Great write up!!
I've always like that color
I've always like that color
nubuilder's '98 K1500
- Thread starter nubuilder
- Start date
nubuilder
Why buy new when you can restore?
March 2011
Installed:
VLED's 3157 27-LED reverse bulbs - here
Kenwood KDC-X994
Escalade cluster swap
Also, the LED tail lights (eBay) and Recon Smoked LED 3rd brake light are now installed.
I bought LED's from SuperBrightLEDs.com to do the entire interior and dash. I currently only have the gauges done.
So far, the Kenwood KDC-x994 is amazing. You can change the color of it (I set it to green) and the USB thumb drive navigation is wonderful. You can actually see what you are scrolling through rather than having to remember everything. This also has built-in Blue Tooth, but I have not had a chance to try it. Overall I couldn't be happier and I think I've found the head unit I've been looking for and wanting.
Running lights.
Brake lights (direct sunlight)
No lights on
Brake lights
Close-up of tail light with reverse LED bulb installed
Cargo Light
Cargo and Brake Lights
Now some night-shots.
Running Lights
Running and Reverse Lights
Brake Lights
Brake and Reverse Lights
Brake Lights against garage door (no ambient lighting)
Reverse Lights (same as above)
I'm anxious to see the reverse lights when I am actually backing up. I think they will be much brighter than pictured.
Gauges (only LED's I've swapped so far)
The Kenwood allows you to choose what color you want it to be. Luckily, the green matches perfectly!
The gauges and everything really do look great. I couldn't be happier with how the color and even-illumination turned out.
April 2, 2011
I got my truck out from storage. Had to give it a quick wash to get the dust off it since I didn't have the chance to wash it before putting it away (a snow storm was forecasted that never happened until a week later).
Gave it a quick bath since it was dusty because I didn't get a chance to wash it before putting it away.
I just wanted to add that within 4hrs of having the truck out, it got shit on by birds 3 times right on the hood.
And in less than 24hrs it got rained on.
Installed:
VLED's 3157 27-LED reverse bulbs - here
Kenwood KDC-X994
Escalade cluster swap
Also, the LED tail lights (eBay) and Recon Smoked LED 3rd brake light are now installed.
I bought LED's from SuperBrightLEDs.com to do the entire interior and dash. I currently only have the gauges done.
So far, the Kenwood KDC-x994 is amazing. You can change the color of it (I set it to green) and the USB thumb drive navigation is wonderful. You can actually see what you are scrolling through rather than having to remember everything. This also has built-in Blue Tooth, but I have not had a chance to try it. Overall I couldn't be happier and I think I've found the head unit I've been looking for and wanting.
Running lights.
Brake lights (direct sunlight)
No lights on
Brake lights
Close-up of tail light with reverse LED bulb installed
Cargo Light
Cargo and Brake Lights
Now some night-shots.
Running Lights
Running and Reverse Lights
Brake Lights
Brake and Reverse Lights
Brake Lights against garage door (no ambient lighting)
Reverse Lights (same as above)
I'm anxious to see the reverse lights when I am actually backing up. I think they will be much brighter than pictured.
Gauges (only LED's I've swapped so far)
The Kenwood allows you to choose what color you want it to be. Luckily, the green matches perfectly!
The gauges and everything really do look great. I couldn't be happier with how the color and even-illumination turned out.
April 2, 2011
I got my truck out from storage. Had to give it a quick wash to get the dust off it since I didn't have the chance to wash it before putting it away (a snow storm was forecasted that never happened until a week later).
Gave it a quick bath since it was dusty because I didn't get a chance to wash it before putting it away.
I just wanted to add that within 4hrs of having the truck out, it got shit on by birds 3 times right on the hood.
And in less than 24hrs it got rained on.
Last edited:
How'd I miss this? Nice truck with tasteful mods Matt. 
agjake11
Oral the Coal
looking good matt
OldCracker29
I've been knocked down drug out and left for dead
Nice Matt...good find on that Truck buddy! It looks wonderful!
It looks wonderful!
noregrets
Hot girls, Trucks and Beer is what life is about
Nice truck I always liked that body style.
nubuilder
Why buy new when you can restore?
Wow, haven't updated this in a while!
The truck really didn't get much done to it for 2011, however, parts are piling up!
August 4, 2011
I bought a Whipple for it (as some of you may have seen my thread on it; here). This was a big deal for me because I was worried about not being able to find one since they are no longer being made for the L31/L30 motor. I got it on eBay. Unfortunately, the kit was not complete with the parts I need. I got lucky and was able to buy the "hard parts" straight from Whipple (the biggest thing I needed was the bypass valve) and a member on another forum is making some spacers for me.
November 2, 2011
I also found a marine intake on another forum's For Sale section. I was more worried about finding this than the Whipple. I got the intake and had it sent to a member on another forum that is doing the mods to it for me (it needs to be drilled/tapped in a few spots for fittings/sensors that a truck has and a boat doesn't). Here's a thread that has all the info in it. The advantage of this intake is that it will allow me to run larger injectors to feed the supercharged engine and the throttle body is in the same location as the factory intake (so any supercharger will work with it using the supplied duct work with the S/C). The only downfall to this intake is that it has an iron lower and aluminum upper plenums whereas the factory intake has an aluminum lower and plastic upper = more weight, but the benefit of changing injectors is well worth it, especially when it comes to forced induction.
More updates to come on the intake as it progresses.
Late in November, I found an 0411 ECM from a S10 in the junkyard for $40 including the connectors. Guys have said that $100 is about the going rate for getting everything needed (ECM and connectors). This will replace the "black box" ECM in my truck now. The swap will allow me to use the 0411 to control/monitor the necessary parameters that will come into play with the marine intake and Whipple. Without the 0411, I would have to use the electronics that Whipple sells which would just add more clutter and confusion under the hood.
So basically, I'm getting there on having all the parts ready. I'm not in a big hurry, but at the same time I don't like having this much money stuck into parts that are just sitting around. Come this spring, I will start by doing the 0411 swap and getting everything tuned with the N/A engine and original intake. Then I'll swap intakes and tune some more. Finally, if there's still time, the Whipple might make it into the truck along with even more tuning. I do have EFI Live and will be relying on a few guys running this same setup for help. I'm looking forward to all this, but tuning will be difficult (especially to start)
November 14, 2011
Parked it for the winter. Washed, clay-barred it, polished, and waxed it with Adam's products right before parking it (literally did everything and drove it straight to storage; no pics).
So, there's you're update. I'll try to keep you guys posted as the fun continues!
The truck really didn't get much done to it for 2011, however, parts are piling up!
August 4, 2011
I bought a Whipple for it (as some of you may have seen my thread on it; here). This was a big deal for me because I was worried about not being able to find one since they are no longer being made for the L31/L30 motor. I got it on eBay. Unfortunately, the kit was not complete with the parts I need. I got lucky and was able to buy the "hard parts" straight from Whipple (the biggest thing I needed was the bypass valve) and a member on another forum is making some spacers for me.
November 2, 2011
I also found a marine intake on another forum's For Sale section. I was more worried about finding this than the Whipple. I got the intake and had it sent to a member on another forum that is doing the mods to it for me (it needs to be drilled/tapped in a few spots for fittings/sensors that a truck has and a boat doesn't). Here's a thread that has all the info in it. The advantage of this intake is that it will allow me to run larger injectors to feed the supercharged engine and the throttle body is in the same location as the factory intake (so any supercharger will work with it using the supplied duct work with the S/C). The only downfall to this intake is that it has an iron lower and aluminum upper plenums whereas the factory intake has an aluminum lower and plastic upper = more weight, but the benefit of changing injectors is well worth it, especially when it comes to forced induction.
More updates to come on the intake as it progresses.
Late in November, I found an 0411 ECM from a S10 in the junkyard for $40 including the connectors. Guys have said that $100 is about the going rate for getting everything needed (ECM and connectors). This will replace the "black box" ECM in my truck now. The swap will allow me to use the 0411 to control/monitor the necessary parameters that will come into play with the marine intake and Whipple. Without the 0411, I would have to use the electronics that Whipple sells which would just add more clutter and confusion under the hood.
So basically, I'm getting there on having all the parts ready. I'm not in a big hurry, but at the same time I don't like having this much money stuck into parts that are just sitting around. Come this spring, I will start by doing the 0411 swap and getting everything tuned with the N/A engine and original intake. Then I'll swap intakes and tune some more. Finally, if there's still time, the Whipple might make it into the truck along with even more tuning. I do have EFI Live and will be relying on a few guys running this same setup for help. I'm looking forward to all this, but tuning will be difficult (especially to start)
November 14, 2011
Parked it for the winter. Washed, clay-barred it, polished, and waxed it with Adam's products right before parking it (literally did everything and drove it straight to storage; no pics
).So, there's you're update. I'll try to keep you guys posted as the fun continues!
