My '03 'Hoe.

[Arctic-Rodz]

Welcome to FULL SIZE VEHICLES!!! I'd also like to know how much you paid for it..

As for better fuel efficiency. Im gonna say get the basics.

Cold air intake (K&N for example)
Exhaust system
Tune

increase about 2mpg for sure.

 

[Tom Joad]

Nice ride, now let the mods begin!

That's what I was thinking of.

So how much did you pay for the vehicle since the car was imported (if you dont mind me asking )?

Welcome to FULL SIZE VEHICLES!!! I'd also like to know how much you paid for it..

16.000€. I'm the 3rd or 4th owner. Only 146000km/90720mi on it when I buy it.

As for better fuel efficiency. Im gonna say get the basics.
Cold air intake (K&N for example)
Exhaust system
Tune
increase about 2mpg for sure.

I was thinking about the CAI. Are you sure it's increasing the milleage?

The other questions is about my front tires. I have a pair of General Grabber AW that are now dead. Knowing I'm only doing raod and no off-road, what tires should I buy?

 

[Rivieraracing]

Nice looking and clean truck sir, glad you got one and also that you are on this site!! Keep up the questioning and also the mods!!

---------- Post added at 06:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:03 AM ----------

As for better fuel efficiency. Im gonna say get the basics.

Cold air intake (K&N for example)
Exhaust system
Tune

increase about 2mpg for sure.

I'd do at least these 3 first!! I didn't get anything out of just the CAI except a louder intake sound (which I didn't like much), then I bought my Corsa setup and that changed the intake sounds (which I liked) but didn't get much of a power/mpg increase either!! The tune is where I got the power/mpg increase, plus the shifting is amazing because of the tune which is what made it worth it to me!! Those 3 things are a very good starting point for pretty much any vehicle if you are after a power/mpg increase, don't expect alot in the mpg aspect of it all though, each vehicle is a whole different beast for the other!!

If you have the money, get yourself a Corsa Sport exhaust system, they sound awesome on our trucks!!! A bit louder at idle than stock, at cruising speed on the road/freeway it's just as quiet as stock (nice because you can hold a conversation without having to yell at each other unlike alot of other mufflers), and boy oh boy when you step on it you know you have a Corsa!! lol

As for CAI, you can do a K&N or others but if I had it to do over again I would have gotten one of the oil less ones (can't remember a brand off hand), alot easier to deal with than the oil covered K&N's. Not saying the K&N's are a pain, just the other is that much easier!!

As for the tune, I highly recommend the custom tunes like Black Bear or such!! Not a huge fan of the pre programmed handhelds, they are very general with their programming and not specific enough to a vehicles needs to get the most out of it!! My denali could smoke my buddy's silverado anyday of the week, both were 6.0's but mine was a BB tune while he had a diablo!! No competition at all!! When it comes to the custom tunes, be sure to get the ones that actually pull data from your truck so the tuner can analyse how your truck runs and can build a program for your truck that will optimize what you have, and if you can somehow have an inperson tune, even better!! Very cool experience!!

 

[Tom Joad]

I do not miss the power. Sunday, I had to overtake a bus on a short straight line, i just pushed the pedal to the metal and it jumped up tp 6000RPM, the engine roaring. Woa! I was impressed! I really feel the power.
For now I don't need more power but I'd like to increase the mileage.
The iddling sound I love sounds more or less like this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzrBVDWoBJI
New exhaust pipes... Next to impossible to get!
The customs keep all pipes and mufflers that are not fully legal even if you tell them you'll use them on track only.

Custom tunes would be cool to incease milleage. Do you have any links?

 

[JochenWoern]

Black Bear Tune

Nice looking and clean truck sir, glad you got one and also that you are on this site!! Keep up the questioning and also the mods!!

---------- Post added at 06:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:03 AM ----------



I'd do at least these 3 first!! I didn't get anything out of just the CAI except a louder intake sound (which I didn't like much), then I bought my Corsa setup and that changed the intake sounds (which I liked) but didn't get much of a power/mpg increase either!! The tune is where I got the power/mpg increase, plus the shifting is amazing because of the tune which is what made it worth it to me!! Those 3 things are a very good starting point for pretty much any vehicle if you are after a power/mpg increase, don't expect alot in the mpg aspect of it all though, each vehicle is a whole different beast for the other!!

If you have the money, get yourself a Corsa Sport exhaust system, they sound awesome on our trucks!!! A bit louder at idle than stock, at cruising speed on the road/freeway it's just as quiet as stock (nice because you can hold a conversation without having to yell at each other unlike alot of other mufflers), and boy oh boy when you step on it you know you have a Corsa!! lol

As for CAI, you can do a K&N or others but if I had it to do over again I would have gotten one of the oil less ones (can't remember a brand off hand), alot easier to deal with than the oil covered K&N's. Not saying the K&N's are a pain, just the other is that much easier!!

As for the tune, I highly recommend the custom tunes like Black Bear or such!! Not a huge fan of the pre programmed handhelds, they are very general with their programming and not specific enough to a vehicles needs to get the most out of it!! My denali could smoke my buddy's silverado anyday of the week, both were 6.0's but mine was a BB tune while he had a diablo!! No competition at all!! When it comes to the custom tunes, be sure to get the ones that actually pull data from your truck so the tuner can analyse how your truck runs and can build a program for your truck that will optimize what you have, and if you can somehow have an inperson tune, even better!! Very cool experience!!

So how does one obtain a BLACK BEAR tune? I am in Sacramento, CA and you state it would be best to have an "in person tune"??

How much would something like this cost for my '06 5.3L Yukon?

What are the benefits? Only power (how much more?) and what about fuel economy?

Any details you could provide are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[Rivieraracing]

I'd contact Jennabear on here with Black Bear performance about your tuning questions, she will be able to hook you both up with what you wanna know!!

http://www.blackbearperformance.com/

Also JochenWoern, I'm pretty sure BB is in California, somewhere in southern cali if I remember right!!

---------- Post added at 05:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:24 PM ----------

I do not miss the power. Sunday, I had to overtake a bus on a short straight line, i just pushed the pedal to the metal and it jumped up tp 6000RPM, the engine roaring. Woa! I was impressed! I really feel the power.
For now I don't need more power but I'd like to increase the mileage.
The iddling sound I love sounds more or less like this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzrBVDWoBJI
New exhaust pipes... Next to impossible to get!
The customs keep all pipes and mufflers that are not fully legal even if you tell them you'll use them on track only.

Custom tunes would be cool to incease milleage. Do you have any links?

Here's a good example how my corsa sport exhaust sounds like on my truck at an idle (It's not my truck though, just sounds exactly like mine!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JdekGmLofo

As for the custom tune, I love my Black Bear tune mostly because of how much better my truck shifts now, it shifts like it should have from the factory!! That alone helps MPG!!

 

[JochenWoern]

I'd contact Jennabear on here with Black Bear performance about your tuning questions, she will be able to hook you both up with what you wanna know!!

http://www.blackbearperformance.com/

Also JochenWoern, I'm pretty sure BB is in California, somewhere in southern cali if I remember right!!

---------- Post added at 05:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:24 PM ----------



Here's a good example how my corsa sport exhaust sounds like on my truck at an idle (It's not my truck though, just sounds exactly like mine!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JdekGmLofo

As for the custom tune, I love my Black Bear tune mostly because of how much better my truck shifts now, it shifts like it should have from the factory!! That alone helps MPG!!

Thanks Chris.

 

[Tom Joad]

I need new front tires.

What about Bridgestone 265/70R16 112T DUELER 694 TL?
and Vredestein Quatrac 3?

 

[Tom Joad]

No idea?
I'll order the Vredestein.

Now, the useless.

I want to give a more US look to my Tahoe.
I 've found 2 tail lights that does just good :
Tail light 1

and
Tail light 2

My question is :
If I use a two-colored led bulb (white/amber) so I can use the white housing for the reverse light and turn signal, how do I plug the bulbs to the Tahoe's harness?
Is there a "Y" harness available somewhere?

Does anyone of you have thoses taillight can post pics of the tail light/brake light/turnsignal in use?

regards.

 

[JochenWoern]

No idea?
I'll order the Vredestein.

Now, the useless.

I want to give a more US look to my Tahoe.
I 've found 2 tail lights that does just good :
Tail light 1

and
Tail light 2

My question is :
If I use a two-colored led bulb (white/amber) so I can use the white housing for the reverse light and turn signal, how do I plug the bulbs to the Tahoe's harness?
Is there a "Y" harness available somewhere?

Does anyone of you have thoses taillight can post pics of the tail light/brake light/turnsignal in use?

regards.

Most of us use taillight 2. Look at my album and you shall see.

 

[Tom Joad]

Indeed, they look great. I can not see any difference on the picture with the four red lights on.
Do you actually see a difference when lit between the breaklight and the taillight?

 

[JochenWoern]

Indeed, they look great. I can not see any difference on the picture with the four red lights on.
Do you actually see a difference when lit between the breaklight and the taillight?

Sorry, not sure I understand your question correctly, but I will try to answer.

Yes, you see a difference between the tail light and brake light. The tail light has "normal" light output. When you step on the brake, the tail light does get more illuminated, therefore brighter.

On pic one, "Lights and Hazards", I was actually waiting until the hazards came on and snapped the picture, therefor all four lights are on. Top row are tail lights and brakes, bottom row are turnsignals and hazards.
Compare the "Lights and Hazards" pic with the "Brakes" pic and you can see that the LED's are way brighter when the brake is applied.

Hope this makes sense and was the answer you were looking for.

 

[Tom Joad]

Thank you. You understand well.
I won't use the lower row since I'm planning to relocate the hazard down to the clear plastic housing.
At least It'll look better than the factory assy!

I'm waiting for answers from a double LED colored bulb about the wiring.

 

[JochenWoern]

Thank you. You understand well.
I won't use the lower row since I'm planning to relocate the hazard down to the clear plastic housing.
At least It'll look better than the factory assy!

I'm waiting for answers from a double LED colored bulb about the wiring.

If you get the X3 light, it is "plug in play" and can only be connected one way, as I have it on my rig. There is no way to change the set up, unless of course you are planning on changing the wiring as you had stated.

I am glad I understood you properly and was able to help.

 

[Tom Joad]

I've checked my Tahoe taillight assembly few minutes ago.

What 'ive found is I have 3x 3157 bulbs which are 21w/7w but only 1 socket is 2 filaments ready : the tail/brake one.
All others sockets are 3156 wired.

The dual amber/white leds seems to work like a 3157 bulb :
1 ground wire
1 amber positive wire
1 white positive wire.

Best way to check if the are ok is to plug them into the tail/brake socket and turn on the light.
the bulb should lit up in one color.
they press the brake pedal and the bulb should change color.
Release the pedal and the bulb should go back to the first color.

I'll test them as soon As I get them.

My concerne are I don't want to modify the factory harness.
So I will create a "Y" harness that wil come from the 2 original sockets (turn and reverse) an joint into a female 3157 socket which will be fitted with the LED bulb.

I've found this on ee-bay :
3157 Socket
or this one will do it too.

Here I found T25 (3157) empaty bases I needed : autolumination.com

A pair of thoses wired to the 3157 socket and it'll be fine !

 

[Tom Joad]

HI everyone.
Today I put the freshly charged batterie in my truck.
I've took this pics of the terminals I actulaay have :

As you can see my Hoe is OEM wired for side mounted terminals batteries and someone add a little work so it can be plugged to SAE type batteries with terminals on the top of the batt.

My question are :
Should I remove all the steel stuff and connect the wire with this kind of isolated and fast removable clamp-style connectors?
http://www.conrad.fr/cosses_de_batt...=844110-62&ns_fee=0&LGWCODE=84411062;5860;390

Should I Find a side mounted terminals battery (******* this side of the ocean)?

Or should I look after an adaptator for flat-to-SAE-clamp teminals ?

And most of it I want it to be protected with a plastic cap...

 

[JochenWoern]

HI everyone.
Today I put the freshly charged batterie in my truck.
I've took this pics of the terminals I actulaay have :

As you can see my Hoe is OEM wired for side mounted terminals batteries and someone add a little work so it can be plugged to SAE type batteries with terminals on the top of the batt.

My question are :
Should I remove all the steel stuff and connect the wire with this kind of isolated and fast removable clamp-style connectors?
http://www.conrad.fr/cosses_de_batt...=844110-62&ns_fee=0&LGWCODE=84411062;5860;390

Should I Find a side mounted terminals battery (******* this side of the ocean)?

Or should I look after an adaptator for flat-to-SAE-clamp teminals ?

And most of it I want it to be protected with a plastic cap...

I do not see anything wrong with what you have in the picture. Why change the terminals? (As long as they have been installed/crimped properly!).

I can imagine it to be difficult to find a side mounted terminal battery in Europe, I therefore assume this is why someone did the set up you are having now.

The plastic protection is really only needed on the POSITIVE Battery Terminal. I would imagine you can find a cap that will fit the currently installed terminal.

That's just my opinion, maybe others have some advise as well.

 

[Rivieraracing]

Tom, I posted up pics of my battery on the daily thread, but I'd go into a store like I mentioned earlier today and ask them about it! If they don't know, call around, you are bound to find someone that can give you a definite answer for you!!
As for using top posts without having to cut off the stock side post fittings on your cable now, they do sell adapters that will look better than what you have now, if that's what you are worried about! But from the looks of your setup right now, I can't see anything negative about it as long as everything is tight and clean!

 

[Tom Joad]

Hi,
Here under is a pics taken from the repair manual.

Do I have to change the part nammed Upper Insulator?


Thanks to RivieraRacing I've got my answer. And more, I've got a link on ebay to buy the whole package for less than their website !
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-COMPLET...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item45f8e23d0b

 

[Tom Joad]

MY Tahoe at the Chamrousse Ski Resort on Sunday the 15th of January:

On the way back I've driven up to 151.000km (94.000mi)

Tahoe in the country side by Monday:

Closer :

My Tahoe at La Clusaz Ski Resort (17th of January):

I know there's many members awaiting for the snow.
All I can do is share the one I got: