2007 Silverado - Buy Once, Cry Once: 1-tons, 40's & a Custom Camper

Jeffer949

Observer
On convincing your wife this is a good idea theme... Yes this is a big purchase and time investment now. BUT you have proven your family will use it and spending the time and money now will make sure you dont have to do so much work later. and you can just go enjoy your family. The older they get the more stuff is going on and the more you will be running to events and practices etc. All worthwhile things that you dont want to miss or be absent from because your fixing something on the rig you half assed 5 years ago.
 

Andrew_S

Observer

yamaha225 - Thanks, always great to hear.​


Jeffer949 -Beautiful sales pitch, I will 100% use that. Thank you.​

Quick update, not as much progress as I was hoping for but crossing a few things off the list.

Got the driver side frame completely cleaned up and started stitch welding the frame plate.
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Both sides are completely welded out, shock towers and track bar mount as well.
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Time to tackle a few small items, new lower oil pan.
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The easiest time to get all of the new stainless brake lines installed was now. These lines2togo kits are super nice. It helps that I picked this one up second-hand new in box for half price.
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Next up was a trans service, filters and new pan.
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Cross-member radius arm mounts positioned, holes drilled in the frame and completely bolted up.
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transfer case prepped with clocking ring and ready to
go up
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After 3 attempts, 2 of which I tried benchpressing it up into place, both times I almost dropped this 150lb behemoth on my face, and the 3rd, with the assistance of a floor jack I gave up and bought a new tool.
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Now it's ready for final install, hopefully Friday I can button up this stuff and slide the front axle underneath this weekend
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Last edited:

Mekcanix

Camper
I have had one of those Princess auto Tranny jacks for at least 25 years and it has saved me more times than I can remember. In my younger days I was bench pressing in a 203 T case and dropped it on my chest and thought I was going to die under the chevy and thus got the jack excellent investment especially with the amount of work your doing
The new ones are much nicer then what I have
 

TexasSixSeven

Observer
I’m still in that stage where I’m too young to think I’ll hurt myself, but too old to be doing the stupid ******** (bench pressing heavy parts into place) I do. Hopefully I don’t learn tbe hard way. lol

This is an amazing build!
 

ITTOG

Well-known member
I have had one of those Princess auto Tranny jacks for at least 25 years and it has saved me more times than I can remember. In my younger days I was bench pressing in a 203 T case and dropped it on my chest and thought I was going to die under the chevy and thus got the jack excellent investment especially with the amount of work your doing
The new ones are much nicer then what I have
One should be careful when searching for "princess auto tranny jack".

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk
 

frojoe

Adventurer
One should be careful when searching for "princess auto tranny jack".

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk
It funny because the name Princess Auto seems pretty non-serious, but it's a healthy chain/franchise store for budget every-category-known-to-man tools up here in Canada, essentially the northern version of Harbour Freight in every way.

The cheapest tools are still what you'd expect and kinda junky, but like HF's Icon tools, the not-cheapest tools up here are actually getting pretty strong and reliable.

However Princess Auto's house-tool branding is named.... Power Fist. So yeah haha.
 

ITTOG

Well-known member
It funny because the name Princess Auto seems pretty non-serious, but it's a healthy chain/franchise store for budget every-category-known-to-man tools up here in Canada, essentially the northern version of Harbour Freight in every way.

The cheapest tools are still what you'd expect and kinda junky, but like HF's Icon tools, the not-cheapest tools up here are actually getting pretty strong and reliable.

However Princess Auto's house-tool branding is named.... Power Fist. So yeah haha.
Yes I am familiar with princess Auto so I was shocked when I got the distasteful results. But there is no way I'm going to search for power fist. That is definitely going to be bad.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk
 

Andrew_S

Observer
LOL at the power fist follow up - Canadian Inuendo's.
I have had one of those Princess auto Tranny jacks for at least 25 years and it has saved me more times than I can remember. In my younger days I was bench pressing in a 203 T case and dropped it on my chest and thought I was going to die under the chevy and thus got the jack excellent investment especially with the amount of work your doing
The new ones are much nicer then what I have
This one is super nice, and it's definitely a great tool to own if you don't have a hoist.
I’m still in that stage where I’m too young to think I’ll hurt myself, but too old to be doing the stupid ******** (bench pressing heavy parts into place) I do. Hopefully I don’t learn tbe hard way. lol

This is an amazing build!
Man, this sums it up perfectly, and I learn the hard way...

Next up was trans service,
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273 installed finally.


This thing takes a lot more space than the 263 - slight adjustment to the abs module bracket, and it's good.
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If you install a 3" down pipe on these trucks, you either bend your trans dipstick tube and abandon a hold down or swap to a driver's side LML tube. I wish I had done this originally because it was a fair bit of redoing work I've already done. I moved the GPCM and got rid of the massive bracketry that held it in place. Pleased with how this turned out.
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You have to trim 8 1/2" off the LML fill tube and it works perfect. The trans even has a stud to pick up on the hold-down.
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Ignore the dust, this is where it lands in the engine bay.
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Everything all back together below.
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Next up is the LML hydro boost.
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Drilling out the rod to 41/64"
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Test fitting everything
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Steering box brace installed. This is a nice design, it retains the stock front diff shift motor, so you won't have a CEL on the dash.
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