Singer-Man

That is their 'OEM' 185a. (My stock unit was 140a max, ~ 65a at idle.) That should be enough to support a 200w amp and a few extra fog lights, a GPS unit , and A/C together without any lights dimming. I plan to get a Pioneer AVH-4000NEX and a Pioneer PRS-D800 (125w x 2) next month. That should be a large improvement in functionality and tonal accuracy, with little more 'punch' in the bass compared to the stock 17w(?) unit. I no longer like to 'rattle the windows.' I listen to mainly jazz and classical, occasionally a little Steely Dan or Jackson Browne.

Thanks. I forgot to mention that I also installed a Diehard Platinum to complete the chain, 850 CCA. (I believe the Diehard AGM units are manufactured by Odyssey.)

I installed my new Alternator from DC Power Engineering, a fuse, and most of my 'Big Three' wiring. I'll add two more 0-gauge wires when when I get the new double-din DVD head and amp next month.

That's lookin' good, Mister! Did you have to replace the spare tire hanger, or were you able to just Chassis Saver it?

During the six months since I bought my Sierra I've been readying lots of forum threads. One of the popular topics has been GM frame rust and a fair number seem to point to those rear cross-members as a problem area, some have cited them as a design flaw, reporting broken shock brackets due to rust and even rotted-through areas on those tubes where salt and water tend to remain longer. (Some recounted tales of shock absorber pressures that punched dents into those badly rusted cross-members..probably due to lots of off roading.) During my reading I discovered that there are a number of companies that re-manufacture GM frame parts, apparently one of their biggest sellers are those tubes, complete with shock brackets. (I also remember hearing of GM recalls and some frame replacements.) Internet hearsay? Perhaps. That would be good. I'm ready to start modding my newly acquired Sierra. It's one previous owner clearly treated it very politely, but it has begun to show a little frame rust; not as much as the one you’re working on, but I want to head it off at the pass. At any rate I look forward to watching the progress of your project.

Good work, Sir. I meant to ask you earlier...when you applied the Chassis Saver, how did you deal with the inside of the cylindrical cross-members that the shocks mount to? (I'm sure you know that those are a well-known problem area due to the effects of rust on GM frames.).

That's coming along nicely! Did you brush on the Chassis Saver or spray it? (LVLP?) If you sprayed it, did you use their S8 Reducer, or thin it with something else?

Nice work; keep the photos coming. After you powerwash the frame do you intend to apply something like PQR or Rust Bullet?