Project: Blackout

[mfdrookie516]

I've always been obsessed with black vehicles... particularly blacked out black vehicles. Once I was forced to purchase the Tahoe (needed 3 rows to accommodate our 3 year old and twins that are on the way), I knew this was the perfect vehicle to black out. Other than tuning via diablosport, my 20" American Racing Mainline wheels/Toyo Open Country AT II tires, and Rough Country Level, this thing is stock.

I'm starting this thread after the level kit, but I've got before and after pics of everything.

Just the way I bought it, except for the wheels/tires-

After installing the leveling kit-

Blacked out the front bowtie-

Debadged, blacked out grill and bowtie-

Next up will be the wheels, then eventually I'm going to do a set of headlights and tails... only for the look, not lighting performance (I rarely drive at night). I may go a little darker on the tint, and I definitely need a tint strip across the top of the windshield.

As far as the interior is concerned, I'm currently checking local junk/salvage yards for a wrecked tahoe/suburban with 2nd row captains chairs to replace the 60/40 bench I currently have. With two infants and a toddler, there's not much option for entering the back seat without removing a car seat currently. I also plan to upgrade the factory bose am/fm/xm/cd to an OEM nav system. Along with that, I'm looking at aftermarket RES to give the kiddos a little bit of a distraction for long road trips.

 

[Ben]

Looks good! You need to wash it!

 

[mfdrookie516]

Sigh... yes, I know. I just washed it the other day.

Good news, I just remembered Kentucky has a black license plate..."Friends of Coal"

 

[G4rr3tt9]

Looking good! Cant wait to see the progress!

 

[Brock]

Hey, me too rookie! Looks good! Wheels?

 

[mfdrookie516]

Here's the latest progress... finally dipped the wheels. They kind of look like some of the rockstars I've seen. I may do some racing stripes or some sort of stripe anyways... we'll see what happens with that. Next up on the list is head/tail lights. Not sure when that's going to be with the twins on the way.

 

[mfdrookie516]

A couple of new pics from today... nothing new yet. Just for fun I did a quick on-ramp vid while getting on the interstate today. Had the fam with me, so didn't get too wild with it.

[yt]Lsng00d-QaM[/yt]

 

[mfdrookie516]

Some more cheap mods... Tinted tails/3rd and plastidip over the reflectors on the headlights...

 

[Vigh_J]

looks good man.

im partial to all black myself.

 

[btuckz71]

I've got a set of fully tinted headlights ill sell ya if interested pm me or text 8046904042 for quick pics ill let em go cheap , few tabs missin but fit perfect

 

[Goodinblack]

Picture in grass is very nice :thumbup:

 

[Ultim8SVT]

LOVE IT!!! Damn these trucks looks good blacked out!

 

[mfdrookie516]

Thanks guys.

Had some issues with the Toyo's not balancing properly... ride was full of vibration and steering wheel shuddering. Have been working with the group I bought them from, so we finally ended up trading them out for a different set of tires. Went with Cooper Zeon LTZ's and went up a size to 275/60. With the 2" level, they're good to go as long as I'm going straight. When I turn, I've got some rubbing issues... so I'll be sorting them out over the next few days along with touching up the plastidip where they got scratched while they were dismounting/mounting the tires. Loving the look (and the ride quality!). They're a lot quieter than the Toyo's, look just as aggressive (if not more so?), but most importantly they balanced properly and ride so much better.

 

[Ben]

Running those on my truck but with ALOT let sidewall

 

[mfdrookie516]

I think I've found the grill I want to put on. Would have to paint it before I put it on, but I think it's the look I want. Would help if I could find a pic of a black one. Surely someone has done it. It's from Paramount Restyling, and has vertical bars instead of mesh, but it's the same shape and all.

Here is a pic of it by itself-

 

[mfdrookie516]

Took it deer hunting this weekend. Definitely see a difference in this and my old Sierra... That locker in the Sierra really made a hide difference in traction. Guess I'll be looking to improve function before I improve looks going forward

 

[osidesurfer365]

Truck looks great. What size rims are you on? I'm surprised you are getting rubbing issues.

 

[mfdrookie516]

They're 20x9, 25 offset. Just slightly further out than stock. Heck, I was rubbing slightly with the factory size 275/55's without the level. Still haven't fixed the rubbing issue, not really concerned about it now. I just watch and make sure I don't go to full lock in reverse.

 

[osidesurfer365]

I have the same setup and I have yet to rub, and I run it hard. I wonder why that is happening

 

[Goodinblack]

Uhhh No.

What you have now > this