Leviticus

Hey guys, Baggin an ss. - Slam RE 8’s in rear - Slam RE 7’s in front - Over top control arm installation (keeping AWD) - Parallel 4 link with pan head bar - Parker Valves, ½” line, ViAir Compressor, 200 psi - Dakota Digital pressure gauge, custom fiberglass mount - Digi-Key sealed rocker switches, custom fiberglass mount Had a pretty frustrating day today. I’ve just received all the parts to install my air ride on my 2005 Silverado SS AWD. REALLY REALLY EXCITED!!! So I took the pieces into a friends body shop, who has done these before ( he says) and I left feeling really down. He says it would take him 3 months!!! And he would want 10K to do it. Adding that he would have to remove the fenders, bumpers, and possibly the engine, to install the front bags correctly. Now I KNOW that that was a ridiculous statement. 3 months is crazy, and removing the engine?!?! Not necessary. Especially on my baby. BUT he did bring up a few really interesting points. And I wanted your guys ez opinions, please. 1: I’m putting slams re 7’s up front.. And im keeping the awd. So ill be fabricating 2 custom brackets that allows me to mount the bag on top of the top control arm, and also to the frame just above it. He says that the stock control arms are made of ‘reinforced’ steel? Or something like that. Where they pour the steel into a molding and it makes the shape like that. He said that it is a very hard and sturdy steel which is great But that you CAN NOT weld to it. If you try, the steel will crack. So does that mean I need to buy aftermarket control arms? And if so can I just buy a top one, or should I just buy the two? OR can I actually weld to the control arm? 2: time line. I already have the compressor, switches, guages, wiring, and some valves installed right now. I need to remove the bed and get in there with some welding, cutting, grinding, etc. My question to ya’ll is: How long should I set aside to do the front? And how much of the truck am I going to have to disassemble? Fenders? Wheel wells? . . . . Also, how long for the back? I’m a good welder, and I’m very creative. I’ve done a lot of body work and painting. I work pretty hard and am not really easily distracted. I’ve thought through the many steps over and over in my head so much that it feels like old news already. However I havent actually installed an air ride before. So keep that in mind for the timelines. Also if you guys can think of some tools I might be overlooking. Welder, cutting torch, portaban saw, clamps, jacks, jack stands, grinder, drill, lots of welding rod, a few friends for the bed, and a lot of patience. Also, when installing these systems, do you sometimes have to remove the brackets and re mount? or most of the time, as long as you have a freaking clue, does it work out the first time? Thanks guys , Levi in Hawaii

im not sure if the 06 hd hood fits the 1500 hood. i would guess so, but really i just dont know. i do know that all 06 and 07 1500 hoods fit the 03-05 1500 as well as the hd's. but the grille lines are diff.

i want a low maintinence wheel. but i want it as close to chrome as i can without it being chrome. is polishes a high main. finish like chrome or is it kinda more like silver? thanks, levi

the 06 1500 hood is the exact hood that was used on the 03 HD. minus the grille line. If you want to replace an 06 hood with the 03 hood. it is a direct swap. however you will also have to change the grill to an 06 grille as well. this has been posted a few times on here. there are a few on here that want to do this same thing, including me. its no prob. you just have to do them both.

alright guys, this is just what i wanted. and thank you for not gettin too mean. i agree the style is a little dated. but how many SSS are there that have 18-22 or 24 that tuck? or that dont tuck but still look the same as the ones that do. That i've seen, every single one of them. So.. . . . just lookin for a little bit of origionality, along with some class. BUT mainly function. no low pros and no chrome. I would consider black rims, or maybe a black with a little chrome if it looked good. anyone have pics of our trucks with black rims? Polished finished rims? Anything other than chrome that looks good? thanks Guys

you dont like that white chevy with the wheels? well, i guess we're all a little differant. but i sure do.

i hit a pot hole the other day and DESTROYED one of my beloved chrome 24's. I was already getting pretty sick of the continued maintenace of the chrome (hawaii's really hard on chrome). and after that pot hole. . . . i said im done and they are now for sale. So i want a lot more of tire, and not chrome. but what looks good? Im in the middle of installing an air ride on my SSS. So they either need to be able to tuck or be small enough to not hit the fender when im fully lowered. I dont plan on laying frame, and from my figuring, a 24" tire or 235-245 would be fine (not hitting the fender) , and probably a 17 or 18" rim. Here is a rough look at One of the Two ways i would like to go. the other is probably a polished 20" rim with 285 tires tucking. So let me know what you think. and if there are any pictures of polished negative offset rims on any chevy, i would love to see them. Thanks, Levi

im runnin low pros on 24's and i hit a pot hole yesterday. DESTROYED!!!! the rim! Not cool. I want smallest rims i can fit, with the biggest street tires i can find that will still be small enough to lower my truck (on air) a good amount. But i want the look of the neg offset. any pics guys?

title says it all. just wanna see how it looks. really wanna do it. just makin sure. thanks

how much ya lookin to spend?

he welded a set of custom brackets onto the TOP of his TOP control arms. Welded and fabricated his own brackets that welded onto the frame. It will come above the frame a bit though so it has to be well planned if done. And after removing his torsions , shocks, joust bumpers, and some modin, there you have it, an awd ss on air bags. he just has to be careful at what height he actually drives at. levi

Whats up guys? Im putting on an air ride system right now. Ive got 305/35/24x10's on my baby. slowly cleaning up the appearance. removed antenna. removed tool box. 2 double din touch screens inside with 2 jl 10 w6's. alpine amps, jl mids, blue tooth telephone hands free, dakota digital pressure guage. puttin in oem fog lights, etc. . . wanting to swap out the 05 hood and grill for a cowl 06 hood and a silver birch 06 grille with black mesh fillers. thinking about a roll pan with a hide a hitch through the license plate, but not sure. definatly want to shave everything. something nice in the rear, custom tail lights, any ideas? just wanted some input on what you guys think would look best re: paint, wheels, grille, lowering, etc, everything. thanks Levi this is the older ss and this one is more recent

hey guys. Im in the middle of installing a complete air ride system in my truck. I've got the compressor, tank, gauges, fittings, valves, relays, etc. . . . . and most of it is installed already. I havent yet ordered the bags, control arms, coil over springs, or the four link yet. I'm just not sure on what to go with on the front. I was hoping someone here could give their opinion on the matter. I'm looking at a parallel 4 link for the rear, with slam he 8 air bags. A bolt on 3" C notch and behind the axle mounting brackets. Front: really not sure. Input welcome. 1. Bolt on a coil over spring to my existing (stock) control arms? 2. Would this have the same end result as buying after market control arms? 3. Do after market control arms have a differant range of motion than stock ones. 4. Will my wheels 'camber' or 'tuck' (lean in at an angle) when im laying frame, and also when im all the way up? 5. Someone told me that they only do that (camber) if you make/want them to, not sure i believe him though. . ??? thanks guys, Levi

ive got 305/35/24. So it sounds like everything is normal then. Is there a measurement i could use to just double check to make sure that everything is all stock and that he didnt loosen the torsion bars? Thanks Guys. I think this site freakin sweet.

i wouldnt sell my 05 for 30k good luck though Levi