88GMCtruck's 98 Silverado Towpig Build: "Black Fox"

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sewlow

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Yea. I have a new passenger fender. The '98's driver's side isn't that bad, but it is tweaked.
Thinking about the '98's cowl hood for the '97. Like to keep the stocker on it now for whenever. So the '98 will need a hood.
In a bit of a quandry right now over the '98's future. Thinkin' about maybe dropping the '98's rear suspension under the '97, 3.73 posi & all, and cutting one of the '97's coils so it'll end up @ 4/7.
The V6 is puffing a bit of blue very now & then on the downshifts, so it may be time for a 5.3/t-56. Probably just valve seals, but I just can't see dropping even that minimal amount of $$$ into a 4.3.
WIth those 3.73's, a 5.3 + a moderate cam & headers, & she'll be a nasty ***** as a daily!
With the swapped rear out of my '97 & put back to just a 2/4 with the stock coils I have now in the stock pile, the '98 could be a 'for sale' candidate.
I'd also keep the buckets/console & swap them for the bench that's in my parts bin.
I dunno. Maybe I've lost a bit of steam on the '98 as a project. But then, if I was to come across a decentley priced 6.0/4L08e (6L80e!!!?) the perspective could change.
Only real diff between the 2 trucks is one's an auto/air/cruise & the other's a plain jane stick.
Wish I could combine the two.
Power everything + still be shifty, too!
I drove for the first 4 years of having a d/license with a stick. First loves, y'know? To me, a stick is for someone that likes to drive. A real truck. A MAN'S truck! No time to be suckin' back that triple, no-foam, decaf pumpkin latte! Lol!
 

88GMCtruck

I'm all 8-Luggy!
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Yea. I have a new passenger fender. The '98's driver's side isn't that bad, but it is tweaked.
Thinking about the '98's cowl hood for the '97. Like to keep the stocker on it now for whenever. So the '98 will need a hood.
In a bit of a quandry right now over the '98's future. Thinkin' about maybe dropping the '98's rear suspension under the '97, 3.73 posi & all, and cutting one of the '97's coils so it'll end up @ 4/7.
The V6 is puffing a bit of blue very now & then on the downshifts, so it may be time for a 5.3/t-56. Probably just valve seals, but I just can't see dropping even that minimal amount of $$$ into a 4.3.
WIth those 3.73's, a 5.3 + a moderate cam & headers, & she'll be a nasty ***** as a daily!
With the swapped rear out of my '97 & put back to just a 2/4 with the stock coils I have now in the stock pile, the '98 could be a 'for sale' candidate.
I'd also keep the buckets/console & swap them for the bench that's in my parts bin.
I dunno. Maybe I've lost a bit of steam on the '98 as a project. But then, if I was to come across a decentley priced 6.0/4L08e (6L80e!!!?) the perspective could change.
Only real diff between the 2 trucks is one's an auto/air/cruise & the other's a plain jane stick.
Wish I could combine the two.
Power everything + still be shifty, too!
I drove for the first 4 years of having a d/license with a stick. First loves, y'know? To me, a stick is for someone that likes to drive. A real truck. A MAN'S truck! No time to be suckin' back that triple, no-foam, decaf pumpkin latte! Lol!
Ah gotcha! I know the feeling of the first truck, and the 5-speed stuff!

Keep in mind, the fender on this has flares, so there are holes in it. A friend's father in-law got in a wreck and needs the whole driver's front corner, but his is also a 2wd with no flares. I need to look at the hood and see which is better between it and mine :lol:
 

sewlow

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Hmmm...Probably pass on the fender, then. Those aren't as hard to find as a good hood. Looked at 3 black ones in the wreckers yesterday. They were probably nice until they hit the yard. Damn pick-n-pull vultures will trash a $100.00 part to get at the $10.00 one!
 

88GMCtruck

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YAY MOAR THINGS

Decided it was time after many days thinking about it, that some more stereo upgrades were in order. most of this is just wiring stuff which isn't very exciting, so here are the highlights.

First off was a sub. Without building something custom, my options are limited. I didn't want to take the factory jack tools and tray out, so that leaves under the rear seat. I found a matched 8" Pioneer shallow mount that fits under the seat no problem. Amp fits right next to it.

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Part of my stereo system uses a GPS antenna, so I did what I did with my Sirius antenna in the 88 and hid it under a cab light.
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And, the stereo installed. I purchased the Pioneer SPH-DA120 AppRadio 4. It's a capacitive touch screen with Apple CarPlay. It doesn't have an optical drive (I haven't used mine in years anyway). Basically my goal was to add handsfree integration, AUX inputs, and a backup camera and this fit the bill. I installed it with a Metra 95-3003G double din install kit. This kit isn't the full bezel, it is a trim plate that snaps over your existing bezel (which you trim). It looks good for what it is, although in my case it is temporary as I will be modifying my Escalade bezel at a later date.

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Biggershaft96

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Wow thats starting to look like more of a cockpit then a cab lol. Do your steering wheel audio controls still work with the new radio?
 

OutlawDrifter

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Very clean setup. I run an 8" Boston sub in my pickup, it provides more than enough "thump" for my needs.
 

88GMCtruck

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Just some eye candy from the other day while I had the truck at work.

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Also, got my rear view camera installed, it works really well. I like having the view on the freeway and will be great for hooking the trailer up.
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