^^ Shimmy23's 08 Yukon Journal ^^

[Shimmy23]

Hi Gang! My name is Brandon and this is my first Yukon! As some of you already know, my family is growing and I decided to sell my project BMW e46 M3. With our first baby on the way, I knew I wouldn't have much time to enjoy the M3... considering last year I only put 2k miles on it. So... with that now sold, the wife and I determined that it would be nice to own a 4x4 for emergency weather situations. My parents owned a suburban while I was growing up and ever since I've loved the style and look of the Tahoe/Yukon. I knew I'd get one someday.

Here's what we picked up!

2008 Yukon SLE
5600 miles (no, I'm not missing a zero. it truly is new!)
Onyx black w/cloth interior (no 3rd row)​

Overall its a very basic model, but it does include the HD towing package and sunroof. I wasn't hard set on some of the other factory niceties since I knew I could add them later (aftermarket) on my own. I'm a big DIYer, and coming from German cars this GM looks super easy to work on. I'll be fitting all the parts myself.

Here's what I have planned for install:

Exterior Mods:
FX-R headlight retrofit 4/5/14 DIYer FX-r thread
Denali running boards 6/20/14
Denali rear bumper w/step pad 5/24/14
Denali chrome handles 4/6/14
Tahoe LTZ chrome mirror caps 4/6/14
Denali upper/lower grill 3/22/14
Escalade roof rack 4/19/14
Escalade tailights w/applique 4/11/14
Escalade 3rd brake light 5/30/14
OEM tow hitch closeout 3/8/14
Tint front windows 6/17/14

Suspension/Wheels/Brakes:
2/3 Belltech drop (spindles) 5/4/14
Swaybars
BBK (brembos, stoptechs or PFC)
OEM Escalade 22's 2/28/13 Swapped out for 24" Texas Reps on 6/21/14

Interior:
DDin with Navi 12/19/14
Back up camera 12/19/14
upgraded speakers
Steering wheel rewrap in Alcantara
Weathertech mats

Misc:
Valentine 1 radar​

Now, on to the show!!!

2/15/14: Day I picked her up!

2/28/14: Installed the OEM escalade wheels

 

[NathanJax]

So far so good! Your mod list is exactly what I did with my slt

Don't forget the Esky roof rack can be purchased from 01-14 models or 07-14 denalis

Denali running boards and/or Esky running boards 07-14 as well

Chrome handles from any 07-14 since that's just a normal upgrade

 

[felixgun]

Nice list of upgrades man. Look forward to seeing all this put on. One question though, why the cloth seats?

 

[NathanJax]

One question though, why the cloth seats?

No need to pay for leather if you're gonna go custom 2 tone katzkin later. I thought about going that way as well.

 

[blkonblk]

Great list of mods man, welcome

 

[felixgun]

No need to pay for leather if you're gonna go custom 2 tone katzkin later. I thought about going that way as well.

Yea for sure but I don't see that on his mod list

 

[Shimmy23]

Nice list of upgrades man. Look forward to seeing all this put on. One question though, why the cloth seats?

No need to pay for leather if you're gonna go custom 2 tone katzkin later. I thought about going that way as well.

Yea for sure but I don't see that on his mod list

We originally had leather on the "required" list, but after seeing the GM leather in person I wasn't all that impressed. I test drove a tahoe with 45k miles on it (granted it was owned by a soccer mom) and the leather was in terrible shape. It just did not seem to hold up well. THEN, my wife tells me she actually does not want leather! That was fine with me, so we ended up with cloth.

I'm not gonna deny it tho... I have contemplated getting them wrapped in BMW cinnamon. lol. Same color interior as my BMW.

 

[yates ™]

All I did with my Yukon was put leather treatment in a few times a year and when I traded it in with 80k they still looked new with that said the katzkin I have in my truck now is much softer.

 

[GalaxyBlackEsky]

Nice start and list.

 

[felixgun]

Yea the leather in the standard yukon/tahoe is not all that great. The leather in the denali/escalade is a different story though... nuance leather is so much softer and feels much better.

 

[Shimmy23]

3/26/14
Some things arrived in the mail... I hope to begin the retrofit this weekend if time allows. The Pioneer DD will have to wait till I figure out what I want to do with speakers and sub. Crutchfield was having a sale so I splurged a little.

 

[Shimmy23]

4/5/14: FX-r projectors installed!

DIYer thread here

 

[08grey]

Sweet.!!!! Any pics of what you trimmed to install the projectors?

Did the eagle eye lights come apart easy?

 

[Shimmy23]

Sweet.!!!! Any pics of what you trimmed to install the projectors?

Did the eagle eye lights come apart easy?

yes the eagle eye lights came apart super easy. I wrote up a DIYer in the exterior section. check it out! hopefully you'll want to tackle this yourself!

 

[Ben]

subbed

 

[08grey]

Do those shrouds have holes in them, i guess I'm asking if I put light between the projector housing and the shroud will it shine through open slots?

 

[Shimmy23]

Do those shrouds have holes in them, i guess I'm asking if I put light between the projector housing and the shroud will it shine through open slots?

Yes they do. You can add halos behind them to light them up, or if you have open style projectors like the MD2S or MH1 it will shine thru. I used hi heat aluminum tape to full enclose the FX-r projects. I didn't want any light shining thru.

 

[Bruizza]

Great start to the build!

 

[Shimmy23]

4/11/14
I'm a little late with this post considering its a month later..

Anyways, got my OEM escalade tails and appliques fitted. I love em! OEM all the way!

---------- Post added at 04:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:14 PM ----------

5/5/14

Finished installing my Belltech 2/3 drop. I had enough time in the day to run down and get an alignment too!

Crappy cellphone pic. I'll do a proper shoot once I condition the paint. Its in bad condition right now.

 

[NathanJax]

How do you get your truck to stick like that? Crazy gravity huh?