Mods for weight and aero... Okay, more for looks. Can't decide.

[iamdub]

My left fender has some wrinkles. I bought a good fender of the same color, but it needs paint work so I haven't bothered to swap it on yet. I've been keeping an eye out for another fender with "perfect" paint just in case. The other day, I stumbled upon this:

It's all there. I'd either swap on my current lower lip/air dam or trim that one way down. The rear bumper cover needs work. I'm sure I could make the LED tails work. It's more of an all-or-nothing thing cuz the hood (aluminum) goes with the front bumper/grille. As much as I'd like the aluminum rear liftgate, the fixed glass is a deal-breaker. I'm more into removing or relocating frontal weight, anyway.

The rear bumper has a cut in it like they backed into a receiver hitch as well as some other scrapes. I'm really considering wrapping mine so the paint stuff and the damage really isn't a factor. I can easily fix the rear bumper cover and have it wrap-ready.

The seller said a guy wants it for the engine. I told him I'd write up a parts list and get prices. If the other guy buys it, he might make me a better deal on the body pieces. Or not. lol

I'm not head over heels in love with the front, but I like it just the same and sometimes maybe a little more than my stock one. I would do it more for the rarity and because I like the more pronounced edges. It's like it's halfway between a GMT900 and K2. The aero would just be a cool factor since it'll never improve MPG enough to be a return on investment. Are the battery packs in these things worth anything? I don't know if it's still there. The cats are gone, of course.

 

[swathdiver]

You going to make a run on the Bonneville Salt Flats?

If the hybrid battery was good there will be buyers for it but a dead pack or transmission probably led to this ones demise. The aero features are cool, they cut the C/D down into the .34s if memory serves.

@BG1988

 

[BG1988]

you will need the hood as well the hood is different then the normal tahoe... the tail gate is aluminium as well the D plies and steps and flaps the...... the brake lights are LED you may need to do some modding or adding resistors for it to work correctly (or commercial mode) it's not connected to the lower lamp like the normal, the turn Signal is separate circuit for the lower light only from the brake light and running lights

t

 

[randeez]

My left fender has some wrinkles. I bought a good fender of the same color, but it needs paint work so I haven't bothered to swap it on yet. I've been keeping an eye out for another fender with "perfect" paint just in case. The other day, I stumbled upon this:

View attachment 396816


View attachment 396818


View attachment 396819


View attachment 396820


It's all there. I'd either swap on my current lower lip/air dam or trim that one way down. The rear bumper cover needs work. I'm sure I could make the LED tails work. It's more of an all-or-nothing thing cuz the hood (aluminum) goes with the front bumper/grille. As much as I'd like the aluminum rear liftgate, the fixed glass is a deal-breaker. I'm more into removing or relocating frontal weight, anyway.

The rear bumper has a cut in it like they backed into a receiver hitch as well as some other scrapes. I'm really considering wrapping mine so the paint stuff and the damage really isn't a factor. I can easily fix the rear bumper cover and have it wrap-ready.

The seller said a guy wants it for the engine. I told him I'd write up a parts list and get prices. If the other guy buys it, he might make me a better deal on the body pieces. Or not. lol

I'm not head over heels in love with the front, but I like it just the same and sometimes maybe a little more than my stock one. I would do it more for the rarity and because I like the more pronounced edges. It's like it's halfway between a GMT900 and K2. The aero would just be a cool factor since it'll never improve MPG enough to be a return on investment. Are the battery packs in these things worth anything? I don't know if it's still there. The cats are gone, of course.

I wish I could find a hybrid this ******/cheap. Would be my next racetruck, keep it registered as a hybrid so I can get that sweet HOV lane sticker and toll bypasses

 

[Marky Dissod]

I only wish GMT800s had aluminum hoods and low-drag front fascias.
Looks only get you so far, though. For more drag reduction, smooth out the belly:

Can't see a downside to smoothing out the underbody airflow.

 

[petethepug]

If it has a battery still, it may simply need reconditioning. Call greenbean battery and see if it has a core value and if there’s a way to have one of their reps do a drive by to discreetly check it out.

On the other hand if the owner finds out he can get unexpected dough from selling off the battery, he may just give you the shell. That’s what another buyer might be doing right now.

If it’s a running non AFM 6.0 it’s swap worthy for any Gen 4 V8.

 

[j91z28d1]

If it has a battery still, it may simply need reconditioning. Call greenbean battery and see if it has a core value and if there’s a way to have one of their reps do a drive by to discreetly check it out.

On the other hand if the owner finds out he can get unexpected dough from selling off the battery, he may just give you the shell. That’s what another buyer might be doing right now.

If it’s a running non AFM 6.0 it’s swap worthy for any Gen 4 V8.

I believe they all have afm and vvt cam timing too.

alum engine alone would probably save more weight than the hood.


on a side note, the hybrid yokon's had normal steel hoods and rear hatch. rear glass opens and all.

the caddy too I believe, the early caddy ones even had a higher gear ratio. it's like more expensive the truck, the less they cared about fuel mileage haha just the badge. even thou mileage rating was all the same I believe.

the battery is probably shot, but there is electronics in the pack that might be worth a core somewhere. I'm on the side of anything over about 90k miles these batteries are tossed from bad cooling design and being over worked on a truck. it's just a prius battery with a few more cells to raise the voltage.

 

[89Suburban]

That is evil looking. Like a Christine but in Tahoe form.

 

[iamdub]

You going to make a run on the Bonneville Salt Flats?

Salt Flats, Hwy 190 in West Baton Rouge... Tomato tomahto.

If the hybrid battery was good there will be buyers for it but a dead pack or transmission probably led to this ones demise. The aero features are cool, they cut the C/D down into the .34s if memory serves.

@BG1988

I didn't bother to ask but I will ask about the whole thing. Yeah, I read that the C/D is brought from .37 to .34. Like I said, it'd be more for the novelty of having the rare stuff. I guess my thread title is misleading. I'll edit it. Due to the drop, I'd have to chop that front chin spoiler a lot or swap my stock one on if it'll fit.

 

[iamdub]

That is evil looking. Like a Christine but in Tahoe form.


View attachment 396867

I think the mold is protecting the paint. Would make a comfy and functional duck blind with a little more "camo".

 

[iamdub]

you will need the hood as well the hood is different then the normal tahoe... the tail gate is aluminium as well the D plies and steps and flaps the...... the brake lights are LED you may need to do some modding or adding resistors for it to work correctly (or commercial mode) it's not connected to the lower lamp like the normal, the turn Signal is separate circuit for the lower light only from the brake light and running lights

t

Yeah, that's everything on my list. It's probably gonna be an all-or-nothing thing.

 

[iamdub]

I only wish GMT800s had aluminum hoods and low-drag front fascias.
Looks only get you so far, though. For more drag reduction, smooth out the belly:
View attachment 396830
View attachment 396831
View attachment 396832
Can't see a downside to smoothing out the underbody airflow.

Cool! I've considered belly pans! I'll never do it cuz I do more local drives than highway cruising/top speed jaunts. And I plan on going a little lower. What is that made of and did you notice any improvements?

 

[iamdub]

If it has a battery still, it may simply need reconditioning. Call greenbean battery and see if it has a core value and if there’s a way to have one of their reps do a drive by to discreetly check it out.

On the other hand if the owner finds out he can get unexpected dough from selling off the battery, he may just give you the shell. That’s what another buyer might be doing right now.

If it’s a running non AFM 6.0 it’s swap worthy for any Gen 4 V8.

The seller said he already had a guy that wanted to buy it for the engine. I'd be fine with that if all I got outta the deal was the body parts. It'll come down to price and timing.

 

[iamdub]

I believe they all have afm and vvt cam timing too.

Yup. I'd cam it to lose AFM but try to keep VVT.

alum engine alone would probably save more weight than the hood.

Likely. And I have an LC9 on the stand just in case I ever catch a wild hair or break the LMG.

on a side note, the hybrid yokon's had normal steel hoods and rear hatch. rear glass opens and all.

Interesting. Not as gangsta as the Tahoe. Kinda hard to be gangsta with that cute, bubble-eyed Yukon face, anyway.

the battery is probably shot, but there is electronics in the pack that might be worth a core somewhere. I'm on the side of anything over about 90k miles these batteries are tossed from bad cooling design and being over worked on a truck. it's just a prius battery with a few more cells to raise the voltage.

I really don't wanna drag home this carcass to part out. No time to deal with all that. I really don't need the engine, either. I guess if the battery pack and electronics, etc. are present and worth a few bucks, even as scrap, it might be worth it. I know there were a couple members looking for the aluminum body parts.

 

[iamdub]

So, y'all wouldn't disown me if I gave my Tahoe the Hybrid aero treatment?

 

[j91z28d1]

haha I do like the Tahoe front end better and wasn't looking for a yukon, but it popped up at a deal and since it's the wife's daily and she loves the heated and cooled seats I factored in the price of aftermarket mishimoto headlights before I even picked it up. lol. it's grown on me since then.

bit to much chrome on it for my taste but eh..

I'm horrible with engine codes. what do you have ready to build? the hybrid 6.0 would be nice, since it's Cathedral port and higher compression pistons than the normal ones but still run 87. I guess the 6.2 requires 93. which is over a 1$ more pre gal around here. kinda scammy.

 

[Tonyrodz]

The spare should have an aluminum rim, not steel like all the regular gassers.

 

[Marky Dissod]

What is that made of and did you notice any improvements?

Corrugated plastic aka coroplast.
I myself did not notice any improvements ... yet ...
The major appeal is that only my mech will know that I'm an aero-focused EcoModder.

So, y'all wouldn't disown me if I gave my Tahoe the Hybrid aero treatment?

If it more resembles a Tahoe Hybrid, than a Toy-Odor Pious, then we'd have no good reason to disown you!

It'd be INCREDIBLY difficult aero-modding a GMT900 to exceed 27MpG highway without making a Toy-Odor Pious look sane by comparison, which won't guarantee that the EcoModder forum will accept you.

 

[iamdub]

I'm horrible with engine codes. what do you have ready to build? the hybrid 6.0 would be nice, since it's Cathedral port and higher compression pistons than the normal ones but still run 87. I guess the 6.2 requires 93. which is over a 1$ more pre gal around here. kinda scammy.

I have a 140K-mile LC9 from an '08 (or '09?) 4WD Sierra on the stand. That's an aluminum block 5.3 with AFM. It's basically identical to my LMG but with an aluminum block instead of iron. I bought it to have on standby when my LMG lost a cylinder last year and I hadn't had a chance to diagnose. Turns out it was "just" a broken valve spring and bent valve that I was able to quickly repair without pulling the engine.

The 6.0 would be cool to have and build. But I'm not looking to do anything like that at the moment. I'm already near 400 with my cammed LMG so I'd have to work over the 6.0 to make it worth it. It's just not anything I'm in the market for right now so I wouldn't be sour if that other guy got the engine.

The 6.2 really does need 93 and I don't care what everyone else with Escalades and Denalis say about their 6.2s on 87. I'd strictly use 93 if I had a 6.2. My LMG is tuned on the ragged edge for 91-93 and I'm fine with running it. It's just a weekend vehicle so fuel costs aren't such a factor.

 

[iamdub]

The spare should have an aluminum rim, not steel like all the regular gassers.

Yup. And, due to the drop spindles, it's yet another item I wouldn't be able to use unless it's 18". It's probably the same as the one my Tahoe Twin has. His is an XFE.