Build thread: Project Redfire

[Project Denali]

Hey family,

I was in the market for a truck and had been looking very hard for just over two weeks. I made a list of what I really wanted and stuck to it. Boy did I get more than I was hoping for! This beautiful 2003 Tahoe LT popped up for sale in West Virginia and after almost a week of working on the seller (among others) I got enough of my questions answered to just go for it, all in. My lovely gf joined on the trip and I could not be happier with what I got:

2003 Tahoe LT
-5.3 flex
-4x4
-Tow pkg
-Limited slip
-3.73 gears
-Janesville built
-Redfire metallic
-Nuetral leather
-2nd row captains
-No sunroof
-Nivomat shocks

For me this was nearly perfect, I would prefer gray interior but otherwise the options list was nearly identical to what I wanted. On top of this, the truck had been lowered (properly) with a belltech kit, had window tint, and is absolutely rust free. It was 200% worth the roadtrip from Michigan and to be honest, even nicer than I had expected.

I grew up in my parents Suburban and even had my own rusty Denali (username) and Sierras that got me through college. But, I have been wanting a nice truck for a long time to turn into my dream. This Tahoe is that truck and I could not be more excited to start this build thread and document the journey.

I hope that I can be more involved in the forums again, help others, and maybe even inspire some modifications. This will likely be picture heavy and I plan to update info along the way such as cost, time spent on work, and detailed parts lists.

Thank you for reading this far, it feels so good to be back, I can’t wait to share more and post more.

-Project Denali (REDFIRE)

 

[Project Denali]

#1 Remove front plate (and clean) remove sunglass holder, trim floor mats for third row seat brackets so they don’t slide around, and average gas mileage for trip back from WV to Michigan.

 

[Project Denali]

(#1 continued...)

 

[Project Denali]

(#1 continued...)

 

[Project Denali]

(#1 continued...) Purchased at 183,479 and refueled today after roadtrip back and three days to and from work, plus trip to DMV... 183,829. This is 350 miles exactly and 18.246 gallons. That is average 19.1 mpg with oversized 22” wheels. Very very impressed.

 

[Tonyrodz]

(#1 continued...) Purchased at 183,479 and refueled today after roadtrip back and three days to and from work, plus trip to DMV... 183,829. This is 350 miles exactly and 18.246 gallons. That is average 19.1 mpg with oversized 22” wheels. Very very impressed.

Impressive.

 

[S33k3r]

What cargo mat is that? Nice rig, by the way! You going to convert to eFans?

 

[Project Denali]

What cargo mat is that? Nice rig, by the way! You going to convert to eFans?

Thanks @S33k3r I really love it, much more to come. I do want to swap to efans! It is a weather tech rear mat in tan and matches fairly well. Came with the Tahoe and they had never trimmed the seat bracket holes.

 

[adventurenali92]

Great looking ride! Glad it worked out for you to get what you wanted!
Curious how you trimmed the holes in the mat for the seat brackets! I wanna get a mat like that for my Denali and would have to do the same.

 

[Project Denali]

@adventurenali92 thanks it is definitely sweet, I used 2 brand new blades and my utility knife. The weathertech mat has the seat brackets and the cargo hooks sort of outlined already. As you can see I didn’t get the hooks trimmed yet but just go slow and you can cut them nearly exact with the outlines.

 

[Project Denali]

#2 Junkyard Dawgs... went to the local u-pull with my girl looking for parts. She had never been and we both had the day off so it was a great adventure. We scored pretty good too!

For a grand total of $72.39 we picked up a few parts: electric fans with wiring and a warranty, drivers power fold mirror with glass and wiring, color matched d-pillar vents, about 3 1/2 feet of 4 gauge audio wire, and a few other misc interior pieces.

I will likely keep the efans and interior parts for my truck with posts to come on this but the d pillar vents will be for sale if someone wants them (2005 cashmere gold). It was a great day and we saw some really cool stuff.

 

[Project Denali]

(#2 continued...) she helped me pull out some interior parts, pull the wheelbarrow around and we made a date of it. I thought this crew cab quadrasteer truck was pretty neat, a rare sight to see!

 

[Tonyrodz]

#2 Junkyard Dawgs... went to the local u-pull with my girl looking for parts. She had never been and we both had the day off so it was a great adventure. We scored pretty good too!

For a grand total of $72.39 we picked up a few parts: electric fans with wiring and a warranty, drivers power fold mirror with glass and wiring, color matched d-pillar vents, about 3 1/2 feet of 4 gauge audio wire, and a few other misc interior pieces.

I will likely keep the efans and interior parts for my truck with posts to come on this but the d pillar vents will be for sale if someone wants them (2005 cashmere gold). It was a great day and we saw some really cool stuff.

That was a score and a 1/2!! Someone on here was looking for a set of those pillars, can't remember who tho.

 

[TollKeeper]

Are those D-Pillars really worth it? The Esky, Yukon, Yukon XL at the yard today all had them..

 

[Project Denali]

Are those D-Pillars really worth it? The Esky, Yukon, Yukon XL at the yard today all had them..

I think so, they aren’t Escalade vents or smooth aftermarket vents, but they are already painted. Would be easy to respray or better for someone with a gold truck. I never see them in any other color than the factory black though which is why they seemed special. The factory black always fades and gets brittle at least here where I am.

 

[Fless]

(#2 continued...) she helped me pull out some interior parts, pull the wheelbarrow around and we made a date of it. I thought this crew cab quadrasteer truck was pretty neat, a rare sight to see!

Some of our Upulls will list the mileage on the sticker, but some don't. Nice to be able to see what it was when they wrecked, and how much wear and tear on the parts.

 

[Rocket Man]

#2 Junkyard Dawgs... went to the local u-pull with my girl looking for parts. She had never been and we both had the day off so it was a great adventure. We scored pretty good too!

For a grand total of $72.39 we picked up a few parts: electric fans with wiring and a warranty, drivers power fold mirror with glass and wiring, color matched d-pillar vents, about 3 1/2 feet of 4 gauge audio wire, and a few other misc interior pieces.

I will likely keep the efans and interior parts for my truck with posts to come on this but the d pillar vents will be for sale if someone wants them (2005 cashmere gold). It was a great day and we saw some really cool stuff.

Enviro charge? You’re helping the enviro by reusing parts!

 

[Sparksalot]

#2 Junkyard Dawgs... went to the local u-pull with my girl looking for parts. She had never been and we both had the day off so it was a great adventure. We scored pretty good too!

For a grand total of $72.39 we picked up a few parts: electric fans with wiring and a warranty, drivers power fold mirror with glass and wiring, color matched d-pillar vents, about 3 1/2 feet of 4 gauge audio wire, and a few other misc interior pieces.

I will likely keep the efans and interior parts for my truck with posts to come on this but the d pillar vents will be for sale if someone wants them (2005 cashmere gold). It was a great day and we saw some really cool stuff.

You’re lucky. The nnbs and nnbs trucks don’t even show up in the yards here.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Enviro charge? You’re helping the enviro by reusing parts!

For the privilege of stepping on their dirt in their yard.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Are those D-Pillars really worth it? The Esky, Yukon, Yukon XL at the yard today all had them..

Yukons don't come stock with them.