I'm Vertically Endowed!!!

[SilverBullet75]

Lifted, that is…!
(Where’s your mind!? LOL!)

After 7 years of owing VXs, I’ve finally taken the leap and joined the heights of many of you on the forum. I did tons of reading and searching and thanks to the many “how to” threads, I’m sitting tall now.
Here’s what I did:
Suspension (4+ inch lift)
- OME 919s
- Daystar 1.5” (1 inch actual) coil spacers + stock dampener
- Front Torsion Bar Crank (16 times each)
- Ball Joint Flip
- Allignment
Tires/wheels (Discount Tire)
- Nitto TRAIL Grapplers (NEW!)
- 285/65-18 (33x11.50x18)
- Stock 18" Wheels for now…
- On back-order: 18x9 MB Chaos (black) rims! (should be in on 11/19)
Fitment
- Minor trimming of cladding and inner fender well.

I’m SO amazed at how easy this whole process was. I attribute some of the ease to the fact that the VX has been in the desert most of its life. Even the ball joints came off easily (5 hits with a 3# hammer).
I absolutely LOVE the look and ride (not to mention the “What The #$@!?” looks from people I drive by.

The only negative right now is that when I was exiting the highway today, letting off the gas, the rear end made a grinding/rattling noise (loud) until I accelerated again. I’ve got some Forum searching to do.
Also, the alignment went perfectly! No shims needed either…

Here are some before/after pics!
(BEFORE)
(BEFORE)
(AFTER!)
(AFTER!)

...and some more:

(These are the wheels that I have on order... hurry up 11/19!!)

What do you think?
---JIM---

[RickOKC]

Wow, looks great - you did good! Hope your grind/rattle is an easy fix.

[Luna X]

Were you originally diagnosed with Napoleonic Complex?....

j/k.... lookin' good!

[VX KAT]

Really does look great!
What color is that front skid? Black or a shade of charcoal gray? I'm trying to decided exactly what color to paint my new front & rear skid. Haven't seen any pics where they're painted a dark gray or black like this, so this was helpful.

[Y33TREKker]

...The only negative right now is that when I was exiting the highway today, letting off the gas, the rear end made a grinding/rattling noise (loud) until I accelerated again.

Did the angles on your rear u-joint change very much with the 4" lift? I can imagine how deccelerating from a higher speed in a situation like that might cause some momentary binding.

[Luna X]

Really does look great!
What color is that front skid? Black or a shade of charcoal gray? I'm trying to decided exactly what color to paint my new front & rear skid. Haven't seen any pics where they're painted a dark gray or black like this, so this was helpful.

Kat,

They would look really sweet painted to match your body color (on the VX.. not your bodycolor)...

snif, snif... I thought you were sending the rear out to Rowhard for molding process!?
Make a deal wit'cha... once I can get a set, I will paint yours at the same time I do mine. All you would have to cover is a pint of basecoat maroon or whatever color your little heart desires...

[VX KAT]

Kat,

They would look really sweet painted to match your body color (on the VX.. not your bodycolor)...

snif, snif... I thought you were sending the rear out to Rowhard for molding process!?
Make a deal wit'cha... once I can get a set, I will paint yours at the same time I do mine. All you would have to cover is a pint of basecoat maroon or whatever color your little heart desires...

Oh stop sniveling ...you know I wouldn't letcha' down...they're going to Rowhard, and after he makes the mold he's going to paint them whatever color I decide. I'm just plannin' ahead! I'm kinda lean'n toward a little darker silver color, well, darker than aluminum color, but still lighter than the cladding. Don't think I want paint match.
Decisions decisions...

[PK]

Oh stop sniveling ...you know I wouldn't letcha' down...they're going to Rowhard, and after he makes the mold he's going to paint them whatever color I decide. I'm just plannin' ahead! I'm kinda lean'n toward a little darker silver color, well, darker than aluminum color, but still lighter than the cladding. Don't think I want paint match.
Decisions decisions...

Sue, it really is easy - you need 2 sets of skid plates.

Black to match your black rack.

Silver to match your Thule rack.



You really need to learn how to accessorise when you dress up dear.

PK

[Triathlete]

Oh stop sniveling ...you know I wouldn't letcha' down...they're going to Rowhard, and after he makes the mold he's going to paint them whatever color I decide. I'm just plannin' ahead! I'm kinda lean'n toward a little darker silver color, well, darker than aluminum color, but still lighter than the cladding. Don't think I want paint match.
Decisions decisions...

Pink!

[RickOKC]

Oh stop sniveling ...you know I wouldn't letcha' down...they're going to Rowhard, and after he makes the mold he's going to paint them whatever color I decide. I'm just plannin' ahead! I'm kinda lean'n toward a little darker silver color, well, darker than aluminum color, but still lighter than the cladding. Don't think I want paint match.
Decisions decisions...

Hey.... don't get in too much of a hurry since you are still considering the Gatorback spray paint which may darken your cladding!

[VX KAT]

Sue, it really is easy - you need 2 sets of skid plates.

Black to match your black rack.

Silver to match your Thule rack.



You really need to learn how to accessorise when you dress up dear.

PK

You're too funny PK! Yeah, I like that idea! 2 Sets....Isn't that why I have two different color racks?...depends on what my "mood" is!
~gawd...Dave is goin' wanna kill you!

Rick- yeah, I'm planning ahead, kind of anticipating I'll do the mid color GB....just need to wait a little longer to hear how it's holding up.

Billy- No, PINK is for Barbie....Purple is for VX KAT!

[RickOKC]

Rick- yeah, I'm planning ahead, kind of anticipating I'll do the mid color GB....just need to wait a little longer to hear how it's holding up.

Hee heee.... I had no doubt that you weren't planning ahead. I probably made that comment based on my personality more than yours (I often get ahead of myself, put the cart before the horse then make the horse push the car for a little while, then finally put both on a trailer and drive them sideways.) LOL! And, of course, it's just paint which can always be changed (yep, I'm already thinking about changing the color of the wheels on my Mustang that I recently had painted.)

I'm keeping an eye on the 'Dillo & and the Gator', too... and still considering just going nekkid since my cladding looks pretty darn good after getting all the temporary goop off.

Hmmmm, a very dark metallic purple for you.....?

[vt_maverick]

Looks sharp Jim, really like the aggressive tread on the Nitto's. The black rims should really make it look mean.

Sue, I think you have to be careful on going to a darker color for the skids. Even with Gatorback I gotta believe you could end up with at least 2-3 different shades of dark gray/black going on due to sun fading / materials / treatments. My thinking there is that you have the grill which is pretty much a matte black, the plastic cladding which is (insert color here), and whatever color you paint the skid. If anything I'd go lighter, maybe even to a medium silver/gray, somewhere between Ron's original light silver and the eventual color of your cladding. Just my $.02.

[SilverBullet75]

Thanks guys!

I've been doing some research on the grinding issue...
So far:
1. (previously) damaged rear axle
2. Lift angle is too great.

Can anyone offer suggestions on how to correct the issue?
Replace the axle?
Would dropping the rear help? I could remove the Daystar spacers...
(Do I need to get it re-aligned if I remove the spacers?)

[tom4bren]

Thanks guys!

I've been doing some research on the grinding issue...
So far:
1. (previously) damaged rear axle
2. Lift angle is too great.

Can anyone offer suggestions on how to correct the issue?
Replace the axle?
Would dropping the rear help? I could remove the Daystar spacers...
(Do I need to get it re-aligned if I remove the spacers?)

Lube the U Joints before you do any repairs or further modifications. Prolly wouldn't hurt to drain & refill the rear pumpkin too (don't forget the LSD additive).

You won't need to get the front re-aligned just because you removed the spacers in the back. If you adjust your TBs again to compensate though, you will need an alignment.