Austinite's 2000 NBS Tahoe Ex-Grocery Hauler Build

[Austinite]

I bought this old girl back in Aug 2015. She was pretty rough on the outside, but for having 240K miles she runs decent and the interior ain't too bad besides the typical torn driver's seat bottom. It was a 1 owner and the lady was a soccer mom, so I think she took pretty good care of it.

*bold is the latest updates*

Mods/Fixes So Far:

Engine/Mechanical:
-eBay OBX Racing Style LT Headers W/ Y-Pipe and High Flow Cats
-3 Sets of Dorman Exhaust Manifold Broken Bolt Repair Kits
-Magnaflow 12589 Muffler
-Vacuum Actuated E-Cutout After Cats
-Replaced Spark Plugs & Wires
-New A/C Compressor, Accumulator, and Orifice Tube Installed
-Replaced Cabin Filter (Highly Recommended)
-New Interstate Battery
-Fixed ABS Pump
-New Rear Door Hinges
-Spectre Intake W/Black Fiberglass Insulation Wrap
-Replaced Knock Sensors & Harness
-Replaced Intake Gaskets
-Replaced Fuel Pump
-Replaced Water Pump, Thermostat & Overflow Tank
-Replaced Heater Hoses and Radiator Hoses
-Replaced Radiator

Suspension:
-3" Lift Spindles
-New Z71 Rear Coils
-Supreme Suspensions 3" Rear Billet Spacers
-Supreme Suspensions Adjustable Panhard Bar
-JK Rear Sway Bar Extensions
-Cognito Heavy Duty Sway Bar End Link Kit
-Moog Lower Control Arms/Ball Joints
-New Upper Control Arms/Ball Joints
-New Inner/Outer Tie Rods
-Rear Bilstein 5100 Shocks (24-185783)
-Front Bilstein 5100 Shocks (24-186643)
-Front Torsion Bar Lift Keys (cranked about halfway)

Tires/Wheels:
-Wheels - Mayhem Warrior 8015 17x9 Wheels
-Tires - Falken Wildpeak 325/70R17 A/T
-Bluetooth TPMS
-2" Black Anodized Aluminum Rear Hub-Centric Spacers

Appearance/Exterior:
-HD Hood
-HD Grille & Bumper Cap
-Black HD Billet Grille Inserts
-Black HD Bowtie
-Ford Raptor Style AMber LED Grille Lights
-New Windshield
-New Paint Job - 2016 BMW Azurite Black
-New Front Bumper
-Z-71 Front Valance
-Square LED Fog Lights
-Z-71 Roof Rack
-Z-71 Roof Rack LED Reverse Lights - Smoked (comes on w/switch or in reverse)
-Smoked Roof Cab/Running Lights
-Black Plasti-Dipped Wheels
-Black Plasti-Dipped Front & Rear Bumpers and Grill
-OEM Style Fender Flares
-OEM Running Boards
-Black Texas Edition Badges
-Power Side Towing Mirrors W/Smoked Lights
-Spyder Smoked LED Taillights
-Depo Black Projector Headlights
-Black LED Parking Lights
-LED In-Bumper Reveres Lights
-Smoked 3rd Brake Light
-Bully BBS-1212CK Black Billet Aluminum Fuel Door with Lock
-Escalade Appliques

Audio/Video/Interior:
-Escalade Gauge Cluster Swap
-Escalade A/C Knobs
-08-14 Shifter Swap
-3D Molded Dash & Door Kit - Burlwood
-RoadRover Wifi Dash Cam
-Type S Plug and Glow 48" Bluetooth Smart LED Lighting Deluxe Kit
-2004 Center Console swap
-Replaced Driver Seat Bottom foam/Leather
-Metra DP300-2B Double Din Dash
-Joying 7" RK3188 Android Head Unit
-Esky 170° License Plate Frame Mount Rear View Camera
-Full LED Replacement Interior lights
-PLANET AUDIO PL4000.1D Class D Mono Amp
-PLANET AUDIO PL2400.4 2400W 4 Channel Amp
-Front Speakers - Polk Audio DB6501
-Rear Speakers - Polk Audio DB651S
-Downfiring Sealed Third Row Subwoofer Enclosure/Box
-Subwoofers - 2 Pioneer TS-W3003D4 12"


Future Plans:
-4.88 or 5.13 Gears
-Mild Cam Upgrade
-MOVE Replacement Front Bumper
-Avalanche Rear Step Bumper
-NNBS Brake Upgrade
-New Carpet
-Mitt Brown Leather Seats
-etc...

When I Bought Her...

 

[Fosscore]

Nice work on the build thread....minus the pics of the mods!

 

[Austinite]

Nice work on the build thread....minus the pics of the mods!

Haha, thanks...I ran out of time yesterday, but they're coming today

 

[Austinite]

First things first, I replaced the stock head unit with a Joying 7" RK3188 Android Head Unit. I used the Metra DP300-2B Double Din Dash instead of hacking up the dash. I had to trim it a little on the sides because the Joying is an ISO size headunit. Came out pretty good. I also replaced the Front Speakers with Polk Audio DB6501 components, the Rear Speakers with Polk Audio DB651S coaxials, and added 2 Pioneer TS-W3003D4 12" subs in a front firing box behind the 3rd row. everything was run off a Rockford Fosgate R600X5 5 Channel amp mounted under the 2nd row.

 

[Austinite]

Next step was to replace the old ripped and nasty 15 year old driver's side seat cushion and bottom cover. I didn't take very many pics of the install, but it was one of the best things I did to the Tahoe. Around the same time I went ahead and replaced the gauge cluster bulbs with blue led bulbs. Eventually went with white leds, but never took pics for some reason.

 

[Austinite]

Now on to the suspension round. I ended up going with new Z71 Rear coil springs, Supreme Suspensions 2" Rear Billet Spacers, JK Sway Bar Extensions for the rear, the Cognito Heavy Duty Sway Bar End Link Kit for the front, Rear Bilstein 5100 Shocks (24-185783) & Front Bilstein 5100 Shocks (24-186643), and front Torsion Bar Lift Keys (cranked about halfway). I also replaced the front jounce stops and added 2" bump stops from Amazon for them to rest on. Ended up cutting 1/2" off and installed em on the LCAs. Worked perfectly and rides like a dream now. I went with Pro Comp Xtreme Alloys 1059 17x9 Wheels and Yokohama Geolander A/T-S LT315/70R17 tires.

 

[Austinite]

Next was some generic black nerf bars/side steps that I didn't like too much. I really wanted the oem Z71 steps, but had a hard time finding them and the trim to match. I also found a Z71 roof rack, installed some
Spyder Smoked LED Taillights, Depo Black Projector Headlights, Black LED Parking Lights, LED in-bumper reverse lights, and a Esky 170° License Plate Frame Mount Rear View Camera. I also had a shop install an IMCO muffler and stainless rolled 3.5" tip behind the right rear tire. I can't remember which IMCO model the muffler is, but the total for install and everything was under $200 so I'm happy at the moment. I might eventually go with a louder series Flowmaster, but not positive. The nerf hitch step has been on like 4 of my last trucks, so I just put it on because I had it, doesn't really serve a purpose, but looks kinda cool I guess.

 

[Austinite]

Had to do the fun job of replacing the intake manifold gaskets and knock sensors. That wasn't too bad, but I ended up installing the manifold back on top of the new wiring harness, unbeknownst to me, so after a while it shorted out and the codes came back. I ended up replacing the wring harness and knock sensors again just in case. Cleaned up the intake, the top side of the engine, and the throttle body pretty good while I was in there.

 

[Austinite]

Put on a new-to-me front bumper, bumper pad, a Z71 front valance w/ LED light cubes and Plasti-dipped the old crappy grill.

 

[Austinite]

Finally installed my HD hood, HD Power Side Towing Mirrors W/Smoked Lights, and got it ready to be sent off to the paint shop. I still need to level out the mirrors, I just haven't wanted to jack with it.