Miklo's 2001 Silverado 2500HD Build Thread

Mikloangelo · May 25, 2026

stutaeng said:
Foglights maybe? Did your truck have those?

Yeah it came with fog lights, but this one isnt for them. I have those accounted for

Mikloangelo · May 25, 2026

Found the answer for the green plug. Its the ambient air sensor for the mirror.

Mikloangelo · May 25, 2026

Here is my blinker area. I have 3 large sockets. Not sure why I have 3 considering the blinker assembly only takes two. A white Grey and brown one. Anyone have a clue?

Mikloangelo · May 29, 2026

Next stop is the tuner. Got the outside back together. Will fill fluids tomorrow.
Grille and bumper is pretty busted and will be replaced at some point. The interior is ripped apart, but that can wait until after tuning.

Still didn't find an answer to the small plug next the bottom of the radiator on passenger side.

stutaeng · May 29, 2026

It's a truck again! Congrats!

Where are you getting it tuned? Are you driving it there or just send off tbe ECU?

Mikloangelo · May 29, 2026

Im going to DRTuned in Rockwall.

DRTuned | Rockwall TX

DRTuned, Rockwall. 401 likes · 39 talking about this. Gm/Chevy upgrade, customization, maintenance, and custom fabrication/tuning

www.facebook.com

Tuner recommended i tow it to his shop and let him put in basic tune before we start it up for the break in. Then will tune from there

Mikloangelo · May 30, 2026

She's Alive! Got a basic tune in it for now. No leaks so far. Sounds great. No muffler or exhaust past the Y-pipe yet.
Tuner will have it a day or two until I get it back.

stutaeng · May 30, 2026

Awesomeness!

Sounds like a riot waiting to heppen

Mikloangelo · May 30, 2026

stutaeng said:
Awesomeness!

Sounds like a riot waiting to heppen

Absolutely. Ready to see how much horse power it actually has and the final sound after I finish the exhaust.

Mikloangelo · May 31, 2026

So while since I have the time not messing with the truck, I've been thinking about what's next on the menu. I plan on tackling the interior. Originally I was just going to re-paint the interior back to the medium-neutral tan, get new carpet and head liner and upholstery, but now im thinking i may go to black. Im doing everything anyways, so i might as well, no? It'll be sometime before im ready to tackle that, maybe next spring after hunting season.

Mikloangelo · Jun 2, 2026

Got her home and back in the driveway. Tuner said he made 302rwhp in second gear. I expected more, but it being a 4wd 2500hd with stock trans and converter, all terrain tires, and sticking with the clutch fan may have something to do with that.

. Im sure the tuner was a bit more conservative as well considering all those factors.

Mikloangelo · Jun 2, 2026

On another note. Nothing broke when the tuner started it up and did his thing. No leaks found. So thats a huge weight off my shoulders. My biggest worry was that I damaged the internal transmission pump when mating to the engine. I had a spacer on my crank when found the torque converter binding. Everything I read indicated that I had a 50/50 chance of damaging the pump. So for now it seems im good.

Mikloangelo · Jun 8, 2026

Finally took the truck out for its maiden voyage 20 minute away. Wife and the kids wanted to go to the theater with friends so I took my truck along for the ride while they rode in the wifes SUV. The previous day I changed the oil and put some freon in it to prepare it for the trip. I Still dont have a muffler installed but im happy with the power and the way it ran. After the movie I looked for leaks and found my transfer case seal is leaking and a power steering leak from somewhere. The leaks aren't bad but still annoying enough. The truck was exceptionally loud and I got quite a few looks. Haha. The wife and kids said they heard my truck before they saw me. So I was all smiles and giggles.

Mikloangelo · Jun 14, 2026

Decided to buy a new bumper cap and lower valance for the bumper. The bumper has some small dents and dings but it still looks nice. After taking it apart, i grabbed a can of never dull to brighten it up. I rubbed it down and then went back over it with aluminum foil, then back over it with never-dull and wiped it with a lint free rag. Looks brand new now.
I also have a grille on order since mine is a bit beat up. After ordering it, I realized mine is actually from a silverado 1500 or a tahoe or something. Its definitely not a 2500 grille. Funny that I never noticed. It actually doesnt look terrible.

Marky Dissod · Jun 16, 2026

Mikloangelo said:
After ordering it, I realized mine is actually from a silverado 1500 or a tahoe or something. Its definitely not a 2500 grille. Funny that I never noticed.
It actually doesn't look terrible.

Let us know if your ATF temps change after you change grilles.

Mikloangelo · Jun 20, 2026

Got the HD grilled installed. I guess the bowtie emblem is ridiculously hard to find unless you buy a blacked out or plain billet one. I think the other grille grew on me because the inserts are metal and you can see it thru the grille. But ill roll with this for a bit.
I also installed two kill switches. One for the ignition coils and one for the fuel pump relay. Eventually ill install an auto start with an alarm so I can change the front door handles to the rear crew cab handles to get rid of the locks. Just being proactive to even I eventually make this truck more of a looker.

Mikloangelo · Jun 20, 2026

Also found out after I wired up my radio to the steering wheel that the clock spring is bad in the steering wheel. My horn and radio controls don't work. Unfortunately the coil is also hard to find. So i need to try and make a trip to a junk yard sometime.

Mikloangelo · Jun 21, 2026

When Start the truck up it kind of sputters and takes a second for it idle out. I assumed it was that the fuel rail is losing pressure or not enough but the TBSS fuel rail has no Schrader valve to verify. So i decided to go on the internet for a solution so I can verify my fuel pressure.
I found a QD adapter where you can screw in a pressure sensor or a gauge. I went with the fuel pressure gauge so I can verify pressure before turning the key on. I pieced it together with some Loctite 565 and let it set overnight to cure. I put the contraption on the output of the C5 fuel pressure regulator before the C5 fuel feed hose that leads to the fuel rail. It fits cleanly under the intake manifold cover. So far it doesnt appear im losing pressure at the rails.
Link to Gauge
Link to QD adapter

Mikloangelo · Jun 21, 2026

I also decided to install a back up camera on the tailgate. Took a bit to route it and wire it up but now I can see behind the camper shell a bit better.
Link to Back up Camera

Mikloangelo · Jul 12, 2026

Decided it was time to go to my lease and do a bit of work and give me a warn and fuzzy about the engine. Drove 93 miles to my moms house to stay the night. In the morning, I had a low oil light. Added two quarts and then drove 40 miles to get my Tractor (7800lbs with trailer) and drive it 70 miles to my lease. Next day I drove another 45 mins to pick up a deer blind and back. On the way back to the lease I had to add another quart of oil. Then 133miles back home. Total trip was probably 500 miles.

The truck seems to burning oil. Hard starts with blue/white smoke. Once going all is well but would occasionally want to stall at red lights accompanied with the smoke. Im guessing the rings arent set yet since the rebuild. Oil dip stick shows the oil looks good as far as color and not milky (in case of coolant in the oil). Fuel pressure is good. I thought i needed another tune with the hard starts but the burning oil has me a bit worried especially since ive worked the engine towing . I plan on installing a catch can to maybe help with the smoke. I havent had time to look at spark plug, but im almost certain they are fouled. Thoughts?