BlackThundah

Figured I'd go ahead and make one of these since I post over here more often now. Well I bought the truck around a year and a half ago after selling my 97 f150 2wd Reg Cab Xl. Needed or should I say wanted more room in the cab, 4x4 and Pw/Pd. So needless to say I got this beauty and have loved every minute of owning her. It's a 98 f150 4x4 XLT fully loaded with every option for the year except leather. I'm going to try and get all the mods listed in order. Without further ado pics!

What she looked like the Day I brought her home. Paint needed some love and the exhaust needed some help. (Exhaust was rusted through and had broke welds)





So of course the first thing I did was replaced the Air filter, Wiper Blades, Changed the oil, Changed the front and rear diff fluid, and changed the transfer case fluid.I had to replace the gauge cluster light bulbs and lens as well. We all know the important things done are the ones you can't see.

So first exterior things I did was remove the steps and the tool box. Also put on a little stubby antenna I won from truck of the month on another forum with my old truck and painted the frame black with rustoleum Traded the toolbox that came on it for the black one I got now.





Next I ordered some black Lightning style headlights, Depo Fogs, and some raptor style leds. I also got tired of my trucks paint, clean, still looking dull. So I ordered Meguiars Paint Restoration kit and added Meg's Ultimate Polish to go with the kit and got to work. It removed all the nasty swirl marks and light scratches and just made my paint pop. Still a year and a half later there are no swirl marks or scratches. After the kit:

BlackThundah

After that I decided it was time for an audio upgrade! Because I love my music and like to play it loud! Truck came with some older pioneer 3 ways and if I remember right an old panasonic head unit. They just didn't cut it for me so I ordered:

Pioneer Head unit. (DEH-X5500HD)
Pioneer Speakers. (TSD6802r)
Pioneer Amp and wires. (GM-6500F)

It was 100 degrees in the shade when I was installing them, I felt like a turkey in an oven. haha Since I was powering all 4 speakers through the amp I had re-run all the wires through all the doors and stuff. (Why the truck looks like a bomb went off) Anyways here are some random pics.

Getting in to it:



Old Pana out and Pioneer in!



New Speakers on the Right:



Finished except for the seat:



Also cleaned the carpets really well before Installing all that good stuff.
At the same time of upgrading my interior tone I bought a brand new flowmaster exhaust for the outside. Sounds good!

BlackThundah

Next thing I did more recently was paint the rear window surround, tailgate handle, plastic bed rails, valance, tow hooks, wiper cowls, and wiper blade arms. I'm not normally in to painting parts on a truck that didn't come that way from the factory, but Its a black truck and they blend in perfectly. Another words, looks factory.

Before:













After:





Everything has held up perfectly and tow hooks/valance came out perfect as well.

Sometime along the way of owning the truck I bought some ruggid ridge floor mats and love em! I ordered them from amazon, fronts were $70 for the pair and rear were like 35 or 40. Basically I got them for around 20 Cheaper than what just the front weather techs run you. They do make a solid rear mat for those of you that would want one, I just don't have people ride in the backseat often so the little ones worked. They also come in black, tan and grey. I just like a little contrast in the truck. They are laser cut and fit perfectly in my truck and catch everything I've thrown at them. Including a ton of Georgia Clay.

BlackThundah

Not to mention if have hankook mt's they would match your tread pattern! haha

BlackThundah

I got a K&N Cai for my B-Day so dropped it in.



Then it was getting time for new tires and got an unexpected flat, so I had the perfect excuse to get new tires and wheels. So I cranked the t-bars and got 285 70 r17 Eldorado Sport Mtz with 17x9 Eagle alloy 079 in the Super Black Finish. Love the tires, noise is pretty much non existent and they clean out Georgia Clay easily.













Then I decided I had enough of the side molding and with some encouragement from other members on the forum removed it.

BlackThundah

Which brings us to how she sits now!











I have still have quite a few plans for her, but I'm very happy with where she's at and to be blessed with such a nice truck.

BlackThundah

And since I have my own thread now to post all the pics I want... Here some I took today. Detailed the inside, cleaned the carpets, mats, and washed the truck.

Cmanjr

Sweet truck man! I'm jealous. I wish my paint looked as good as yours, better yet, I wish my whole truck looked as good as yours! I think I have the same speakers as you in my truck. Except I'm using the stock head unit and no amp or sub. You should do a 99-03 grill and bumper swap to your truck eventually. It would really suit your truck well. You could get all the stuff from a pull-a-part and then PTM the grill and bumper. Then you could paint the lower valence black just like you did the bed rails and cowls and such. Just an idea. I think your truck would look perfect with it. Bravo on the truck man, it's beautiful.

Also, subbed so I can keep up with how your truck is and all the mods you do in the future.

BlackThundah

Thanks dude! I really appreciate it. I love these speakers, they have crystal clear highs, mids and lows. Not to mention their supposedly made out of volcanic rock or something like that and thats just cool. haha I have strongly considered doing the 99+ swap, but every time I get close to possibly doing it I fall back in love the 98 front end. Doesn't mean it won't happen in the future though.

Cmanjr

I think you should. The bumper flows a lot more and IMO looks better being more rounded as apposed to the 97-98 bumper. And yea I do have the same speakers as you. Where'd you get yours from? I got mine off amazon and paid 66$ per pair. I love them. Here's a pic from when I got them on amazon