Tonyrodz's Tahoe Build Thread

[Tonyrodz]

I'm still messing with the suspension. I'm not totally happy with it right now. Bought some front and rear bump stops/jounce stops. Rears we're just old, but the fronts we're pretty mangle/squashed. Fronts

Rear. Just old. Replaced them anyway.
Still having the issue. This was after cranking it up 1/2". Seems to ride a little better, but shouldn't be squashed like that. Best way to lower the fronts is to use spindles instead of keys. Spindles are on the wish list.
Destroyed.

 

[BADRIDES]

This is what I'm gonna put on the front of mine for jounce stops. Cut the metal part off and your set. Alot shorter and should fit better.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/282399887706?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[Tonyrodz]

This is what I'm gonna put on the front of mine for jounce stops. Cut the metal part off and your set. Alot shorter and should fit better.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/282399887706?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Are you lowered? Let me know how they work out for you. Mine is a little better since I cranked them up 1/2". Not as harsh, and I don't hear and feel metal on metal banging when I hit a dip or pothole, which is great.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I grabbed an Escalade corner cowl piece and did the antenna delete mod. I tried laying the antenna down on the fender, under the Hood, but I lost all radio reception. So I grabbed a few feet of wire, removed the antenna mast and tied it around the mast that's studded, ran it up behind the door weather stripping, all the way to the rear door. Reception is way better now. I think I'll leave it that way for now, unless I have an issue. I'm hoping I don't as it looks pretty sweet!

 

[Tonyrodz]

I also did a roof rack delete. I always hated the look of it, and I never needed it, nor will I ever. I think the torx screws holding it down are either t-25 or t-30. Super simple. Just loosen the torx and take the rack off--done. I just screwed the bolts back in the holes, so water and debris won't collect in them, but you don't have to. The holes don't go through the roof, so water won't get inside. So much cleaner looking.
Once they're off you'll most likely have some marks left on the roof from the factory rails. You can buff those out. I just left them. I'm not that ocd about it. It didn't rub through the paint, so I'm good with it.

 

[BADRIDES]

Are you lowered? Let me know how they work out for you. Mine is a little better since I cranked them up 1/2". Not as harsh, and I don't hear and feel metal on metal banging when I hit a dip or pothole, which is great.

I'm lowered 2/3 with Belltech spindles in front and McGaughy springs in rear.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I'm lowered 2/3 with Belltech spindles in front and McGaughy springs in rear.

Nice! I regret not doing spindles.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Now with the Hoe looking so good I'm getting a little paranoid. I haven't had a chance to put an alarm on and all it has is the factory alarm. So I get a set of these.
Front and rear doors. I still need to get the one for the rear hatch. Hopefully nothing will ever happen, but you never know. These are steel plates that go behind your door handles, from inside the doors. Super simple, but a real pita to install. Worth it tho, if it'll slow some scumbag down.
I did all 4 doors in about 2 hrs. I did take my time tho and took a few breaks. Be careful if you do this mod, there's some sharp edges and I cut myself a few times.

 

[Tonyrodz]

So after getting the stall convertor, I'd like to monitor the trans temp. I don't want to add an external gauge and to add the trans temp to your stock cluster is like $80-$100. Too much I think. So I start looking around on cl--again! If you have enough patience, you will be rewarded. I found an Escalade cluster, from an 04-05. Guy says everything works, but he lives in NYC. No offense, but I refuse to drive in NYC! So we meet up on the nj turnpike. very Soprano-ish, lol. Tells me everything works. I believe him and pay for it. Was cheap at $80. That should've told me something. I get home and a few days later I plug it in--nothing, completely dead. I'm not mad, just a little angry, there's a difference. I called him right away. He swears everything worked when he had it. I actually laughed at him. I wasn't sweating it. I bought it cheap enough. It still had the trans gauge that I needed. I had it rebuilt, cost me $89. I'm still ahead of the game, and I put blue leds in! Everything works now, even the prndl. I found out my stock cluster was a reman too. Of course that prndl didn't work.
Only thing I'm not crazy about are those round gray rings in the Esky cluster. I'm used to them now tho.

 

[iamdub]

You can put some blue window tint over the PRND321 and odometer screens to make them more closely match the blue LEDs. I bought a roll from WalMart just for a couple of 1"x3" pieces for my S10 cluster. One layer made them blue enough for mine and may be enough for yours.

This is the only pic I have of the tinted screens. I don't know how well this pic will contrast on your computer as it was taken a long time ago when phone cameras were still new. But you'll get the idea: