1996 2 DR LT Restoration. Need some advice

[2DR4EVR]

Hello all.....New guy here. I was hoping for some serious advice and recommendations. I've owned a 1996 2dr LT with push button 4x4 since new. The Truck has been from FL to Hawaii and it's time for full make over. The elements have taken there toll.

Some quick facts:

She has 150k miles and mechanically is nearly perfect. Over the years everything except for the actual engine has been replaced. Lots of visual accessories like brush guards, exhaust, etc etc.

I have budgeted $10,000 to put back into it and I would greatly appreciate any recommendations on parts, suppliers and pitfalls. Unfortunately my area of expertise is in aircraft and not vehicles!!

So here's what I want to do:

Truck is currently in paint. Taking it down to the frame and going with a Jet black and a high gloss. All trim will be removed. All dents and rust damaged fixed.

Next will be interior. Interior is currently Gray and THRASHED!! I would like a light Tan on all seats and go with either light black or matching tan on the dash, headliner and panels. Pretty srtaight forward but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with changing the color of the plastic parts to something that's custom. I want something unique in color. Not "Pimp my Ride" style.

Next will be the tire package and where I need the most feedback from fellow restorers. Currently I have 16" inch rims with 33 inch tires. No lift. It's tight, but it's worked over the years. I want the X0 Monster series and the smallest they come in is 18"s. This will require a 35" inch tire thus a lift....correct?. So what is better and what needs to be done? 3 inch body? 6 inch suspension? what are the pros and cons of each? Also, are transmission modifications a must with this? What manufacturer would you recommend for purchasing this stuff from? I'm shooting for a clean look.....not balloon looking tires and not ghetto.

If I have anything leftover I would like to throw a chip in it and maybe a new air filter system. I read about what people have on there tahoes and some of the stuff I have no clue about.

With the setup I'm shooting for am I missing anything that needs to be done first and foremost? Please keep in mind that this Tahoe is stock under the skin.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks

I'll be sure and get some pics up when it's done.

---------- Post added at 04:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:27 PM ----------

Shot at 2010-02-01

Here's a before shot. Also, if anyone is from the Houston area and can recommend a good shop. That would be kewl to.

 

[bowtiefreak]

This would be much easier if you lurk around in here and find a few trucks that stand out to you and then ask, "how do I make this?" We could go on for days and with that much money to put into it...lots of options.

Find some wheels you like...forget tire size for right now, any wheel can be fitted on for the most part, tires just need the right size to fit the suspension. this is easy.

The big questions are, do you want to go up? down? stock height with new shocks?

power: don't even get me started. Get a new 350 bolt on some goodies and a custom tune and you will fall back in love.

So like I said, give us some hint as to a route you want to go and then we can guide

 

[blackcoffee]

Tight looking truck.

 

[2DR4EVR]

Thanks BowTie......I've been doing just that. Basically I know what I want, it's just how to get there, properly and the correct way. This ol'whip is more than just a vehicle and it's going be with me until cars don't run on gas anymore.

I'm considering a repower but I just had the engine tuned and it runs perfectly. Basically the info I'm after are the little things. For example you got a good looking ride and I notice you got dual shocks in the wheel well there. Is that something worth doing in your opinion? (I guess the answer is obvious in that case) Never been in one that has that setup and I'd like to know how much of a difference something like that would make.

Thanks for the input. If you ever have a question about airplanes or turbine engines feel free to drop me a line.

 

[badtothe bone]

With all the traveling that you have done and all the miles that you have put on it, if you wanted to do a total make over, I would suggest that you take it to a custom shop and hand them the keys and say suprise me.

I love the 96 platform and the engine and the transmission and the four wheel drive system. i would leave the suspension alone and the wheels and tires. When the tires goes bald, you can buy what you want, but you will loose ride and the ability to get ones that gets good traction when you go to the bigger sized wheels.

The interior is pretty straight forward. If you buy some issues of Truckin magazine, you will get some idea's pretty quick. There are thousands of good shops out there that will trick your truck at a reasonable price and add that exterior paint job all for around what you were willing to spend.

Just remember that as you replace that old interior, it isn't going to be as simple as just taking out a spray bomb of paint and painting the panels and pieces. They make pieces that are one off's that are much nicer then the stock panels, that are at a reasonable price. Where they could add some sort of custom stereo and some carpet and some nice bucket seats where you would truely have a nice ride that will be just like getting a brand new truck - at half the price. Yet you will still have old reliable under the hood.

http://www.truckinweb.com/index.html

http://www.off-roadweb.com/index.html

 

[drowndindreams]

First may I suggest a complete black dashboard. Also you probably plan on putting in a new carpet and headliner (ceiling carpet), might I also suggest you go with black, seeing as in you will not see dirt at all.

Furthermore as to your wheel question, my taste, seeing as your Tahoe is Jet Black, I would throw on some of these. http://www.wheelfire.com/imagesproducts/rockstarblack_over.jpg I do not know of suspension but with those wheels I would throw on some nice, durable tires.

I have seen one custom Tahoe, all black interior, and in my opinion, it looked wonderful. It was a delight to look at.

 

[992door]

Look through here for some ideas.

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40

If you are looking to lift
Suspension Lifts:
Dick cepek good lift some say the best for our body style but you pay for it.(bowtiefreak)
ProComp also a good lift but probably cost as much as the DC.(96ProCompTahoe)
Rough Country also a good lift some say just as good as the DC but can be had for about 1000.(BlackedOutHoe) but his also has a 2" body lift.
Those are the 3 that i would consider if i was lifting my tahoe.

Body Lifts:
Show alot of frame on these models and can look bad.
Can be had for cheap.

Tires:
With a 6" lift you can fit 35's but with a 3" BL and cranking the torsion bars you can also fit 35's.

Tune:
I would look into BlackBearPerformance they are vendors on her (JennaBear)

Transmission mods are not needed for a lift but i would look into getting it regeared.

 

[haks310]

First of, welcome to the forum.

Check out these sites for restoration parts you might need:
LMC, CKResto, RockAuto and ebay.

Seeing as how you have the body off the frame, look into painting the frame. Specifically with a product named POR-15. It is a rust inhibitor and will keep the frame looking good for another 14 years.

For the interior, look into SEM dyes to change the color. It is what stain is to wood. The dye gets soaked into the plastic or what not, instead of sitting on top of it like paint would. I am sure you can find a tan or black you like and then have the seats re-upholstered to match.

Going with 35s, I will deffinetly look into re-gearing to 4.56s. I am sure your drivetrain will take a beating with the stock 3.73s

 

[2DR4EVR]

Well it should be great adventure throwing this all together. Really glad I came across the forum. The info on here has outstanding. Especially when it comes to interior, I've been going back and forth as to keeping it stock or doing something a little more different . Either way it needs work. I caught the center console on fire by accident so that needs to be replaced. Seats are torn. A panel is missing in the back and the locking system is shot. Carpet ain't looking too good either.

I've been in some pretty salty environments so I can't wait to find out what little surprises may lay underneath this thing.

But I love it and there is nothing on the road that I would honestly rather have. I did the Euro 2 door sport car thing and it just wasn't me so I dumped it. The hoe would still turn more heads even after all this time and it's a timeless classic in my opinion. I had an 85 k5 before the 96 and that was a lot of fun as well.

 

[BlackedOutHoe]

Well I just wrote a novel but it didn't post b/c it didn't copy when I logged back in!


If you have any questions, just ask rofl.