Transient's Build

[Transient]

I'm still waiting on my truck to be delivered to the dealership, but all of my GM accessories have arrived. I have a big stack of boxes in my garage right now (pictured). I'm going to leave this 1st post as more of a teaser. I still have 1 more big box coming tomorrow from the dealership. They're holding onto 1 other box until my truck arrives, though. I paid for the install of my first item -- F800 dash camera system. I'm hoping to update this thread soon. I'm under a time crunch to get things done. Packers and movers show up next week for my move across the country (literally coast to coast), but I'll be in my house until mid-August. If I can set aside the tools I'll need I should be ok. There's several boxes behind the ones you see.

 

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[Transient]

My truck arrived at the dealership today. Now waiting for them to get their BS done. That includes the first mod of installing the dash camera system.

I also added 1 large box to the stash in my garage. It took up the entire space behind the front row of my wife's Traverse. I'm ready to get started on this project.

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[Transient]

I'm sorry I haven't been updating this. Once I got the truck I started installing the stuff in my garage. So far I've installed the side steps, rear wheel well liners, GM CAI, and the front light up bowtie. I have an appointment with the dealership service department on Thursday morning to do the computer reflash for the CAI. I'm doing this in my driveway, so the heat and humidity are making this difficult. I got to the point today where I was so sweaty that I couldn't hold onto a wrench. Tomorrow I'm hoping to get the exhaust on, and maybe change the badges to black and install the CHEVROLET vinyl on the tailgate. The truck goes to Line-X on Tuesday, and i should have it back Wednesday so that i can at least install the sport bar, maybe also the tonneau cover. We'll see how hurricane Isaias and the movers of my household goods things Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. In the meantime, enjoy this pick of the injury i sustained while trying to install the passenger side step. After hooking one side on, I began to lift the other side to put a bolt in. The first side came off the bolt and dropped onto me. I notice it at the last moment and turned my head just in time to avoid losing an eye. It doesn't look as bad as it did yesterday. By the time I got out from under the truck and into the house I had blood down to my chin.

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[redwngr]

Truck looks great! 

Eye not so much.

 

Last truck that I took for Line-X is was a 'while you wait' deal.   Surprised you need to leave it overnight.

(nothing against Line-X, but I've since become a fan of the factory spray-in) 

 

All seems like quite a task to take on in the few weeks before a huge re-location.

 

Hope the rest goes well.

 

[Dunn]

line x here is 3-4hr wait depending.......my last truck was 2hrs but no trucks ahead of mine

[Transient]

For clarification, line-x in my area is only open 3 days per week. My appointment for Tuesday afternoon is so they can do the prep Tuesday PM and spray Wednesday AM. That way i can go pick up my truck Wednesday at lunch and start installing the sport bar and tonneau cover Wednesday PM. I do wish the dealership had ordered the truck with the rear wheel well liners and chevytec bed liner.

 

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[Transient]

Installed the GM catback exhaust tonight. It was easy. On a cold startup it has a little bit of a rumble sound to it. It then styles down to nearly inaudible sound as of nothing was done. Get in the truck and go for a drive and you know immediately it's not the same exhaust anymore. The more throttle you give, the more the exhaust rumbles. Floor it, and go straight to the rev limiter and you're left in anticipation, but left disappointed wanting more rumble as the truck shifts gears. However, this is a good thing for me. If it were louder I'd probably get in trouble. And, since there a full moon tonight I'd very likely find that trouble. Therefore, I'll learn to be satisfied with what I got. It's better, and cheaper, than a ticket. For those who can't resist getting more, I've been told Borla makes something.

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[Transient]

After a few days off with everything in my home being packed up on Monday, a tropical storm on Tuesday, and a movers showing up to pack my belongings into a semi, I'm back at it. However, not all was lost during that time. I did drop my truck off at Line-X on Tuesday afternoon so they could spray my truck first thing Wednesday morning. I did pick my truck up from Line-X Wednesday evening.

 

Today started off with a trip to the local Chevy service department so they could reflash the ECU for the GM CAI install. Once i got home, and my daughter went down for her nap, I started on the GM sport bar. Unfortunately, I didn't get very far due to a lack of printed instructions. I also wasn't able to locate any online, nor try to figure it out on my own due to the electrical work involved.

 

Fortunately, I had something else I was able to swap to -- Rough Country trifold hard tonneau cover. This was a very easy install, but the tweeking for alignment and fit was tedious and time consuming. On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being easy, is rate it a 1.5. There's no drilling or cutting for installation. All you need is a 1/2" wrench for 6 bolts, this earning the 1 rating. The additional .5 rating is due to having the bed sprayed by Line-X before doing the install. The removable caps for additional tie down locations were sprayed over. Instead of taking the time to cut them out so I could do the water drain tube into the hole, I decided to drill a 5/8" hole into the removable cap and insert the tube into it.

 

I also ran into an issue with closing the tailgate due to the tonneau cover sitting too low. I only needed to raise the mounting rails a tiny bit. I spent a bit of extra time on this to ensure the tailgate opened easily, but the tonneau cover weather stripping would still do its job effectively.

 

After I completely finished the installation of the tonneau cover, I decided to do a loose fitting of the GM sport bar. There is going to be a tiny bit of overlap with the weather stripping. It doesn't appear to be much, nor does it appear to impede effectiveness of the tonneau cover since the mounting rails are designed to prevent water from getting into the bed of the truck. The weather stripping is just a means to direct water away from the mounting rail water channel.

 

Also, the first flap of the tonneau cover will not fold flat due to the sport bar getting in the way. This isn't an issue for me, but may affect others more greatly. I don't usually haul big items in my vehicles. If I do, the removal of the tonneau cover can readily be performed without tools in the parking lot of Lowe's. It'll be a bit awkward lifting it up with first folding it, but it looks like it'll be manageable. If I need to transport a push lawnmower, tiller, pressure sprayer, etc I can open the first flap and use some homemade straps with nylon and buckles that i can procure from Amazon to hold it open while driving down the road. And, it appears my visibility of the back won't be greatly affected.

 

Overall, I'm very happy with the tonneau cover.

 

Oh, one last thing. I was able to spend some time troubleshooting why Android Auto wasn't working. Turns out a couple things were at fault. First, the cable I was using was broken. The outer sheathing was cracked and showing wire. Once I noticed that I switched to another cable that wasn't damaged. The damage cable is now in the trash. Although replacing the cable didn't result in the desired affect, I thought it would safer get rid of it. I also ended up having to delete and reinstall the Android Auto app on my phone. This did achieve the desired result. Android Auto now works with my phone and truck.

 

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[Transient]

More pics regarding previous post

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[Transient]

Today resulted in a big fat goose egg of progress. I've spent a good chunk of the day trying to obtain the installation instructions for the sport bar. My primary area of focus is the wiring. The dealership closest to my house want able to find them, but did give me a number to GM. I called that GM number, and they redirected me to Marketing Support. Marketing Support is escalating my case.

 

I then called a 2nd dealership. They've been a bit more helpful. They are working to actually track down the install instructions. I'll update this when I have more info.

 

 

 

Edit: I have in my hands a printed copy of the sport bar installation instructions for the T1xx trucks. I'm planning on installing the sport bar in the morning.

 

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[Transient]

Got up early and started working on the truck again this morning. I started by removing all chrome badges on the tailgate and hood. The only badges that remained were the Z71 badges, but only because I haven't found a suitable replacement. After debadging, and removing the old adhesive, I stuck on black badges from GM. I then followed up by installing black vinyl lettering in the embossed portion of the tailgate. I think the black on the blue looks really good.

 

I then started working on installing the sport bar. The bar is mounted, and the wiring was routed to under the truck, but it started to rain, so I grabbed a plastic baggie and an elastic and covered the connector at the end to protect it from water damage. I also wrapped the cable around my running board and loosely zip tied it so it wouldn't come off while driving. I'll be able to finish this project on Monday.

 

A bit of advice for those who are looking to install a tonneau cover and sport bar -- do the sport bar first, or you'll either have to remove it or get a helper to assist. Fortunately, my 10 year old son was available (he was only playing video games anyways), so I made him turn some wrenches today.

 

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[Transient]

Finished the high mount brake light wiring today. That concludes the build until I get this move to California done with.

 

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[Transient]

The move to California is almost complete. I'm currently at a hotel, awaiting the day I can move in to the house I already signed a lease for. In the meantime, like all bad ideas that happen at night, this happened (see pic). I ended up paying for the dealership to install these items since the lease I signed (which was 101 pages) said I can't work on cars. I can't even do a carwash.

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[Transient]

Added factory navigation today. GM really screwed up not having this as an option in the LT trucks (both Trail Boss and non-Trail Boss).

 

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[Black02Silverado]

It sucks that you can't work on your vehicle, not even to wash it.