Operation Warwagon

Supersporter40 · February 14, 2009

Well after a few months of waiting my truck should be here Monday or Tuesday. Bringing a vehicle across the border is just no fun. Either is buying across the border fun when the CAD craps itself making the exchange have an ouch factor.

Because of Canada's very wise ideas, imported vehicles cannot be modified structurely in any way so the Fabtech lift has to go. Doesn't hurt my feelings as I don't mind a three inch lift, six is too much for a family vehicle. We will swap the lift into my 01 HD and sell it. Then we can use the factory bits to get this one ready for inspection. I am hoping the lift and fancy rims will help move my old truck in this deflated truck market too.

I am going to put on Luverne Nerf bars. They have a built in flush rubber floor to act like a board and protect the truck from rocks. Here's my question........ can I get away with running W2W bars without having it look dumb? We drive a fair bit of gravel and I want to protect the bottom edges as much as possible. The cab length ones would look better but I quite often am using the box step to reach into the front for goodies. I would also install the backsplash like the short bars below have......and the mud flaps shown from Luverne.

The 20" rims and tires will go with the old truck as well. At $600 a piece(tires)I have better things to buy, like hunting tags.

I have 285 BFG AT's coming mounted on these:

Other plans include:

-Removing the front licence plate and filling the holes with stainless hardware or chrome IF I can (Can I?) Alberta does not use front license plates....

-The 4x4 decals have to go, not sure if I will remove the LS badge. I like the 2500HD one.

-The mouldings on the side idealy will get swapped out for the Sierra style like some here have done.

- I might put my stainless hood deflector on from my 01 HD. Trouble is it whistles at any speed. It might look like overdone on the front end as well. What y'all think?

-Not sure if I will keep the box rail tubes. My Bride likes them but I prefer flat stainless caps.

-Need some sort of mirror extensions for pulling the camper as well.

Suggestions please.

blankey · February 15, 2009

That's a shame you have to remove the lift from that truck. I think it's looks very nice. Sorry I'm not any help to answer your questions though.

Supersporter40 · February 15, 2009

That's a shame you have to remove the lift from that truck. I think it's looks very nice. Sorry I'm not any help to answer your questions though.

In some ways yes, other ways no. If you've ever drug a moose into the back of a truck the less hieght the better!

In one way you did answer one of my questions with your sig pic. Looks like you got the front licence plate mount off with only two holes left to fill. I'd just need a couple chromed carriage bolts and the front will look much cleaner.

Tempted to put a Westin Bull bar there but the budget will be blown long before I get to that.

Thanks!

blankey · February 15, 2009

Yeah I'm sure I wouldn't want to load a moose into the back of that truck. My truck never had the license plate on the front but the bumpers have the holes in it from the factory.

Z71kris · February 15, 2009

damn that is a sweet truck with lift and rims, but I agree that hauling a moose or family into that thing will not be that easy!

superjim · February 15, 2009

I would keep the box rail tubes.

Since the full length steps will be handy for you...go for it.

It is, after all is said and done...YOUR TRUCK.

The full length steps will also compliment the full length side trim.

They will also help protect your new truck from stone chips in the paint all down the side of it.

Supersporter40 · February 15, 2009

I would keep the box rail tubes.
Since the full length steps will be handy for you...go for it.

It is, after all is said and done...YOUR TRUCK.

The full length steps will also compliment the full length side trim.

They will also help protect your new truck from stone chips in the paint all down the side of it.

Hi Jim,

I was looking around last night and saw the 3M clear coat product you used on your Caddy and was tempted to use that on the box if I went with th eshort tubes, but then I am still lacking a step for the front box access.

Like you said, it will compliment the side trim and also cover up the not so pretty exposed frame.

Kris, I think you're right, doing the "midget toss" with my family will get old in a hurry!

Thanks for the input Guys.

Do you think the stainless bug guard will be too much on the front?

punmax · February 15, 2009

Well after a few months of waiting my truck should be here Monday or Tuesday. Bringing a vehicle across the border is just no fun. Either is buying across the border fun when the CAD craps itself making the exchange have an ouch factor.

Because of Canada's very wise ideas, imported vehicles cannot be modified structurely in any way so the Fabtech lift has to go. Doesn't hurt my feelings as I don't mind a three inch lift, six is too much for a family vehicle. We will swap the lift into my 01 HD and sell it. Then we can use the factory bits to get this one ready for inspection. I am hoping the lift and fancy rims will help move my old truck in this deflated truck market too.

When I brought my truck over the border, it wasn't that big of a hassle. Everything went nice and smooth. How much did it end up costing ya? And that's a nice truck, shame the lift/wheels are going to be taken off

Supersporter40 · February 16, 2009

Well after a few months of waiting my truck should be here Monday or Tuesday. Bringing a vehicle across the border is just no fun. Either is buying across the border fun when the CAD craps itself making the exchange have an ouch factor.

Because of Canada's very wise ideas, imported vehicles cannot be modified structurely in any way so the Fabtech lift has to go. Doesn't hurt my feelings as I don't mind a three inch lift, six is too much for a family vehicle. We will swap the lift into my 01 HD and sell it. Then we can use the factory bits to get this one ready for inspection. I am hoping the lift and fancy rims will help move my old truck in this deflated truck market too.

When I brought my truck over the border, it wasn't that big of a hassle. Everything went nice and smooth. How much did it end up costing ya? And that's a nice truck, shame the lift/wheels are going to be taken off

It was the beginning of November when we got my wife her new Subaru. I thought for fun I'd check for my dream truck and boom there it was! The dollar was still in fairly good shape but I could not afford to take time from work.

Lo and behold my neighbors brother brings vehicles back as a buisness so I got him after it. The dealership wanted way too much for the truck to start off with so we let them sit on it for a while. Then the dollar fell on it's beak, and the economy joined the fun too. They got more motivated to sell after my buddy kept reminding them how long it would be sitting there. I am sure I could have had it sooner but just the way things went.

It's alright, basement renos have kept me more than busy anyway. Now I will get to bust my knuckles pulling wrenches.

Have a mechanic at work who is happy to help so it should be good to go. The truck will end up with a 2" lift same as my 01 has. Just enough to make it look decent yet still functional.

All the GST, taxes, duty, inspections, plane ticket etc was $2300. When I crunched the numbers that was only $500 more than it would cost me to get it myself. They getto go through the commercial line which is how they got it in with the lift. Otherwise it would have to be taken out Stateside before entering the country. That would have cost me 2K in itself too.

One more sleep until I officially get it, I can't wait!

BuckFeverZ · February 16, 2009

Damn, that truck is badass!!

It makes me that you're gonna take the lift off.....

superjim · February 16, 2009

I would keep the box rail tubes.
Since the full length steps will be handy for you...go for it.

It is, after all is said and done...YOUR TRUCK.

The full length steps will also compliment the full length side trim.

They will also help protect your new truck from stone chips in the paint all down the side of it.

Hi Jim,

I was looking around last night and saw the 3M clear coat product you used on your Caddy and was tempted to use that on the box if I went with th eshort tubes, but then I am still lacking a step for the front box access.

Like you said, it will compliment the side trim and also cover up the not so pretty exposed frame.

Kris, I think you're right, doing the "midget toss" with my family will get old in a hurry!

Thanks for the input Guys.

Do you think the stainless bug guard will be too much on the front?

I think the stainless bug guard will look good on that color.

It won't STAND OUT like it would on some colors.

It will BE THERE..but fairly subtle.

That is one good looking truck.

Supersporter40 · February 16, 2009

Thanks for the kind words guys. I will put up pics as the project goes on. It will end up being 2"or so higher than factory which is what my 01 has but I cannot do that until after the inspections. If I really wanted I could put the fab tech back in. Heck, even Christy was game to try using it with the lift. She likes cruisin in the big trucks it seems.....

Scott, the 01 looks way better than stock with what little lift it has, hopefully we will all be happy with the end result. Looks like you have very similar Helo wheels on your truck. They look pretty sharp. I wish I didn't need to add mudflaps but it will be down to primer in no time if we don't, so will our camper.

I will try the bug guard on it too. for the price I get for the 01 I may as well keep it.

Supersporter40 · February 18, 2009

Uh-oh...........

Well there's good news and bad news.

Tires and rims are ready at KalTire. I have never bought aftermarket wheels before so I choked when I heard the tally. Oh well.

I am going to go with the shorter cab length nerf boards. The long ones are just too long. Suggestions for protecting the box are most welcome. 100%Chevy's truck is very close to mine and it looks too nice with the short bars to not do the same.http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=77186&st=15&start=15 HIs is top of page two in this thread.

The truck is in Calgary and they are doing the inspections. Rear brake pads were down to nothing and are being replaced. Pretty minor.

To the negative my friend said it has aftermarket exhaust. When I asked what kind he said the kind that has two pipes from the heads (headers(?)) right through to the tailpipe. Ah crap, I just bought a redneck scream machine.

I guess a flowmaster 70 series will be in order.

The fellow who picked it up said he needed a step ladder to get in it. Even Larry being 6'2" struggled.......however he has already had several cash offers to buy the truck, that can't be a bad thing! It is turning heads everywhere he goes. I might have to get some new sunglasses. LOL

He thinks he can get it through inspections with the lift in. We will try to do that and then drive it as is to see what we think.

Forgot to mention it is fitted with HID(?) headlights as well, they have a blueish color to them. Hope they are legal up here!

Noel

Supersporter40 · February 21, 2009

Finally got the truck last night, and it is way too high. It looks better than the pictures let on but on top of the suspension lift is a 3" body lift too! I am 5' 10 and am about eye level with the top of the rad.

The front wheel liners are pounded out so the cab metal is exposed and the flare has a big chip out of it. They told me it was a paint chip........ nice. Allt eh underside is painted with some sort of matte black paint, whether spray bomb or not I cannot tell.

Exhaust is full length duals. Has the O2 sensors still but no catalytics. Mufflers look similar to the Magnaflow racing series, 10" diameter round, about the same in length. They are staggered along the passenger side of the drive shaft. Exhaust note is rank and obnoxious and will get changed.

Do magnaflows have an all steel model or are they all packed with glass?

With the big tires the gearing is quite tall for first gear but once it is rolling she goes like crazy. Reminds me of my old Honda CR480 for power. Very torquey on the bottom end and it levels off and begs for the next gear, much like Dad's Cummins.

It also has a dash cover in a neat wood grain trim but it does not allow acces to the cubby hole below the radio. I will likely fill the hole completely. If I put something in there I will never get my hand in there to remove it.

Looks like I have a lot of work to do. For the most part I am pretty happy. Had the previous owner used mud flaps to protect it from the rocks I would have been a lot more happy. There is no tire jack or iron under the seat either. Argh.

Cab clearance lights aren't running either. I will soon be a full on mechanic.