New 2001 in the barn :)

[jocko]

Have been looking for a new dd to eventually replace my 2001 Z71 with ~270K+ on it (if it ever dies) and just couldn't stomach $25K-$35K for a good condition used 2013-2014 2500HD (with anywhere from 50K-150K mi on it). So, I looked for a less expensive alternative.

Well, when I say a "new" 2001, I mean new. Found this in MN the day it was listed (why can't I ever find them locally...), flew out a few days later, paid, drove home. I'm pretty happy with it.

2001 2500HD 8.1/Allison/3.73 - got 12-13mpg all the way.
Original paint, original tires. 11.6K miles.

Thanks to the folks that helped me with some of my 8.1/Allison (and a few other topics) questions, much appreciated! (Hatzie, Leevon, JoesJunk, AASmedic, 95 S_Trucker, Keith Seymore, chewychevy67)
Despite a few 396 Impalas in my past, I'm much more a small block sorta guy, but after driving this home for 1700 miles, I'm a believer. I hated to put >10% of this trucks total mileage in 18 years on it in one weekend, but it was worth it. Now I'm hoping my Z71 lasts forever so I can save this one from my gravel road And it just might.

[TKCR]

Wow!! Nice find. I'm like you, I can't stomach the prices they want for a used full size truck. But if I could find something like this, I'd be a happy camper!!

[Joesjunk]

Congratulations Mark, that’s one heck of a truck! Maybe we can find you another driver so you can keep that one as a survivor 😉

[Joe67]

Nice find! Should provide many years of loyal service

[jocko]

Originally Posted by Joesjunk

Maybe we can find you another driver so you can keep that one as a survivor 😉

Has already crossed my mind. The search never ends!

[68Gold/white]

Your old pickup will last as long as you want it to...I am working on a friends 2003 Cad Escalade (she bought it well used...). It has 360,000 miles on it, runs fine, it's only issue is an oil leak...

[mikebte]

Very nice. Good addition to the old Chevy in the back ground.

[hatzie]

Nice rig.

[fun in dirt]

Sweeet Score!!!

[jocko]

I'm finding out just how much room that 8.1 takes up. It took a little gymnastics just to change the oil filter, ha! Gonna have to rig up some sort of plastic funnel doo-hicky to avoid dousing the front driveshaft in oil ever time. Keep thinking I have an oil leak when I walk out to the truck, but it's just the remains of the oil change itself still dripping off the crossmember and d/s...

Btw, I ozone bombed the interior to get rid of the smoke smell. I'm gonna have to drag out a few cigars to get rid of the ozone smell now.. But, it is a big improvement. Smoke smell wasn't bad, but it was there. Can't tell now. Did a lot of scrubbing of the fabric, etc.

The spousal unit likes the chrome tube steps, of course. I really don't, never have liked the looks of them, and also don't like crawling around under em when I'm working on the truck. I like the old Kodiak Sidewinder steps, they're small and retract almost all the way out of the way, but nobody sells them anymore than I can find anyway. Anyway, while I refused to only drive with a passenger side tube step () I have a sneaky suspicion these tube steps are gonna go bye bye.

Found a mouse's nest under the air filter. A dead mouse, that is. That thing had trashed the inside of the filter housing. Luckily the filter did its job, nothing got thru, and no damage otherwise, just soap and water.

[Boog]

Congrats on a great find and your good luck to see it the day it was posted. You were the first one to the party. It still looks new. That's the truck I'd like to find just to pull my 5th wheel.
You can place a bowl of baking soda in the closed up cab to absorb some odors or a bowl of vinegar will do the same I am told. Smoke odors in the fabric is hard to get out.

[allchevy58]

Nice find. I'd call that a barn find.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by jocko

I'm finding out just how much room that 8.1 takes up. It took a little gymnastics just to change the oil filter, ha! Gonna have to rig up some sort of plastic funnel doo-hicky to avoid dousing the front driveshaft in oil ever time. Keep thinking I have an oil leak when I walk out to the truck, but it's just the remains of the oil change itself still dripping off the crossmember and d/s...

Btw, I ozone bombed the interior to get rid of the smoke smell. I'm gonna have to drag out a few cigars to get rid of the ozone smell now.. But, it is a big improvement. Smoke smell wasn't bad, but it was there. Can't tell now. Did a lot of scrubbing of the fabric, etc.

The spousal unit likes the chrome tube steps, of course. I really don't, never have liked the looks of them, and also don't like crawling around under em when I'm working on the truck. I like the old Kodiak Sidewinder steps, they're small and retract almost all the way out of the way, but nobody sells them anymore than I can find anyway. Anyway, while I refused to only drive with a passenger side tube step () I have a sneaky suspicion these tube steps are gonna go bye bye.

Found a mouse's nest under the air filter. A dead mouse, that is. That thing had trashed the inside of the filter housing. Luckily the filter did its job, nothing got thru, and no damage otherwise, just soap and water.

Have you changed the cabin air filters?
Your 01 has a pair of em side by side. You pull one out and then slide the leftover filter to the hole and out the same way you pulled out the first one.
Usually they're pretty nasty because nobody changes them. Be ready with a shop vac and crevice tool. Mice and red squirrels like to build nests in the HVAC air handler too but they don't generally make it past the cabin filters.
It'll go a long way toward getting rid of any leftover interior odors.

[86454k30]

Very nice find! I have an 06 GMC regular cab 8.1 that I put amp research power steps on. Just have to cut down a pair of extended/crew boards. I put black stepbars on mine when I bought it, lasted for about 4 weeks and then put the amp boards on.

[CG]

I bought a low mileage used truck recently (wont name it here, don't wanna see the torches and pitch forks in my driveway). The previous owners took their dog in it everywhere. No sign of the dog except a little hair, and the dog smell. We don't have any pets so that probably made the smell a little worse for us.

Bought the ozone spray and it helped a little. Bought a large bunch of my favorite stinky trees and placed them over all the air outlets. Three months later I think its just fine now. But I cant really tell if its better, or I just got used to the smell because I drive it everyday.

After we bought the truck we were actually very happy with it. I tried but couldn't find (we were in a hurry) a Chevy or GMC in the same category. And then here on the board a bunch of you guys post up your amazing Chevy and GMC finds ... sigh. I really like your truck, that green color is one of my favorites ... congrats!

[68SWB4x4]

Man that’s sweet! My favorite color for these as well.

[jocko]

broke down and stuck a little cap on it. like the looks a tad better without it, but it sure is useful

[jocko]

Originally Posted by 86454k30

Very nice find! I have an 06 GMC regular cab 8.1 that I put amp research power steps on. Just have to cut down a pair of extended/crew boards. I put black stepbars on mine when I bought it, lasted for about 4 weeks and then put the amp boards on.

Thanks very much for sharing - can you post some close-ups of them when they are "up" with doors shut? So you just chopped the end to make them the right length? I always wondered if amp made reg cab steps, but hadn't looked yet.

You've inspired me Ha. I really don't like my tube bars.. they are NOT growing on my. I have a buddy that is gonna buy amps for his dodge and said he'd give me his pair of kodiak sidewinders (good friend!). I sure wish they still made those brand new. amps aren't inexpensive, but they might be the ticket. Would love to see some more pics of your truck too. Did you level the front? I'm on the fence. If you happened to use new t-keys, am curious how that compared to the original ride. I don't want to just crank my stock torsion bars up and stiffen the ride up and git bouncy, but am curious if the ride with aftermarket leveling torsion keys is worse than a stock one also. My front wheelwell lips are actually 2.5" lower than the rears.

[Killer Bee]

nice truck found a great home!

+1 on the cabin air filter replacement.. and I've heard fresh apple chips are good smell absorbers..

I was previously told my '02 GMC didn't have a cabin air after so it was long overdue when I discovered it did in fact have a set.. 13 years worth

found nuts n bolts info here and posted my experience toward end of that thread, same user name.. https://www.silveradosierra.com/how-...-t8476-20.html

I also posted info on improving vent flow, found duct joints in the console leaking excessively and made a few mods to greatly improve flow..

here's some fun stuff you might find, good luck!





note from factory worker

[hatzie]

Different keys do the same thing as cranking them up. The only difference is the adjustment bolt is still centred.
If you're going to lift it get different A-arms and do an alignment afterwards.
There's a thread on another board that has a long long long post about how torsion bars work and what keys etc do.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by Killer Bee

nice truck found a great home!

+1 on the cabin air filter replacement.. and I've heard fresh apple chips are good smell absorbers..

I was previously told my '02 GMC didn't have a cabin air after so it was long overdue when I discovered it did in fact have a set.. 13 years worth

found nuts n bolts info here and posted my experience toward end of that thread, same user name.. https://www.silveradosierra.com/how-...-t8476-20.html

I also posted info on improving vent flow, found duct joints in the console leaking excessively and made a few mods to greatly improve flow..

here's some fun stuff you might find, good luck!

Ha, yes, I learned my other 01 had cabin air filters after about the same amount of time. Wondered why my a/c seemed to be choking... So now I change them regularly. Sure wish uncle gm had used a better size and easier access bolt to hold it all together. Something like a 5 and 7 mm socket required. Could've just been a clip... ha. And I wonder how many people think the filters always come as a two-fer so that you have one for "next time"? It was pure luck that I discovered there were two filters stacked the first time around. Apple chips eh..?

[jocko]

Originally Posted by hatzie

Different keys do the same thing as cranking them up. The only difference is the adjustment bolt is still centred.
If you're going to lift it get different A-arms and do an alignment afterwards.
There's a thread on another board that has a long long long post about how torsion bars work and what keys etc do.

Thx Hatzie. That is my understanding - aftermarket keys just in essence give you "more bolt". I'm amazed by how much misinformation there is out there, and here on this board. Lots of it. I had already read several threads on it here (some of which was very good, some was way off the mark), heard some BS from the experts today at the shop where the cap was installed, yada yada. Was trying to sort it out to see if I was out to lunch. Simply put, if you raise the truck exactly 1.5" with new keys or the original keys, the ride will change whatever it's gonna change, regardless of method. 2"? same ride whether done with new keys or originals. I think that is the main bad gouge floating around out there - that somehow you can raise a truck 2" with aftermarket keys and it will somehow ride better than if you raised it that same amount with the original keys. Granted, you may not be ABLE to raise it the full 2" with original keys, but from an apples to apples lift perspective, the truck raises x amount due to x amount of additional twist on the torsion bars, regardless of key choice. Anyway, maybe someday, but for now I think I'll just leave it where it is. Rides nice, and it's already aligned. I may go with slightly bigger tires when the time comes, but none that will require a lift to fit.

Thanks for all the replies!

[Killer Bee]

looked this up when I got home and it sounds reasonable to me but I'm no chemist/scientist by a long shot..

Does an Apple Absorb Smoke Smell?

The apple slices remove the bad odor that lingers in your car or house. The apple absorbs the smoke smells when you cut it open. The reason for this is that the apple oxides and takes the bad smoke smells with it. Oxidizing is how an Ozone Generator works to remove odors also. Ozone Generators can be expensive but using apples removes the smoke smell also.

heard about this years before this article but don't see a lot on the subject so maybe, maybe not..

thanks to Mrs. Bee, apples are stock item in our fridge so I figured it's an inexpensive chance to take..

if they don't work, you still have a delicious snack

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by jocko

Thx Hatzie. That is my understanding - aftermarket keys just in essence give you "more bolt". I'm amazed by how much misinformation there is out there, and here on this board. Lots of it. I had already read several threads on it here (some of which was very good, some was way off the mark), heard some BS from the experts today at the shop where the cap was installed, yada yada. Was trying to sort it out to see if I was out to lunch. Simply put, if you raise the truck exactly 1.5" with new keys or the original keys, the ride will change whatever it's gonna change, regardless of method. 2"? same ride whether done with new keys or originals. I think that is the main bad gouge floating around out there - that somehow you can raise a truck 2" with aftermarket keys and it will somehow ride better than if you raised it that same amount with the original keys. Granted, you may not be ABLE to raise it the full 2" with original keys, but from an apples to apples lift perspective, the truck raises x amount due to x amount of additional twist on the torsion bars, regardless of key choice. Anyway, maybe someday, but for now I think I'll just leave it where it is. Rides nice, and it's already aligned. I may go with slightly bigger tires when the time comes, but none that will require a lift to fit.

Thanks for all the replies!

The biggest issue with just cranking up the torsion bars, with whatever method floats your boat, is that you take the inches of lift away from the A-arm travel. Slamming the OEM A-Arms hard against the stops repeatedly does bad things to the suspension mounting points.

Lifting is a mildly dangerous game and it costs real money to do it right.
It raises Caine with the axle shafts to lift it more than a couple inches... probably more like more than an inch of lift is an issue. If you lift it more than two inches you really want to drop the front axle down. Not as far as you're lifting it but it shouldn't stay in the factory location. The transfer case and rear axle pinoin angle need to be mated again... Shocks need to be modified as well by either raising the mounts or putting longer shocks in place with the correct valving. etc etc etc.

It becomes an exercise in mitigating the extremes so stuff doesn't wear out as fast as it might otherwise but it'll never last as long as it will using the factory settings and the road feel is never the same lifted as it is using stock suspension.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by CG

I bought a low mileage used truck recently (wont name it here, don't wanna see the torches and pitch forks in my driveway). The previous owners took their dog in it everywhere. No sign of the dog except a little hair, and the dog smell. We don't have any pets so that probably made the smell a little worse for us.

Bought the ozone spray and it helped a little. Bought a large bunch of my favorite stinky trees and placed them over all the air outlets. Three months later I think its just fine now. But I cant really tell if its better, or I just got used to the smell because I drive it everyday.

After we bought the truck we were actually very happy with it. I tried but couldn't find (we were in a hurry) a Chevy or GMC in the same category. And then here on the board a bunch of you guys post up your amazing Chevy and GMC finds ... sigh. I really like your truck, that green color is one of my favorites ... congrats!

Originally Posted by 68SWB4x4

Man that’s sweet! My favorite color for these as well.

Thanks guys, appreciate the kind words. This has always been one of my favorite colors also. Have had a blue 2001 since new, and still have it (270kish on it), and like that color too, but nice to have a change. I know what you mean about not being able to find them - I looked for a long time, found this about 3 hours after it was posted, called, flew to MN two days later and drove it home - seller was kind enough to hold it for me once I told them I'd be there at such and such time. But I do think they thought I was crazy to fly up there and drive it home... Or maybe they were just hoping the air fresheners didn't wear off before I reached the end of the driveway.