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Go Black or Keep Chrome? Truck Upgrades.
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Go Black or Keep Chrome? Truck Upgrades.Posted:

Naxek
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04 Silverado Extended Cab
Should I stay with chrome on my upcoming upgrades or go black?
I'm getting nerf steps, tool box, etc. soon and I want to know what would look the best.
Here are some pictures of my truck currently.


Current Specs:
18" American Racing Dale Jr. Edition Ribelle Rims
Cooper Zeon LTZ 285/65/18
Bull Bar
Tinted Windows
Dual Flowmaster "American Thunder" Exhaust w/ 4" Tips.
Keys Cranked


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#2. Posted:
C4
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i would black out everything!

Chrome is for old men and fgts!
#3. Posted:
002
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I like a little chrome but not overly done. I don't much care for the blacked out look either, it looks like someone got their paycheck and went to E-bay to rice out their truck.

With that being said, I'd ditch those wheels, get tow mirrors, take the side moldings off, get some real tires, take off the bull bar and get an aftermarket bumper or grill guard, and lift it a couple inches. I think a 3" body lift on 33x12.5R17's or 16's would go nice on that truck. If new wheels are in the budget, I'd look into something like the XD series spy wheels. Your truck has a nice mix of chrome and black and so do the wheels, that's why I put them on my truck lol.
#4. Posted:
Naxek
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002 wrote I like a little chrome but not overly done. I don't much care for the blacked out look either, it looks like someone got their paycheck and went to E-bay to rice out their truck.

With that being said, I'd ditch those wheels, get tow mirrors, take the side moldings off, get some real tires, take off the bull bar and get an aftermarket bumper or grill guard, and lift it a couple inches. I think a 3" body lift on 33x12.5R17's or 16's would go nice on that truck. If new wheels are in the budget, I'd look into something like the XD series spy wheels. Your truck has a nice mix of chrome and black and so do the wheels, that's why I put them on my truck lol.


Yeah, the rims came on the truck when I bought it. I've been debating on taking the bull bar off, although a new aftermarket bumper is out of the budget right now. I'm getting new 33" tires in the next few weeks and I'm looking to get nerf steps, and a tool box (both black) next then maybe a 3" suspension lift and new rims by the end of the summer. I turn 16 in 2 weeks so then I'm going to be getting a job were I can do some more expensive upgrades such as the wheels and lift.
#5. Posted:
002
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I'm not sure if they make a suspension lift. If I remember right that truck is going to have a torsion bar front suspension (no leaf springs or coil springs in the front like a normal truck lol). Follow those bars to right under the doors and you will see they go into a cross member. In that cross member there is a bolt that you can tighten or loosen, this will raise and lower the front end. You can only do it so much before you destroy front end components though, on '97-03 Ford F-150's the magic number is 24.25" and below from the center of the hub to the fender.

When looking for a lift, do not get the ones with torsion keys. They will allow you to go too far (stock ones will too often times) and that's how they get the lift but you will basically replace your front suspension every 6 months, I played that game lol. Look around for the number, look on some Chevy forums and see what people are saying as far as measurement. Before you get that far though, take a peek under the truck to see if I remember right or maybe I'm thinking of a different year of Chevy truck lol.

As far as the tires, if you do end up doing the lift you'll be able to clear 35's so you might want to hold off on buying tires.

When looking for a toolbox, do not get the plastic ones. I had one for a bit and they are cheap and horrible. Get a nice diamond plate one, even if it is shiny aluminum. You will notice that the aluminum scratches kinda easy, if you paint it it won't last long, and the plastic ones scratch very easy and leave very sharp knife blade like plastic chunks on the box. I would get an aluminum box and coat it in bed liner if you want it black.
#6. Posted:
Naxek
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002 wrote I'm not sure if they make a suspension lift. If I remember right that truck is going to have a torsion bar front suspension (no leaf springs or coil springs in the front like a normal truck lol). Follow those bars to right under the doors and you will see they go into a cross member. In that cross member there is a bolt that you can tighten or loosen, this will raise and lower the front end. You can only do it so much before you destroy front end components though, on '97-03 Ford F-150's the magic number is 24.25" and below from the center of the hub to the fender.

When looking for a lift, do not get the ones with torsion keys. They will allow you to go too far (stock ones will too often times) and that's how they get the lift but you will basically replace your front suspension every 6 months, I played that game lol. Look around for the number, look on some Chevy forums and see what people are saying as far as measurement. Before you get that far though, take a peek under the truck to see if I remember right or maybe I'm thinking of a different year of Chevy truck lol.

As far as the tires, if you do end up doing the lift you'll be able to clear 35's so you might want to hold off on buying tires.

When looking for a toolbox, do not get the plastic ones. I had one for a bit and they are cheap and horrible. Get a nice diamond plate one, even if it is shiny aluminum. You will notice that the aluminum scratches kinda easy, if you paint it it won't last long, and the plastic ones scratch very easy and leave very sharp knife blade like plastic chunks on the box. I would get an aluminum box and coat it in bed liner if you want it black.


I'm most likely getting a Camlocker toolbox. I've taken my truck to the Chevy Service Center and they told me my keys were find where their at. I'm probably just going to get a Rough Country leveling kit at first. I have no desire to run 35's until I have enough saved up for a 6" lift and 20" wheels.

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#7. Posted:
002
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That kit is useing aftermarket torsion keys, do not use them for reasons stated above. Rough country is also going to have you stack blocks which isn't the safest. I had a Rough Country leveling kit for my '97 F-150, dumped it, and bought their 5" suspension lift. Both had my stack blocks. Even the 6" lift for my old F-350 was using stacked blocks.

If you're looking for a level, crank the torsion bars (look online for the magic number) and put an add-a-leaf kit in the read, or even two. Then buy longer Bilstein 5100 series shocks. This method is a little more pricey, but it is solid and will ride great. Not only that, your truck will sag less when loading it down. This should run I'd imagine 300 with just 1 AAL or 350-400 with two. Rough country is a cheap alternative but they use some sketchy parts. I bought my truck for 5k, I now have 16k total into it. Some times the cheapest way is more expensive lol. If I would've fronted an extra few hundred dollars to get quality parts, I would've saved thousands.
#8. Posted:
TMack
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IMO I don't like chrome at all, would look much better blacked out!
#9. Posted:
Naxek
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TMack wrote IMO I don't like chrome at all, would look much better blacked out!


I'm a fan of certain chrome wheels. I would kill for a set of American Force's.
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