Many questions on a 2000 Z-71

bandera · October 6, 2002

Just bought a 2000 Z-71 from a neighbor. Really in "new" shape. Several things bug me though. I don't like the automatic headlights. I saw a topic on disconnecting a plug under the dash by the steering column and putting in a resistor. Looked under there, but did not see what they were talking about. HJave not had time to really check it out, but if you hjave more deatails let me know. The other is, it seems like I'm sitting too low in the seats. My other 4X4 (Dodge Ramcharger) was pretty high. Just wondering if anyone has ever raised the seats about 2". If it is not too difficult to remove the 60/40 seats, Im thinking adding a piece of 2" square tubing between the floor and the factory seat mountings. Anyone think this is can be done? Was looking for 2" body lift but appears 3" is all that's out there. Considering that. If anyone has some helpfull hints, let me know.

MountaineerTom · October 6, 2002

Sometime in 2000, GM fixed the trucks so you could press the dome override switch 4 or 5 times within a few seconds and turn the auto headlights off, and you then had manual control of them. You have to do this everytime after you turn the ingition off. You may want to try that to see if it works for you. There is a way to fix it so you don't have them at all by putting messing with the sensor somehow, but I'm not sure how you do it. If you do a search for "auto headlights", you'll probably with a thread with the instructions on how to do it, or a link to the instructions. I have the R&D Headlight Override Kit on my '99 truck and really like it. It's a little pricey, but you can switch back and forth between auto or manual headlights at the push of a button. I'm know have done the homemade kit and run it through a switch, with the same results, but I'm not very electrically inclined, so I didn't want to get into that. ???

If your considering a 3 inch BL, go with the Performance Accessories kit. Very good kit with everything you need in the kit, except the gap guards (to hide the gap that is present after the lift). You have to purchase them seperately.

Here's a link to my website with some pics of the install, so you'll know what all is involved. My body lift pics On the left side of the page, there is a link to some more pics of one of our other members (chevy4x4trucks) body lift install.

Sounds like the lift for the seats might be feasible. Just make sure you get some good strong steel so it doesn't collapse or bend while your driving.

Good luck.

chevy4x4trucks · October 7, 2002

As tom mentioned I have bodylift install info and pics as well on my site http://www.chevy4x4trucks.com

You'll also find some info on there about removing the seats. The only difficulty I think you'll find is getting some longer bolts. Other than that putting the seats higher shouldn't pose too much of a problem. There are two different types of bolts on the front seats and on my site it's got some socket sizes that you'll need. If you're going to buy sockets get some deep sockets, otherwise you'll hit a few problems.

Actually, come to think of it, each seat has two bolts and two nuts. So, two bolts are built into the truck. That will cause you some problems if you try to move them up since you'll have to find a way to remove those 2 bolts on each side from the truck and re-install some longer ones. You may be better off finding a way to modify the seats themselves above there frame to make them taller.

If I still had my truck I'd take a peak for you and see what else could be done, but from my thought raising it up 2" by messing w/ the mounting bolts could prove to be quite the chore.

As for the bodylift, don't sweat there not being a 2" lift. If you get the 3" I'll doubt you'll look at the truck and say "I wish it was an inch shorter"