Project Z-71

BadChevyZ-71

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March 31, 2015-
So I went and took a look at the 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z-71 pictured above. It was in good condition, almost new nitto terra grapplers, no sunroof (biggest thing to me lol), clean engine bay, 4 captains chairs, DVD player, 3rd row (which will be removed for storage), and wheels plasti-diped black. Only issue they brought up, which wasn't a big deal to me as I'm a mechanic was that the rear A/C isn't blowing cold. So I told them I wanted it. So if all goes well I'll be picking it up this saturday. I will start a build thread for it too. Instead of putting the mag light holder in the truck I'm going to put it in the Tahoe. I also ordered the following for the Tahoe. Figured I needed to start it off right.

Uniden Bearcat 980SSB with Sideband and Weatherband
Firestik SS-204A Adjustable Stainless Steel Vertical Door Jamb Mount
18' Coaxial Cable
Firestik SS-3H HD Stainless Steel Antenna Spring
4' Firestik II FS Series Tunable Tip CB Antenna- 900 watts- Black
 

BadChevyZ-71

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Today-
Been a while since I've updated my build thread, but not a whole lot has been done. I had just recently re-organized my Photobucket pictures which basically took out 99% of the pictures I had posted in this thread. So I just finished adding all the pictures back and switched a couple around so there is a couple new pictures posted. I updated the current picture and did some slight changes to the future modification list. About a week after my last post above I picked up that 04' Chevy Tahoe Z-71, which I will be making a build thread for it shortly. About a month after owning the Tahoe I was driving the truck to work and noticed the steering was sloppy so when I went to lunch I rolled under the truck to take a quick peek at the steering components. I found the bracket that holds the idler arm to the frame came undone from the frame. I had already had it welded once when it was just a small crack a couple years ago. So when I noticed that I knew it was unsafe to drive. So I got a few estimates on having the bracket welded back to the frame and reinforced. I just recently switched jobs so I ended up driving the truck home for it to sit until save up some extra cash to have it welded back. Now if the weather would get better to where I have a weekend with little to no chance of rain I have some work to do to both the Silverado and Tahoe. Enough talk here is a couple pictures....

Broken Bracket:
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MYT HI

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Really dig the look of your truck, hope you can get your frame fixed, that's scary. Looks like your headlights are a bit yellow, any plans for them?
 

BadChevyZ-71

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Thanks MYT HI! I called several off-road shops around me and the one I'm taking it to said they've seen this before so we shall see. Hopefully I can get it fixed here soon. I'll probably order some new ones from Rock Auto and then possibly do a light tint to them.
 

BadChevyZ-71

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- Edited first post.

Just a small update with the truck. Hopefully getting the frame/steering bracket welded soon now that things have finally calmed down a little bit. My battery was starting slow so I pulled my Optima Yellow Top out to charge it and after charging for two hours on slow charge I noticed acid leaking from one of the top terminals. So I took it off the charger and did a quick battery test with our midtronics battery tester and sure enough the battery is shot. So I think I'm going to try one of the AutoCraft Silver 800 CCA batteries out and see how it does. This morning I replaced the right front window regulator, which works great. Going to paint the speaker covers black and then put another coat or two of paint on the center console lid as its starting to show some wear too. Also planning on replacing both valve cover gaskets here soon too. No pictures this time, but I'll try and post some next update.
 

BadChevyZ-71

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Goat,
I'm still running factory gears, 3.73s I think? I'm not sure, next time I drive it I plan on resetting the trip meter and finding out atleast down to a quarter tank. I do know I'm getting around 10 mpg depending on how I drive.
 

BadChevyZ-71

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Edited both modification lists in first post.

So it's been a while since I've updated this build. The post before the last has pictures of the idler arm bracket that came undone from the frame. So it sat for a couple months until I had a chance to get it to the shop. My 6-7 year old Optima Yellow Top battery started leaking acid from the top posts and didn't pass with the midtronics battery tester so I knew it was time for a new battery too. About a month ago I picked up a AutoCraft Silver Battery (800 CCA/Dual Post) and got it installed. That same day I had my truck towed to a Off-Road shop. Earlier that day I had talked with the owner for a good 15 minutes about if he had seen that issue before, what causes it, cost, time frame, etc... I told him I was dropping it off after hours to just call me with an update the next day. I was expecting it to take a day or so, but I got a call the next morning about 9:30am from him saying he got there early this morning and my truck was the first on the lift and it's done and ready to roll. So I told my work I was taking a long lunch to pick up my truck. My wife and I picked up my truck and talked with the owner who did all the work. He said he not only welded the bracket back the best he could but welded/added support brackets on both sides. So of course I had to drive it home, which was the first time driving it in months so I wasn't sure if anything else was wrong with the truck from sitting. Truck drove great home (little over 20 miles) but noticed three things. 1.) Drivers side window regular is toast. Took the door panel off and found the cable broken. 2.) Alignment off/Steering wheel not centered. Was expecting this. 3.) Noticed the brakes were acting funny when I was getting close to work. When I got to work I noticed a bad smell and that both rear wheels were super hot. So I've just been driving the truck to and from work lately and taking the Tahoe anywhere else. So that's where I'm at now with the truck. I'm just happy to have it back on the road.

So the next couple things getting done to the truck here soon in this order.

1.) Installing new rear brake calipers. Brake fluid flush. Bleed brakes.
2.) Alignment
3.) Driver side window regulator with motor
4.) Paint center console and front speaker covers

Enough talk. Here is a couple pictures I took.

AutoCraft Silver Battery
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Installed
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Getting towed. Little blurry because the tow truck started to pull away as I was taking the picture.
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Fixed bracket
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I cleaned out and organized my toolbox.
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BadChevyZ-71

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Some night pictures I took of the truck on New Years.

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I'm also working on a little re-organizing for the roadside repair bag. I plan on doing one for the Tahoe too.

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