Intro - First Offical Post (Recent replaced 98 Yukon with a 17)

[Art Contoni]

Hello All,

Been a lurker for a few years but not new to Tahoes, Yukons and Suburbans.

First SUV before they were called that was a 1979 GMC Jimmy 4x4 that I got right after returning from USAF Basic Training and Tech School.

Pic taken in early 80s after a lift and 40s

1998 Yukon - My Daily Driver from 1999 until this week (pic taken in about 2009)

Mrs 2003 Z71 Suburban purchased after returning from Iraqi Freedom (I was driving Tahoes and Suburbans in Kuwait and fell in love with them)

1985 CUCV (Here is a toy I won on a sealed bid auction from my local Police Dept). Sold it a couple years ago but I was in the process of building a Milverado



Mrs 2013 Tahoe LTZ purchased right before deploying to Germany 2019 (Burban was rusting out and tranny beginning to slip)

2017 Yukon SLE (My purchase this week replacing the 1998 Yukon) This was special ordered to get the red paint. The guy I bought it from just special ordered a 22 Tahoe is Red...did not know you can do this but they are only produced during the Govt vehicle (Fire, Police productions runs and you get what you get for options)

 

[RAMurphy]

Welcome to the forum as a non lurker.

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service. Nice looking rigs. IMO, that red beast needs some blackout work on it. Again, IMO.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

First of all, thank you for your service.

That is a marvelous collection of rigs in excellent shape.

Congratulations to graduating to a non-lurker.

 

[Art Contoni]

Thank you! - Its been a pleasure serving - I retired Sep 24th with 42 years in the USAF.

I have to agree on the Blackout - need to see some ideas to accomplish this. Also would like to figure out a relocation for the front sonar so I can add Tow Hooks.

Wondering if the Escalade bracket could be retrofitted.

 

[Art Contoni]

Opinions on Blacked Out (Window Trim, Running Board Trim, Fog Lamp Bezel) and Red Grill and Body Side Trim? Thinking about ordering a black Denali Style grill off ebay and having it painted Victory Red. Also looking at Escalade Mirrors. I already bought the tow hooks (being powder coated Red), and the bumper facia.

 

[OR VietVet]

Looking good and I love spending OPM. IMO, black out that grill and I know I will get some grief about this, but, black wheels. Or a red grill and a completely black GMC emblem. Black badges, too.

 

[Miami-Dade]

Belated Welcome from Miami! Thank you for your service!

 

[Art Contoni]

Belated Welcome from Miami! Thank you for your service!

Thank You!

 

[89Suburban]

That Jimmy is #1 out of the rest very nice! Welcome! And thank you for your service.

 

[Art Contoni]

Bought the new tow hooks and the center trim for accommodating them. Had a friend power coat them as close as possible to Victory Red and installed them over the weekend.

It was about 55 degrees so don't know if temp was a factor but it was a real bugger trying to remove the old trim piece and in the process I snapped off an important retainer piece on both fog light bezels so they will have to be replaced. I'll purchase new ones and look into wrapping or plasti-dipping them as close as possible to matte textured black as possible.

Hated having to remount the front license plate bracket but Illinois is not friendly about missing front plates.

Before:

After:

 

[Art Contoni]

Upgrade two:

Factory DL8 to 2017 Escalade DL3 Power Fold, Puddle, Turn Signal Mirror Upgrade.

100% Plug-N-Play (no harness modifications required)

I have a write up of diagnosis to finish here: https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/escalade-mirror-upgrade-question.138739

 

[Miami-Dade]

Excellent work Art on your 2017 Yukon!!

 

[Art Contoni]

Going to be looking into the Off Road Light Switch upgrade next...need to check connector brands and order up a harness.

 

[Sam Harris]

Very belated welcome from Texas!

Thank you for your service!!

Great looking family! Looking forward to more updates.

 

[Art Contoni]

So the 17 Yukon has 116K on the clock and the Mrs 13 Tahoe LTZ just turned over 100K. Thinking I should change the trans fluid and filter in both. Luckily they both have the same 6L80 trans so I can get two filters.

Is there a reason why a lot of the kits do not include a pan gasket?

Is there a recommended brand filter and oil or just stay with Delco on both?

Full Synthetic or Blended Dexron VI?

Anything else I should know to prep?

 

[Art Contoni]

Surfing around tonight I saw a few posts about an updated Thermal Control Valve. Is this something I should look at changing out at the same time?

What are some obvious reasons to swap this out?

 

[Art Contoni]

8 mos into driving my 2017 Yukon. Love the vehicle but I'm very disappointed in the radio reception. Local stations that were strong in every vehicle I've owned barley come in at times.

I see some engineer that's smarter than me moved the antenna to the back side glass...why?

Anyone know a cure for this or do I need to source a factory external antenna?

 

[Coltzfan1963]

Same here

 

[Art Contoni]

Just did about 4000 mile trip between the end of Feb and Mid March24. Yukon performed well and got about 20Mpg. With so much seat time I do think I need to consider a replacement driver seat cushion (purchased with about 110K highway miles) so i think its broke down on the left side a bit. Still despise the radio reception - might look into installing a truck passenger side antenna. Just do not see anyone posting a fix.