My Build Thread

[Wagnasty]

I picked up a 2003 Denali XL the other day for a daily. It's got a few minor things that I need to fix like the gauge cluster, heated seats, and a few other minor things.
it has 216k miles on it and it runs and drives great. Any way on to the pictures.

---------- Post added at 01:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:15 PM ----------

The previous owner put in those tail lights and put plasti-dip on the wheels. Claimed they were in near perfect condition so i decided to remove it. I got some black vinyl so i could cover up the red gmc emblems also.

But as I figured the wheels aren't in the best of shape. Especially the RF. Looks as if someone sprayed a chemical on the wheel that stripped off the chrome plating. It sucks but I plan to change out these wheels for a new set in the spring. It's hard to tell in this picture but here is the damage.

 

[Cshayes2]

looks good! i like the black GMC thats a cool touch. but shoulda kept the rims black i liked em. but its also not mine

 

[Wagnasty]

looks good! i like the black GMC thats a cool touch. but shoulda kept the rims black i liked em. but its also not mine

Thanks man. I liked the look of the black wheels also but my curiosity got the best of me. After seeing how bad they really are I'm going to try and sand them down the best I can and spray them gloss black.


On a side note I went to the local muffler shop to have the cats removed and the stock muffler swapped out for a MagnaFlow. I still plan to put long tunes on hopefully before spring. They didn't have any exhaust tips in stock that I liked so I ordered a set and will go back next week to have it installed.

nothing fancy here just a typical muffler shop quality. Hooked up to factory tailpipe.

While it was up in the air I discovered that both of the rear air bags were blown. No big deal as I plan to drop it some.

 

[Wagnasty]

Nothing exciting but I do have a few updates. I sold the led tail lights that were in the truck when I got it and put the stock ones in until I decide on a set I want. Thinking about doing the all red with clear on the bottom.
I bought a 3/6 drop from NorCalSS and I'mpretty excited about that. Hopefully it will get here pretty soon. I also ordered a set of 24x10 U2-55s-B wheels that should be here next week. Today I got all 3 sets of HID's in the mail for hi/low/fogs. Also today I got lucky and scored an Escalade rear glass. Just got it put on and am about to wire it up.

 

[OHSIXX]

Sounds like big plans....looking forward to the progress...nice score on the Esky back glass!!

 

[NathanJax]

sweet!

 

[Wagnasty]

Sounds like big plans....looking forward to the progress...nice score on the Esky back glass!!

Nothing to major. Still have a few more things I'd like to do in the spring like a big brake kit, headers, intake, tune and I'm going to upgrade the sound system a little bit. Trying not to get carried away because this is my dailey, and I've already got 2 other cars that aren't very streetable. Yeah the back glass I couldn't pass on. Local junk yard had one in great shape that was black and I got it for a bill. So couldn't pass it up

sweet!

Yeah man!

 

[Wagnasty]

Got a delivery today!

 

[Wagnasty]

I got burned out messing with my other car projects and thought I should mess with my Denali a little bit. So a few months ago my Denali developed a upper end knock and I wasn't really sure what it was. To me it doesn't sound like a lifter tick but more like a wrist pin. Anyway I just wanted to rebuild the engine and sense this is my daily and I can't keep it down I picked up another 6.0 so I can build it. These things are worth their weight in gold right now around where i live. Sorry for all the phone quality pictures.

got it cleaned off so I could get it on the engine stand.

I got a chance to clean and polish the black paint after the snow moved out. Cleaned up halfway decent but it still needs to be painted pretty bad

My wheels look really bad and I was tired of the chrome flaking off every time I cleaned them so I ended up plasti dipping them back black. I also took my grill out and color matched it.

My cluster was pretty well spent. The only gauges that worked was the fuel level, speedometer, and tachometer.

I ended up buying one of the 140mph Escalade Platinum clusters. I literally got it a few hours ago and it's supposed to have the led conversion but it was so bright outside I couldn't tell. I will see how it looks tonight. I'm still up in the air on it, I would have rather had white numbers and pointers with bright white led but they couldn't do that. I feel it looks to cheap/flashy.

And I finally broke down and bought a new Pioneer AVH-X5700BHS head unit. I am more than pleased with it so far but I just put it in today too.

 

[Jonah52]

Man looks nice! Makes me miss my 05! When's the wheels go on?

 

[Wagnasty]

Thanks man! I am waiting on my upper control arms and lift bags to come in. Going to change all my steering and suspension components first. I'd like to get it done in the next week or 2 though.

 

[Jonah52]

Makes sense. Gotta keep her nice and tight. How many miles you got on her?

What are your other heavily modified rides!!!!

Plans for that 6.0?

 

[Wagnasty]

My Denali has 227,000 miles on it right now. I plan to build a 408 to put in it, have the heads cnc ported, a decent cam and a stall converter. Don't want to get carried away because this is my daily and I do occasionally tow with it.

I have 2 project cars I'm about finished with. A 1994 Accord Wagon and a 1993 Honda Civic. I'm not an import guy by any means, just thought I'd build a car or 2 to get it out of my system.

My Civic

My wagon. It's complete torn down to get painted. Sending it next week if the painter is ready.

Both of those cars were in horrible shape when I got them.

 

[Wagnasty]

Been a while since I updated. Well I had had problems with my factory stereo and in a previous post installed that Pioneer double din. That didn't fix my problems, the D pillars had these tweeters smashed into the cones and wedged in behind the plastic panel. The wires were halfway twisted on the terminals and touching. Even after I removed the tweeters I still get nothing out of either side, I'm thinking that the factory amp is on its way out.

I was having some "chatter" when the torque converter was trying to lock. Went to drain the fluid and the hole pan was full of aluminum shavings.

Took forever to find a transmission. No one around me wanted to rebuild mine so i found a wrecked Escalade ESV and was able to get the transmission out of it. Before i put it in i installed a corvette servo.

 

[Wagnasty]

I did pick up a set of led tail lights and a set led reverse lights.

I did get my 3/6 drop installed along with all new steering components. I still have to fix the torsion key and get an alignment and a few small things before I can drive it again. It's been down since July.

 

[Fosscore]

Man that is looking great. Drop sets it off nicely. What are you measuring ground to fender lip after the drop?

 

[Wagnasty]

Thanks man, i am really pleased with the stance. I'm'm not sure what it's measuring yet. It started raining on me while I was taking these pictures, but I plan to measure it as soon as I get done with the alignment.

 

[Wagnasty]

Been a while since I posted. Had a ton of stuff going on over the past months and a bunch of problems with my Denali.

Fosscore to answer your question about fender height. The rear is 31.5" and i had the front down to 29" but raised it up back to 31" if I'm not mistaken.

Here is some pictures I took right before winter

How it looks now in winter mode.

I will have some more updates here in the up coming weeks.

 

[Fosscore]

Super long and tough looking.

That is pretty damn low man and looks good.


@OHSIXX needs to be seeing this low other black beauty Denali.

Hint hint spring time is near...

 

[AppocAlexx]

you should completely murder it out when in the winter, just for shts and giggles.