nubuilder
Why buy new when you can restore?
After being at this for a couple years, I figured I should put all my info in one spot.
I bought the truck on October 19, 2008 (the day before I turned 18) with 97k miles on it for $5,500 in Rochester, MN (about 1hr away from me). I was so damn happy and proud of it. I spent 8 months, checking 4 cities on CraigsList multiple times a day, looking for one with low enough miles and in my price range. Everything that I was looking at had at least 150k+ on it or else it was 500 miles away.
Here's me and the truck right after closing the deal.
The truck came with Doug Thorley Tri-Y headers, dual exhaust, 10k miles on new tires (Firestone Destination A/T), black steel nerf bars and bed rails, and Husky Liners floor mats.
In the ad on CraigsList, the truck was pictured with a white aluminum topper along with the bed rails and nerf bars. Just before agreeing on the price, the kid says "oh, the topper, nerf bars, and bed rails are all for sale separately". I was like WTF? The truck was listed for $5700 and his dad would only let him come down to $5500, which I wanted to do $5300 since the topper was no longer included (I wasn't planning on keeping it, but it would work for now). When I got home, I found everything for sale on CraigsList in addition to a K&N cold air intake which makes sense since there's a K&N sticker in the driver's door jam.
November 2008
I got my Truxedo LoPro QT tonneau cover from my parents as a Christmas present. I'm so glad I got it because I hated shoveling the snow out of the bed.
February 2009
I drove to the Minneapolis, MN area to buy a set of doors ($300) and a set of 2000 Silverado rims ($225) to use in the summer to save the rubber on my factory '98 rims for the winter.
I laid the doors with the tops of them overlapping each other on top of 3 of the tires. The 4th tire was in the back seat
.
June 2009
I installed my Kenwood Excelon sound system. I removed it from my first truck, a '94 S10 RCSB. I ran all new 16ga wiring and built my own center console to house the subwoofer and amp.
KDC-X491 head unit
KAC-X4R 4-channel amp
KFC-XW1000F 10" shallow sub
KFC-X170 6 1/2"
KFC-X460 4x6"
July 2009
I bought Putco Locker stainless steel bed rails.
September 2009
I bought Nasta stainless steel nerf bars.
November 2009
I swapped out my open rear axle for a factory-equipped G80 axle from a '94 K1500 with matching gears. Just did a straight up axle swap.
[YT]Vny8_O6watI[/YT]
January 2010
I finally became fed up with my loud, falling apart exhaust and decided to replace it. I went with stainless steel from the headers back. I had a custom installation done using MagnaFlow cats, mufflers, and tips.
Here's my install thread.
February 2010
I installed a Volant cold air intake (CAI).
Here's my install thread.
April 2010
I installed some new headlights, parking lights, and corner lights from eBay along with some Anzo euro tail lights.
I also had a Black Bear Performance tune done in Rogers, MN. A meet was put together, by SierraRR (thanks!). Met a lot of great guys and had fun too.
June 2010
I got a second set of some interior pieces to PTM (Paint To Match). I got them all painted, but didn't install them yet.
Here's my progress thread on them.
July 2010
I installed TYC Elegante headlight lenses and DDM Tuning HID's.
Here's my install thread. Its long, but there's a lot of good stuff in it. Post #78 has my wiring diagram.
October 2010
I upgraded my factory 105A alternator to a 140A one from a GMT-800. It bolted right up and the electrical connector plugged right in. All I needed was a belt that was a hair longer (97.5in VS 96.8in). I had a load test done on it at AutoZone right after the install and it was putting out 200 amps under load
.
Here's my install thread.
November 2010
On Nov 23 I parked the truck for the winter in my grandma's garage. I miss not driving it, but it's what's best for it in the long run.
December 2010
Got some new LED tail lights, from eBay (thanks to BHBurb for telling me about them) for $135, and a Putco LED smoked 3rd brake light.
January 2011
Finally decided on the rims I wanted to have for the truck. They are 17" aluminum rims off a 04-06 Silverado/Tahoe/Suburban. I got them off eBay for $525.
Here's my thread with pics and some more info.
I bought the truck on October 19, 2008 (the day before I turned 18) with 97k miles on it for $5,500 in Rochester, MN (about 1hr away from me). I was so damn happy and proud of it. I spent 8 months, checking 4 cities on CraigsList multiple times a day, looking for one with low enough miles and in my price range. Everything that I was looking at had at least 150k+ on it or else it was 500 miles away.
Here's me and the truck right after closing the deal.
The truck came with Doug Thorley Tri-Y headers, dual exhaust, 10k miles on new tires (Firestone Destination A/T), black steel nerf bars and bed rails, and Husky Liners floor mats.
In the ad on CraigsList, the truck was pictured with a white aluminum topper along with the bed rails and nerf bars. Just before agreeing on the price, the kid says "oh, the topper, nerf bars, and bed rails are all for sale separately". I was like WTF? The truck was listed for $5700 and his dad would only let him come down to $5500, which I wanted to do $5300 since the topper was no longer included (I wasn't planning on keeping it, but it would work for now). When I got home, I found everything for sale on CraigsList in addition to a K&N cold air intake which makes sense since there's a K&N sticker in the driver's door jam.
November 2008
I got my Truxedo LoPro QT tonneau cover from my parents as a Christmas present. I'm so glad I got it because I hated shoveling the snow out of the bed.
February 2009
I drove to the Minneapolis, MN area to buy a set of doors ($300) and a set of 2000 Silverado rims ($225) to use in the summer to save the rubber on my factory '98 rims for the winter.
I laid the doors with the tops of them overlapping each other on top of 3 of the tires. The 4th tire was in the back seat
.
June 2009
I installed my Kenwood Excelon sound system. I removed it from my first truck, a '94 S10 RCSB. I ran all new 16ga wiring and built my own center console to house the subwoofer and amp.
KDC-X491 head unit
KAC-X4R 4-channel amp
KFC-XW1000F 10" shallow sub
KFC-X170 6 1/2"
KFC-X460 4x6"
July 2009
I bought Putco Locker stainless steel bed rails.
September 2009
I bought Nasta stainless steel nerf bars.
November 2009
I swapped out my open rear axle for a factory-equipped G80 axle from a '94 K1500 with matching gears. Just did a straight up axle swap.
[YT]Vny8_O6watI[/YT]
January 2010
I finally became fed up with my loud, falling apart exhaust and decided to replace it. I went with stainless steel from the headers back. I had a custom installation done using MagnaFlow cats, mufflers, and tips.
Here's my install thread.
February 2010
I installed a Volant cold air intake (CAI).
Here's my install thread.
April 2010
I installed some new headlights, parking lights, and corner lights from eBay along with some Anzo euro tail lights.
I also had a Black Bear Performance tune done in Rogers, MN. A meet was put together, by SierraRR (thanks!). Met a lot of great guys and had fun too.
June 2010
I got a second set of some interior pieces to PTM (Paint To Match). I got them all painted, but didn't install them yet.
Here's my progress thread on them.
July 2010
I installed TYC Elegante headlight lenses and DDM Tuning HID's.
Here's my install thread. Its long, but there's a lot of good stuff in it. Post #78 has my wiring diagram.
October 2010
I upgraded my factory 105A alternator to a 140A one from a GMT-800. It bolted right up and the electrical connector plugged right in. All I needed was a belt that was a hair longer (97.5in VS 96.8in). I had a load test done on it at AutoZone right after the install and it was putting out 200 amps under load
.Here's my install thread.
November 2010
On Nov 23 I parked the truck for the winter in my grandma's garage. I miss not driving it, but it's what's best for it in the long run.
December 2010
Got some new LED tail lights, from eBay (thanks to BHBurb for telling me about them) for $135, and a Putco LED smoked 3rd brake light.
January 2011
Finally decided on the rims I wanted to have for the truck. They are 17" aluminum rims off a 04-06 Silverado/Tahoe/Suburban. I got them off eBay for $525.
Here's my thread with pics and some more info.
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