Pilot's '02 4x4 Tahoe build

[Pilot]

 

[73impala]

New front end cleaned it up a lot

 

[Tonyrodz]

After
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By the way, if anyone wants the old stock headlights or bumper lights that I removed, you can have them–just let me know. Otherwise I'm throwing them away. I don't have room to store them in NYC.

If you throw them away, at least save the old headlight brackets. You may need those.

 

[Pilot]

If you throw them away, at least save the one headlight brackets. You may need those.

Good call, thanks!

 

[HACK BLOCK]

I can pick them up if u still have it

 

[Pilot]

I can pick them up if u still have it

Damn sorry man. I left them out on the sidewalk and they were gone by the time I got home.

 

[Pilot]

Installed aftermarket taillight housings today. Was going to do the 4-high headlight mod but got tired of being outside in the cold.

 

[Pilot]

Finally had a chance this weekend to install my DDM tuning HID headlights. Installing them was as easy as everyone says it is. Just plug them in and stash the balllasts. I also did the 4-hi mod which causes the low beams to always stay on when you turn on the high beams. I can't speak for other model years but for my '02, this was also super easy. Following this tutorial, I just used a t-tap connector to clamp on to the yellow wire on the driver's side low beam and attach the other end to ground. Simple as that.

I'm super happy with the HIDs, but I'm not really thrilled with the beam pattern. The pattern on the passenger's side is excellent, though the pattern on the driver's side is not nearly as crisp or cleanly cut off. I assume that is caused by the housing on that side (as opposed to the bulb). I didn't have a lot of time to mess with that this weekend but hopefully soon. Also didn't get any pics of the beam pattern. But I did snap this pic of the lights when I was done.

It's hard to take decent pics of headlight output with an iPhone. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Tonyrodz]

@Mazi206 for the headlight mod.

 

[Pilot]

Well it's been a month and a half and we're still waiting for the rear bumper from Hammerhead.. Iron Cross front bumper arrived a while ago so we're going to install that as well as the replacement seat covers this Monday. We're also going to install a Viper alarm with tilt and glass break sensors and a SmartStart module.

Meanwhile, I ordered some gear for the inside:

• Kenwood DNX994s 2-din nav head unit
• Metra DP-3002B Dash Kit
  
• Rockford Fosgate R600X5 amplifier
• Rockford Fosgate T1650-S component speakers for the front doors
• Rockford Fosgate T1650 coaxial speakers for the rear doors
• Rockford Fosgate P3SD48 shallow mount subwoofer to replace the stock sub
• Kenwood DRV-N520 dash cam
• Kenwood CMOS-320 rear cam

I've received all of it but haven't had time to install. Hopefully I'll get started this weekend, though it's supposed to rain all weekend.

Also, after reading this thread by @Blackie, I ordered a push button ignition switch from eBay. It looks well made and it was less than $20 shipped! Will install that next week when we install the alarm.




Mouse included for scale.

 

[Pilot]

So stoked to finally get all this stuff installed! Nav head unit, all new 14AWG speaker wire, all new speakers, amp and sub, multiview rear cam, dash cam, Viper alarm & remote start with SmartStart, glass and tilt sensors, and FIIIIINALY got my front bumper and seat covers installed!! (still waiting for the rear bumper )

Audio gear waiting to be installed




New nav headunit installed


Iron Cross front bumper installed


New OEM leather seat covers installed up front


I'll try to do more indepth writeups when I have time. And maybe even an update video.

In the meantime, I've ordered a ram air+cowl hood, AMP PowerSteps and a better grill from Royalty Core. And starting to talk to the shop about paint vs wrap.

Much excite!

 

[Bombsquad85]

That looks awesome man!

 

[Pilot]

That looks awesome man!

Thanks!

 

[73impala]

Nice goodies!

 

[Pilot]

Here's the truck in the shop after the bumper went on. Notice the Rigid Radience cubes with green accent light. The bumper has holes for a winch but nothing that fits a license plate. In this pic it's just ziptied on.



Bought a license plate mounting frame from Amazon that I could bolt to the winch mounting holes.


Bought some security screws with black caps from Amazon.




Radiance fog lights on.

 

[Pilot]

The head unit has two USB inputs for CarPlay and Android Auto. I ran those to two USB ports that I used to replace two of the cigarette lighters. For now I'm storying a longer lightning cable in the ash tray. I actually want to replace the ash tray with some kind of compartment. Looking for suggestions!

 

[Pilot]

Installed the amp on a board which is velcroed to the carpet. It's in the middle for now, though I may eventually decide to switch the 2nd row to captains chairs. I'm not sure yet. If I do, amp will move to passenger side.

It works for now but I'm pretty unhappy with the cables going everywhere. I'd much rather hide them under the carpet. I may actually replace all the carpet at some point so maybe I'll wait until then to hide the cables. At least for now, when the seats are down, you can't see any of it or even tell that there's an amp there.



I've got a distribution block and extra power and ground cables so that I can hook up my 2000w inverter under the seat as well.





Inverter with the seat down.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Installed the amp on a board which is velcroed to the carpet. It's in the middle for now, though I may eventually decide to switch the 2nd row to captains chairs. I'm not sure yet. If I do, amp will move to passenger side.

It works for now but I'm pretty unhappy with the cables going everywhere. I'd much rather hide them under the carpet. I may actually replace all the carpet at some point so maybe I'll wait until then to hide the cables. At least for now, when the seats are down, you can't see any of it or even tell that there's an amp there.

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I've got a distribution block and extra power and ground cables so that I can hook up my 2000w inverter under the seat as well.

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Inverter with the seat down.

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What can you run with your inverter? I'd like to get one for my work van. What's the optimal way to hook one up?

 

[Pilot]

Quick video showing the Rockford Fosgate T1650-S component crossover and speaker installed in the front doors.

 

[Pilot]

What can you run with your inverter? I'd like to get one for my work van. What's the optimal way to hook one up?

I should be able to run just about anything with that inverter. It's a "modified sine wave" inverter, i.e. the cheaper kind, and they say you should not use that kind of inverter to power things with electric motors, but in practice I've read that they work just fine, especially with an inverter this powerful. The other more expensive kind is called a "pure sine wave" inverter. They're much more expensive.

I went with the 2000 watt version because I'm hoping to be able to run a heat gun from the inverter. I have a 1500w heat gun so we'll see if it works.

Best way to install them is just like an amplifier. Heavy gauge cable from the battery straight to the inverter with a fuse in between (close to the battery). Shortest ground possible. That’s why I just hooked it up with the amp–a distribution block splits the power we ran for the amp and also powers the inverter (though I have not connected the cables yet). I just wouldn't recommend trying to use the inverter and the car stereo at the same time.