Progression of a well used 2000 Tahoe Z71

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Y2KpewterZ

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2013
Posts
202
Reaction score
12
So let me start from the beginning. My first Tahoe was a 99 LT, fully loaded and burgandy on burgandy. I did alot of work on it and it was truly a great vehicle. Except I totaled it about five years ago.
PicsArt_1384309916155-vi.jpg


During this time I bought a 2002 F150 and built it up pretty nicely, 9" of lift, 38x15.50s, Eaton Locker, and the list goes on. Except it was too tall to fit into the college parking deck, and i also longed for another GMT400 suv.. so i started searching craigslist on the daily for a cheap decent one. I quickly realised these two words dont go together very well when searching for a 15+ year old family vehicle. I found this 96 Suburban that needed a little.. uhm.. tlc. But i drove it away for $700.
PicsArt_1384310367385-vi.jpg

I had given it, to my now ex, so I have taken ownership of the Suburban again, and is currently for sale.

So here I was in the same situation, and needed a more practical daily driver.. after searching craigslist for awhile an ad finally popped up for a 2000 Z71 Tahoe for $1500. The mileage wasnt listed though.. turns out 260k was on the clock. This didnt scare me away, as I know these Vortec 350s go forever after intake gasket replacements. It needed some TLC like the ole' Burb. Some rust, dents, some missing/broken lights but I figured it would make a nice project. I really wanted one with a tail gate but I could sacrifice those for a Z71 trimmed Hoe. I bought it on the spot in the dark and drove it an hour and a half home on 3/17/13.
486512_596456613716224_1621262014_n.jpg

5281_596470220381530_2107471168_n.jpg

556723_596657860362766_1831167255_n.jpg


I bought it from an older gentleman in rural VA that just bought a new Z71 Suburban and no longer needed the Tahoe. It needed a thorough cleaning from being neglected in the rural life for who knows how long.
179010_597155180313034_223026452_n.jpg


First thing I did was ****** the 6K HIDs out of the Burb. She didnt like them so sure.. ill take them back lol.
484265_598243920204160_467944317_n.jpg

And then I found out my G80 was broke. Had to get my F150 and pull it out of my front yard. Fail.
230191_598243896870829_2073061618_n.jpg


So.. on the want to-to do list was..
-NBS 17"s like on my old Tahoe
-More aggressive tires
-fix all the rust
-replace the rusty/dented bumpers
-replace all missing/broke/burnt out lights
-fix the drivers seat!
-replace the broken side mirrors

---------- Post added at 10:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 PM ----------

Then I added some NBS 17s with some slick 265 street tires.
6115_602854639743088_1509194918_n.jpg

9114_602854716409747_1196970458_n.jpg


The next items to come were 285/70 Goodyear Duratracs. I also added the ebay crystal clear light set. I believe also at this time i repainted the lower section of the front doors because they had some surface rust coming through. I also replaced the broken side mirror, blacked out the bowtie and a custom "HOE" rear badge.
551057_608652222496663_1789741791_n.jpg

537202_608652192496666_1366848173_n.jpg


During this time I changed out the differential fluid, replaced the transfer case fluid with fresh AutoTrac, replaced two sway bar end links, and replaced the transmission fluid and filter, also replaced the fuel filter and pcv valve, only using ACDelco parts. I also removed the Vortec box, hacked off and plugged the air silencer, removed the diffuser plate on the throttle body, and had the A/C system vacuumed, recharged and installed new A/C lines. After all this the A/C system will still sub-par. After spending more then $700 to try and figure out why, it turns out the relay was going bad and would cut the compressor off.
20131113_110115_546-vi.jpg


I had an HID ballast go out on me. i got them off craigslist for the Suburban originally, so who knows how old they were to begin with. I orded a ballast of Ebay. I had Xentecs in my first Tahoe so I didnt think it would be an issue, buying a cheap $10 ballast from ebay. I was wrong. The first one melted itself. I smelt burning electronics while pumping gas and my nose led me to the front behind the grille and found this.. since I have a gmt400 i keep tools with me so i yanked it out at the gas station lol
544563_702203183141566_1887170297_n.jpg

I got a free, no hassle, second replacement after bringing it up to the ebay seller. A week later the back of the ballast fell of, exposing it to the elements. At this point i said f it and went back to standard halogens.
Trying out the Duratracs in mud and the sand of the OBX
309954_621200684575150_662782196_n.jpg

1385175_10200959122123674_2095978633_n.jpg

Oops!
1384245_10200958799035597_1015213283_n.jpg

sHFIVTjwC-vi.jpg

970707_631930106835541_1534026833_n.jpg


Full detail after my beach trip.
945481_633013270060558_1528729077_n.jpg


---------- Post added at 10:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 PM ----------

Well since im an idiot and didnt take the rust down to bare metal.. the paint started to bubble up again; had to redo the bottoms of the doors, so this time I took it down to bare metal and reshot it.
Before:
_____rHuWCreefurHe2-vi.jpg

After:
_____rHuWCreefurHe0-vi.jpg

(Excuse the redneck paint booth haha)

Found these in the junkyard. Esky console.. some assembly required. And got the 120 cluster. All for $30. Yes!
534037_683276671700884_2073991287_n.jpg

_____rHuWCreefurHe-vi.jpg

1186228_678740115487873_1165965644_n.jpg

I used a self tapping screw and a tab from a soft drink can as a swivel type clip to hold the center pad down. I also installed a power inverter in the rear where the audio controls were. I also put blue lights in the HVAC unit to match the cluster

Then i got a good clean rust free bumper.. except it was green.. but i got the bumper, factory Z71 brush gaurd and another set of fog light housings for $150.
1379913_719276674767550_654752282_n.jpg


My original one. Nice and crusty..
_____rHuWCreefurHe-vi.jpg

_____rHuWCreefurHe-vi.jpg

_____rHuWCreefurHe1-vi.jpg


The newly painted one. 3 coats of base 3 coats clear, wet sanded, buffed, waxed, and coated with 3Ms Paint defender spray.
_____rHuWCreefurHe-vi.jpg


While i had it all apart i installed DDMtuning 6k Fogs, 6led 194s in the corners, and replaced a ballast on my lows so I could go back to HID lows.
_____rHuWCreefurHe1-vi.jpg


And.. all done
1453429_730566186971932_660998364_n.jpg


---------- Post added at 10:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 PM ----------

I carried the lighting upgrades to the inside with LED door panel lights, dome, and foot wells. Next is gauge cluster and HVAC unit.
_____rHuWCreefurHe-vi.jpg


Found a clean rust free pewter bumper in the junkyard. Its got a small dent and some red paint from a parking lot pole but I should be able to make it decent. Sure beats the one thats on there though. Ill probably wet sand it and just buff it back out.
_____rHuWCreefurHe1-vi.jpg


But lets take a moment for the GMT400s that had to die so mine could live on.. lol
2000 Limited
565002_683276735034211_1944609916_n.jpg

2000 Z71
969359_733749546653596_719766560_n.jpg


And for nostalgia purposes.. a 14 year old factory ad.
_____rHuWCreefurHe2-vi.jpg


And a photo from today (11/12/13) A brand new Z and my old Z.. now with 281k miles.
1451485_736892403005977_2048607842_n.jpg


So to-dos and want-to-dos..
Needs tune up. Cap, rotor, coil plugs wires.
Needs front end over haul. Tire rods, idle arm, ball joints
Needs new tires shortly.. not sure what im going with this time. Ive been checking out the Summit Mud Hog, Pinnacle Grizzly Grip or Thunderer M/T405.
Exhaust work; cats, duals. Im thinking Cherry Bombs Vortex DI/DI. It sounded great on my girlfriends 98 2-Dr Tahoe.. or as the gangster brah at the convenience store said "throw some loud pipes on dat ass" .. lol
Off road roof rack with LED bar
Fix or replace G80
LED tail lights
LEDs in cluster and HVAC unit
Fix this damn drivers seat!

Want tos:
Sas (a dream, low lift hight on 33s.. blahblahblah)
If i dont SAS, 14b SF 6 lug
Mount the factory Z71 brush guard with LED bar
 
Last edited:

Donnie Yukonie

Yates Caretaker
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2011
Posts
5,125
Reaction score
161
Awesome work my friend , I remember you from GMT400. Love what you did to the hoe , Do you still have the stock bulbs for the fogs? I bought a z71 bumper and now need the wiring harness ectt….
 

Goodinblack

I Like Tacos
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2011
Posts
22,295
Reaction score
3,040
Location
Dirty South
Nice work

This thread makes me feel old. :(

I remember when the 1995 Tahoe came out. Liked it a lot.

Bought a 1996 in 1999....... White LT

Fun times
 

07Burb

GM fan for life
Staff member
Administrator
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2011
Posts
50,348
Reaction score
17,132
I'd like to own another gmt400 at some point :)
 
OP
OP
Y2KpewterZ

Y2KpewterZ

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2013
Posts
202
Reaction score
12
Thanks guys. I love my old gmt400. I had a chance to get rid of my obs, for a nbs Tahoe; gunmetal grey in color (my favorite,) 5.3, LS with leather but i couldnt find it in myself to get rid of my 400.
Awesome work my friend , I remember you from GMT400. Love what you did to the hoe , Do you still have the stock bulbs for the fogs? I bought a z71 bumper and now need the wiring harness ectt….
Thanks. I do not, i can tell you the bulb # is 880 or 881, with the factory fog lamps. Either one works. I sold my other set of lights and the guy said he got a harness to work from an 03 Envoy. I dont recall what years the Envoy was a trim package on the s10 Jimmys, or when the Envoy became its own model.
 
OP
OP
Y2KpewterZ

Y2KpewterZ

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2013
Posts
202
Reaction score
12
Okay here was my biggest issue with this Tahoe..
My driver seat seems to have a broken hinge.. or something. The base is still tight, its just the seat back. As you can see its got the gangster lean, and the reclining mechanism is broken too, as it will go all the way back but will only lock in the position its in.
_____rHuWCreefurHe1-vi.jpg

_____rHuWCreefurHe2-vi.jpg


I can twist it foward by pulling on it too..
_____rHuWCreefurHe1-vi.jpg


Talked to a buddy of mine. His mother is an upholsterer, so he grew up around this stuff, and hes a welder by trade.. and he offered to tear into my seat.
_____rHuWCreefurHe2-vi.jpg


This was all that was left of my frame after removing the broken parts lol
_____rHuWCreefurHe1-vi.jpg

The bottom cross bar broke on one side, the outer frame broke at the corner, the upper cross bar snapped off, and the small rod that runs across broke off as well.. but its all welded back together and as good as new.

Now the icing on the cake.. while we were wrestling the leather off, a relay fell off from the bottom of the seat. I plugged it back in before we bolted it back in the truck.. and now my heated seat works!. Winning. Never shall I take being able to lean back in a seat for granted lol.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Y2KpewterZ

Y2KpewterZ

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2013
Posts
202
Reaction score
12
The clips on my original door bezel snapped off (imagine that right!?). Anyways got this grey one out of the junkyard. And had this SEM colorcoat paint i never used. I got the paint originally because i had intended to buy a center console out of a Denali.. so it would have been gray.. but I ended up getting one out of an Escalade.
20131120_131457_71-vi.jpg

Meh.. a few shades brighter lol, but it actually almost spot on matches the factory Escalade console color.
20131120_135133_196-vi.jpg

And painted the bumper..
20131120_135153_226-vi.jpg

20131120_135329_95-vi.jpg
 

95escahoe

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2010
Posts
5,155
Reaction score
4,454
Awesome work my friend , I remember you from GMT400. Love what you did to the hoe , Do you still have the stock bulbs for the fogs? I bought a z71 bumper and now need the wiring harness ectt….

Mean Green on GMT400 can prolly make you a harness





The clips on my original door bezel snapped off (imagine that right!?). Anyways got this grey one out of the junkyard. And had this SEM colorcoat paint i never used. I got the paint originally because i had intended to buy a center console out of a Denali.. so it would have been gray.. but I ended up getting one out of an Escalade.
20131120_131457_71-vi.jpg

Meh.. a few shades brighter lol, but it actually almost spot on matches the factory Escalade console color.
20131120_135133_196-vi.jpg

And painted the bumper..
20131120_135153_226-vi.jpg

20131120_135329_95-vi.jpg

Looks great and those clips always break I got a screwdriver from Lowes that gets them off perfectly


Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Y2KpewterZ

Y2KpewterZ

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2013
Posts
202
Reaction score
12
Thanks. Just gotta know where to stick the screwdriver so it dont break the tabs.

PicsArt_1385100763692-vi.jpg


Anyways, had the duster attachment on the vacuum and was cleaning tje dust off the radio (stock).. and ended up sucking one of the tuning knobs off... you might own a 90s GM product if..
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,366
Posts
1,866,791
Members
96,988
Latest member
Jcross
Top