Pete's (Now Nate's) 2003 Denali Budget Build thread

[Sevenevez]

I have always had a bit of a GM full size addiction. I usually always have one in the stable.
I have been watching for a good Denali for a few months and had my eyeballs on this particular one.

Just sold a Suburban and then picked up this Denali

 

[NeverSatisfied]

Good looking ride

 

[Sevenevez]

Here's the Suburban i sold. It only had 53,000 original miles. Which is why i got 6000 for it.

It's amazing you can take this little stack of paper and turn it into a vehicle that was once worth $50,000

Here's a few of my older OBS builds from the past

2000 Tahoe Limited

1997 fast bagged Silverado

1995 GMC Sierra

 

[inmypassatlife]

I would have paid 8500 for that Burban. May have done $6k on the Denali pending mileage

 

[Sevenevez]

The Denali is in great condition. It has a few issues, but that comes with the territory - 195,000 miles on her.
It's previous owner was a snowbird from Canada. I guess it sat in storage for the last 3+ years here in AZ.

Cons:

• Almost all the fluids were low and needed basic maintenance ✓
• Needed a new battery ✓
• Probably the Only color i don't like of the Denali's
• The front bumper feels a little lose and wobbly on the lower part.
• The dash cluster gauges dont light up at night, but everything works (information center etc.) ✓
• None of the front speakers work
• Needs a new Oil Pressure Sensor (gauge reads 0 or 80 always) ✓

Got the OPS. Just need to put it in. I heard these are a common problem in the NBS?
Anyone replaced it on their 6.0L yet? Let me know if you have any tips.

 

[Rocket Man]

Such clean rides. How many miles on the Denali?
Edit: never mind!

 

[Rocket Man]

The Denali is in great condition. It has a few issues, but that comes with the territory - 195,000 miles on her.
It's previous owner was a snowbird from Canada. I guess it sat in storage for the last 3+ years here in AZ.

Cons:

• Almost all the fluids were low and needed basic maintenance ✓
• Needed a new battery ✓
• The front bumper feels a little lose and wobbly on the lower part.
• The dash cluster gauges dont light up at night, but everything works (information center etc.)
• None of the front speakers work
• Needs a new Oil Pressure Sensor (gauge reads 0 or 80 always)

Got the OPS. Just need to put it in. I heard these are a common problem in the NBS?
Anyone replaced it on their 6.0L yet? Let me know if you have any tips.

I did mine but the intake manifold was off so it was a piece of cake. You need the special socket because a regular deep won't fit over it and unfortunately you'll have to do yours by feel, kinda like spark plug #8.

 

[Sevenevez]

Good looking ride

thanks!

I would have paid 8500 for that Burban. May have done $6k on the Denali pending mileage

I worked on that Suburban for over a year. Had no brakes, was trashed on the inside, tires were shot, wouldnt start, electrical problems, bad hub, ABS lights, AC vent wouldnt open. List goes on. Got everything back to normal and got rid of it. My friends didn't think i would even get $3500 for it. I felt i would get $6k. Worked out well in the long run. I wasn't in love with it

Such clean rides. How many miles on the Denali?
Edit: never mind!

thanks, RR. She's got 195k on her

 

[Sevenevez]

I did mine but the intake manifold was off so it was a piece of cake. You need the special socket because a regular deep won't fit over it and unfortunately you'll have to do yours by feel, kinda like spark plug #8.

ahh, cool. yeah i saw vids but they were all with the smaller engine. everyone says you need small hands and a mirror or something. I haven't even torn the covers and plastics off to see it.

I can't believe how much work you have done to yours. All the way down to the valve train now? If i got that far, the truck would probably never run again haha

 

[Sevenevez]

Basic stuff: Faded Headlights

Wet-sand. Soapy water and 1000grit, then 2000, then 3000/trizac

Buff out with Ultimate Compound and the Griot's Garage Orbital on 6

Wax

Done

The white boobs on the lower turn signal are really bad. no hope for them. Probably replace them anyways

 

[Tonyrodz]

I have always had a bit of a GM full size addiction. I usually always have one in the stable.
I have been watching for a good Denali for a few months and had my eyeballs on this particular one.

Just sold a Suburban for $6k and then picked up this Denali for $4k.

Which wheels are those? Nissan?

 

[Sevenevez]

Which wheels are those? Nissan?

i have no idea, man. maybe!

?

 

[Tonyrodz]

Basic stuff: Faded Headlights

Wet-sand. Soapy water and 1000grit, then 2000, then 3000/trizac

Buff out with Ultimate Compound and the Griot's Garage Orbital on 6

Wax

Done

The white boobs on the lower turn signal are really bad. no hope for them. Probably replace them anyways

Those headlights came out great. Did you clear them? If not, they're gonna get hazy again.

 

[95escahoe]

Nice clean Denali so what are your plans for it?


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[Sevenevez]

Those headlights came out great. Did you clear them? If not, they're gonna get hazy again.

nah, no clear. the wax at the end usually helps em last longer. I am sure they will get replaced before they get faded again though.
btw: your Tahoe sounds mean as hell

Nice clean Denali so what are your plans for it?

thanks. nothing too crazy. probably just a drop, wheels, paint it and maybe stereo

 

[95escahoe]

nah, no clear. the wax at the end usually helps em last longer. I am sure they will get replaced before they get faded again though.
btw: your Tahoe sounds mean as hell



thanks. nothing too crazy. probably just a drop, wheels, paint it and maybe stereo

Not bad what kinda rims are you thinking?


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[Rocket Man]

ahh, cool. yeah i saw vids but they were all with the smaller engine. everyone says you need small hands and a mirror or something. I haven't even torn the covers and plastics off to see it.

I can't believe how much work you have done to yours. All the way down to the valve train now? If i got that far, the truck would probably never run again haha

Yeah Vinci High Performance told me that since I wanted to run higher boost on the Whipple I just installed , my valves might start floating. Now I need to get my new cam installed and I just ordered American Racing longtubes so it's becoming a real beast. Next will be a smaller pulley for the blower after those mods.

 

[Sevenevez]

Not bad what kinda rims are you thinking?


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man, i swear i have mocked up 50 different wheels in photoshop. and the one's that look the best to me are the common Boss 330 / U2-55 wheels everyone runs. Everything else just looked cheap or too flashy or too much chrome. I would love to have a set of Billet Wheels made but thats $750 a piece each wheel. I can't justify paying $3000 for wheels on a vehicle i paid $4000 for haha

Yeah Vinci High Performance told me that since I wanted to run higher boost on the Whipple I just installed , my valves might start floating. Now I need to get my new cam installed and I just ordered American Racing longtubes so it's becoming a real beast. Next will be a smaller pulley for the blower after those mods.

i just want to go for a dang ride in the rocket! that thing must be a blast.

If it's anything like this one, it has to be insane!

 

[Sevenevez]

Project color match front end

I like chrome in small amounts as an accent, but this front end has way to much chrome going on for my taste.


Took it off, cleaned the hell out it then got to sanding and scuffing.
To get the paint to stick to chrome i had to start with a 200 grit.
I didn't want to have to retape everything twice so i had to do this methodically

2 coats of sandable black primer (which btw is a pretty good match to the black plastics on the denali)

2 coats of black pearl
(i didnt want the center gille too shiny so i opted out on the clear coat on the black)

I wanted to use the OBS Sierra style of chrome grille surround style.
Confused yet? this is why i taped it the way i did.
If you look close the grille surround has a very small lip that goes around it.
I ran the butt of a spoon into the tape along that crease to give me a path to cut on a line with an Exacto.

back to sanding again

2 coats of black sandable primer (sorry, no pics, was getting dark)

4 coats of WA38 Pewter Metallic

Plenty coats of clear!

i love spraying, but removing the tape is best part

there's the chrome lip edge i was talking about

mounted

ahhhh, much better!

before / after

 

[adventurenali92]

Nice work on the chrome grille color match! It looks sick! I wanna do it to match my silver birch paint, but I know it's a pretty involved and time consuming process. Plus it takes painting skills I just don't have. Lol. So for now I'm stuck with chrome. Anyways looks good man! The nbs Denali is my favorite body style. Clean lines. Yours looks super clean for 195k! I'm subbed for the progress on your truck!