And so it begins,
tomorrow I trade my wife's '99 Durango 5.9 4x4 for a 2001 XL scab 4x4 5.4

Hopefully I can document the transformation of this base model XL into something worthy of respect. Right now it's in a sad worn out state and has the notorious rusted manifold disease/straight out the block exhaust! ABS is wacky. Bumpers are faded. Interior is basic bench, vinyl floor, and hand crank windows! This is the bottom rung and the only place to go is up! My Scangauge gave me O2 sensor codes but I'm sure that exhaust leak is throwing those off, so I'm not worrying about those right now. Also my updates will be slow as I have a kid/full time job/wife/house/two other daily drivers/dog/cat... you guys know how it is. Being an adult SUCKS! But having a kid is awesome! Even if he does suck every dime out of your pocket! ok ok, back on track.

Attached is the only pic I have of the truck as of now. Feel free to throw advise my way on this build. And no I'm not a noob with wrenching, I just sold my first ever vehicle my '92 Jeep Wrangler that I built up from a stock 29" pathetic little thing to a rock crawler on 37" MTRs and all kinds of goodies. Had that thing for over 12 years! Anyway I'm going for a clean look with a little attitude as money allows. Main goal is reliability. Remember boys, Maintenance pays - Repairs cost!

Stage 1 of the Saga:
- Full detail cleaning
- Paint bumpers/wheels
- Remove water trap rust promoting plastic bed liner
- Oil Change
- Restore the headlights

Stage 2 of the Saga:
- Fix exhaust leak with new studs/maybe bolts? & factory manifolds/maybe shorty headers?
- Replace bench with a split bench with the jump seat/cup holder
- Fix ABS, hopefully rear sensor?
- Check U joints
- Maybe pick up some '09 badges

Stage 3
- ...

 

Looks like a fun project. Keep us updated.

 

That's not a bad looking truck, tons of potential

 

I bought a new 97 F150 SCAB XL and though I personally hated that truck for a multiple number of issues I always loved the body style. I think your truck could easily end up looking **** hot and I'm interested in following the build.

 

I can't wait to see which do with this build. I have a 99 XL work series also, if you decide to upgrade to power windows I suggest spal USA power window kits

 

Thanks guys, I'm actually glad it has crank windows, less to break! The durango has issues just like this truck but the grass is always greener on the other side I guess. And I really need a truck with all the projects and crap I do. I'm tired of taking trash to the dump in the back of my daily drivers and praying nothing leaks!

I'm off to pick it up, pics soon fellas!

 

Picked it up but spent to much time chatting and its to dark now for pics. The previous owner has 4 kids so it was full of wrappers, cheerios, and tons of finger smudges on the windows! I got it vacuumed and cleaned up a bit. Hopefully get the tag and such taken care of tomorrow. I got to get it inspected first as both of our vehicles were out of date.

Oh and its got an airbag light on, any clue what that would be? Its not throwing a code for it and I've got the passenger airbag engaged/on. Anyway hope to give it a bath tomorrow and post up some pics for documentation.

 

looking at 2003 xl 4x4 7700 to replace my 2002 xlt 4x4 7700 supercab recently wrecked. Buying it back from ins. company to take plow frame and plow wiring harness off and may even do power windows and door locks to the xl.

 

I'm pretty much doing the same thing.

When we got it for $300 from the company my dad works at...




Now but with a toolbox:

 

You bought that truck for $300?