Hello from Foothills area Alberta

NSFW · October 27, 2016

36 year old Apprentice HD mechanic/part-time commercial truck-driver/full time shady-tree engineer.

I own an Indigo Blue Metallic 2000 1500 4x4 ext cab. w/ LT grey cloth interior 40/20/40 seats with 4 doors. At the heart a 5.3

I also own a gmt-400, ol white '96 1-tonne dual with a stick. But that's back home up north (Yukon)

I've been thru the '00 from front to back over the last 2 years tackling everything from bench hound transfer-case rebuild to cam/lifters to converting the truck from 6 bolt to 8 bolt running gear.. wheel ends, brakes, suspension differentials and all. Fixing paint problems to doors that won't open.

My most recent modification was mixing in interior parts from a 99 GMC Sierra SLT. (dk blue)

Diesel gauge cluster, with correct mileage transferred from old unit. (4 the trans temp)
Dk Blue vent inserts
DK Blue Seats (6-way power seats) With factory wiring, no funny business.
DK Blue center console (for the cup holders) w/ integrated heat to rear working.
AUX line in modification for factory head-unit, wired to 5.5 mm plug in the console w/ 12v power-point installed and a light that comes on when the lid is opened.
Teal LED passive illumination installed directly in the overhead console , centred foreward pointed down over the console/cupholder (stole this from a Dodge.. only part of the truck I liked)
Dark blue carpet
Dark blue rear seats, and seat belts
Sierra overhead console
Rear view mirror with navigation.

I've had my share of problems with this truck and overcome them. Busted windows, electrical weird stuff, ignition problem and heater trouble. ABS trouble.. O2 sensor trouble.. water in the knock sensor and gauge cluster wipe-out. Its taken me a while to fix most of them, and there are a few that are left to do (as always). I have had it since April 2014 and so far am quite satisfied with it. Yes, I successfully put 3/4 tonne wheel ends on the front end of a 1500, with the 2500 front differential between em. 3/4 tonne inter-axle shafts (cv's) and got it all to align on the LAZER. WITHOUT cutting or re-positioning/afro engineering anything.

But that's a story for another day. I have over 400 thousand on the odometer and going strong. Original engine, original 4l60-e transmission. I will try anything once... and evidently as many times as deemed necessary. I don't give up easily, I believe there is always a way thru. Futility is not in my nature.
I try to do everything sorta well.. but not really good at one thing in particular. My heads in the clouds too much. I chiefly modify for MY function. SO if things are different on my truck, its because I have determined they need to be different. I'm not a show-boat. Or want my truck to be a giant steal-me sicker.
I wanted heavy wheel ends on the truck because it reminds me of the ol 76 heavy half my deceased uncle had when I was a boy. That truck was solid as a rock, and its gone, but the memory lives on. I wanted a 1500HD, and never found one. So I made one. AND DIDN'T CHEAT.. I tried my best.

Down the road I want to put a SFA in the truck.. so.. its kind of more on its way to that.. slowly.

It's as patient as a chopping block and has always brings me home. (even on limp mode) Looking forward to helping where ever I can, and being helped in the rare case the search function doesn't prove to be useful.

I play guitar, work on other projects (1995 big bear nicknamed 'zilla) a heavily modified quad.. that needs better steering to be finished. 8 inches wider, 8 inches taller.. and 12 inches longer.. Long travel full time 4wd... off road rage monster.. with a teensy widdle engine..

I also aspire to build a no holds barred pre-runner out of my 1997 Mazda b4000, at SOME point. It's in storage for now.. That truck has stories.. Good little truck. Painted gold for a reason. But done right, you know? and Street Legal.. maybe.. 550hp.. ideas.

Anyways.. Cool.. I gotta go.. talk to you all later.