Byrds8

Apparently the small reader I have does not have a temp gauge on it for coolant. I can see the cats apparently though. Not sure how useful that would be over the engines temp.

When I get my truck back this afternoon, Ill see if the cheap scan tool will show temp. I have a SCT tuner also that probably would for sure but sadly, I didn't un-marry it from the Camaro before I sold it so its just a big paperweight now lol.

Me getting around town has stretches of roads that hit 45 and 55 so she did get some air. I knew the fans still didn't kick on til later still. That will be taken care of when I get her tuned after the warranty is up. As for the feels like, I thought it had more to it than that. I understand non living things cant feel but I figured its like wet bulb temps that actually take into account humidity and such for a more accurate temp. Its all good though I can still learn new things lol.

Swapped the stock thermostat for a Katech 174 degree one. Saturday will be a transmission service then a wash. Currently waiting on a retractable tonneau cover and bed extender. So next week will be fun also. Update: Well, drove it around town taking my daughter to work. Still sits at 210 degrees. Guess it can only do so much when the feels like is 109. Update 2: The feels like is down to 93 and it still sits at 210. Guess changing the thermostat out isn't going to help my engine be any cooler than it was with the stock one.

The strive for quality left the building a long time ago. Now its all about the bottom line and peoples pockets more often than not. How far can we stretch, how many corners can we cut to lower the absolute cost to the company but get it to last "just long enough." Then blow smoke up a customer's rear to get them to believe somehow they just did them a favor.

Very nice truck for sure. I will say it definitely gave me a couple of ideas. I think I like the retractable cover along with the bed extender. It kind of solves the problem of the cover canister taking up some of the bed. If RC isnt as too bad, I supposed their 3.5" lift would be pretty good. I am really not looking for a lot in that realm of things. Just some because I think it looks much better overall vs the stock stance.

Nice. I thought about doing like a Rough Country lift but I heard it makes the ride crappy. And a lot seem to not like their stuff. Not to mention, I have no intention at this time to have larger tires. You need to post some pics.

Didn't know that having everything "level" really wasn't. I think Id rather have the fender wells not level than have a squat.

So very true that both are subjective to a degree. If memory serves, you cant use these with the spacers correct? If that's the case, why not? What happens when someone does? Seems like it wouldn't be different that any other strut if you didn't have it extended all the way. I will look up ACCUTUNE as you suggested. Thanks as always for the expert advise

I have no plans to go off road so it just needs to be good for normal street issues..pot holes, seams, speed bumps etc. I do understand at the end of the day its a truck and going to ride/drive like one. However, my goal is to be better than what it is without breaking the bank. Of course, "better", is subjective to an individual to some degree. In the end, I just do not want it worse.

I hope the whole "handles like (insert sedan or sports car here)" was not aimed at me. Being that I have driven both I know how both handle. I am not saying my truck will out perform my old car but the car did not go around curves as nice and sometimes hopped as it did it. With that said, I am not looking to stiffen it up to the point it rattles apart going over bumps etc. If putting those on and raising up and getting rid of the spacer will cause that, Ill keep what I have.

Guess I may have to go with them then. I have just under 52K on mine. I do not have the z71 package but there looks to be the plastic skid plate/belly pan, whatever you want to call it. If I put them at the highest setting, it still leaves a slight rank to if it memory serves from reading correct? I don't want the front higher than the rear that, IMHO, its not pleasant to look at lol.

I have seen a lot of post comparing the 5100s to Ranchos but I really haven't seen anything vs the plain stock shock. Is it worth the cost to switch to the 5100s from the plain shock? My biggest complaint about these are they are a little bouncy on the interstate. Not overly but they aren't just smooth either. I would hate to change something and get worse of a ride. I can also take a curve in the trunk pretty well. Sometimes I think it handles curves better than my Camaro did lol. It does have a front spacer also. Looks like it may have only lifted it 1" though. A previous owner had put that in. The front and rear sit about 1.25" difference from each other. Thanks for the advice.

Yeah I dont think I have seen anything over that either. This weekend it will be a coolant thermostat change to make the engine run cooler too.

What happens if the snap ring is in backwards?

Works for me. Then they don't have to waste my gas lol. Temp was great on the way home yesterday also. Never made it to 160 and it was 93 when I went home. I keep watching it to make sure I didn't put the snap ring in backwards and it shoot out or something lol.

Much better than 180-190ish.

Flipped the thermostat in my tranny yesterday. Going to work is a 37mi trip and temp never got above 137. Only hit that when I sat at a gate for a while. Even on the interstate it didnt go above 127.

Thanks GB. Just making sure it didn't some how change the flow of things lol.

I know there is no way for them to visually know. I am wondering if the ever how they do the fluid exchange would still work like it would if I never messed with it. Would the truck still pump out the fluid under its own power normally and take in the new etc?

I have plans to have a fluid exchange completed on my truck soon. I recently flipped the thermostat. Will this cause any issues with the service? Thank you

Mine did this but did it in forwards also. They replaced the vacuum pump and now shes great.

Replaced the cargo and reverse lights with 720lm LEDs. Man are they ever bright lol. Also had the vacuum pump replaced under warranty. Stops much better than when I got her in March for sure. Soon there will be a tranny fluid change and a new hard tri fold tonneau cover.

Looks awesome. I may have to find someone with a 3d printer lol. the funnel I have currently is a pain in the rear. Gj.

Very sad. Had the old turbine mag wheels on it also. Ahh the days before they thought they needed to shove computers in everything lol. At one point we had a camper shell on the back and went camping in that old truck. Had a bed built into the bed and everything.