The truck has arrived. Let the mods begin!

tbyrne · November 28, 2004

I picked up my 2005 Sierra from Alden GMC in Fairhaven, MA yesterday. They were VERY good to deal with so I left the front plate on for about 20 miles

So, it's now time to start taking this one apart! A Rhino liner will be sprayed in the bed on Tuesday and then it will go over to Secured Sound in Westport for the following upgrades -

Kenwood DDX7015 2-DIN In-Dash 6.5" Monitor DVD/CD/MP3/WMA with Navigation, voice recognition ect…

9” Screens behind each of the front headrests. One of these will also accept DVDs so people in the front can watch one up there while a different one can be playing in the back. A Microsoft X-Box will also be added. This will feed signal to at least one of the monitors.

Interfaces to allow me to use the steering wheel radio controls and Onstar.

Two back-up cameras. One to see behind me when backing up and one pointing towards the hitch so make it easy to hook up to a trailer.

Tint the front side windows to match the rear.

Clear film over the front of the hood to protect it from chips.

I'll be having a new grill shell, the mirrors, smooth door handles,tailgate handle and flares painted to match the truck while the A/V upgrades are being done. A Stainless steel Precision grill will fill that shell when it is done and a set of Sierra Denali headlights will replace what came from the factory. The high beams, low beams and lower driving lights will all be converted to 6000k HIDs. I'll also wire the low beams to stay on when the highs are activated. This will be the bright truck that you see coming down the other side of the road!

I haven't decided on the brands yet but I will be installing an 8-9" lift kit to get this truck up in the air. This will allow me to bolt a set of 37 or 38" tall tires under it. I'll probably either go with a Cognito or Full Throttle lift with ProComp Xterrain tires are wrapped around Weld Evo Renegade XT wheels. The front section of the lift will be powdercoated red or black. I'll also be having the driveshaft polished and clear coated to keep it looking good. The big tires will be spun by Yukon 4.56 gears.

This truck is powered by the Duramax motor that sends power to the Allison 5 speed automatic transmission. It's rated at 310 horsepower @ 3000 RPMs and 605 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1600 RPMs (about 235/455 rear wheel). It is "ok", but not good enough. There isn't alot of performance parts for the new "LLY" Duramax that was introduced half way through 2004 so I'll be doing some of the basics for now. That includes a Volant induction, the Edge programming with Attitude and a MBRP "Cool Dual" exhaust. These upgrades will be good for at least a 115hp increase and ungodly amounts of torque! The Allision transmission starts to become a little unhappy when it's asked to handle to much power. This is usually when over 130 horsepower is added so I might have a new transmission built with an upgraded converter and then take it to the "next level" of performance when the time comes.

All of this will probably complete the truck for now. The Silverado pictured above will be for sale soon.

MCourson · November 28, 2004

Good to see your starting slow with the mods.

Thats gonna be a sweet truck, hell it already is a sweet truck.

99silveradoz71 · November 28, 2004

Looks good, but of course with your reputation, it's definitely needing something...but it sounds like you've got that covered several times over as always. I'm sure it'll end up as sweet as the Rado and the Burb are/were.

Shaners · November 28, 2004

Sounds like the fun is about to begin!!!

KKtrucking · November 28, 2004

I told you any day now!!! I picked up my new one yesterday too. The Tom Chevy emblem came off soon as I got the heat gun in my hand, along with the 4X4 decals on the bed. Best of luck.

killerZ-71 · November 28, 2004

if i may ask, what is motivating you to do all this work and expense on this gmc when you have that incredible chevy. i know it is your money and all that stuff, i am just personally interested. the chevy is so incredible, i can't quite understand. thanks for any reply

tbyrne · November 29, 2004

I ordered by truck without the 4x4 decals and will also be pulling off the rest of the badges. I think dealers put their emblems on before the vehicles even come off the truck. I called ahead of time to make sure it wasn't put on there. Of course that was the first thing I saw when I took a look at the truck.

As for what is motivating me to do all this work when I have the Chevy... I like something different once in awhile. The main reason that I bought this truck was for the tax discount. I'm able to write the whole thing off because it is considered a work vehicle (hopefully they keep this deduction). That combined with the dealer discount (just over $5000), $2000. off from the GM credit card and $1000. GM discount equaled a savings of about $22,300. I rather write a check to the dealer instead of the IRS

I recently sold the Suburban which my 5 year old daughter referred to as "TV truck". I only drove that for about 9000 miles in 3 years so it was becoming a waste to just sit there. I found that I drive the HD alot more so... I sold the Suburban and will be selling the HD. I'll then combine the best features of the two trucks into one that I'll use alot more. This will give me a powerful, lifted truck that also have the A/V toys inside. Plus I won't have to stop at the pumps as much as I used to

Supurban · November 29, 2004

OMG that truck is so awesome! Congratulations on the new ride.

dannyukonxl · November 29, 2004

that is a bitchin truck, you probably picked the best intake/computer/exhaust combo, i would recommend looking at the cst 9-11 inch lift, any which way, that truck is going to be awesome

tbyrne · November 29, 2004

Thanks! The lift laws in my state are tough so 8-9" will be alot for around here. 9-11 would be to much but I really wish I could go that high.

Truckman031 · November 29, 2004

Congrats on the new truck

Wardster · November 29, 2004

If the price is right, I will be interested in the wheels/tires when they get replaced.

-Wardster

SlamminL5s · November 29, 2004

Nice Truck!! Start Modding It Now HeHe

tbyrne · November 30, 2004

I dropped the parts off to be painted and then went over to the local Rhinoliner dealer to leave him the truck. I guess I have to decide on which brand of lift to go with soon. It's a toss-up between the Full Throttle and Cognito.

Wardster: I'll let you know if I decide to sell the stock wheels/tires.