Felt like we made some real progress and didn't have to run the propane heater nearly as much today to keep the garage warm. I hear it might be 50's next week so nice change of pace from the cold and wind for sure! Up first today was the angle drive. Figured easier to get that done prior to getting the new exhaust in. Pretty straight forward once you get it in your hands and see where it's going. This is the ZZP angle brace and feel better about having it to get me through until I get to the quad conversion.
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I'm putting on the ZZP rear turbo exhaust - figured it made sense compatibility wise since the turbo is ZZP etc... I have to be honest though I don't have a solution, but not a fan of how close the downpipe is to the frame/coolant line. It fits don't get me wrong and it's up above the frame this way where it avoids damage so totally get it... just figured we should probably wrap where it's going to touch so went to work on that. We got the stock transmission out and realized at that point while I had the poly block, I was missing the piece that mounts to that block and then to transmission. Kyle at ZZP was quick to identify my issue and will have a mount overnighted to me and shipped tomorrow. Awesome service and really appreciate him tolerating all my questions! I haven't got past the down pipe really, but need to start thinking about how this all will hang. I have no intentions of running the dual tip exhaust as the kit came. ZZP has a drag tip, so my plan is to dump in front of the rear tire. Since the dual setup would of had a mount up near where the stock license plate mount is - I'll need to come up with something to support it at the rear there without going up. I'm 100% sure my buddy is going to think of something!
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Since I'm on hold with exhaust at the moment we moved onto the RideTech springs I got from RevDynamics. These things are sexy town for sure! Front went pretty quick while the rear was a tad trickier going in through the access hole behind the passenger seat. With the sling on jack stands we kinda worked the jack under the rear tire that was still on and raised it a little until that top bolt slid out. Little silicone lube on the bushings to make sure they wouldn't fall out of the new shock and it was ready to go in. Getting the top bolt in was a little tricky. My buddy held the shock and I worked from the top with one of those magnets on a telescope to hold that bolt and work it back in with him telling me up, down, forward, right there it's in type thing. Two person job I think anyway, but was only slightly more challenging than the front! I love the look of these springs and can't wait to see how it impacts the overall ride quality!
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With shocks done, brake pads were next. I went with the Hawk performance series from DDM that so many of you have recommended. Another quick job I could actually help with a bit. The only trick was the rear and having to use pressure and spin the rear caliber piston to get it to compress. Google had that figured out as neither of had seen this setup and read that it has to do with the ebrake. Once you see those dimples though and understand how it works it made sense and was easy. Buddy also hit the back of the pads with this spray paint type stuff that I know nothing about but he says will help with any noise.
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So really just waiting on a few parts to wrap up the Turbo/Exhaust and it'll be ready to put fluids back in and fire this thing up! It's been nice to see the box collection in my buddy's garage slowly getting smaller! Based on reading the recent thread on insurance claims/adjusters...I decided I'm keeping all the oem parts as well so set aside some space in my pole barn in some totes to do that. Never know right? My buddy wants to get through one part of this project at a time and I don't blame him. So once turbo/exhaust done - I have a stereo system to put in here and some of those cool DDM hood vents that I'm excited about adding. That will wrap it up at my buddies and then plan is back to my garage to work on the wife's LED's. He'll help with the stereo but not a fan of these LED's and the wiring associated with his OCD to make things perfect.. I can appreciate that!
Hope all my new friends on here have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year! Here's to next year and all the fun it should bring based on 2020 lol!