Hey all,
This thread is born out of me looking for advice, but I thought I would throw open the discussion as to how YOU would build, and look after, a truck if you were to keep it "forever".
I have a 2014, RCSB, Silverado that I bought brand new at age 21, as soon as I could while still finishing off paying off my student loans before interest. In August I passed my 5 year warranty and have been thinking about how I can best make this truck last "forever". I've never had a desire for another vehicle, am totally happy with what this truck gives me, and have always been a "Chevy truck guy". I've kept up with oil changes, done the "recommended" services at the dealership to the point where I've replaced the engine air filter and transmission fluid 3 times in 155k km (96,000 mi), just replaced the front brakes, rear brakes almost gone ( stock parts still), all that jazz.
5.3L V8, I think 3.08 gears, 6 speed, 4wd. Rotate between factory 17x8 rims w/ 265/70R17 Bridgestone Dueller ATs. and 8.5x18 wheels and 265x65R18 Michelin LTX M/S2 tires.Bedliner, and lowered the rear 2" with shackles. I'm starting to plan out what I will do once I stop paying for the truck next summer. Then I'll use the payment amounts to pay for upgrades, maintenance etc. It is my daily driver, but my aim is to make it into a "lean, mean, driving machine" by replacing parts with superior "performance parts" as the truck gets older. By spending a little bit more than basic repairs each time one comes up, eventually I should see performance and longevity improve each repair, rather than decline.
My overall goal is to end up with a relatively classic, "sleeper" truck that looks mostly stock, but can surprise when let loose. I mostly drive in the city, and push it when I can, so dry and wet handling are my key concerns, along with longevity for economic reasons. At this point I'm considering intakes, header-back exhaust if there are benefits to that, nice tires, probably not lifting or lowering any more. Once these two sets of tires wear out I'm looking at summer street tires, and winter-focused AT tires or maybe straight winter tires. Would need to be convinced to do much more.
As someone who isnt' THAT well educated when it comes to vehicles, what would YOU recommend, or do yourself to your truck, to achieve a long term, street performance/daily driver, outcome with one of these trucks? Any value-for-money things I'm not thinking of? anything you wouldn't do? What order would would you do certain mods in? I'm all ears, and still a year and a half away from anything, but open to all ideas and advice.
Pics, cus: