Rick Baran
TYF Newbie
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2019
- Posts
- 8
- Reaction score
- 2
My 19 year-old 315,000 mile Tahoe Z71.
It's exterior is the "Light Pewter Metallic" color, and it's interior is the "Neutral" color. Aside from missing the factory fender-flares the truck is pretty much stock inside and out. It's worn enough that I intend to start refinishing it.
I'll need to replace the driver and passenger door-lock cylinders, and the driver exterior door-latch. I also need to replace the door-lock switch. I need a new latch for the center console, and a new dash cover. The original has broken into pieces from all the years of exposure to sun. It could also use a new headliner due to a few small holes. I will replace the carpeting, and recover the driver seat.
The outside needs new paint. My plan is to use a velvet-finish dark, DARK brown while cleaning up the original "neutral" interior as much as possible. I think this would be a nice color for such a vehicle without running the cost of a high-quality high-gloss paint finish.
As you can see the bumpers have been painted to match. I'm going to repaint the bumpers, front grill-guard, and side-tubes with rhino-lining or an equivalent. I am also going to remove the factory roof-rack and install an aftermarket roof-rack/tent as can be often seen on African safari vehicles(real ones that is). I might also remove the factory bumpers and install some beefier aftermarket bumpers with winches.
I've given a lot of thought to finding and reinstalling factory fender-flares, what do you all think? Although it would allow a wider tire, I have yet to have difficulty on any surface/in any terrain with the existing tires.
Mechanically I want to clean up the wiring and add a second alternator for lighting. I need to bring the air-conditioner back to life; I believe the rear air-conditioning unit has a leaky hose. I have two thoughts for the drivetrain. One is to simply rebuild the 5.7-litre engine, the 4L60 transmission, the NP246 transfer-case, and the axles. The other is to find a 6.5-litre diesel, a 4L80 transmission, and the appropriate transfer-case and install them instead. I welcome any thoughts and wisdom on these two ideas.
It's exterior is the "Light Pewter Metallic" color, and it's interior is the "Neutral" color. Aside from missing the factory fender-flares the truck is pretty much stock inside and out. It's worn enough that I intend to start refinishing it.
I'll need to replace the driver and passenger door-lock cylinders, and the driver exterior door-latch. I also need to replace the door-lock switch. I need a new latch for the center console, and a new dash cover. The original has broken into pieces from all the years of exposure to sun. It could also use a new headliner due to a few small holes. I will replace the carpeting, and recover the driver seat.
The outside needs new paint. My plan is to use a velvet-finish dark, DARK brown while cleaning up the original "neutral" interior as much as possible. I think this would be a nice color for such a vehicle without running the cost of a high-quality high-gloss paint finish.
As you can see the bumpers have been painted to match. I'm going to repaint the bumpers, front grill-guard, and side-tubes with rhino-lining or an equivalent. I am also going to remove the factory roof-rack and install an aftermarket roof-rack/tent as can be often seen on African safari vehicles(real ones that is). I might also remove the factory bumpers and install some beefier aftermarket bumpers with winches.
I've given a lot of thought to finding and reinstalling factory fender-flares, what do you all think? Although it would allow a wider tire, I have yet to have difficulty on any surface/in any terrain with the existing tires.
Mechanically I want to clean up the wiring and add a second alternator for lighting. I need to bring the air-conditioner back to life; I believe the rear air-conditioning unit has a leaky hose. I have two thoughts for the drivetrain. One is to simply rebuild the 5.7-litre engine, the 4L60 transmission, the NP246 transfer-case, and the axles. The other is to find a 6.5-litre diesel, a 4L80 transmission, and the appropriate transfer-case and install them instead. I welcome any thoughts and wisdom on these two ideas.
