The Khan - 2005 Yukon Slt buiild

[SteveB]

Pick up this 2005 Yukon Slt for $650.00. The 5.3 has a bottom end knock. Not in bad shape for the price , but does has some issues that need to be addressed besides the engine knocking. The plan is address the issues so I can daily it and tow my race car.

 

[SteveB]

A few more pics

 

[SteveB]

To deal with the sick 5.3 , I will be swapping in a 6.0. The 6.0 is a lq4 that will get new rings and bearings. Will be using the 5.3 intake complete cause I don't have one for the 6.0. From the very limited reading I have done , fixing or replacing the 5.3 with another one is kinda pointless. Less power and torque for pretty much the same fuel mileage. Plus I already have the 6.0 sitting on the engine stand. Other than the engine it seems to run and drive not to bad.

 

[SteveB]

Pretty sure I need to replace the clockspring also. When I first drove it the steering wheel was 180* out. I do work in a body shop and my experience being that the whole column was out that much the clockspring is toast now.

 

[SteveB]

First mod is changing the rims out from the factory 17's to these gm 17's. Was missing a factory rim anyways. Paid $260.00 for these rims and tires. The rims are rough and the tires are about 50% left. I kinda like them too. Down the road I would a set of snowflakes in 20's.

 

[SteveB]

Operation color match has begun. I separated the chrome surround and the 2 end pieces from the black part of the grille. Separating the 3 chrome pieces isn't necessary , but does make prepping them for paint much easier. Plus no masking off the black part of the grille. So after getting the 3 chrome pieces separated , I prepped them by sanding each piece with 180 grit on my sander. After I was done with the sander , I took a piece of 180 sand paper to sand the areas that the sander can't get too. The final step of sanding I did was with some red scotch brite. So when I was happy with how it looked sanded , I blow the pieces off with air. Then wiped them down with gun wash to remove anything that might cause any problems with the next set of steps. After being wiped down and dried , I used some adhesive promoter , let it sit for about 10 mins , then used some etch primer to prime all the outside surface. Just spray enough etch primer to give a nice even finish. So while the etch primer was drying I mixed the color. Loaded my paint gun applied 3 coats of color. 10-15 between coats. Clean the paint gun, mixed clear coat and added a flex additive to it. Don't take many pics.

 

[SteveB]

Corner piece sanded and ready for primer

 

[SteveB]

Center surround painted and cleared

 

[SteveB]

The color is dark spiral grey , code 805k. Still have to prime and paint the other corner piece , the assemble it all back together. Will get a pic of it all finished and assembled. Hopefully in some sunlight.

 

[SteveB]

After the grille is done , I will be color matching the rear vent covers (stock ones) not going to do esky ones. Would love to find a denali rear bumper as mine is pretty dented up. Not sure what I want to do about the front bumper , it's pretty trashed and the lower valance is garbage , doesn't have the openings for the foglights either.

 

[SteveB]

Not much of an update. But did get the rims and tires swapped on , roof rack removed , an air bag out of an Envoy , started removing the emblems. Sorry no pics.

 

[SteveB]

Grille put back together , not sure I like the insert or not. So to reassemble the grille , I used panel bonding glue , and a soldering gun. Lay the glue on the black part , then place the painted pieces on. I used the soldering gun to melt the painted pieces and the black part together just like how the factory did it. The outside pieces go on first , then the center surround. I suggest letting the glue dry for 12 hours before installing in the truck.

 

[Countryboy07]

Post some progress pics. Glad your saving it

 

[05Single]

I vote no inserts

 

[SteveB]

I vote no inserts

I'll mount it and see how I feel about it with it. But most likely will end up removing it.

 

[SteveB]

Here is a pic of the air bag I used. Really like how it looked , to me it gives it a little bit of an updated look to the steering wheel.

 

[SteveB]

On the hunt for a Denali cluster or at least a 2500 cluster with the trans temp gauge , Denali dash surround and center console , and the roof dvd player(missing when I bought it).

 

[Tonyrodz]

After the grille is done , I will be color matching the rear vent covers (stock ones) not going to do esky ones. Would love to find a denali rear bumper as mine is pretty dented up. Not sure what I want to do about the front bumper , it's pretty trashed and the lower valance is garbage , doesn't have the openings for the foglights either.

Why not get a plain, paint to match steel front bumper? Maybe a Z71 lower front valance with the round/oval fog light openings.

 

[SteveB]

Why not get a plain, paint to match steel front bumper? Maybe a Z71 lower front valance with the round/oval fog light openings.

Have thought of that. I like the Z71 valance better than the Yukon one.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Have thought of that. I like the Z71 valance better than the Yukon one.

Absolutely. There's also a factory lower air dam you can bolt on that makes it appear lower.