Mods
EDGE EZ link tuner, posilock cable 4x4 actuator, dual steering stabilizer, steering gear brace bracket, adjustable trackbar with drop bracket, fox shocks, 4" straight pipe turbo back exhaust
Build story
I bought this truck in 2015 as a senior in highschool from my cousin Tony who had a shop in northern Wisconsin. At the time it had the 5.9 gas V8 and the auto trans. Over the years Tony always helped me fix up various little things and I went from knowing nothing about cars to one of those DIY idiots and finding a passion. Eventually, around 2018 the trans went out and we found a used one with a shift kit for $200 and threw that in. I had always joked about the idea that if the engine ever went out id toss a Cummins in there, well spring 2020 lockdowns happened, Tony found a 01 Cummins in need of a body and some TLC for $3000 and I jumped on it. Over the next year I drove the 3 hours to his shop almost every weekend to work on it, sometimes I would help him with his projects so I at least pulled my own weight, we spent one whole weekend chopping firewood for the winter to keep his backwoods shop warm. Tony was my human encyclopedia but I did 100% of the work aside from things I lack the skills for (welding) or didn't have the capability at the shop (new windshield, wheel alignment, etc.). We got it on the road in late spring 2021 and Tony died very unexpectedly a few weeks before Christmas 2021. I used to use the truck for work doing landscaping and property management while in school but even before we started this build I had no need for a truck anymore, now that I work as a CAD drafter for an engineering company, let alone a diesel. I had hoped to help out Tony like he helped me out towing and hauling stuff whenever he needed (he often had me pickup things from auctions in my area) but now sentimental attachment will have me hang on to it until the wheels fall off.