phenryiv1 Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 First off, the compliment- 99% of the trucks on this site are beautiful! The whole site seems friendly, and on top of all of that, the info here FAR surpasses anything that I have found for "regular" Silverados. With that said, a short bit about me. 2 weeks ago I was interviewing for a job in project management, and on the way home I was hit by a dumptruck. My car (a rare 1997 Infiniti I30 Touring Edition with a VLSD and Manual transmission) spun 90*, got hit again (passenger side), and was thrown BACKWARDS into the end of a guardrail at 40 mph. I was not hurt, but the car was a total loss. With the help of some friends, I had just re-done the whole suspension and replaced the clutch. The car was out of the shop 14 hours before it was totalled. The good news: I was not hurt, and I got the job- which requires a truck. That is what brought me int a Chevrolet dealership to look at somethign to drive to work. My original plan was to buy a POS to park on-site and to commute in my Infiniti to save on gas and costs, but my wife convinced me to buy new (or newer) and just have the truck. The company gives me $303 a month toward my truck, but they recommend at least a standard (6'+) bed, towing package, and 4wd. This limited my choices, and as beautiful as the SS was, I had to go with a "regular" Silverado. I used to work for GM and used a GM employee discount, and I have put my money down on a 2004 Silverado 1500 Z71 Extended cab in Arrival Blue Metallic. Well, after douing that, my first thought was to personalize the truck, but unfortunately, there are not a lot of options for internet forums for the Silverado. I heave very much enjoyed reading all about the SS on there, and I really wish that an SS had been appropriate for my new line of work, but unfortunately, it is not. I have seen a lot of criticism of non-SS owners imitating the SS in looks or function, but the fact of the matter is that for many non-SS owners, it was not money or lack of desire that has them in a "clone" Silverado, but instead necessity. And who can criticise a Silverado owner for aspiring to have their truck look like the head-honcho in the GM truck stable? So with that said, I will probably be in here a lot, learning what I can with the truck, particulary in terms of appearance, astetics, and parformance- though I realize wiht completely divergent drivetrains, it will mostly be astetics that I study in here. No "newbie" post in a forum is complete without an "I-plan-to" list, so here it is: Shave all "Silverado" and "1500" badging Remove "Z71 Off-Road" sticker Add bedliner and rubber bedmat Add Nerf bars (preferrably w/o steps) [Note: Ugly, I know, but important to protect the truck in parking lots, if nowhere else. If I do this, I can remove the black side-cladding.] Add Vent Visors (sorry) Add tailgate lip Add splashguards Possible upgrades: (here is where I "clone") SS side-exit exhaust SS Arrival Blue center grille bar SS dash gauges (if they work in the 04 Silverado) Please feel free to comment on what I have said here, to offer suggestions, or to just say "hello." I have tons of time on internet forums related to my past vehicles, so I understand that not everyone on here will agree with what I have to say, or will agree with my choice of vehicles/upgrades/etc. Also, if you have suggestions on Silverado forums for the "regular" Silverado owners- ones that are as in-depth as this one- I am open to check them out. Thank you, Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSminneapolis Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 DO IT... the only thing we get a little sketchy about is when people put the badges on the truck...other than that...DO IT... and welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Shave all "Silverado" and "1500" badging good idea. Remove "Z71 Off-Road" sticker good idea Add bedliner and rubber bedmat good idea, but you might be better off with a spray in liner. Add Nerf bars (preferrably w/o steps) [Note: Ugly, I know, but important to protect the truck in parking lots, if nowhere else. If I do this, I can remove the black side-cladding.] Add Vent Visors (sorry) not a terrible thing Add tailgate lip ? Add splashguards not bad, but very old man like. Possible upgrades: (here is where I "clone") SS side-exit exhaust decent idea, but too much work for the gain. a good aftermarket cat back would be better. SS Arrival Blue center grille bar will look good, but requires the whole grill changed SS dash gauges (if they work in the 04 Silverado) they will work fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted October 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Shave all "Silverado" and "1500" badging good idea.Remove "Z71 Off-Road" sticker good idea Add bedliner and rubber bedmat good idea, but you might be better off with a spray in liner. Thank you. As for the last one, I would go spray-in, but I need something fast (4 weeks at most), and after dropping $25k on the truck, money is tight. I would do a DIY roll-on, but I hear that they are a waste. At least I can sell a slide-in down the road to recop PART of my cost, and the rubber mat be used with the slide-in (now) AND the spray on (later). If I can scrape up the cash, it will be Line-X all the way... Add Nerf bars (preferrably w/o steps) [Note: Ugly, I know, but important to protect the truck in parking lots, if nowhere else. If I do this, I can remove the black side-cladding.] Right there with you on the astetics, but I live in Northern Virginia right now, and EVERY parking space is narrow- a doorjob waiting to happen. I want these to protect me from soccer moms in their Dodge Magnums and boy racers in their Integras. No matter how far out you park in a lot, some jerkoff will park beside you...These make people think twice before throwing their door open. Add Vent Visors (sorry) not a terrible thingAdd tailgate lip ? You know, the little (tiny) wing-like thing that is at the top of the tailgate...it is an astetic thing. NOT a necessity, but it looks cool. Add splashguards not bad, but very old man like. True, but good to protect the paint, especially in the gravel and mud on the sites where I will be working. These are a "maybe" addition. Possible upgrades: (here is where I "clone")SS side-exit exhaust decent idea, but too much work for the gain. a good aftermarket cat back would be better. For now (hehehe) I promised the wife no performance upgrades. We want to buy a house, so this cheap option (a lot of SS guys are giving theirs away) is attractive to me. Like I said, temporary...My old (95) Cherokee had a full exhaust, and it sounded SWEET, but was annoying @ highway speeds for long drives. Did I mention the possible cost of the SS exhaust? LOL... How much work is involved with this? SS Arrival Blue center grille bar will look good, but requires the whole grill changed Even better! SS dash gauges (if they work in the 04 Silverado) they will work fine <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Brilliant! Now are the odometer settings saved in the ECM or in the gauges themselves? Meaning, can I swap these in and maintain the correct odometer settings, or will I have ot have a tech set them for me? Or (worse), will I have to get an odometer disclosure statement to keep it all legal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted October 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 DO IT... the only thing we get a little sketchy about is when people put the badges on the truck...other than that...DO IT... and welcome <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If I put SS badges on it, it better have an SS motor in it...or a blower...or both... In other words, not going to happen! Thanks for the encouragement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan06SS Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Welcome to the site... you won't catch any flack here from us about a clone, that is unless you start slappin' SS badges on your truck Personally... if it were me... I'd avoid the nerf bars, splash gaurds, and that stuff. Just lift the hell out of it and you'll be too high for anyone to smack your doors. (SEE BELOW ) As for the bedliner, the spray in is going to be worth the extra $$$ if you can do it. I'm sure if you shop around you'll find a place that can take care of you. Thanks for all the kind words about our trucks This site is an awsome resource for anyone who owns a late model chevy p/u and you'll find we can be helpful even if you don't have an SS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBSS Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 When it comes time to order your new instrument cluster, call Speed-O-Tach to get it. Their units go for $225 and I got my mileage transferred for free with hardly any hassle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted October 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 When it comes time to order your new instrument cluster, call Speed-O-Tach to get it. Their units go for $225 and I got my mileage transferred for free with hardly any hassle. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks for the info- so I assume that the mileage info is in the hardware in the cluster, NOT the main vehicle computer, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiel Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Please feel free to comment on what I have said here, to offer suggestions, or to just say "hello." Hello Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBSS Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 When it comes time to order your new instrument cluster, call Speed-O-Tach to get it. Their units go for $225 and I got my mileage transferred for free with hardly any hassle. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks for the info- so I assume that the mileage info is in the hardware in the cluster, NOT the main vehicle computer, right? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdss Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 DO IT... the only thing we get a little sketchy about is when people put the badges on the truck...other than that...DO IT... and welcome <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbohrs Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Welcome, as a recent newbie and SS owner I agree as to the quality of this forum. As far as your plans for the truck, I have added black nerf bars for the convenience of my wife to get in the truck. I have also added splash guards because I live on a farm and have an unpaved driveway. The gravel would really do a number on the paint if I didn't have them. Besides I am an old man...well in age anyway. (I even have custom splash guards on my 'vette.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XGMTech Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Welcome to the site phenryiv1! So I see you are looking for a bedliner? I have one sitting in my garage I'd love to be rid of... if you are near Central Florida, it's yours! I just want it out of my way, so if phenryiv1 doesn't take it, and anyone out there needs one, PM me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted October 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Welcome to the site phenryiv1! So I see you are looking for a bedliner? I have one sitting in my garage I'd love to be rid of... if you are near Central Florida, it's yours! I just want it out of my way, so if phenryiv1 doesn't take it, and anyone out there needs one, PM me... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I am in Virginia, so no dice. I cannot imagine how much it woudl be to ship it! But I appreciate the offer. If anyone has a cheap shipping method in mind, let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoTToN Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Heres some sites that I am a member to that might be able to help you out. BTW you have a z71 so swap in a dana 60 up front and a 14 bolt int he back put on some 38's and get dirty. Or do that SS thing that will look good also . www.gmfullsize.com www.fullsizechevy.com www.pavementsucks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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