Death of a Conversion

[Primered_69]

This is a build thread to catch up with the last three years of updates and show the future ones.

This is how the truck looked three years ago. A truck I inherited from my dad that was the epitome of cool in 1997.



Then I got hit by a vehicle in the bad place know as Dallas that allowed me to make changes to make it mine.

[Primered_69]

Since the running boards, grill and front bumper.

First up was billet grill install



Next color matched front bumper and rear bumper...



Then stripping the running boards off

[Primered_69]

Now the problem was that it sat too high and that it had goofy tailights.



But from the front looked pretty good...

[Primered_69]

I decided the conversion truck wheels looked out dated so I decided to change the look




So then driving home Christmas day Texas has a few snowflakes and someone hits me on the freeway...good bye goofy lights.

[Primered_69]

After the wreck I fixed the back and got a new rear bumper. Then I decided it was time for some lowering.

1st was a 2" drop via spindles



and from the side...better but not there yet

[Primered_69]

So time for a 4/6 from the only person that I would trust doing something like this with me...



this is the scene of the crime that caused this to my buddy



but it turned out nice

[Primered_69]

Next my mom backed into my grille...so i decided time for a new grille direction

[aggie91]

I can relate, custom by crunch...

It gets crunched so it time to make it custom...

That is exactly how I did my '98 when I had it...

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Primered_69

So time for a 4/6 from the only person that I would trust doing something like this with me...



]

Once the women see that picture they're gonna be stalking me. The exceptional taste in clothes. The rugged work boots. Who could blame them.

[likaroc13]

Cool truck. My old '93 started out the same way as the 3-years ago pic. I got it in '98, & it was still the epitome of cool (at least in a MS hick town ). Sucks that yours got dinged up a couple times, but sometimes that's how modification sickness begins. My first roll pan came about after an old man backed into me. I'm glad you decided to do the color-matched grille. To me it always looks a bit weird with the chrome grille/painted bumper combo. With a painted grille/chrome bumper combo it usually looks better to me, however all-chrome front or all-painted looks best IMO. I dig the 4/6 stance too. What size tires are you running?

[ERASER5]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Once the women see that picture they're gonna be stalking me. The exceptional taste in clothes. The rugged work boots. Who could blame them.

Somewhere I can just faintly hear Fine69 saying "Drop dead sexy.."

[Primered_69]

Originally Posted by likaroc13

Cool truck. My old '93 started out the same way as the 3-years ago pic. I got it in '98, & it was still the epitome of cool (at least in a MS hick town ). Sucks that yours got dinged up a couple times, but sometimes that's how modification sickness begins. My first roll pan came about after an old man backed into me. I'm glad you decided to do the color-matched grille. To me it always looks a bit weird with the chrome grille/painted bumper combo. With a painted grille/chrome bumper combo it usually looks better to me, however all-chrome front or all-painted looks best IMO. I dig the 4/6 stance too. What size tires are you running?

215/75/15 in front and 255/70/15 in back. Being in urban city I needed sidewall.

[Tx Firefighter]

Michael, how has the 4/6 worked out over time ? I've had a bunch of 4/6 dropped regular cab trucks, but when we got yours all lowered it kind of shocked me as to how big and low that extended cab really is. I can see you rubbing the belly of that thing all over town on bad parking lots and stuff. Is it okay to live with day in and day out ?

[Primered_69]

Due to my springs so old it sagged more than 4/6. So I got new springs up front and now I do not bottom out in front very often. Plus I added a 1" lift shackle in back and that got me closer to 6" drop in back. That was more a 5/7 drop. Only thing that will scrap in back is the drivers side shock extender. Drives real smooth.

[Primered_69]

I want to add a bell tech air bag assist that will bolt right on to the cnotch bolts in back to have some adjustability and load rating. It's pretty slick

[Tx Firefighter]

So did you buy lowering springs or cut a set of stockers ?

[Primered_69]

Actually had someone who gave me a 1" drop spring. Then I cut that one a half coil

[Tx Firefighter]

Did that ABS sensor wire that I whacked with the hammer ever rear up and cause a dash light to come on ? I wasn't sure how effective the wire repair would be in the long haul.

[Tx Firefighter]

I got nothing. All I have experience with is stock brakes rebuilt with normal parts. I have put braided hoses on before though. 88-98 trucks are real bad about front hoses collapsing internally.

[flashed]

I thought I recognised that sore finger .

[Primered_69]

so what type of pads would you recommend.

[Tx Firefighter]

For my trucks, I just usually order a decent quality Wagner or Bendix from Rockauto. Not the economy line and not the ultra performance stuff either. That's just my route but I'm always happy with factory brakes as long as they're in good condition.

[Primered_69]

what do you think of this

http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=285356

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by Primered_69

215/75/15 in front and 255/70/15 in back. Being in urban city I needed sidewall.

Thanks. You won't hear any complaints from me about beefy tires. I refuse to run rubber bands myself.

Originally Posted by Primered_69

Due to my springs so old it sagged more than 4/6. So I got new springs up front and now I do not bottom out in front very often. Plus I added a 1" lift shackle in back and that got me closer to 6" drop in back. That was more a 5/7 drop. Only thing that will scrap in back is the drivers side shock extender. Drives real smooth.

I thought it looked lower than 4/6.

Originally Posted by Primered_69

I want to add a bell tech air bag assist that will bolt right on to the cnotch bolts in back to have some adjustability and load rating. It's pretty slick

My Tahoe has the helper bags. Not sure if they're BellTech or not, but they'll come in handy if I ever tow or haul anything heavy.

Originally Posted by Primered_69

what do you think of this

http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=285356

There's a thread on here about the switch to NBS master cylinder as well.

[Low Elco]

I've had good luck with quietstop Wagner pads. Lots less dust.