Project White Girl

DailyExpedition

DailyExpedition

Active member
Here’s my project, I’m new here so be easy. Been expeditioning most of my life well atleast from the age of 5-16 yrs old, and that was pretty much a constant camping trip, I’ve been all over the place, Mostly Arizona and Colorado. I’m 42 now and building my own rig. This is kind of a build thread but I’ve already done most of the work so now it will mostly be pics and brief descriptions and help if I can. Right now I’m gearing up for a 2 1/2 week long camping trip to Colorado in September with the wife. Her first time out of Texas, and her first real camping trip. So here goes. First pic is when I first bought her (not the wife) lol
White Girl is a 1998 GMC Yukon 5.7l Vortec currently right at 270,000miles. I bought her for $1800 almost 2 years ago from a kid that beat her up pretty good. I’ve done a lot to get her back to road worthy and she is my daily driver for work. I put about 80 miles a day on the clock.
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Day after I picked her up

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How she looks now


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DailyExpedition

DailyExpedition

Active member
Here is a list of some of the things I’ve done to her so far...
Remanufactured heads $320
Coolant temperature sensor $16.99
Oxygen sensors x2 $100
Distributor cap $63
Rotor $15
Wires $65
Spark plugs $50
Coolant sending unit $14
New upper intake and head gaskets $65
Thermostat $10
Ignition coil $35
145 amp alternator $140
Oil pressure sending unit $16
Upper ball joints $62
Pitman arm $17
Idler arm $80
Sway Bar end links $25
Fuel pump $178
Brake shoes $34.99
Brake pads $27.99
Energy Suspension upper and lower Control arm bushings, Tie rod ends, Lower ball joints $135
Tie rod adjusting sleeves $14.00
LED headlight bulbs $110
New headlights $120
LED fog lights (front) $23
Led rear fog lights $23
Interior led lights $50
Led taillight bulbs $40
Led front spot lights $12
Light harnesses $100
Barn door weatherstripping $49.95
Abs sensor $37.00
Shocks $103
Spare tire and wheel $60
New tires and wheels $650
Powerstop Rotors pads and calipers $230
Stainless brake lines $72
Water pump $45
Lower radiator hose $19
Brush guard $75
New batteries $240
Electric fans $200
Battery solenoid $50
Fan controllers $105
Alarm $260
LED highbeam bulbs-and relay (4hi mod) $105
Blue sea systems fuse block $45
Abs delete setup $100
Aluminum G8 rear diff cover $120














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Martinjmpr

Martinjmpr

Wiffleball Batter
If it's been "beat up" by a kid, I would worry most about the 4l60 transmission. At 270k I wonder if it's been replaced at least once already.

I don't know enough about the 5.7 to have an opinion on it but I know there are examples out there that have lasted a long time.

IIRC some of the GMT400 trucks also had a vacuum actuated (or was it thermal activated?) front axle disconnect. I'd think about removing or upgrading that, too.

Body looks good, at least from the pictures you showed.
 
DailyExpedition

DailyExpedition

Active member
Martinjmpr said:
If it's been "beat up" by a kid, I would worry most about the 4l60 transmission. At 270k I wonder if it's been replaced at least once already.

I don't know enough about the 5.7 to have an opinion on it but I know there are examples out there that have lasted a long time.

IIRC some of the GMT400 trucks also had a vacuum actuated (or was it thermal activated?) front axle disconnect. I'd think about removing or upgrading that, too.

Body looks good, at least from the pictures you showed.
Click to expand...

The tranny was replaced by that “kid”, I got the receipt hopefully it wasn’t bs. (That’s a whole other story) But she shifts good. The front diff is good it’s electric activated. already went through it and the transfer case


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DailyExpedition

DailyExpedition

Active member
Blue sea systems accessory fuse block with both positive and negative inputs/outputs and nbs master cylinder upgrade
9475aed4a48c5584ae9d12cffe13738e.jpg



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Martinjmpr

Martinjmpr

Wiffleball Batter
Gotta love barn doors!

Nothing to add but that's a nice GMT400. (y)

Around here GMT400's can be found dirt cheap and since it's a dry climate they're usually not too badly rusted. I think any time you're talking about a 20+ year old vehicle you're going to have to consider that it will need lots of TLC. The "major" systems like engines, transmissions (except the weak 4l60) transfer cases and axles seem to do OK, it's the "minor" things like switches, gauges, plastic interior body parts, latches, etc, that seem to fail most often.

If I had the mechanical skills and the time (I have neither) I'd love to get a GMT400 Tahoe or Burb for a thousand bucks and bring it back to full function. I'll bet it could be done pretty cheap if you started off with one that hadn't been too badly abused (and there are gajillions of 'soccer mom mobiles' that have been garaged most of their lives.)

EDITED TO ADD: I think GMT400's are at the bottom of their "depreciation curve." Within 10 - 15 years we will start to see surviving examples considered to be "classics" the same way that square-body (1973-89) Chevy trucks are now and priced accordingly.
 
DailyExpedition

DailyExpedition

Active member
Martinjmpr said:
Gotta love barn doors!

Nothing to add but that's a nice GMT400. (y)

Around here GMT400's can be found dirt cheap and since it's a dry climate they're usually not too badly rusted. I think any time you're talking about a 20+ year old vehicle you're going to have to consider that it will need lots of TLC. The "major" systems like engines, transmissions (except the weak 4l60) transfer cases and axles seem to do OK, it's the "minor" things like switches, gauges, plastic interior body parts, latches, etc, that seem to fail most often.

If I had the mechanical skills and the time (I have neither) I'd love to get a GMT400 Tahoe or Burb for a thousand bucks and bring it back to full function. I'll bet it could be done pretty cheap if you started off with one that hadn't been too badly abused (and there are gajillions of 'soccer mom mobiles' that have been garaged most of their lives.)
Click to expand...

Thanks man! Yea I love the barn doors, yea you can find them, but now people are beginning to think they are made of gold but they’re usually very nice, but some have high hopes. I love mine, never even a thought of getting rid of it. Next project is a Jerry can swing out for the drivers side rear. Only thing I need is a new indented rear bumper and either someone to fab it up for me or buy a welding rig and tools


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Judge Mills

Judge Mills

New member
DailyExpedition said:
For expedition and daily use my custom rear window molle panel or psd panel (everyone calls it something different) and side panel
32bdbc85a70a61fbd1e6f09bad6a6adb.jpg



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Click to expand...
Nice! What's your source for the panels? A quick Google search is just showing for Xterra, Jeep, and 4 Runner. I'm assuming you found a generic panel?

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