Build Log: Down8's Tahoe Has a Nickname

[Down8]

This is why we have to have BSMs. I park waaay out in the open. Maybe half the time, when I come out of the store or mall, there's an "enthusiasts" car, like a Mustang or Charger, parked behind, ahead or next to me but with an empty spot in between us.

Yeah, that was common with my Vette. This Jetta had vinyl window stickers, so some kind of enthusiast. No need to be up on me. Agreed on the need for BSMs.

-bZj

 

[Fless]

I don't take take it personally- it's a program that doesn't "know" any better. I've had it happen seemingly randomly to me but thought it was because it detected large amounts of skin in an image. I think I was posting a pic where I was holding a part or something. I figured it saw my huge, thick, erecť and throbbing finger and thought I was posting naughty images again.

So maybe it's not random after all...

 

[iamdub]

So maybe it's not random after all...

Hmm. Maybe it's actually really smart. I've been told I have magic hands and my fingers are like- well, never mind. Doesn't matter here. Let's move on.

 

[Down8]

Made some progress on cleaning up the sides after my run.

Here's the look before, where I had taken off the old wide BSM and cleaned up the adhesive just using Goo Gone (or Goof Off, I don't recall) & a plastic "razor blade." I had just started using one of those eraser wheels:


That eraser shit goes everywhere. Pro tip: don't be too afraid to apply some pressure, if your truck is nearly 2 decades old - that stuff's been on there for a long time & won't just let go.


After the eraser wheel, I used some compound and a "coarse" buffing pad. The lower line just isn't coming off very well.


If it doesn't come off with a slightly stronger compound (which I'll go buy tomorrow), I'll just have to align my new ones down along that edge.


I only got the passenger side done. Mostly. It just got chilly, and I was tired of clawing at my truck....


One of the best tools: my fingernail. The nasty dried up stuff - especially at the front of the front door - only comes off when I get in there & scratch it off. Then I come back & use the compound.

Looks to be just as cool tomorrow, but I'm going to try & get the pass. side wrapped, do the whole driver's side, buff & polish all over, then apply the new BSMs. We shall see.... The rest of the paint is only a 15-footer, at best, so I need to find the balance.

I have my new washer pump, but realized I need to pull the 2nd battery I just installed, and go in through the wheel well where I just was when doing my headlamps... so I put off installing that. Out of spite.

Also ordered new interior handles and uplevel mirrors, so I can just remove the door panel once. There's a broken clip on the driver's rear window switch panel, so I got some strong glue to repair that while I'm in there. Ordered the JB-Weld-type stuff to try & repair my rear defrost tab.

Fun. Small. Stuff.

-bZj

 

[adventurenali92]

Great progress on the Tahoe! She’s looking good! New tires look great!

 

[Down8]

Thanks.

I didn't get the other BSM-area cleaned up today. I did get a hair cut, so there's that.

I did actually toss a bit of a repair (temporary) on my slit CV boot. Just used some of that self-sealing plumbing tape, with a zip tie to ensure (hopefully) that it doesn't randomly unravel on the road. Super-janky. But, I just need a little time to decide what I'm doing with the suspension in the near term.

Getting an alignment sometime this week/early next, and hope to finish up the moldings soon.

-bZj

 

[Down8]

I just noticed there is a sub-forum specifically for build threads. My bad on missing that. If a mod wants to move this thread over there, that'd be fine.

-bZj

 

[blackelky]

Yeah, I don't have a nickname for my truck, yet. It'll come.

Anyway, it was suggested that I might make a build log for what I've done/will do to my Tahoe. At this point, I've had it a month, and done a lot of small things, but have plenty planned.

Here it is, the day I bought it:
View attachment 414511

2007 Tahoe LS 4x4, Bose, Titanium leather, 3-rows, 235K. Family friend heard I was looking for a 4WD vehicle; he happens to be a mechanic at a small dealership and called to say they had a nice example (he has a Tahoe, and had already been through it). Anyway, I bought it. It needed small stuff, given the miles, but was generally pretty well taken care of, so I feel like I got a solid deal.

Here's the list of things done so far:
Replaced headlamps
Replaced/added air dam
Replaced driver's lower foam/leather
New Pirelli's (275/60R20 Scorpion ATR)
Replaced/added proper yellow/flex fuel gas cap
Added 2nd battery (w/kit)
Re-painted front wiper arms, new blades
New rear wiper arm/blade
Replaced steering wheel trim w/brushed aluminum style
Added wireless phone charger to center console
Added trim-to-fit floor mats w/removable carpet sections
Cabin air filter retrofit
Removed wide/failing body side moldings
Hit all the plastics with Ultimate Black
DiabloSport inTune i3 => changed tires, removed AFM, 87 octane tune
Replaced broken rear hatch pull handle
Replaced broken rear glass button
Replaced rear radio knobs
Added new key+fob
Added dash mat
2" lower strut lift

Plans:
Buff out ugliness left from removing BSM (this weekend's rain ruined today's plans)
Add slimmer BSM (purchased and waiting...)
Replace front wiper washer motor (ordered)
DL3 mirror swap (well, ordered signal+heat+puddle lamp, but manual fold version)
New headunit w/wireless Android Auto
Painted Z71-style fender flares
Painted hitch cover
Lighted Bowtie? Maybe color-matched?
Roof rack cross bars
Cargo area cover
Tint?
Debadge? (at least the FlexFuel logo is going away)
3"+ total lift
UCAs
Diff drop
New suspension all around
Fix rear defroster
Fix intermediate steering boot
Fix torn CV boot
Might need to replace 4WD switch (intermittent "Service 4WD" notices)
Fix/replace cracked/weak vanity mirrors
LED swap on interior lights
Paint/powdercoat tow hooks

I'll drop the pictures I have below, and then add the future stuff as it happens.

More to come,
-bZj

How do you like that diablo? I was thinking about getting one as well

 

[avalonandl]

TMI ......

 

[Down8]

How do you like that diablo? I was thinking about getting one as well

It's done what I asked: change tire size so my speedo is correct (w/in 1mph, per Google Maps), and deleted AFM/DoD (always in V8 mode). I haven't worked on the tunes yet, so can't comment. As the truck is new to me, I haven't beat on it much.

I fixed my rear defrost, using the Permatex stuff. Only minor frost yesterday, but the rear was working! The pass. window however didn't seem to be doing much. I didn't investigate, though. Anyone have any ideas about that?

-bZj