2000 Silverado z71 refurb

[bigdogYJ]

Well I have inherited my first truck back, a 2000 Silverado K1500 Z-71 Ext cab long bed.

I bought this truck new in 2000 with 7 miles on it because I was a dumb 18yo with a decent job. Lost said job a year later and my dad saved my butt and refinanced it in his name. He and my mom became the primary drivers of it and for the next 20-something years it was my dads work truck (painting/construction contractor). It hasn't been driven much the last 2 years but has had a pretty rough life in regards to deferred maintenance. I've done a handful of repairs over the years (water pump, wheel bearing, radiator, heater core, fuel pump). Currently has over 290k miles. Trans was replaced around 140k.
Currently it's being used as storage for my dad's work equipment. It's had its fair share of bumps and bruises over the years but still a pretty solid California truck.

My plan is to clean it out, clean it up and fix the broke. Then do a full maintenance job on it, new brakes, rotors, fluids, steering joints, ujoints, etc.
Then once it's a solid runner, I plan to do a nice level kit and put some new shoes on it. I'll get some pics up soon and a list of my tasks to accomplish first.

Overall hope to get a solid reliable runner for you-know truck stuff and give it a bit of a face lift... wish me luck!

 

[bigdogYJ]

Up on the lift, stripped the front suspension and steering.





Then started in with the new parts. Reloaded calipers, control arms, hub bearing and tie rods, pitman and idler...




Then the hellwig solid chromoly sway bar (end links not shown in this photo).


Then got rear brake rotors, pads and hoses swapped out.

 

[bigdogYJ]

Changed all fluids (except coolant as that was done 2 years ago). Surprisingly the fluids looked rather decent considering the mileage.

Ready to be put back on its own weight and torque everything down....


Got it on the trailer and drug back home. now need to get it aligned and a tune up.

 

[4silverado]

Looking good

 

[DateNight]

It’s something about that Yukon XL, I would drive the wheels off of it!

 

[someotherguy]

Putting in work! Awesome to get your formerly brand-new truck back.

Gotta say tho.. what's going on with that tailpipe? That had to have been an 18 year old's idea.......

Richard

 

[Cadillacmak]

Nice truck! Have a great time bringing it back to its old glory!

 

[ORVietVet]

Glad to see it is in the Under Construction thread and please post pics as much as you can. I love to watch all this work.

You are gonna love the Hellwig kits. I have the front and rears on my 2005 Tahoe Z71. I love blowing the doors off the sporty models around here, on the cloverleaf highway system.

 

[bigdogYJ]

Putting in work! Awesome to get your formerly brand-new truck back.

Gotta say tho.. what's going on with that tailpipe? That had to have been an 18 year old's idea.......

Richard

Haha the tailpipe was the handy work of my 40 year old buddy this weekend. He asked what he could help with, I explained to him the tailpipe got tagged on a rock years ago and was tweaked out of alignment. Asked if he wanted to trim it back and help realign it. He said he has a better idea. This is what he came up with….


Old scrap exhaust tip lying around and had a welder handy.

I have to cut off the tip and still try and realign the tailpipe so it’s not sticking out. Haha oh well.

 

[ORVietVet]

Haha the tailpipe was the handy work of my 40 year old buddy this weekend. He asked what he could help with, I explained to him the tailpipe got tagged on a rock years ago and was tweaked out of alignment. Asked if he wanted to trim it back and help realign it. He said he has a better idea. This is what he came up with….
View attachment 1531

Old scrap exhaust tip lying around and had a welder handy.

I have to cut off the tip and still try and realign the tailpipe so it’s not sticking out. Haha oh well.

Sometimes the help others give, is worth the laughs it brings.

 

[bigdogYJ]

Got to drive the truck around today and something felt really off. Front tires scrubbing pretty hard and just overall seemed like something was binding up. Looking around I realized we must have flipped the center link 180 degrees last weekend while swapping out everything. Oops. Pulled it apart today and flipped it around. Took it for another drive. Much better! Feels pretty good now. Definitely needs an alignment.



Did some more cleaning. Pulled the outer weatherstripping from the doors. It was still on pretty decent shape but filthy and so much dirt and debris trapped behind it against the body. Soaked it with some super clean, then steam cleaned it. Got about 90% of it. Cleaned up the body where it gets installed then reinstalled the weatherstripping and treated with some gummi fledge. Looked really good now. Hopefully that will help with the water leak at the rear passenger door.



Fixed up the center console lid with a new lid. Cleaned up the windows a bit. Started getting the seat covers on and steam cleaned the door sills really helped them look better. Still need to do the rear seat cover and then need to look at the HVAC controller as I have no blower right now and it's a bit cold.





This thing still needs a good pressure wash clean but working through the interior stuff for now little by little. Planning to align it Friday and then work on some more cleaning over the weekend. Then I'll start driving it daily to make sure everything else is ok.

 

[ORVietVet]

Are you sure it is the HVAC controller. The blower motor/resistor is notorious for failure.

 

[someotherguy]

Are you sure it is the HVAC controller. The blower motor/resistor is notorious for failure.

Can't agree with this more.

If you do indeed replace the resistor module be sure to get one with the lifetime warranty. Keep the truck a few years and you'll make use of that warranty.

Richard

 

[bigdogYJ]

So probably 2 years ago, when I first looked at this problem I thought we determined the resistor and blower motor were ok. I’ll be sure to check them again. Thanks

 

[Cadillacmak]

So probably 2 years ago, when I first looked at this problem I thought we determined the resistor and blower motor were ok. I’ll be sure to check them again. Thanks

My buddies 2004 K2500 Avalanche that I work on, when he lost all blower it was his HVAC controller. I installed a used on off of ebay and then he didn't have high speed on the blower. The high speed was the resistor pack, replaced that and he was back to normal.

 

[ORVietVet]

Friend of mine, with a 2005 Tahoe LS, that I work on from time to time, she said the blower would only blow one speed yesterday in the cold of 25 degrees and then in the evening and this morning when warmer, all speeds were there. Gonna do the resistor and she said, while in there do the blower. I also have to do the driver's door hinge pins. Not looking forward to that. I forgot, after doing the hinge pins, I will be doing the driver's door lock actuator assembly.

 

[stutaeng]

The blower motor and resistor are original in my 99 Silverado...I figured them going out commonly was like a 03-07.5 thing?

And I read when the resistor goes out, you should replace the motor as well. Apparently as the motors age they pull more load, which causes the newly-replaced resistors to live short lives. I think I read that on the 4 Seasons literature or videos?

 

[ORVietVet]

For years, I have recommended they be replaced in pairs. 2003 was a motor design change and may have been when the troubles started and that was also when there were resistor options depending on RPO codes. I just see a GMT800 and blower problems and I count on both being done, while I am in there.

 

[bigdogYJ]

Today got the alignment done. Steering feels a lot better. A bit of slop in the steering box. I’ll deal with that eventually.

 

[ORVietVet]

Like to see the right caster lead and I am very jealous of the drive on rack. I am assuming that is not your rack and that is the drive on alignment rack.

I would love love love to put a drive on 4 post in my driveway.