New-to-Matt Trakker Z71 Tahoe revitalization...documentary...uh...thread. [Archive] - FSC

matt trakker

11-08-2011, 05:38 PM

I figured I should stop being MIA on FSC and finally post something about the truck I got in June. I think it was June anyway.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/10855_516083843816_213500340_30972327_4246597_n.jp g
I loved/love the '93, but I was kind of getting fed up with it's issues since it does have 240K on it. Needs rust fixed on the pass. quarter, and there of course was that time where I ripped out the interior because of the rotted seam in the wheelhouse leaking water onto the back floor under the carpet. That repair I did with black urethane after all the grinding and painting and stuff is actually still holding. Then there was the blown up 10 bolt and the debacle of putting a 14 bolt in it.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/59163_525269350986_213500340_31227041_5680620_n.jp g
Kind of had enough, and then came to the realization that since late summer 2005 when I bought that truck, I had invested over TEN GRAND into the damn thing, and I didn't pay a whole lot for the truck up front. A lot was me being stupid, changing spark plugs OCD style thinking it could run smoother, parts-throwing, and what have you. Truck probably would have been fine without half the things I did to it. That 14 bolt swap cost me about a grand altogether, and I didn't even have it all rebuilt except for all new brake hardware (I will never swap a partially rebuilt rearend again, unless it's a low mile axle it's getting redone drum to drum, not messing with ring and pinions and crap). A 93 Blazer is not worth 10 grand. I wanted something newer even though I was afraid of owning something that would have to pass MA emissions inspection again (lol) and if I had to put money into it god forbid, maybe I could at least get SOMETHING back from it if I had to sell it.

I was looking at 01-02 2500HDs and the like but didn't really NEED something with a 6.0 in it. But, I kind of wanted to get a plow truck too. I wanted an extended cab, but they all seem to be rotted in the rocker panels in New England. I didn't feel like getting one that wasn't rotted yet, and wondering when it was going to start!

As I browsed I spotted this on CL:

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4302/3p23o93l05v25y35u0b5v07.jpg

An '03, 146K, original owner, "excellent condtion", etc. It was in a somewhat rural area northwest of Boston, where I prefer to get vehicles from because everyone who lives there rarely sits in stop and go traffic for their daily routine. The guy who owned it had a horse stable business of some sort w/his wife and also worked just outside Boston for his regular job, and had a somewhat long commute, but it was mostly highway and not a terrible stop and go situation. But, it was a New England truck, which I would find out...

I drove out to look at it, not really planning on buying it because I still wanted a pickup truck...but I noticed I've never seen an NBS Tahoe, Yukon, or Suburban with rot anyplace except for the bumpers on a few, and once I saw a Suburban with a rot hole above the tailpipe.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0388.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0389.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0387.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0403.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0395.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0397.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0402.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0390.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0392.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0393.jpg
:puke: I think Chewbacca wiped his ass on the seat or something.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0394.jpg
I don't know if you can see, but the headliner was "nayisss-teh".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0396.jpg
This pissed me off, but I knew you could buy the whole seat leather from "The Seat Shop" before I even went to look at it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0399.jpg
:eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0400.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0401.jpg
Brake lines worried me, but they seemed to work fine for now.

To be continued...

speedjunkie

11-08-2011, 05:56 PM

Did you like the Tahoe over the Suburban? What are the plans for this SUV?

1ugly88

11-08-2011, 05:56 PM

traitor!!!! j/k still a nice ride.

Stratosman

11-08-2011, 05:58 PM

Better get the seats fixed. You never know when you might have a vehicle in a movie.

matt trakker

11-08-2011, 06:04 PM

When I saw it I was kinda disappointed because I thought it would be nicer concerning some of the wear and tear items, but the guy did take care of it mechanically and had a lot of records for it. He bought it brand new, and even saved the window sticker. When I test drove it, I had never driven an NBS before besides my friends 05 2500HD, and wasn't really sure what I should have expected.

The truck has a 5.3 (all the Z71s do), and 3.73s in it. It actually kind of hauls ass. But, I am used to a high mileage TBI truck with a non-roller cam in it, a 93 Caprice with a 305 and 2.56s in it, and a 74 Impala that also has highway gears. I had a Suburban with 4.10s, but that didn't throw me back in the seat. This thing drove pretty nice, aside from the steering wheel being off center, and the brakes feel kind of weak compared to my '93, although the pedal feels stronger and higher. They are adjustable pedals!

I was overwhelmed by all the options this truck has- I think it has everything except the DIC, which is dumb, you'd think a truck that cost 45 grand would be able to tell you the MPG, etc. (I plan on putting the DIC wheel in there because I guess all the trucks came with it, and without the option the only thing stopping you from using it is the wheel not having buttons?) It has power everything, heated seats, moonroof, F/R A/C and heat, twilight sentinel, auto headlamps, heated power folding signal mirrors, Bose system with the mini-sub in the console, rear stereo and HVAC controls, auto climate control with dual zones, Driver 1/Driver 2 memory crap (which I'll prob. never use), auto dimming mirrors (which piss me off because sometimes they don't dim when I'd like them to), I forget what else. I realize to NBS people on here this is nothing new, but to me this is like getting into a spaceship. I didn't even know what the hell to do when I buckled my seatbelt and started it.

I kind of acted coolly to the seller about it, it had some issues, the seat rip, needs a detail BAD in every way possible, back hatch has the common broken hinge, alignment, sounded like it needed a wheel bearing, some rust underneath worried me, radio buttons worn out, dash had a wear spot, I really didn't know if I wanted it, told him I'd think about it and left no deposit. Before I left, he said he'd let it go for a grand less than he was asking, which was already kinda cheap. I thought about it overnight and decided to go back the next day with my brother and drive it around again. I offer even less, he took it! :lol: Left 100 bucks down, offered to take it that day but the guy needed it for 2 days while his Silverado had brake lines put in it.
I had to work in Syracuse for a week starting the next day, building some kitchen displays and cabinets at Grossman's Bargain Outlet stores. All week, I had to look at trucks like this:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/296374_557565189866_213500340_31594604_1044828752_ n.jpg

When I came back, I did not feel so bad about the Tahoe!

matt trakker

11-08-2011, 06:40 PM

Did you like the Tahoe over the Suburban? What are the plans for this SUV?

I like both actually. I noticed the Suburbans around here sometimes seem a little cheaper than the Tahoes, I think people are afraid of the extra length and it keeps the prices down. Personally I'd have gotten either if I found a good deal!

This is one of my favorite trucks ever. I wanted this color too, Bermuda Blue. It's similar to my '93 and kinda flip flops, I wish there were more trucks this color available but I guess it's rare.
http://z71tahoe-suburban.com/iboard/index.php?showtopic=33477

http://z71tahoe-suburban.com/iboard/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=14187

I will probably own one of those someday. May even sell this black one if I find a nice Bermuda Blue Z71.

My plan is to do a mild lift at some point like the Suburban in the pic with larger tires, nothing too crazy, but enough to set me off from all the soccer moms chewing gum with their mouths open, wearing sunglasses, and talking on the phone while tailgating the person in front of them. The one thing that pisses me off about this truck is I see so many. Yet you almost never see them for sale here. Everyone keeps them until they have over 200K, and if they don't, you have to pay like 11-18 grand for one. I didn't pay anywhere near that. I'm afraid to say what I paid! :ehcapt:

matt trakker

11-08-2011, 06:42 PM

traitor!!!! j/k still a nice ride.

Come to the dark side, we have heated seats!

matt trakker

11-08-2011, 06:44 PM

Better get the seats fixed. You never know when you might have a vehicle in a movie.

http://imcdb.org/vehicle_403985-Chevrolet-Blazer-1993.html

:lol:

They actually called me over 10 times, emailed me, and all kinds of stuff to work on some Jeff Bridges movie here in Boston and drive in some scene on a bridge as a background vehicle in a police chase. I would have been using the black Tahoe. Just couldn't do it because of work, and honestly they weren't paying a hell of a lot, and it's not all it's cracked up to be...haha

I just wanted to meet The Dude!

matt trakker

11-08-2011, 07:15 PM

When I got back I went and picked up the truck, guy gave me every oil change receipt, all the dealer invoices for work he had done, window sticker, original title, everything. The truck had new tires on it a year ago and they still look new, a new transfer case in December (no receipt but the guy gave me the name of the shop and it appears to have been replaced, it works too, I've used it with no issues), and brand new e-brake cables. According to the records, it had new rear brakes at some point with backing plates, axle seals, etc., new u-joints, pinion seal, trans. flush at 60K, new Delco iridium plugs at 100K, (I think the wires are original) new rear bumper at 30K under warranty (and this one needs to be replaced now due to rust, there is a hole at the edge, haha), new window regulators in a couple of the doors, and some other nickel and dime things. It came with a trailer hitch, because it's stuck in the receiver. Have to figure that one out with sledgehammer I guess. I squealed the tires a few times on the way home by mistake not being used to the truck.

As soon as I had the time, I managed to clean up the dirty as hell leather seats with a concoction of Woolite mixed with water in a 6:1 ratio (mostly water, of course). I had a Kiwi horsehair shoe brush to scrub the seats, as well as a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser that a friend recommended. That thing was insane. I bought some saddle soap just in case but didn't use it, I'll likely hang onto it though.

Before:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0392.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0393.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0426.jpg
After cleaning that spooge that was all over the back seat

Grime on the front seats
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0427.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0430.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0434.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0437.jpg
The steering wheel's bowtie was caked with dirt along with most of the other switchgear, the blinker stalk had gunk all over it too. Managed to get everything pretty damn clean.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0440.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0429.jpg
Nasty^

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0435.jpg
Clean. This is after I went over all the vinyl and plastic trim with Tuff Stuff (it is known to remove the white printed on lettering for some switchgear so I kept it away) and the Woolite solution for sensitive parts, cleaned and rinsed, then sprayed with 303 Protectant.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0438.jpg
There was a ton of brake dust and junk in these wheels, I didn't even really clean them and they still looked a million times better. Why can't people wash their vehicles? You could barely tell that the tires had white letters too. I know for a fact this truck hadn't been detailed since new and led a hard life!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0441.jpg

These pictures make it look like crap because of the flash and overall lighting but in person the interior looks a million times better. It was gross before. I don't think the leather seats were ever cleaned. After this I just grabbed some Meg's leather cleaner/conditioner and went over them all to help rejuvenate them, the seats look even better now.

I also replaced the DRL bulbs with amber ones because one was burnt out. Looks pretty cool with the black grille. And this has to be the EASIEST line of vehicles EVER to replace headlight and turn signal bulbs in. Holy chit, no tools, nothing! I did this because I kept seeing other Z71 Tahoes or Suburbans and wanted mine to look different coming down the road.:lol:

At that point I was researching what the hell color the top of the dash and the bezel were, so I could spray the bad spot above the radio with touch up paint. Late Model Restoration Supply (CK Resto) has paint that is supposedly the color but it's like 13 bucks or something like that, and 14-15 to ship it! Wtf?
SEM made it for sure, just had to find the exact code.

matt trakker

11-08-2011, 07:23 PM

The taillights on this truck were kinda chalky looking, last time I did taillights I wetsanded to like 2000 grit then polished, these I just polished straight with Plast-X and my Powerball Mini.
Before:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/267427_544304379636_213500340_31466811_5431973_n.j pg

After:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/267372_544304359676_213500340_31466810_7419414_n.j pg
^This one was worse than the pass. side was before polishing. They came out pretty nice considering I didn't sand them first.

You can also see my "corrected" fuel filler door, when I bought it there were no bumpers at all behind the fuel door! I found a package of assorted rubber bumpers in the HELP/Dorman section at Advance, only one of them was the correct size for my truck but whatever, it's not sunken in anymore like it was when I first saw the truck (if you look close, you can see how dumb it looked, wonder where the original bumpers went?):
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/262358_544304010376_213500340_31466785_4991881_n.j pg

At this point I sold the Blazer to my dad. He wanted the truck because his 88 with 330K? on it is having a lot of issues, yet he still won't get rid of that one either! At least the truck is still around and I see it every day, but I flip out when my dad doesn't keep it clean or does something dumb with it. He has since replaced the rotted Flowmaster exhaust system, pass. side ball joints (they were original at 240K) and part of the fuel lines.

JWolfe75

11-08-2011, 09:53 PM

I like both actually. I noticed the Suburbans around here sometimes seem a little cheaper than the Tahoes, I think people are afraid of the extra length and it keeps the prices down. Personally I'd have gotten either if I found a good deal!

This is one of my favorite trucks ever. I wanted this color too, Bermuda Blue. It's similar to my '93 and kinda flip flops, I wish there were more trucks this color available but I guess it's rare.
http://z71tahoe-suburban.com/iboard/index.php?showtopic=33477

http://z71tahoe-suburban.com/iboard/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=14187

I will probably own one of those someday. May even sell this black one if I find a nice Bermuda Blue Z71.

My plan is to do a mild lift at some point like the Suburban in the pic with larger tires, nothing too crazy, but enough to set me off from all the soccer moms chewing gum with their mouths open, wearing sunglasses, and talking on the phone while tailgating the person in front of them. The one thing that pisses me off about this truck is I see so many. Yet you almost never see them for sale here. Everyone keeps them until they have over 200K, and if they don't, you have to pay like 11-18 grand for one. I didn't pay anywhere near that. I'm afraid to say what I paid! :ehcapt:

That suburban is :drool: i saw that one a while back...

I'm in the process of selling my 2005 z71 so while doing research fro local pricing there is this one

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/2654946733.html

Such a nice color. :aniteef:

CustomChevyGuy

11-08-2011, 10:33 PM

looks like the truck is getting some much needed love! keep us posted

07Burb

11-09-2011, 06:45 AM

Wow that thing needs a good cleaning!!! Looks like you got started on it, though and at least it's in good mechanical condition according to the records from the previous owner. :thumbup:

Stratosman

11-09-2011, 11:28 AM

http://imcdb.org/vehicle_403985-Chevrolet-Blazer-1993.html

:lol:

They actually called me over 10 times, emailed me, and all kinds of stuff to work on some Jeff Bridges movie here in Boston and drive in some scene on a bridge as a background vehicle in a police chase. I would have been using the black Tahoe. Just couldn't do it because of work, and honestly they weren't paying a hell of a lot, and it's not all it's cracked up to be...haha

I just wanted to meet The Dude!

:cheer: nice!

matt trakker

11-11-2011, 05:37 PM

Ha, thanks guys, it really deserved some TLC and it's gotten it over the past few months that's for sure. The stuff I am posting now (as I have the time) started getting done right after I got the truck home...lol.

Cleaned the headliner because I couldn't stand know something so dirty was above my head, here are some before and afters:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/265033_544304090216_213500340_31466790_5788426_n.j pg
Looking closely you can see dirt and crud all over the headliner. It's not as bad in the picture as it was in person because of the camera flash, but here you can see it in the left center of the pic at that hump next to the moonroof. Whole thing was like that, I don't know what it was, but I will say I found what looked like remnants of some recreational plants of a certain variety under the cupholder when I yanked it out of the console. LOL. It doesn't smell like any kind of smoke inside though, so I dunno if it was actually smoked in, it did smell like dog a little bit at first behind the back seat and when I first turned on the heat, but for some reason after I cleaned the interior that smell disappeared. Maybe there were dogs standing up on the seats and pushing themselves against the ceiling to look out the window or something, the guy had 3 or 4 dogs.

Around the door openings, where you can see the edges of it, the headliner fabric was BLACK. The visors were full of crap and hand prints too.

After cleaning with Tuff Stuff (carefully), and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser gently moving backward, constantly wrung out in a bucket of water, the results were crazy. You're not really supposed to do this I had heard, but at the same time I've seen it done by other so I tried it, this was so filthy I had nothing to lose. Most of the time you can clean a headliner by blotting with a towel supposedly, that wasn't gonna happen here. As long as you don't saturate the headliner with water where the glue would get wet, you'll be fine I imagine. I can't believe how much better it looks. I did it 4 months ago and it still looks great today.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/271048_544304399596_213500340_31466813_4589473_n.j pg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/267358_544304389616_213500340_31466812_1272033_n.j pg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/263762_544304409576_213500340_31466814_1147147_n.j pg
^That white airbag warning label had hand boogers all over it and was more or less brown before I cleaned the ceiling.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/265076_544304419556_213500340_31466815_7277735_n.j pg

Washed with dish soap to get any old wax off and other stuff, then I went over the truck with a Meguiars clay bar and QD. Stuff was coming out of the paint but it wasn't bad, mostly down around the bottom of the truck. While cleaning I found out at some point the truck was driven through white road marking paint and it got on the gray/black plastics around the pass. side wheelwells, but it's not really noticeable. Either the P/O or the dealer tried spray painting over it with matched paint colors. It's only inside the wheelwells though. Someday I'll try getting off what remains.

At that point it hadn't even been polished or waxed yet, already looked a lot better.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/268736_544304439516_213500340_31466816_5259815_n.j pg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/267252_544304454486_213500340_31466817_5257703_n.j pg

This truck has some kind of remote start/alarm system in it called a "Crimestoppers Cool Start". I didn't even know it had a remote starter when I bought it, the guy never told me. I put an old A23 battery in the fob because it was dead, and it worked, I fiddled with it, and suddenly the truck started up across my yard. Started it and shut it off a few times, then seemed the batt. died right afterward. Bought a new one, put it in, the system worked again for a bit, then stopped altogether, the fob just ain't working and it's worn looking. I need to find the box for the system under the dash I suppose, get the number off it, and maybe get a new fob. I'm going to try another battery first though, I didn't notice the Energizer batt.s I got wound up being made in China and therefore cannot be trusted worth a ****.

I emailed the P/O asking about factory fobs, and a few days later a manila folder arrived in the mail with 2 mint condition GM keyfobs for the truck in it, haha. Guess they turned up after I had picked up the truck. I would still like to get the remote start working for this winter! The guy gave me the name of the place that installed the system when he bought the truck new, so I may give them a call and see if they can supply me with a new fob. :ehcapt:

matt trakker

11-11-2011, 05:40 PM

That suburban is :drool: i saw that one a while back...

I'm in the process of selling my 2005 z71 so while doing research fro local pricing there is this one

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/2654946733.html

Such a nice color. :aniteef:

Yeah, I love it! That seller ought to have cleaned the damn truck up before taking pics of it though, a minor amateur detail goes a long way, especially with that metallic teal/Bermuda Blue color. I almost could have bought three of my Tahoes for that asking price...but then again mine does not have 72K on it. :lol: There was a black '03 for sale here right when I got mine with under 90K on it, forget exactly, but the dealer wanted something like 18 grand for the damn truck.

07Burb

11-14-2011, 08:36 AM

wow man....you are a MUCH more patient person than I am with that extent of cleaning :cheer:

matt trakker

11-23-2011, 08:48 PM

Thanks!

Here's my temporary fix using some sort of kidnapper/Free Candy van/SWAT team/Arnold Schwarzenegger in True Lies/diesel-ass duct tape that I had:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0463.jpg

I mean, it's black, and the truck's...black...so it matches, right?

I left that seat bottom kinda dirty too, to show how bad the rest of them were. Sort of like how the White House has that one little burnt section on the balcony to remind whoever is President that the British burnt it down during the War of 1812, or whatever.
At some point soon after I got the truck, the brakes started making all kinds of noise and I found the pass rear caliper had stuck slides or something. The inner pad was all the way worn to nothing, and the rotor was junk. Got all new Delco pads and rotors. The pads are ceramic...they seem to squeal a little when I stop so I'm not sure I'd get them again.
"Low Coolant Level" alert popped up on the DIC, but it wasn't very low and I topped it off with Dexcool. Hasn't happened again. Weird.

I swapped the radio face and touched up the dash with SEM Color Coat. I found the paint at a body shop supply store called Cooper-Lewis, they had the color charts there and I just matched them up with my trucks interior, then ordered the 2 colors. It came out to be a little cheaper than buying it online.

I was shocked that the bezel pulls right off w/out any tools and snaps back on too? Awesome. Good to know if I ever swap a Denali bezel in there.

I did the best I could touching up w/SEM. The paint reacted a little with what was left of the old stuff in the worn spots, so after it dried I wetsanded then tried respraying, didn't look as bad, but isn't perfect. But hey, I don't think it'll ever be perfect without stripping and redoing the entire dash! The factory paint is thick and seems like it will just keep peeling off if you pull on the loose stuff, so I had to try sanding it lightly and as flush as I could so you wouldn't see the edge of the paint peel under the SEM. There is light overspray around the area I touched up that I'm hoping will be unnoticeable once I go over the whole dash with 303 Protectant again.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/264415_544304115166_213500340_31466792_502659_n.jp g
Before

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/269667_544561249866_213500340_31470799_4383983_n.j pg
Bad spot on the dash itself, tried scuffing and sanding to hide the flash edge of the peeled dash paint but this is tricky because it just wants to keep peeling off more.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/260193_544561264836_213500340_31470800_8363224_n.j pg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/263996_544561274816_213500340_31470801_6228799_n.j pg

The radio face was totally easy. There are 2 clips on the top, bottom, and both sides of the radio holding the face on. You can get a small flathead screwdriver in there to pop them all, then the face just pulls off, have to do it carefully. Then the new one pushes on. There is a cushioned gasket in between the radio body itself and the circuit board of the faceplate you have to transfer to the new one. A few of the buttons on the new one have different wording compared to the old one, but I think they do the same thing, I hope anyway.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/270775_544561194976_213500340_31470795_108885_n.jp g

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/260412_544561209946_213500340_31470796_649676_n.jp g
Looks like shyte. My facial expression reflects my disdain for this subpar piece of mobile electronics.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/270991_544561219926_213500340_31470797_3784599_n.j pg
New face from Replacement Radios.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/270533_544561234896_213500340_31470798_2727298_n.j pg
These three buttons have different print, but I guess they do the same thing, I didn't really care.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/269865_544561284796_213500340_31470802_1600787_n.j pg
Bad face pulled off. There is a gasket that mounts on the back of the face that sits between this surface and the circuit board that I transferred to the new face.

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Success!

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Got the duct tape adhesive off with WD40, a napkin, and my fingernail, nothing else would work. I was hoping 303 would renew that as well, but tried to paint the piece instead. I got a couple fisheyes in the paint and wound up getting frustrated, reinstalled it before it was completely dry and now have to do it again because of a fingerprint. That was in July and I still haven't finished it. LOL

matt trakker

11-23-2011, 08:52 PM

Stock '03 Z71 wheels (I think these only came on these Z71 Tahoes and Suburbans, I thought the Avalanches had them too but I guess they're different?)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/261780_546511341866_213500340_31477668_1778047_n.j pg

Stock '09 Z71 Tahoe (or Silverado) wheels that I had- I was running them on the Blazer.
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I'd seen some NBS trucks with these wheels swapped over to them, and I didn't really like the way they looked as much as I do on the OBS 1988-98 trucks. I loved them on my old truck. But, I dunno, after seeing it in real time instead of trying to picture it, I liked them. I think these wheels have slightly less backspacing than the stock wheels.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/271186_546550762866_213500340_31478273_618868_n.jp g
Front end looked a little low, so I cranked the bars about 1.5 inches to level it out better after this pic. Pretty crazy how little you can crank the NBS trucks compared to OBS. Never knew that.

southcarolina12

11-23-2011, 09:35 PM

nice tahoe. makes me wanna go out and fix up all the little things messed up on the inside of my truck. i might just do that tomorrow. do you like the way the nbs trucks drive better?

Tweaks

11-24-2011, 08:43 PM

southcarolina12

11-24-2011, 09:13 PM

EricCason92

11-24-2011, 09:30 PM

most people on here dont believe me but my truck has no rust at all. ive yet to find ANY rust on my truck and im under it just messing around all the time. but i dont live in the north so theres not that must salt put out on the roads.
Yep, the frame on my 94 was barely rusted at all before I repainted it. It had just faded some and it didnt have any body rust. My 03 has zero rust anywhere, it's nice not having to worry about rust.

matt trakker

11-24-2011, 10:29 PM

nice tahoe. makes me wanna go out and fix up all the little things messed up on the inside of my truck. i might just do that tomorrow. do you like the way the nbs trucks drive better?

Yeah, I have a hard time riding around in this just knowing that the seat cushion has a rip in it. LOL.

I have to say, compared to the OBS the NBS drives night and day differently. Especially since the 1/2 ton Tahoes and Suburbans use rear coils, sway bars, and a Panhard (?) bar. The shocks are further out toward the side of the truck as well. It handles great, and it's quick!

matt trakker

11-24-2011, 10:43 PM

Read through all the posts. Very nice work that you have been steadily putting into this.

I have yet to see a Z71 tahoe/burb out here that doesn't have rotted bumpers front and rear. The body always looks great and I credit the lower plastics for keeping ice/salt from attacking door seams and things like that, but the bumpers definitely get eaten by the winter road grime. The chrome bumpers last longer, but you can't throw those onto those Z71's due to the monochromatic look unfortunately. Hopefully bumper are cheap and they tend to have about a 10 year life span so I suppose one just needs to deal with it or take extra steps to prep the replacement bumpers for longevity through some sort of anti-corrosion painting process.

The brake lines look super sketchy. The frame stuff looks superficial for now. Mine had the same sort of look going on a few years ago before I por-15'd and 3M rubberized undercoated most of it to stop the rust process.

Definitely looks like cleaning and detailing was an after thought, but fortunately maintenance wasn't as far as you can tell. For as heavy as those Tahoes are, with the 5.3 and 3.73 gears, they do feel quick. I like the look of those NNBS 18's on the 2dr, but they also look great on the Z71.

Anway, nice progress and I hope it serves you well.

Thanks! I'd planned on painting much of the undercarriage this summer but never got around to it. I plan on flushing the underbody a lot at the car wash this winter (I found a spray wash with the underbody spray jets that you drive over when entering) and then touching it all up in the spring.

Yeah, I'm on the Z71 Tahoe forum as well, and that is a major subject over there to say the least. I forget if I mentioned it, but I plan on having the bumpers done with LineX at some point (just the black metal part). I did partially rectify the rusted bumper situation since, which I will add pics of at a later time... :ehcapt:

Haven't had problems with the brake lines yet, knock on wood. I'd like to replace all of them with stainless ones. I see them for sale online for pickups and Suburbans, but not Tahoes!

As for the southern trucks, I'd really like to bring something back here from that area. My truck is actually considered pretty good for the region, believe it or not. I've seen NBS trucks with rotted frames already, as well as bedsides rotted over the rear wheels, etc. Dodges and Fords are even worse in some respects.

southcarolina12

11-24-2011, 10:45 PM

Yep, the frame on my 94 was barely rusted at all before I repainted it. It had just faded some and it didnt have any body rust. My 03 has zero rust anywhere, it's nice not having to worry about rust.
im glad i dont have to worry about rust too. ive never found rust on my truck and ive really looked hard for it. they really do need to find a different way to get rid of ice on the roads.

matt trakker

11-24-2011, 10:52 PM

The damn shocks in this truck were ORIGINAL, but to my surprise it didn't seem that bad, at first. After a while I became nauseated by the wallowing up and down on the highway, mainly in the back of the truck. Also, a certain highway was poorly repaved in my area (Route 128), and there's a washboard/ripple effect to it now. I'm fairly certain that the wheels on my truck were hopping while on that road.

I want to eventually run longer Bilstein 5100s with a small key lift and coil spacers, so for now I just found some new factory NNBS shocks that were govt. surplus from a Border Patrol Tahoe on eBay and installed them a couple months ago. I think I paid around 35 bucks for the pair shipped to my door. Pretty easy swap without even jacking the truck up. I did them in the dark with a flashlight too. LOL
It rides fine now, the fronts are original but don't seem as bad for some reason.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/381263_560337139856_213500340_31604290_152598318_n .jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/386196_560337174786_213500340_31604291_767343191_n .jpg

I have to play with that spare tire hoist, seems like the safety hook catch thing may be stuck. Cable comes down but the tire just dangles around and doesn't fall! Supposedly the P/O replaced the mechanism before.

Tweaks

11-26-2011, 03:09 PM

they really do need to find a different way to get rid of ice on the roads.

Yes they do. Such an expensive and wasteful way they go about it in the regions that deal with regular snow showers in the winter. They are so worried about making ALL the roads look like winter never happened ASAP post snow storm, but in my opinion, they should worry more about major highways and just push the snow off with the plows for city streets and town roads. The sun comes out after every storm and even if it is cold out, solar radiation melts the snow away pretty quickly, which seems to defeat the purpose if repaving the roads with white rock salt.

A few years ago I spent Christmas in South Bend, Indiana and thanks to the economy not doing so well and municipal budgets taking a hit, South Bend didn't spend a dime salting or even plowing all the neighborhood roads. That town simply treated and plowed the main roads and I got to tell ya, it was sort of nice. It kept everyone driving nice and cautiously on the side roads and the main roads were plenty safe. I really wish everywhere would adopt that policy and start saving taxpayers a lot of dough on the winter clean-up budgets. Rant over. Sorry, I just hate rust and it mainly comes from winter treated road driving.

matt trakker

11-27-2011, 02:35 PM

Had a setback on the truck this weekend-

Went out to start it when I was at a friends house, and it was dead! The battery was fine, but when you turned the key, nothing happened, just the batt. light was on, and something on the pass. side of the truck made a click, while the lights on the dash went out when you held the key. No bulb check or nothing.

Figuring it was something to do with stuff that should be on when the key is in Run, we took the dash apart in the dark and found the control box for the remote start that I can't even use since the fob is broken. The place that did it wired the box into the harness for I believe the ignition switch where it runs up the column...my friend tilted the wheel up and turned the key, and it started up like nothing was wrong. I need to trace some of the wiring and maybe undo the connections, then reconnect them somehow I guess? Kinda sucks. I haven't driven it for 2 days because of this, but I tried started it here and there, it did the no-start thing once and when I tilted the wheel up and down, it started afterward. I'm just afraid of getting stranded someplace!

MajesticLT03

11-29-2011, 02:31 PM

Low88

11-29-2011, 03:13 PM

Waaf!

matt trakker

11-29-2011, 06:24 PM

I fixed the no start issue, I found a white plastic loop hanging from the steering column shaft, behind the metal plate that is behind the knee bolster. The harness that runs up into the steering column to the ignition is supposed to be secured in that loop, but was actually hanging down below it. The wires run from there to a junction block of sorts. I guess if the harness isn't in that loop, the wires can slightly pull out of the connections in that block if the wheel is tilted. I put the wires back in the loop and did all sorts of stuff with the steering wheel, moving the harness with the engine running, etc. Nothing cut out or died on me, so we'll see what happens. BTW, the plastic shroud for over the column where the ignition key goes is a PITA to reassemble right!

matt trakker

12-07-2011, 03:21 PM

Just some more shyte:

A while after I got the Tahoe I noticed the driver's floorboard was wet. It was driving me nuts, couldn't find the source of the water.

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I checked the sunroof drains, pulled the A-pillar trim, had the rug on the driver's side all the way back. I noticed that the grommet around my e-brake cable was off...

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That white grommet is supposed to be pressed into the hole around the e-brake cable. They'd been replaced so I guess whoever installed them left it like this, a ton of water had splashed in there. I got it back in, but thought I might have poked a small hole in it by mistake in the process, so I blobbed black silicone all over it and called it a day.

After that, I still had a leak, but way less than before. Pissed me off. One day, it had rained, I checked the Tahoe and the floor was wet under that black plastic/rubber thing with the foam backing that is under the carpet, the rest of the floor pan was still dry, door sill channel was dry, etc. I propped up the black floor piece with some stuff kicking around my truck, and went to work (took my car). When I came home, everything looked about the same, except it was a distinct puddle instead of wetness, so obviously it wasn't from driving the truck, the leak was from "above":

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0692.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0690.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0693.jpg

I again feared a sunroof drain might have frozen and popped off, but I poured water in there and they seemed pretty clean and water traveled through quickly, out the bottom of the truck behind the fender aprons. I did not see nor test the rear drains since my truck was on sort of an incline, and the leak is up front anyway.

Next, I dumped a few good size glasses of water on the driver's side of the cowl near the edge of the hood. As soon as I poured it, water rushed out under the truck, and with the carpet pulled up, I could see that water came through some seam in the floor of the truck. It only took 2-3 seconds after the pour for the water to ooze out of the seam. There was a crack in the seam sealer, hairline crack, and it had what looked like mildew or dirt coming through it. It looks like water comes under the sealer bead right there too. No drip from above or anything, only oozed out near that corner where the metal floorboard, the metal of the kickpanel, and the metal that ramps up behind the pedals all meet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0733.jpg
^Crack in sealer

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0734.jpg
^Black blob is what I put all over my E-brake cable grommet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/mattsplorin/IMG_0736.jpg

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Pinhole after sealer dug out

Bought a tube of 3M 5200 marine sealant for through-hull connections, etc....chose it because it stays flexible and is a lot better than silicone. This spot looks accessible but it's really not easy to get to because of all the crap installed over it, did the best I could as far as neatness but who cares, it's under the carpet in the corner. Form follows function. Since the tube is useless a few days after opening, after this pic was taken I went over the whole seam down in that area to use up the rest of the stuff, as well as over what I already blobbed on there.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/311890_554204000716_213500340_31566992_223963043_n .jpg

View from under the truck, laying on my back behind the front wheel, the water from the cowl drains down through this area, and water running down the firewall was wicking up into the hole where the seam sealer was cracked. The white blob is the other side of that pinhole.https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/317792_554203985746_213500340_31566991_2798621_n.j pg

Rust spots ground down and cleaned up, removed metal piece from rocker that holds wiring in place under step plate and ground that down (not pictured), painted all with brush-on aluminum paint my dad was using (I'm starting to think all silver rust preventive paint is just aluminum paint, lol).
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/315712_554204020676_213500340_31566993_371753304_n .jpg

Spray bombed with some satin black.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297106_554204040636_213500340_31566994_402877805_n .jpg

Buttoned everything back together, put my new Husky Liners in, and haven't seen any more leaks, will keep an eye on it though. It's been a few months so I think I got it! Only took me weeks to figure out...LOL

matt trakker

12-07-2011, 03:26 PM

Replaced the rusted "bumpahhh", etc. This was actually pretty damn easy, although I kind of hate the gap above the bumper and will have to research how to adjust it up a little, I know some others have done this...

I scored a black bumper cheap on CL totally by chance...had some minor scrapes but no rust anywhere for some reason. It was sitting in a guy's garage for ages, someone else bought it for a non-Z Tahoe, then it didn't fit for whatever reason, and the guy sold it to me. It would have been perfect but it was in the back of a Super Duty with firewood rubbing against it for a week apparently. I still couldn't complain due to the cost of it. :ehcapt:

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I guess the bees died from smokin' some Joe Camel brand cancah sticks, dude-guy?

You can really see how bad the old bumper was here, it's solid for now, but has rust all over the place inside and out. I'll see if I can use it as a Line-X candidate and just grind the metal section down (after I take it apart, next year most likely, lol)
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https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300907_556072615996_213500340_31581271_604969818_n .jpg
The craigslist bumper came with fogs, but mine were a little cleaner looking so I just swapped them all over. The bulbs in the CL bumper were literally rusted apart and blew up when I turned the fogs on!

Quyonmob

12-07-2011, 04:47 PM

I'm not sure that steering wheel is OE, never seen one fully loaded to the point of a moonroof without the DIC controls.

EricCason92

12-07-2011, 04:53 PM

Good progress man

matt trakker

12-07-2011, 06:23 PM

mine is a 99 Silvy and has some(on the fritz) Valet remote start thing on it that doesnt even work and I have had that happen to me before as well.. truck was totally dead (like the battery wasnt hooked up) and I let it sit and then the gauge needles do a sweep and clicking and all that jazz.. and then after 5 minutes it will reset and the truck will start.

I am about to have someone take the Valet system out.. but first I need some OEM fobs to have programmed right after the other stuff is removed..

Yeah, that sucks, I kind of feel like a lot of alarms and remote starters are not worth the trouble after what I have dealt with in the past, my friends all say the same thing. I will probably still try to get a fob for this remote start and see if I can use it again though.

Perhaps your "deafening awesomeness" is causing the truck to not start, stranding you in the "Danger Zone"? lol

matt trakker

12-07-2011, 06:26 PM

I'm not sure that steering wheel is OE, never seen one fully loaded to the point of a moonroof without the DIC controls.

I found that confusing myself, but I have the window sticker and it did not come with the DIC controls! I've seen a couple others like this too. I find it off-putting since I see clapped out Astro Vans and S10 Blazers that can tell you estimated MPG and such, but this truck that cost 45 some odd grand new cannot. WTF?

The wheel's a little worn in spots from someone picking at it with their fingernail (prob the previous owner's wife), it's all smoothed out, and a few of the bar pieces running from the horn area to the rim of the wheel have wear, so I may just look for a new wheel with the buttons and clockspring or whatever you need to do the DIC mod...worst case Ontario I'd have a new wheel that doesn't look like crap...

Quyonmob

12-07-2011, 07:51 PM

Nice TBP reference! :cheer:

Odd no DIC, my dad's Silverado has a bench, manual climate control, yet the DIC controls...

matt trakker

12-07-2011, 09:10 PM

Nice TBP reference! :cheer:

Odd no DIC, my dad's Silverado has a bench, manual climate control, yet the DIC controls...

It doesn't take rocket appliances to understand that not being able to access features your truck was built with at the factory just drives you crazy...I may have the cluster redone at some point by that seller on eBay in CT who rebuilds them to look like an Escalade cluster with the trans. temp. gauge simply since my truck has the provisions for it, but has no gauge. :lol:

What I'd really like to know is if the DIC features a "Sh*t Barometer" to measure the sh*t pressure in the air during the whispering Winds of Sh*t...

07Burb

12-08-2011, 08:21 AM

Tweaks

12-10-2011, 06:02 PM

matt trakker

12-11-2011, 04:45 PM

Nice progress on this!!! You are really getting her cleaned up one piece at a time :) She'll be really nice here before long. I've always wondered how people can let their stuff go like the PO did on this one. Glad you're bringing her back :)

Thanks! And yea, honestly I was surprised since the guy I bought this truck from had gotten it brand new and it wasn't cheap. When I first went to look at it I almost didn't want it because I was disappointed in it's condition as far as cleanliness, but in the end I'm totally glad I made the choice that I did.

matt trakker

12-11-2011, 04:48 PM

Nice catch and fix of that leak. I wonder if that is a common problem. Looks like you also gained an extra Z71 valance with that bumper. Isn't it crazy how quickly and easily the front end comes apart on these NBS models?

Haha, it was mind-boggling. I had to remove the bumper on my '74 Impala and it almost crushed me when it came loose. This job, while not totally easy, was ridiculous in comparison. Like I said the only thing that bothers me is that gap between the bumper and the grille, but everything is black so it kind of washes out when you aren't looking for it.
And yep, I totally did score an extra Z71 valance and fogs. :) I think I will keep the one from the rusted bumper in case I get another truck or the one on mine gets mashed. I really didn't pay much at all so it can't hurt to hang onto it. I still need to take apart my original bumper because the top black plastic piece is nicer on that one.

matt trakker

12-11-2011, 04:57 PM

Might as well post some updated pics...sometime in Aug. or Sept. I went over the truck with Menzerna Final Polish II, then Klasse All in One. I used my Porter Cable orbital polisher, I don't have a true rotary one, which for sure would have cut more swirls and scratches out, but it did come out pretty nice. I wanted to apply some sealer glaze and then wax it but never had time and now it's cold out, so I'm hoping the AIO protects it somewhat. It's supposed to be in the 50s on Monday and Tuesday, so I might just throw a coat of wax on it then if I have time before it gets dark out. It should still be professionally detailed to have real nice paint but I'm satisfied for now.

Pretty amazing difference after looking at this pic of when I first stumbled upon it, I have to say. :)

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https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/317264_556072601026_213500340_31581270_879697099_n .jpg

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Amber DRLs, I like how they look when driving with just the fogs turned on in the afternoon combined with the parking lamps...I think I'll wind up doing a 4HI mod or something like that soon.

Now I just need to replace the driver's seat leather bottom, and maybe do plugs and wires soon. It does run nice though, I'm probably overreacting. It has about 50K on a new set of the Delco Iridium plugs which I guess are factory equipment?

I just changed the oil for the second time with Mobil 1 HM, this time I used one of those Bosch extended range oil filters (DistancePlus?), I'm going to aim for maybe 5500 miles on this oil. I switched to synthetic with no problems at my first oil change, but I changed it at 3500 miles just in case because of the crap that synthetic tends to clean out of the engine.

I think I'm getting some driveline vibration at speeds around 70 and above. I cleaned the MAF (MAF cleaner by CRC, I didn't douse it with carb cleaner or anything) and the throttle body, it kind of seemed like the truck wasn't running as silky as I remember (even though the cleaning I did smoothed out the idle TBH, it's hard to explain), but it does seem better now.
I sometimes get a slight clunk from either a u-joint or the slip yoke on the driveshaft as the tranny shifts from 1-2, 2-3, etc. It shifts a little hard too, not like a banging into gear but depending on how hard you're stepping on the pedal, go slow enough and the shift might bob your head back a bit? Kind of like a shift kit. Are all these trucks just like that and I'm not used to it? Maybe I need a fluid and filter change? :lol:

This truck has an external fuel filter that I should probably replace, but someone was telling me I needed a special tool to unclip it. I don't get what that's about, because it looks almost identical to the filter that is on my old '93...

I put the original wheels back on the truck a couple weeks ago for the winter...