My Gmt900 Cc, Lb Has Arrived! Pics And Review Inside.

[tbyrne]

My truck arrived at the dealer last night so I picked it up and took some pictures this afternoon. First thing that I noticed was how quiet it is. I was really tempted to jump out at a light, open the hood and make sure there wasn't a gas motor in there. Maybe I'm just used to the clacky clack of my '05 with the Westers race tune. Normal driving in town and cruising on the highway... it's quiet! I actually like it like that!

 

I took a bunch of pictures and then filled up and went for a ride. Total trip was 148 miles. 90% of that was highway and about 10% was stop/go and ideling in town. DIC said 17.5 MPG. Saw a max of 18 MPG before I got off the highway and drove in town. That was 1/2 way through the trip. I put in 8.5 gallons when I got back (filled it to the rim both times). Hand calculated 17.4 MPG. Highway speeds were between 65 and 75. I currently have 174 miles on the odometer.

 

Noticeable differences between this and my '05 -

 

As mentioned before - it's quiet. GM did a very good job with that. I didn't lay into it at all so I can't tell you how much I can hear the turbo. Didn't notice it during normal driving.

 

The hood is much bigger. It reminds me of my old '02 Silverado HD hood.

 

All of the steering wheel controls are great. Layed out well and easy to use.

 

Other controls are layed out nice.

 

Seats are comfortable.

 

Heated seats warm up quick! The seats in my '05 take much longer.

 

The towing mirrors are great! It will be nice to actually what's on the side and in back of the trailer while towing.

 

Driver's side visor makes contact with the headliner when it is rotated to block the sun coming in the side window.

 

Center storage compartment is huge.

 

I already got used to the big tip.

 

The new truck seems to be a deeper red than my '05.

 

I haven't had a chance to play with the rest of the toys. Over all I'm very happy with the new model. Now it's time to start modifying!

 

Posts like this aren't complete without pictures -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upgrades that I have planned are a Cognito leveling kit. That will raise the nose about 2.5-3" while maintaining a good ride. The rear will be raised 1.5". 22" wheels/tires, AMP electric steps, 6000k HIDs for high beams, low beams and driving lights, spray in bedliner, Pioneer AVIC Z2 head unit, 9" screens in the head rests with a second DVD player, back-up camera, performance mods as they become available and a few other things that I'll come up with.

 

I'll post some pics when it's done but that will probably at least be a few months away. It will probably be awhile for some parts to be available for the new trucks.

 

Tom

[gwrace]

My truck arrived at the dealer last night so I picked it up and took some pictures this afternoon. First thing that I noticed was how quiet it is. I was really tempted to jump out at a light, open the hood and make sure there wasn't a gas motor in there. Maybe I'm just used to the clacky clack of my '05 with the Westers race tune. Normal driving in town and cruising on the highway... it's quiet! I actually like it like that!

 

I took a bunch of pictures and then filled up and went for a ride. Total trip was 148 miles. 90% of that was highway and about 10% was stop/go and ideling in town. DIC said 17.5 MPG. Saw a max of 18 MPG before I got off the highway and drove in town. That was 1/2 way through the trip. I put in 8.5 gallons when I got back (filled it to the rim both times). Hand calculated 17.4 MPG. Highway speeds were between 65 and 75. I currently have 174 miles on the odometer.

 

Noticeable differences between this and my '05 -

 

As mentioned before - it's quiet. GM did a very good job with that. I didn't lay into it at all so I can't tell you how much I can hear the turbo. Didn't notice it during normal driving.

 

The hood is much bigger. It reminds me of my old '02 Silverado HD hood.

 

All of the steering wheel controls are great. Layed out well and easy to use.

 

Other controls are layed out nice.

 

Seats are comfortable.

 

Heated seats warm up quick! The seats in my '05 take much longer.

 

The towing mirrors are great! It will be nice to actually what's on the side and in back of the trailer while towing.

 

Driver's side visor makes contact with the headliner when it is rotated to block the sun coming in the side window.

 

Center storage compartment is huge.

 

I already got used to the big tip.

 

The new truck seems to be a deeper red than my '05.

 

I haven't had a chance to play with the rest of the toys. Over all I'm very happy with the new model. Now it's time to start modifying!

 

Posts like this aren't complete without pictures -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upgrades that I have planned are a Cognito leveling kit. That will raise the nose about 2.5-3" while maintaining a good ride. The rear will be raised 1.5". 22" wheels/tires, AMP electric steps, 6000k HIDs for high beams, low beams and driving lights, spray in bedliner, Pioneer AVIC Z2 head unit, 9" screens in the head rests with a second DVD player, back-up camera, performance mods as they become available and a few other things that I'll come up with.

 

I'll post some pics when it's done but that will probably at least be a few months away. It will now be a waiting gain for some of the upgrades to come out.

 

Tom

 

Just wondered why you needed two bright red fire trucks...

[apowers]

Thats a darn good lookin rig.

Andrew

[s-ten]

That truck looks real nice.

[Wingnut]

That's a GREAT looking truck man!

 

As a side note, the keester heaters in my TBSS heat up about 10 times as fast as the ones in my '02 did as well.

[Daubs]

Someone said the HD's have the same t-bar set up as the 06 trucks(?) True? Or have they got the coil-overs like the light-duty's?

 

Nice looking rig! Very impressed! Did you get the truck or SUV style dash?

[tbyrne]

Thanks guys!

 

The two trucks won't be playmates for long. The '05 will be for sale later next month.

 

I mentioned the butt warmer to one of the girls that works for me last week and she said the same thing about her TBSS. Her seats are warm but the time she gets to the end of the road.

 

The new HDs have the same t-bar set-up as the previous design (time to start cranking! ). I went with the SUV dash.

[bdeboer]

Looks great, can't wait to see it with updgrades. Maybe it's the camera angle or long bed, but the front already looks higher than previous GMT800 trucks.

[tbyrne]

You don't notice the hood much on the previous model but it's right there on the new one. Can't miss it looking out the windshield.

[Wingnut]

I mentioned the butt warmer to one of the girls that works for me last week and she said the same thing about her TBSS. Her seats are warm but the time she gets to the end of the road.

 

 

Tell her that it's only that way for her because she's HOT. Tell her that's what I told you...Then show her how hot I am.

 

 

[99silveradoz71]

Nice ride yet again, and knowing your track record, it's only going to get better. Getting rid of the 05 just to have space to turn that beast? Ha.

[NJx72]

I've had mine for about a week now, couldn't be happier. One thing I did notice, the clearance on the front tires, theres no way you can fit a 285 on these trucks without a lift.

[Truckman031]

^That sucks, a 285 is perfect for a full size stock 4WD IMO.

 

Nice truck tbyrne! I can't wait for you to do some mods on it.

[antig24]

New truck looks great, can't wait to see the after pics

[tbyrne]

Wingnut: I'll have to forward that pic to her on Monday

 

You might be able to get away with a little cranking to use the 285s. I bolted 22s on one side of the truck today. I use these on my '05 with the torsion bars cranked and a little trimming of the inner plastic in front of the tires.

 

 

The size (305/45/22) tells me that they are 32.8" but they measure at just over 32". They are on 22x9.5" Velocity 8 wheels.

 

 

Ahh, the truck looks a little more aggressive with these.

 

 

Doesn't look bad.

 

 

A little tight here.

 

 

Houston, we've made contact!

 

 

I cranked the torsion bars 6.75 turns to see how the clearance would be and what it would look like. This gave me little day light behind the tire.

 

 

Ride could get a little rough with this much cranking. The bolts had a few more turns left in them.

 

 

It will look pretty good. The wheels are still dirty from last year. They need about an hour treatment with the Powerball. Those clean pretty good!

 

 

Hey, what's going on here?

 

I was tempted to leave them on but they're dirty and I want to do it right so I'm going to wait until I bolt the Cognito Leveling kit on . I'll also be putting 1.5" blocks in the rear. These wheels will probably go with the '05 when I sell it so I think I'll be using different style wheels. Oh yeah, I left 3.5 turns in after the stock tires when on