.

Stay tuned next month while we install the Skyjacker Dual Steering Stabilizer on the Decking out the Dodge Project Truck. I wonder what will come after that, as the Big Dodge continues the climb to be one big, bad, tow rig? Guess we will all have to just stay tuned to the Decking out the Dodge section of project vehicles here at C4X4. See Ya then…..