Project: TwistedTahoe

[BurgundyBowtie]

Hey everyone! Ill start this new project by introducing myself then the truck's themselves. My name is Jamie, I live in Alberta and I'm a 23 year old oil patch worker who likes pulling wrenches. I have a 1997 two door that ive been itching to do a bunch of work to, so without further prolonging the picture ******* here we go!





I bought it 2 years ago now and haven't really had the financing or the right parts to put into it but now that I have a lock on most of the parts I'm going to need to time to get her prepped and ready for surgery

Here is what I have planned for her:
Mechanically
- 6.6L LML Duramax/Allison 1000 swap
- Dana 60 SAS
- Corporate 14 Bolt full float axel out back

Exterior
- 2009 GMC sierra front clip
- Ironbull prerunner HD front bumper
- Custom swingout rear bumper/tire carrier
- Full length rock slider
- custom roof rack
- 1997 Suburban power sliding sunroof

Interior
- 2012 GMC Sierra Denali entertainment package - head unit/speakers/roof DVD screen
- 60/40 Matching Bench seat
- MiniMaxx tuner
- Shortened overhead console with hidden Radar
- Switch panel to run onboard accessories


So. If i still have your attention at this point and your wondering where im going to get my hands on half those parts without spending a small fortune, well here is the answer...








So thats the basic outline in a very quick and simple way but don't worry ill be documenting the whole build (I'm a picture ***** myself) and there is still a whole lot of other stuff that i didn't write down in the outline that is kicking around in my head!! The build should start as soon as I can get that crumpled hunk of potential back to my shop!

 

[Ben]

Damn should be sick. I always loved the old 2 doors, but why the 09 front clip?

 

[BurgundyBowtie]

Damn should be sick. I always loved the old 2 doors, but why the 09 front clip?

Just because there are a couple in the junkyards up here that have blown motors or something and I can get the front end off them. The body style is probably the closest in my mind to the OBS body and I don't like the style of the nbs chevy's or the "angry asian" body style that followed that one haha

 

[Donnie Yukonie]

Im tuned in , Always wanted a motor swap mine but Ill wait till mine blows. Good luck wight the project!

 

[Ben]

Consider keeping the current front clip?

 

[_Dylan_]

Awesome.

I would skip the front clip, stereo, and sunroof...too much work to get it right. Aftermarket stereo and front end parts will be much easier to install.

Motor/axle swap it and put new seats in it IMO.



Also, would you be interested in selling me the light bar in the bumper?

pwetty pwease!

 

[SunlitComet]

You had me at Durahoe.

 

[BurgundyBowtie]

Consider keeping the current front clip?

I had, i have nothing against the style at all, lets be honest its why we buy the truck in the first place haha, but I think with everything else getting upgraded and refreshed i thought why not

Awesome.

I would skip the front clip, stereo, and sunroof...too much work to get it right. Aftermarket stereo and front end parts will be much easier to install.

Motor/axle swap it and put new seats in it IMO.



Also, would you be interested in selling me the light bar in the bumper?

pwetty pwease!

I love the finicky little details that drive most people nuts so the challenge of getting all that stuff right is just good fun for me haha

Im pretty sure ill be using that light bar at some point but if not ill keep you in mind and at the top of the list

You had me at Durahoe.

Ahhh dam! I wish I thought of Durahoe haha kinda sounds like a ****** brand though haha

---------- Post added at 12:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 AM ----------

Im tuned in , Always wanted a motor swap mine but Ill wait till mine blows. Good luck wight the project!

I was going to wait till my motor went but I do have a 1996 burgundy two door that needs a new block and i havent got around to rebuilding it yet so im thinking ill just pop it out and toss it in there and turn it around for some extra cash for this build haha then when i feel like it rebuild the old block that sprung a leak and decided to fill everything with oil and coolant haha

 

[_Dylan_]

I was going to wait till my motor went but I do have a 1996 burgundy two door that needs a new block and i havent got around to rebuilding it yet so im thinking ill just pop it out and toss it in there and turn it around for some extra cash for this build haha then when i feel like it rebuild the old block that sprung a leak and decided to fill everything with oil and coolant haha

Sounds like lower intake gaskets to me. If the motor is still good, they can be replaced in a day with new fel-pro gaskets for about $80. M-98000T is the part number if I remember right.

Have you thought of maybe putting the tahoe body on the truck frame and shortening it?

You would have better brakes and suspension. That is if the frame isn't bent on it...

 

[BurgundyBowtie]

Sounds like lower intake gaskets to me. If the motor is still good, they can be replaced in a day with new fel-pro gaskets for about $80. M-98000T is the part number if I remember right.

Have you thought of maybe putting the tahoe body on the truck frame and shortening it?

You would have better brakes and suspension. That is if the frame isn't bent on it...

Yeah actually that was my first thought haha fully boxed and stiffened frame hydraulic body mounts better suspension better breaking everything is already sized for the motor trany and trans and the electrical and gas lines are already done haha it would be perfect but just from looking at the truck id have to move the gas tank to the back and im pretty sure that id have to fabricate and move the body mounts but thats not difficult, the only issue is that the tahoe frame and the sierra frame are not the same profile at all so it wouldn't sit well under the truck