DarkFox1's 2014 silverado LT

darkfox1 · March 6, 2015

I figure I should go ahead and make onna these threads since I'm about to tear into this thing like I'm doing a restoration.

This is my 2014 Silverado LT when I got it.

Purchased used from a GM dealer, it had 25k miles on it and was apparently a "Rental truck." Which is odd since it's 4wd.

I bought chrome mirror caps and door handles off a forum member, got the chrome door trim off of Amazon.

More coming soon!

darkfox1 · March 6, 2015

The truck had a problem with the tailgate. I don't know if the truck was made wrong or if someone had hit it.

The dealership wanted to keep the truck to repair the issue, but told me they would just "beat it out" to make it fit.

I used some "highly sophisticated" tools to fix the bed side.

Problem Solved!

darkfox1 · March 7, 2015

I bought factory running boards off of a guy on Craigslist.

He wanted black ones but his truck came with the chrome. It was rather pricey a purchase but it was still cheaper than buying them off Amazon.

Install took about an hour, and 1/4 of that was because I installed them on the wrong sides the first time.

anthony2558 · March 7, 2015

Good post [emoji6] Have fun with the truck.

darkfox1 · March 12, 2015

This was a low level/long term plan but I came across a forum member selling chrome window trim for a price too good to pass up.

Went down to my buddy's body shop and he installed em for me this morning.

My goal here basically is a stock 2015 LTZ Z71 look. So exterior items that remain are projector headlights, 2015 chrome/silver z71 grill, z71 silver filler panel on the bumper, fog lights, and 20" chrome rims.

Inside projects include center console, and swap out for an 8" touchscreen radio.

Performance... well depends on how long I can "put up with" it not being a tire burning monster. Maybe a black bear tune or headers or an intake or exhaust at some point. I don't normally heavily mod my daily drivers with aftermarket parts. I need them reliable first and foremost, and as long as I have a warranty that tends to keep me away from internal engine mods.

darkfox1 · March 12, 2015

These are the rims I'll be putting on. I already have them, but I need tires. Maybe if I come across a good deal I'll jump and do it sooner than later, but right now it's about 6 months out. In a perfect world I'm looking at 275/55/20 BFG KO2s for it.

But like I said.. if I come across a deal.. like someone swapping out of stockers with low miles or something I may jump.

These are replicas of the stock 20s from oewheels llc in sarasota. They're not clad like the stockers, only problem I hve with em right now is the center cap looks naked without the bowtie. I've been looking at ebay for a bowtie decal o rsomething to put on em. OEwheels tells me the stock gm center cap wont fit these.

eddietorn · March 13, 2015

I don't usually like white trucks but i think your silverado LTZ looks rad. Nice work by the way. Keep us posted!

darkfox1 · March 15, 2015

Up trimming continues.

Foglights installed. Non-functional at the moment while we figure out the best way to move onto the next step to get them working.

I have the harness but its hard to install. I dont know that I want to go that way, but I like the idea of using factory switches. If I go with an aftermarket method it'll seem.. unauthentic..

haven't decided yet.

darkfox1 · March 18, 2015

Before:

After:

None of the front connectors work just yet (not even 1 cig lighter, the wire doesn't reach..) but I'll hopefully fix this.

darkfox1 · March 21, 2015

So I ordered a test hubcap from GM for the knock off 20s. The naked hubcap bothers me. It screams I GOT MY TRUCK AT WALMART ON SALE! and I don't like that.

OE wheels told me the hubcap wouldn't fit, but the guy on the phone didn't know why.. so I risked $38 to find out.

Here they are side by side:

You may not be able to tell here but in person the GM hubcap is noticablly larger.

I had also hoped that I could remove the bowtie, maybe it clipped on or screwed on..

Nope. It is literally stamped or molded into the factory hubcap.

So.. I thought well.. I'll cut the bowtie out and adhesive it to my hubcap.

I started to work on that and.. the plastic is just too darn thick. So my next step was to call a vynil wrap company for a custom size black GM bowtie. I see a lot of em on ebay, but I dunno about some chinese made vynil that's gonna fall off (of my chinese made hubcap ) Nor do I trust my ability to do next to anything correctly.. so I'm gonna pay a sign expert to make and install black GM bowties.

I may also go with a black front and rear bowtie on the truck. Whattyall think?

GPGuy · March 27, 2015

Making good progress.

darkfox1 · April 13, 2015

More parts coming in:

I really like the 2LZ chrome/bright silver look with the white trucks, so that's the route I'm going. I was just trying to buy a grill but some other dude was determined to over pay for a grill with broken clips and I wasn't going to pay more than $200 shipped for something thats damaged.. So.. I hope he enjoys it, but it does delay my progress a little bit.

I sat at a redlight today beside a guy with stock 20" chrome wheels, sort of silently hating him for them. I have the OE wheels repros in my shop, but the fact that they're missing the bowtie almost makes me not want to put them on.

But I mean.. look at this..

I mean.. really? I can buy the OE wheels TWICE AND put new TPS sensors on for this price.. I dont even know if this price includes hubcaps AND its $300 shipping!

I dont know that a 4"x1.5" GM bowtie is worth over $1100 more than a blank wheel.. I said earlier I was gonna jhust have a vynil shop put some bowties on them.. but I'll know its not right.. and it will bug me for the entire tenure that I have them on my truck. I will always feel my vehicle is "inferior" to those with the correct rims on them... so I dunno what to do about that.

I dont wanna buy someone else's used crappy tires either.So these ads I keep seeing for $1999.95 for a set of these with tires does me no good. I had originally planned on BFG KO2s on this truck, stock size.. (I gotta stay under 7' for parking garages.) but my thoughts are drifting to the Michelin LTX M/S. They're a good bit cheaper, sometimes $80 a tire cheaper.. and they have a 70k mile treadlife. I've used them before in other vehicles as well and I know they're a very quiet nice riding tire.. and with 4wd my truck will more than meet my "offroad" needs even with a street tire. I don't really go down trails or anything of that sort..

darkfox1 · April 18, 2015

Well.. thanks to Crafferty for reading my mind and solving this problem for me!

I will be listing the replicas for sale shortly.

I wasn't gonna spend $1900 or even $1000 on the rims and then have to drop another $1000-1200 on tires, but.. well.. a deal I couldn't pass up came along, and I'm now "done" with the wheel and tire project for the next 30-50k miles, barring any.. unfortunate events of course!

I will also be selling the 17s if anyone's interested. IMO they dont look right on a 14.. but I bet on a 99-06 they'd look pretty good. They'd probably look really good on an 88-98 too.

darkfox1 · April 23, 2015

Been very happy with the new rims and tires.

They feel like they may be a little bit heaver than the 17s, but I'm not letting that bother me. I love the look the stock 20s give these trucks. These are the rims I wanted from day 1. So I coldn't be happier there.

I know one of them has a cosmetic defect but TBH now that they're on the truck I can't find it. I'll see it when I start cleaning.

All this chrome on this truck.. I may need to buy some chrome polish to keep this stuff shiny.

Especially since I'm trying to go with the 2LZ chrome/bright silver grill. I'll have that much more to polish.

In the mean time though.. I'm doing other things. Like trying to get my fog lights working and adding some other goodies.

One thing I bought was 3 sets of these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GLLW3AM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

18w, 1530 lumens (is that each or per pair? probably per pair........)

One set is for reverse lights. I can't see in my yard when backing up at night. I also like to have these for trailer hookups and as a general work light.

I plan to mount them to the rear bumper without drilling holes. (I'll do a writeup when I get some stuff in.)

I ALSO plan to use the stock cargo lamp switch to power them. Apparently connector X6 on the rear terminal block on this is for the LED bed rail lights. According to a write up here:

http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/?p=3659

I can order GM PN 22878806. A harness that ios meant for adding these types of things. I ordered it for about $38 and I plan to use it to power the LED lights. We'll see. I worry it may be too much draw and blow the fuse, but we'll find out when I get there.

I am still trying to get my stock foglights to work. I am installing a rocker switch and using the stock RAP power to pull in a relay through said rocker.

(RAP info here: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/155775-2014-rap-retained-accessory-power/ )

(foglight switch install here: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/171351-accessory-switches-in-upper-left-cubbypocket/page-3?do=findComment&comment=1615003 )

So far I'm very happy with how things are turning out, and frankly I find myself really liking my truck. I guess because I'm sort of the one building it.

The funny thing is most of my parts are take-off parts from other owners.

take-off rims from a member here that lifted his truck (crafferty)

take-off bumper (new foglights and components though) from macon where a guy got a new one after a fender bender.

take-off running boards from a guy in carrollton GA that wanted black ones for his black sierra

take-off mirror caps and door handles from a user here that went paint color (sorry dude, I Forgot your username offhand.)

I'm still looking for someone to sell 3.42 gears take off from a lifted truck or something, and I'm always on the lookout for a take off 2LZ grill and/or a good deal on stock projector headlights, but those are low on my radar right now.

I also plan to get a take off 8" touchscreen and hopefully buy the working hmi from some forum members here that can make them plug n play. May save a few bucks over the new 8" screen.