2001 GMC Sonoma 4x4
- Thread starter Dougnuts
- Start date
Dougnuts
Well-known member
I've never been a GM guy, so it's been fun learning some new things. One of which was the RPO codes on a sticker in the glovebox.
I looked up every code online and found out two interesting things.
1) This truck has the Z85 high capacity package. The door sticker says payload is 1247lbs.
2) This truck was apparently built as a fleet vehicle for Enterprise Rental Car.
I looked up every code online and found out two interesting things.
1) This truck has the Z85 high capacity package. The door sticker says payload is 1247lbs.
2) This truck was apparently built as a fleet vehicle for Enterprise Rental Car.
follow Maggie
New member
Those were great little pickups. I had a 2000 that I bought new in 99. I traded it for a full size in @ 2005 and still regret it. But, I needed the full size pickup
Dougnuts
Well-known member
No major work on the Sonoma this weekend, but a lot of little stuff:
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- Interior and door jambs cleaned
- Swapped out the taillights for the new units
- Oil changed
- Additional paint clean up
- K&N filter installed
- Underhood wiped down
- Sprayed the frame with black FluidFilm
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Dougnuts
Well-known member
Good news, the truck fits in the garage without much trouble. That should allow work to progress now that daylight savings time has passed.
Last night I removed the "gash" decals on both sides of the truck. On one side, a heat gun worked. On the other, I had to use a 3M stripe off wheel, which felt like practicing magic.
Before:
After:
Then I fired up the DA and polished the hood. The chicken feet filled up with compound and really stand out now, but it is what it is.
Before:
After. Far from perfect, but much improved:
Last night I removed the "gash" decals on both sides of the truck. On one side, a heat gun worked. On the other, I had to use a 3M stripe off wheel, which felt like practicing magic.
Before:
After:
Then I fired up the DA and polished the hood. The chicken feet filled up with compound and really stand out now, but it is what it is.
Before:
After. Far from perfect, but much improved:
Dougnuts
Well-known member
It goes without saying that the details can make all the difference on a vehicle. Conversely, when you have a weathered vehicle, like I have here, sometimes little details and new parts can stick out like a sore thumb.
In this case, the front tow hooks were rusty, and I thought that was detracting from the look quite a bit. Since there are red accents around the truck, I had the hooks stripped and powdercoated RAL 3002. I think they turned out great and match the truck's aesthetics quite well.
I still have a long way to go with this project, but the little wins are keeping me motivated.
Before:
After:
In this case, the front tow hooks were rusty, and I thought that was detracting from the look quite a bit. Since there are red accents around the truck, I had the hooks stripped and powdercoated RAL 3002. I think they turned out great and match the truck's aesthetics quite well.
I still have a long way to go with this project, but the little wins are keeping me motivated.
Before:
After:
ThundahBeagle
Well-known member
Holy sh it, what a difference! I should do that on my SierraI'm not trying to win any car shows, but I do intend to clean this truck up as best it can be. Last night I tried my hand at paint correction.
ThundahBeagle
Well-known member
It goes without saying that the details can make all the difference on a vehicle. Conversely, when you have a weathered vehicle, like I have here, sometimes little details and new parts can stick out like a sore thumb.
In this case, the front tow hooks were rusty, and I thought that was detracting from the look quite a bit. Since there are red accents around the truck, I had the hooks stripped and powdercoated RAL 3002. I think they turned out great and match the truck's aesthetics quite well.
I still have a long way to go with this project, but the little wins are keeping me motivated.
Before:
After:
Sir? SIR!
That is not a Z71, ZR2, or a Trail Boss. How DARE you paint those tow hooks red?!?
ThundahBeagle
Well-known member
Seriously though, the truck is looking SO much better. Nice work! Got me fired up to buff up my own truck
ThundahBeagle
Well-known member
Is that just a Milwaukee angle grinder with a buffer on it, or is that a proper buffer?
Dougnuts
Well-known member
It's a Bauer DA polisher that I picked up from Harbor Freight.
I've learned some tricks since doing the hood, like keeping the pad flatter, do more passes on a smaller area, and apply 15-20lbs of pressure.
I've learned some tricks since doing the hood, like keeping the pad flatter, do more passes on a smaller area, and apply 15-20lbs of pressure.
ThundahBeagle
Well-known member
Probably a wise idea. I can see sanding dust making it's way out of my RO sander or grinder and getting into the mix
Dougnuts
Well-known member
One of the great things about this truck is that I'm not afraid to mess anything up, so I get to learn new skills, like the aforementioned paint polishing. I had a few minutes last night, and had watched a few YouTube videos to try and improve my results, so I took a stab at the damage on the driver's side of the truck. The results, for me, were remarkable.
Before:
After:
In the photo below, you can compare the rear door and top front panel of the bed to the lower front panel. It's far from exquisite, but it's significantly better......so satisfying. The only downside is that working on the side of the truck is more physically taxing than the hood.
Before:
After:
In the photo below, you can compare the rear door and top front panel of the bed to the lower front panel. It's far from exquisite, but it's significantly better......so satisfying. The only downside is that working on the side of the truck is more physically taxing than the hood.
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