Rocket Man’s 2008 Tahoe Build Thread

[Rocket Man]

Parts ready to install. I bought Moog rear control arms. The OE ones on it have some bushing damage. The adjustable panhard bar is a Spohn knockoff. I went with the Nolathane sway bars due to the positive feedback here. They’re beefy enough.

 

[Rocket Man]

Got everything installed. The only issues I had was the holes in the new sway bar weren’t drilled big enough so I had to fight a big ass drill to ream them out, and the 2 bolts on the left sway bar bushing bracket broke off in the frame even though I soaked them first. That was fine. That needed to be moved to the right because Energy Suspension end links. So I drilled and tapped 10mm x 1.0 for some 10 mm head ARP header bolts. I always have them on hand.Those won’t break.

Oh and check those lower control arms. The only thing I can think of is the po jacked the rear of the truck up by them, it’s all that makes sense. If they did that while driving there would be other damage.

I’m trying to get used to the rust. It’s not bad, just unsightly. I fight the urge to attack it, maybe later.

 

[Rocket Man]

Well everything was installed except the front sway bar. I got that done this morning with the same issue with the bolts on the bushing clamps; 2 of them I was able to get out with a lot of soaking but 2 broke off. I drilled and tapped the frame for 2 ARP bolts and I was able to mount it back in the exact same place. I ordered a pair of Energy Suspension end links in the shortest size they sell, 2 1/2” c-c measured from center of the sway bar to center of where it mounts to the control arm. I actually calculated it needs to be 2” but I’ll see if these are right. It will be way better than these that I have on there, I can feel every bump in the road.

 

[Rocket Man]

I decided I’m done trying to work on my trucks on my POS driveway. It’s been a mess ever since I bought this house. I’ve just been reluctant to spend the money on a new one but doing this work on the Tahoe and the work I did on The Beast has made up my mind. Rolling a floor jack around on this crumbling concrete with the aggregate so exposed that the rocks are coming out every time I try to sweep it or blow it off is ridiculous. So Monday they will be here to demo this thing and pour a new slab that’s much wider at 24’. That will give me enough room to park and work on my trucks. I’ll get a 24’ wide metal carport to install there. I’m still trying to decide if I want exposed aggregate which matches my curb cut /sloped slab (it’s in great shape, not going to have them remove that) or brushed. I told them exposed aggregate but now I’m wondering if that’s harder to roll a floor jack on? Oh well, I think I want it to look nice and match the other slab regardless, it’s not like I’m rolling floor jacks on it every day. And I’m sure they wont over-expose it like someone originally did here. I think if its done right it will be fine for my purposes. The Beast got a shove by a neighbor and me over and into my other neighbor’s big driveway for storage until the driveway is cured. I’ll get to it someday. TBH its looking like it will be next spring. I’m not in a hurry. Oh, and the Service 4WD message is back. I ordered the actuator position sensor. I hope that’s it, I have replaced the TC motor and the switch in the dash. Stupid Tech2 is worthless, it has no menu for the transfer case. A shop near me has a Snap-On scanner that will work but the guy says it takes a couple hours to figure out what is wrong with these and he can get me in at about 2 weeks from now at $300 to diagnose. Psh.

 

[Fless]

Need to add this baby to your signature.

 

[Rocket Man]

Need to add this baby to your signature.

I’d like to add its picture too to my signature along with the 2 others but I don’t think @theblur is still around.

 

[Fless]

I’d like to add its picture too to my signature along with the 2 others but I don’t think @theblur is still around.

Maybe let AI do it for you?

 

[Fless]

I’d like to add its picture too to my signature along with the 2 others but I don’t think @theblur is still around.

But he is: @the blur.

 

[Rocket Man]

Maybe let AI do it for you?

I might try to find the time. Been busy trying to do anything I need to my trucks while I still have a driveway to work on them. The Machine is in the front yard now where it will be trapped for about 2 weeks while they demo the concrete, pour the new and then it has to cure for a week I believe. The Beast is next door under cover. The Tahoe will be parked on the street where I have marked my territory with my recycling, yard debris and garbage bins. I’m ready for tomorrow morning, they’re supposed to be here at 8:30 to start.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I’d like to add its picture too to my signature along with the 2 others but I don’t think @theblur is still around.

Didn't someone else do a bunch of them for us? Did mine too. He sold his Tahoe and bought a Riviera.

 

[Rocket Man]

The driveway is poured. They’re coming in a couple days to clean it and then I can seal it weather permitting. There’s a lot of real estate now.

 

[Fosscore]

That looks really nice and shows off the trucks great!!

 

[Rocket Man]

That looks really nice and shows off the trucks great!!

Thank you. I’m looking forward to a new fence to block off the neighbors house and a carport. I’m putting up a temporary carport again for now. A big one like I want will require a permit. Then all I need to do is completely relandscape the front yard, install new siding, trim and a new roof. And by then the deck will need to be re-stained. This place keeps me busy.

 

[89Suburban]

Looks great!

 

[Joseph Garcia]

The driveway is poured. They’re coming in a couple days to clean it and then I can seal it weather permitting. There’s a lot of real estate now. View attachment 470496

C'mon Mark!!! Get a lift and a roof structure over it, THEN the job will be complete.

 

[Rocket Man]

C'mon Mark!!! Get a lift and a roof structure over it, THEN the job will be complete.

Yeah I plan on a permanent carport at some point. I need a permit, I discovered. I don’t think I can get away with a lift in my driveway though.

 

[Rocket Man]

I bought the Autel MK900BT scanner and got into the transfer case control module. The code is C0379:04 Front Axle System Open which sounds like a wire not making contact. Anyway, an electrical issue where when the truck is started it fails the self test of the module. I’ll figure it out someday. Right now it sounds like it’s not critical.

I was able to access my neighbors Toyota Matrix for her and clear some history airbag codes and she had a pending lean bank 1 that was setting off the check engine light so I had her take a picture and then I cleared it. I told her if it comes back on she needs to figure out the problem or it can hurt her engine. Might be clogged injectors. Point is, it was nice to work on other brand vehicles. It’s pretty nice, reads VIN’s automatically.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I bought the Autel MK900BT scanner and got into the transfer case control module. The code is C0379:04 Front Axle System Open which sounds like a wire not making contact. Anyway, an electrical issue where when the truck is started it fails the self test of the module. I’ll figure it out someday. Right now it sounds like it’s not critical.

I was able to access my neighbors Toyota Matrix for her and clear some history airbag codes and she had a pending lean bank 1 that was setting off the check engine light so I had her take a picture and then I cleared it. I told her if it comes back on she needs to figure out the problem or it can hurt her engine. Might be clogged injectors. Point is, it was nice to work on other brand vehicles. It’s pretty nice, reads VIN’s automatically.

That's nice. Was it really expensive? From Amazon?

 

[pwtr02ss]

I bought the Autel MK900BT scanner and got into the transfer case control module. The code is C0379:04 Front Axle System Open which sounds like a wire not making contact. Anyway, an electrical issue where when the truck is started it fails the self test of the module. I’ll figure it out someday. Right now it sounds like it’s not critical.

I was able to access my neighbors Toyota Matrix for her and clear some history airbag codes and she had a pending lean bank 1 that was setting off the check engine light so I had her take a picture and then I cleared it. I told her if it comes back on she needs to figure out the problem or it can hurt her engine. Might be clogged injectors. Point is, it was nice to work on other brand vehicles. It’s pretty nice, reads VIN’s automatically.

I have the Autel MaxiTPMS TS900. It seems to work great on some things and not so great on others. I use it rarely so it's likely user error? Also, the $299 annual renewal fee that I didn't know when I bought it. It works great for programing TPMS and relearn procedures tho.

The update process takes forever. Not sure why it has so many updates every time I power it on

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I bought the Autel MK900BT scanner and got into the transfer case control module. The code is C0379:04 Front Axle System Open which sounds like a wire not making contact. Anyway, an electrical issue where when the truck is started it fails the self test of the module. I’ll figure it out someday. Right now it sounds like it’s not critical.

I was able to access my neighbors Toyota Matrix for her and clear some history airbag codes and she had a pending lean bank 1 that was setting off the check engine light so I had her take a picture and then I cleared it. I told her if it comes back on she needs to figure out the problem or it can hurt her engine. Might be clogged injectors. Point is, it was nice to work on other brand vehicles. It’s pretty nice, reads VIN’s automatically.

Great to read on the Autel scanner comments. I purchased the exact same one off Amazon during Prime Week, as its price was reduced by $100, but I have not yet opened the box. Please continue to offer your thoughts on this scanner, so that when I ultimately unpackage it, I'll already have some virtual familiarity with it.