Hey fellow trail lovers! I haven't started a build thread with my new (to me) truck so I felt it was time. I love reading other people's threads about even the most subtle mods they do to their rigs so I thought I would provide that same entertainment! My truck is much larger than Jeeps and Toyotas and was curious if it was too big to navigate some overland trails without encountering serious body damage. But it's a gamble with any rig the second you go off the pretty paved roads, so we'll see how it goes!
Well let's get started!
The "project rig" is a 2004 GMC Sierra CCSB gas pig. Most "truck guys" see my truck and wonder why I didn't get a duramax version. Well here's the simple answer: the diesel option of the same truck I have would've been $5-7k more in purchase price and I'd rather do a cummins swap anyways for around half that cost. The cummins swap is a definite plan, but probably not for another 2-3 years while I save and build up the parts list. In the meantime I have a cam'd LQ9 with other goodies that I plan to replace the LQ4 with. The LQ4 has adequate power at best and highly lacks when I'm towing cars/trucks on my trailer. The LQ9 will have an additional 90-100 hp at least and I'll be adding a beefier stall converter as well to help manage that power a little better.
The truck doesn't currently have a lot of mods but that never stays the same as we all know. It has a 4"(ish) Fabtech lift with a custom dual shock mount setup in the front. The lift was already on there when I bought it and I was only mildly impressed by it especially considering that I plan to go to a solid axle/coilover setup in the future. I will also be doing a 4 link setup in the rear with a properly built 14 bolt. I really really really really REALLY want to build a flatbed for it but I've been hesitant because I want the flatbed to be very functional, modular, and somewhat lighter than the average farm truck flatbed. I've seen some builds on the Toyota forums because I used to be a diehard Toyota guy (hence the user name haha) but I've yet to see a flatbed build for these full size trucks that I really love. I still need to build up my metal working tools (bender, brake, etc) before I take on a serious project like a whole truck flatbed!
This truck is my daily driver, tow pig, oversized wheel barrow, backup for the wife, adventure rig, and just about anything else I can throw at it! So I'd like to pull all the stops on this rig and have it outperform the newer trucks on the road that cost almost 3 times what I paid for it. Any suggestions, comments, or even hate, is fair game on my truck so feel free to give me your best or even your worst!!
So quick recap list of current and future mods:
Current mods:
4" Fabtech lift with dual shocks in the front
35" Procomp extreme all-terrains (that I absolutely love!)
Spyder Auto Custom headlights and LED marker lights
Flex-a-lite dual electric fans (pricey but VERY worth it)
Spectre cold(ish) air intake (cheap but effective)
Huge cat back exhaust, maybe a 4"? (Idk, I didn't install it)
Bully Dog performance tuner (meh)
Pioneer 7" touchscreen DVD player and component speakers
Quick disconnects for mobile winch in the front and rear
Future mods:
Solid axle swap w/hp Dana 60 with hydro assist, 4 links and coilovers
Corporate 14 ff axle in the rear with air locker, coilovers and 4 link
LQ9 with comp cam, long tubes, intake, injectors and possibly more
Custom tube bumpers and sliders with 2" hitch mounts for winch
Custom off-road flatbed build with modular system for multiple uses
40" maxxis trepador tires
Over cab rack setup for RTT, solar, and other cargo
Possible 6BT CTD swap down the road
And many many more!!!
Thanks for the long read and stay tuned for updates coming real soon!!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Well let's get started!
The "project rig" is a 2004 GMC Sierra CCSB gas pig. Most "truck guys" see my truck and wonder why I didn't get a duramax version. Well here's the simple answer: the diesel option of the same truck I have would've been $5-7k more in purchase price and I'd rather do a cummins swap anyways for around half that cost. The cummins swap is a definite plan, but probably not for another 2-3 years while I save and build up the parts list. In the meantime I have a cam'd LQ9 with other goodies that I plan to replace the LQ4 with. The LQ4 has adequate power at best and highly lacks when I'm towing cars/trucks on my trailer. The LQ9 will have an additional 90-100 hp at least and I'll be adding a beefier stall converter as well to help manage that power a little better.
The truck doesn't currently have a lot of mods but that never stays the same as we all know. It has a 4"(ish) Fabtech lift with a custom dual shock mount setup in the front. The lift was already on there when I bought it and I was only mildly impressed by it especially considering that I plan to go to a solid axle/coilover setup in the future. I will also be doing a 4 link setup in the rear with a properly built 14 bolt. I really really really really REALLY want to build a flatbed for it but I've been hesitant because I want the flatbed to be very functional, modular, and somewhat lighter than the average farm truck flatbed. I've seen some builds on the Toyota forums because I used to be a diehard Toyota guy (hence the user name haha) but I've yet to see a flatbed build for these full size trucks that I really love. I still need to build up my metal working tools (bender, brake, etc) before I take on a serious project like a whole truck flatbed!
This truck is my daily driver, tow pig, oversized wheel barrow, backup for the wife, adventure rig, and just about anything else I can throw at it! So I'd like to pull all the stops on this rig and have it outperform the newer trucks on the road that cost almost 3 times what I paid for it. Any suggestions, comments, or even hate, is fair game on my truck so feel free to give me your best or even your worst!!
So quick recap list of current and future mods:
Current mods:
4" Fabtech lift with dual shocks in the front
35" Procomp extreme all-terrains (that I absolutely love!)
Spyder Auto Custom headlights and LED marker lights
Flex-a-lite dual electric fans (pricey but VERY worth it)
Spectre cold(ish) air intake (cheap but effective)
Huge cat back exhaust, maybe a 4"? (Idk, I didn't install it)
Bully Dog performance tuner (meh)
Pioneer 7" touchscreen DVD player and component speakers
Quick disconnects for mobile winch in the front and rear
Future mods:
Solid axle swap w/hp Dana 60 with hydro assist, 4 links and coilovers
Corporate 14 ff axle in the rear with air locker, coilovers and 4 link
LQ9 with comp cam, long tubes, intake, injectors and possibly more
Custom tube bumpers and sliders with 2" hitch mounts for winch
Custom off-road flatbed build with modular system for multiple uses
40" maxxis trepador tires
Over cab rack setup for RTT, solar, and other cargo
Possible 6BT CTD swap down the road
And many many more!!!
Thanks for the long read and stay tuned for updates coming real soon!!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
