Hey all! NEW!

Badnewcastle · January 3, 2015

New to wanting do some aftermarket stuff. I've owned a GM truck in one form or another since graduating highschool. I drive a truck for lifestyle, I fish, hunt, ski travel not so worried about cosmetics... only time keeping the desert/mountain pinstriping off the sides Here's the list of the GM's I've owned:

- '98 GMC Sonoma SLE Manual

- '99 Chevy Silvy 1500 4.8L 2wd LS ext cab (sold it for 4wd)

- '03 Chevy Silvy 1500 5.3L 4wd LS Ext Cab Z71 (traded in on new Sierra as it was 11 years old with 215k mi and I got 2 kids now so the crew cab is nicer)

- '14 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L 4wd SLE Crew Cab Z71

So I'm joining the forum because everytime I look around for stuff to do to the truck I end up here on some guide or somebody's post with the same idea. Here's what I want to do:

A) HID Kit using stock housing for headlights

B) Fog Lights, didn't think I'd miss them from my old chevy but I do

C) Level via shocks or spacer (when I get new tires)

D) this list will grow as upgrading cars is like wiping your @$$ with a hula hoop.

Those are the main things. Differences in the '14 vs the '03:

Ride quality is emensly better.

Build quality seems to be better partialy because its newer? Maybe GMC is a little tighter on quality than Chevy, like I know as far I know they come from the same damn line...

Quieter!!!! like crazy quiet!

Smoother engine for whatever reason

Smoother shifts with the 6 speed vs. the old jerky 4 speed

Obviously Intellilink is a nicer than the old radios but only because of all the connectivety, otherwise it's gimmicky

Frame seems stiffer rancho shocks seem softer than the bilsteins that came on the '03

Btuggle88 · January 3, 2015

Welcome, I would go with spacers for level/lift ( 1. Easy to install to achieve desired height. 2. Easy to remove if you want to trade and get rid of. )

99silveradoz71 · January 3, 2015

Welcome aboard.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · January 3, 2015

Well I've always owned full size Chevys since I got my license. I seem to always make big steps from one to the other. First was an 86 Custom Deluxe with a 305 and manual granny transmission (has an extra low gear but using a 4 speed it means it only has 3 regular forward gears L-1-2-3), no radio and no factory A/C. IT was the most basic you could get but if it would have been 4x4 I would have kept it as a play truck since it also didn't have a computer. The next truck was a 98 Z71 with a 5.7 350 and I put that thing through hell and back about 10 times. Then now my '14 LT Z71 4x4 which I love to death.

I've read where someone on here either wanted to or tried adding fog lights. I think all you need to do it get all of the parts to either add or swap. The '14 is the first I've had with fog lights and they do help so I'm glad they're on there.

Most people on here just use a Rough Country leveling kit. Most just use the 2" spacer for the bottom of the strut but some got the 2 1/2" which is the same spacer with ana dded 1/2" spacer for the top mount. My 98 was leveled and even though it looked better empty it would look like it was dragging ass anytime I towed a trailer or hauled any amount of real weight in the bed. So personally since I do want mine a little higher on the front I may do the 2" spacer on the front and put a bigger block on the rear between the axle and leaf spring. Right now it's a 1" block so maybe replace it with a 2". That way the front is higher but still has a good rake.

I couldn't stand how quiet the engine was, but with the Flowmaster Super 44 on it now it sounds bad ass. I hated that a 5.3 sounded like a Prius lol. Plus being OCD I hated just the 1 tailpipe so with duals it looks better.