Kbuskill's 2008 Burb LTZ "MOD" Thread

[kbuskill]

Hey Ken, whats up buddy… long time no post… hows Fla treating ya?

Good brother, hope all is well with you and yours.

 

[PG01]

Yes sir, just plugging away at life…. Same ol, same ol… keep on keepin on brother

 

[Doubeleive]

Anyone that has owned a GMT900 for any length of time has probably had to replace a door handle, or 12... especially if you have kids.

I remember several years ago seeing a company that made solid billet aluminum door handles for these rigs but they don't appear to be available anymore, at least it couldn't find them.

What I did find was these...

Amazon.com: A-Premium Upgraded Metal Exterior Door Handles Compatible with Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche & GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon & Cadillac Escalade, Chrome, 4-PC Set, Front & Rear Side : Automotive

Buy A-Premium Upgraded Metal Exterior Door Handles Compatible with Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche & GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon & Cadillac Escalade, Chrome, 4-PC Set, Front & Rear Side: Exterior Door Handles - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

a.co

They still have the plastic ends but the threaded inserts used to bolt them to the door appear to be deeper than stock and the actual handle is solid metal so the hinge portion along with the mechanism that actuates the rod is all metal.

I installed them yesterday and had to slightly adjust the arm that connects to the rod because it was keeping just a little too much pressure on the rod and the lock wouldn't open after being engaged. Kind of like when someone pulls the handle at the same time you are unlocking the door.

After adjusting the arm slightly the handle work great.

I will say that the spring is stronger and the handles them selves are substantially heavier than the OEM.

Of course at this point I have no long term use on them but they just feel heavy duty compared to the originals.

No pics because they look exactly the same as stock when installed.

They also sell them for the GMT800 as well apparently, just FYI for anyone who may be in need. I have never personally owned an 800 so I'm not sure if they suffer from the same issue.

actually would like to see some pics, particularly of the inside edge of the pull handle.

 

[kbuskill]

actually would like to see some pics, particularly of the inside edge of the pull handle.

I knew I should have taken some pics before installing them... lol

I will see what I can do with them on the truck.

I need to get some more vinyl cut to go back on the new handles. My old handles had pearl white vinyl on them to make them look like the 2015+ trucks.

 

[kbuskill]

actually would like to see some pics, particularly of the inside edge of the pull handle.

Here you go, best is could do with them attached.

Please excuse her, she needs a bath.

 

[Doubeleive]

I i

View attachment 459232
View attachment 459233
View attachment 459234
View attachment 459235

Here you go, best is could do with them attached.

Please excuse her, she needs a bath.

so there is a black rubber grip like part on the inside?, looks that way from the photos but can't tell where it ends.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I i

View attachment 459232
View attachment 459233
View attachment 459234
View attachment 459235

Here you go, best is could do with them attached.

Please excuse her, she needs a bath.

She's a dirty girl.

 

[kbuskill]

so there is a black rubber grip like part on the inside?, looks that way from the photos but can't tell where it ends.

No rubber at all, just chrome.

 

[kbuskill]

Got tired of looking at the old ripped up wheel...

I was wanting one of the wheels they used to make with wood at the top and bottom, but I can't find anyone making them any longer.

So this is my compromise...

NOS wheel with wood spokes.

Definitely better than before.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Got tired of looking at the old ripped up wheel...
View attachment 459452

View attachment 459453

I was wanting one of the wheels they used to make with wood at the top and bottom, but I can't find anyone making them any longer.

So this is my compromise...
View attachment 459454

NOS wheel with wood spokes.

Definitely better than before.

I found this place on fb.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[kbuskill]

I found this place on fb.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

View attachment 459461

Yep, I checked with them and decided I didn't want one that bad... lol

I believe they wanted like $1700 or something. I checked with several places, prices ranged from $900-$1700.

The only place I found to be "reasonable" was through CarID, a company called B&I Trim. They do dash kits and they claim to do these wheels with wood at the top and bottom with the spoke covers for around $500 after you return your old wheel for a $150 core charge.

I placed my order and it gave me an estimated delivery time. Sure enough I got an email with tracking number telling me my shipment would be arriving on schedule. I was super happy, until the package arrived and it was just the spoke covers and no steering wheel. I called and they checked with B&I and it was only then that I was told they didn't have any core wheels to build them out of and wanted to know if I wanted to wait 2-3 months for the possibility that they might get one in to build it from.

I called B&I directly and said "Hey, I will just send you a wheel so you can build it" and they said "No, that isn't how this works, we can't do that". This made zero sense to me so I just canceled the order.

CarID now shows the wheel as out of stock with no available time frame for when it will be available... so probably never given my interaction with them.

There used to be a company called "Autowoods" that made them but they appear to be out of business as well.

 

[kbuskill]

Also pulled the NGK Ruthenium plugs yesterday to look at them since they were approaching 100k miles and to do a "Top end soak" with Berrymans carb dip.

My oldest son inadvertently broke one of the plugs when removing it so I unfortunately had to replace all of them because I couldn't bring myself to replace just one plug... lol

The local Advanced Auto parts gets $17 a piece for these Ruthenium plugs, ouch!

To be completely honest, had he not broken one, I would have stuck these right back in without even cleaning them, they looked that good.

The dirty looking stuff between the threads and the hex is just a little bit of anti seize from when I installed them.

I personally think for an engine with 340k miles on it that the plugs look stellar for having nearly 100k miles on them.

I also bought and installed new plug wires because a kind of figured a few would be damaged when they got pulled. Sure enough a couple left their terminal attached to the plugs when removed.

I bought ceramic plug wires this go around because I was tired of looking at the old boot socks...

 

[kbuskill]

Almost forgot, I have had a slight coolant leak for a while and finally figured out where it was coming from.

It was leaking at the passenger head where the steam port cross over tube bolts down at the front. So I installed this instead...

Amazon.com: Gxencks Black Pro Suit LS Coolant/Steam Port For All GM LS series engines LS Throttle Body Bypass Hose kit : Automotive

Buy Gxencks Black Pro Suit LS Coolant/Steam Port For All GM LS series engines LS Throttle Body Bypass Hose kit: Bypass - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

a.co

I could have just installed a couple O-rings and bolted it back down but I figured this was cooler/less boring... lol

Forgot to get any pics.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Yep, I checked with them and decided I didn't want one that bad... lol

I believe they wanted like $1700 or something. I checked with several places, prices ranged from $900-$1700.

The only place I found to be "reasonable" was through CarID, a company called B&I Trim. They do dash kits and they claim to do these wheels with wood at the top and bottom with the spoke covers for around $500 after you return your old wheel for a $150 core charge.

I placed my order and it gave me an estimated delivery time. Sure enough I got an email with tracking number telling me my shipment would be arriving on schedule. I was super happy, until the package arrived and it was just the spoke covers and no steering wheel. I called and they checked with B&I and it was only then that I was told they didn't have any core wheels to build them out of and wanted to know if I wanted to wait 2-3 months for the possibility that they might get one in to build it from.

I called B&I directly and said "Hey, I will just send you a wheel so you can build it" and they said "No, that isn't how this works, we can't do that". This made zero sense to me so I just canceled the order.

CarID now shows the wheel as out of stock with no available time frame for when it will be available... so probably never given my interaction with them.

There used to be a company called "Autowoods" that made them but they appear to be out of business as well.

Those prices are insane. They sell leather skins that you stitch on your existing wheel--over your old leather. I've done one for a customer and I was pleasantly surprised on how good they looked and ease of installation. Cheap too. Very easy to install and it made the old wheel look great. He bought it from ebay.

 

[Scrappycrow]

Also pulled the NGK Ruthenium plugs yesterday to look at them since they were approaching 100k miles and to do a "Top end soak" with Berrymans carb dip.

My oldest son inadvertently broke one of the plugs when removing it so I unfortunately had to replace all of them because I couldn't bring myself to replace just one plug... lol

The local Advanced Auto parts gets $17 a piece for these Ruthenium plugs, ouch!

To be completely honest, had he not broken one, I would have stuck these right back in without even cleaning them, they looked that good.

That's quite impressive, but that price -- yikes! I installed some NGK Laser Iridium plugs and I hope they come close to how well these did on yours.

BTW, it's "Advance Auto Parts" -- no "d" on "Advance."

 

[kbuskill]

Those prices are insane. They sell leather skins that you stitch on your existing wheel--over your old leather. I've done one for a customer and I was pleasantly surprised on how good they looked and ease of installation. Cheap too. Very easy to install and it made the old wheel look great. He bought it from ebay.

Yeah, I saw those. I may get one and try my hand at it now that the old one is off the truck. My concern with never having done one was being rushed and it not turning out right and then I would have wasted more time/money.

I may get one and if it turns out good just keep the old wheel as a spare or sell it and recoup some money.

 

[kbuskill]

BTW, it's "Advance Auto Parts" -- no "d" on "Advance."

Thanks, that is Auto wrong, errr.... I mean correct for you.

 

[PG01]

Thanks, that is Auto wrong, errr.... I mean correct for you.

C’mon old man… get that shizzle right…

 

[swathdiver]

View attachment 459530

Looks like the gap opened up a bit over time. Did you check them by chance?

 

[guy from norcal]

Steering wheel looks good. Is it any thicker than stock?
Sucks you needed those plugs in a hurry, Rock auto has them for $8.70 ea