2001 Tahoe LS 4x4 build

[Evildmanarc]

So just a little bit about my tahoe: it started out life in Texas where it was assembled. It must have lived life around there for quite some time due to the lack of rust before whoever had it decided to trade it in or what have you, because she ended up in Michigan for a while then came into my possession back in 2016. I absolutely love my tahoe. As of this post she's got 177k miles and counting. Had a couple radiator issues and transmission troubles but what vehicle runs on original equipment all of its life without needing some love? Speaking of love, whoever had the truck before me took absolute perfect care of her and I'm thankful. I kept it stock for a few years because the original idea was for it to be a family vehicle, but then after my break up it became the only vehicle I had. So I started customizing it to my taste. I've recently been doing more modifications to it. Most of the upgrades have been visual but I did purchase an aluminum radiator the other day it should be in any day. Anyways enough of the ramble, this is my build thread and I will be updating it as I complete upgrades/modifications. I figure after I get it set visually the way I want I will start doing some performance work. Keep it a daily driver for a while so it stays reliable for the duration of the visual mods. I will try to give some chronological images that I have already taken and will add new ones as needed. Its not as much as some of you have done, but I'm also just getting started!! Much love to the GM FULL SIZE SUV OWNERS!!!

Pretty basic and stock all around. No mods.

Got a steal on some 16 inch Helo rims after I blew a tire, $300 (retail 1200) and this started my journey.

Scheduled 7/12/21 for service they're gunna mount and balance these GORGEOUS KO2's I got. 800 well spent. Now I can be rid of those mismatched pos haha! They don't rub either so win win!!!!

$80 for this brush guard that was ACTUALLY off of a 1997 silverado, I liked the way it looked so I welded it to the frame rails and also bolted it with that plate sticking out of the front. Functional fog lights. I cleaned the original metal and gave it a flat black paint job all around. It looked bad before, and you can see the pitted metal in some spots in this picture. But it looks good for 80 dollars.

Will add more photos as I have done some more things to it than just wheels.

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

Go to the home page and scroll almost all the way to the bottom and you will see a section for "Under Construction" and that is where you need to start your build thread. This is ok for greetings but that area I speak of is where the rigs post for what you intend to do./ Post pics as you go along please.

 

[Evildmanarc]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

Go to the home page and scroll almost all the way to the bottom and you will see a section for "under Construction" and that is where you need to start your build thread. This is ok for greetings but that area I speak of is where the rigs post for what you intend to do./ Post pics as you go along please.

Okay thank you I'm sorry. Is there a way I can transfer this thread there?

 

[Tonyrodz]

Welcome from NJ.

 

[OR VietVet]

Okay thank you I'm sorry. Is there a way I can transfer this thread there?

No need to be sorry. No harm no foul. Just go to that section and start the "build" thread. You haven't started a build thread yet anyway. You can start yours fresh.

Plus, there are a lot of rigs there you can get ideas off of when you look thru those threads. Lots of fun actually.

 

[Miami-Dade]

Welcome from Miami Beach&NYC!

 

[Evildmanarc]

Thank you guys for your warm welcomes ! It won't let me put more than 5 attachments on and that's aggravating as I have a few more images to add to the thread. Is there a way around that or do I need to add more replies with attachments?

 

[OR VietVet]

Yea, forgot to tell you. We all have to do only 5 attachments at a time. All you have to do is just go to top right and click on the yellow "Post a Thread" and start another and just explain the additional attachments are just in edition to what was started.

 

[Evildmanarc]

Yea, forgot to tell you. We all have to do only 5 attachments at a time. All you have to do is just go to top right and click on the yellow "Post a Thread" and start another and just explain the additional attachments are just in edition to what was started.

Am I able to just post a reply to my thread and then bump it or make it sticky?

 

[OR VietVet]

All you do is just post another thread and put the pics there. Yes, you can reply to your own thread and put pics there too. Lok at mine. I just posted 9-10 pics tonight and they are one right after the other. It really is that simple.

 

[Evildmanarc]

Okay so I need some suggestions. I have these nerf style steps and I bought them off of a guy. Now HE told me that they came off a silverado. Come to find out after some digging using the Part# they were factory nerf bars for the 2015-2019 chevy colorado. Now, they ACTUALLY line up perfect, however the mounting brackets are totally incorrect. My initial thoughts are as the edited picture shows, lop off the upper half of the bracket and only keep what's circled in white, and find some similar sized stock to weld to that, then weld it to the frame AND/Or bolt it to the frame, witheither option involving putting support brackets in the halfway point on the body so you don't just stand on the bar and tear it off. Let me know what you guys think the best course of action is and if I'm on the right track. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Evildmanarc]

Okay so I need some suggestions. I have these nerf style steps and I bought them off of a guy. Now HE told me that they came off a silverado. Come to find out after some digging using the Part# they were factory nerf bars for the 2015-2019 chevy colorado. Now, they ACTUALLY line up perfect, however the mounting brackets are totally incorrect. My initial thoughts are as the edited picture shows, lop off the upper half of the bracket and only keep what's circled in white, and find some similar sized stock to weld to that, then weld it to the frame AND/Or bolt it to the frame, witheither option involving putting support brackets in the halfway point on the body so you don't just stand on the bar and tear it off. Let me know what you guys think the best course of action is and if I'm on the right track. Any help is greatly appreciated!
View attachment 344119View attachment 344120

^^^^ there's my poorly drawn idea. The far right piece is the original bracket for the bars, cut down for practicality. Let me know what you think

 

[homesick]

Man, you bring back good memories. I had a white '01 LT from '06 to '18. I sold it to buy my current '95 2-door.

The only failure I had was the fuel pump once. My bud bought it and has had zero trouble with it.

I hope you get that kind of service from yours.

joe

 

[Evildmanarc]

Man, you bring back good memories. I had a white '01 LT from '06 to '18. I sold it to buy my current '95 2-door.

The only failure I had was the fuel pump once. My bud bought it and has had zero trouble with it.

I hope you get that kind of service from yours.

joe

So far I've only had 2 cracked radiators (hence why i'm buying an aluminum one), alternator(replaced at 165k), starter(replaced at 170k), and transmission issues(Ongoing until the 12th). Otherwise, it starts up and drives great! And it ALWAYS starts. Barely 1 second from turnkey to start. No lights on the dash no problems really at all!

 

[Evildmanarc]

**UPDATE** JUST put the ko2s on there and oh my word they set this truck off guts I couldn't be happier!!!

^^ there's about an inch or so of wiggle room so the height is perfect. I could have honestly gone wider because there's about 4-6 inches of space at full steer. But I'm extremely happy with them regardless!!

 

[OR VietVet]

When you have about an inch of clearance like that you MAY experience slight rubbing when turning and the vehicle is "jounced". Over a curb pulling in to some where for example. If does have a very slight rub, as the tread wears it may be just fine, if it even rubs at all. Does look nice though.

Gotta ask though, I am assuming you like that bar on the front?

 

[Evildmanarc]

When you have about an inch of clearance like that you MAY experience slight rubbing when turning and the vehicle is "jounced". Over a curb pulling in to some where for example. If does have a very slight rub, as the tread wears it may be just fine, if it even rubs at all. Does look nice though.

Gotta ask though, I am assuming you like that bar on the front?

I do, I wish it fit better it came off of a 97 square ish body silverado. And also yeah it might rub, but so far so good anyways no rubbing yet.

 

[Snowbound]

First off, welcome. But man, I gotta tell ya, you ******* up starting a build thread here. We love to help others spend their hard earned money on their projects. But as you’ll find out, everyone here is more than willing and plenty capable of giving good advise and steering you in the right direction. This is a great place to ask for advise because no matter what you have going on, most have seen it, done it or are doing it.
Nice looking Hoe. Looks clean. As mentioned above, you may have some slight rubbing with them tires but you’ll quickly learn when and where to take it easy on it or what you need to trim to stop the rub.
As far as those nerf bars are concerned, I personally wouldn’t weld them to the frame. Your best bet is to make a bracket to get them to mount to the body mounts. Something that goes to the bottom side of the mount and is attached using the body mount bolt. I’m not a fan of the nerf bars that attach to the inner rocker. I know the brackets will not line up with your body mounts but you can easily attach the brackets to the nerf bar itself using nut-serts. They are like threaded rivets, Google it. You can easily install them without the tool if you get aluminum ones by just using a bolt and fender washer. They won’t be as solid as rock sliders but just got stepping on to get in and cosmetics they will be fine. Them brackets look like they cradle the nerf bar fairly well so that would be my advise if your dead set on not buying a new set for your vehicle. You may even be able to score the correct brackets fir your application at a bone yard. Might have to Frankenstein the two together but it would cut down on your fab time making a set from scratch. Also grab the body bolts too because they will be a little longer. Just a thought. But weigh your options. See what a brand new set for your vehicle would cost then figure how much time and materials are gonna cost you and you might be surprised at how much of a headache per dollar it’s gonna be.
Good luck and I’ll be popping in to check on your progress.
Jim from Chicagoland.

 

[Evildmanarc]

First off, welcome. But man, I gotta tell ya, you ******* up starting a build thread here. We love to help others spend their hard earned money on their projects. But as you’ll find out, everyone here is more than willing and plenty capable of giving good advise and steering you in the right direction. This is a great place to ask for advise because no matter what you have going on, most have seen it, done it or are doing it.
Nice looking Hoe. Looks clean. As mentioned above, you may have some slight rubbing with them tires but you’ll quickly learn when and where to take it easy on it or what you need to trim to stop the rub.
As far as those nerf bars are concerned, I personally wouldn’t weld them to the frame. Your best bet is to make a bracket to get them to mount to the body mounts. Something that goes to the bottom side of the mount and is attached using the body mount bolt. I’m not a fan of the nerf bars that attach to the inner rocker. I know the brackets will not line up with your body mounts but you can easily attach the brackets to the nerf bar itself using nut-serts. They are like threaded rivets, Google it. You can easily install them without the tool if you get aluminum ones by just using a bolt and fender washer. They won’t be as solid as rock sliders but just got stepping on to get in and cosmetics they will be fine. Them brackets look like they cradle the nerf bar fairly well so that would be my advise if your dead set on not buying a new set for your vehicle. You may even be able to score the correct brackets fir your application at a bone yard. Might have to Frankenstein the two together but it would cut down on your fab time making a set from scratch. Also grab the body bolts too because they will be a little longer. Just a thought. But weigh your options. See what a brand new set for your vehicle would cost then figure how much time and materials are gonna cost you and you might be surprised at how much of a headache per dollar it’s gonna be.
Good luck and I’ll be popping in to check on your progress.
Jim from Chicagoland.

What was in asterisks? Just curious lol I know from what I've read this forum filter is **** haha. ANYWAYS thanks for the welcome and I will probably take your advice and see if there is a nerf style bracket mount that would fit those bars and would also mount to my factory holes. So far I've found alot of support and love here and the advice and tips I've gotten so far are great! I appreciate the detailed response too, I've neglected to give interior pics so sometime in the future I will post some she's really clean man no rust and alot of pampering from me for sure.

 

[Evildmanarc]

**UPDATE**
I did some thinking over the last few weeks on how to put my steps on and I came up with a solution; Frame mounting. I was able to fabricate my brackets and flip them around to face the frame and that took all the struggle out of making them work on the body. And they are stronger too. My welds held up nicely and I've stood all 280 pounds of me on them and only a little hair of flex. Needless to say, my girlfriend can get in the truck with no issues now. Ignore the poor welding as I am not a professional welder, I just get the job done lol. It really ties the whole exterior appearance together and I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. Last bit of visual upgrading im going to do is a fiberglass ram air hood I found online for 450 bucks (functional as well). Let me know what you think!