2000 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext Cab | Gas Saver

I'll start off saying I have a couple vehicles. A 1996 GMC Yukon 2wd (Project Yukon HD), a 2000 Jeep Cherokee (XJ), and a 1991 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) (Trail Rig). Well, recently I acquired my grandmother's 2000 GMC Sonoma.

I started a new job in July working at a GM dealer and drive 60 miles round trip a day (all highway), needless to say the Jeep (2000) and Yukon don't get that great of gas milage. Jeep's lifted and hasn't been regeared yet so it get's anywhere from 10-12 MPG and the Yukon is pretty much the same. So I knew at some point when money got right I'd be looking at adding another vehicle for a DD... Most likely would have been a late model GMT800 Z71. But, things happened and I had access to get the Sonoma, so I did.

First off if anyone is interested in my other vehicles, here they are:

2000 Jeep Cherokee (XJ), was the first vehicle I got in March of 2008. 5" lift, bumpers, tire carrier, winch, locker, etc.
Build thread: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/2000-cherokee-sport-143490/


1996 GMC Yukon, got in September of 2014. 5" lift, bumpers and tire carrier, winch, 20x10 Anthem's, etc.
Working on getting SAS parts together and convert to 4wd
Build thread: http://www.gmt400.com/threads/project-yukon-hd-1996-yukon-c1500.33671/


1991 Jeep Cherokee, got it March of 2017 (this year). Think it's got 3" or so lift (came that way) and not much else. As it sits it has a blown head gasket from the last time I took it out.
Build thread: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/91-xj-laredo-trail-jeep-234322/


Now onto the Sonoma. It has 77,800 miles. When I got it in November, it had been sitting for an unknown length of time and the battery was dead. Have since charged it and it's holding and starting the 2.2L fine but it's bad, only 430 cca out of 700 cca. So that will need to be addressed in the near future.

It's a 2.2L SLS extended cab long wheelbase, according to research it's the highest trim and longest of the models for the year. No power convenience package though, so manual locks, windows, and mirrors.


Here's the introduction video I did, as you will come to find out. I don't take as many pictures as I used to (look at my 2000 XJ build thread for picture overload), I do a lot of videos though and that is where I forget to take pictures. But I still try and remember to take detailed pictures when I can.

It took some time to get the paperwork so I didn't start driving it 'til yesterday. But before that, Sunday I took the subwoofer out of the Trail Jeep and put it in the back so I'd have a little bass until I get the subs I want.


Video of sub install

Even still, before I drive it up to work I ordered rims and tires for it since the old tires were dry rotted. I ordered some 18x8 IROC (Z) wheels, 255/45R18 Falken Ziex Ze950 tires, red splined lug nuts, red TR413 valve stems, and some 73 to 70.3 hub center rings. As you might be able to tell, I'm going with a red and black theme with this build.

18x8 IROC (Z) wheels


255/45R18 Falken Ziex Ze950 tires


red splined lug nuts


73 to 70.3 hub center rings


At work in the morning, I installed the wheels and tires after work.


After work mount, balanced, and installed.





I also ordered a ~2003 double DIN dash bezel since I plan to install a double DIN at some point.



That's it so far, the next upgrade will be to lower it 2/2 to get rid of some of the wheel gap. Other plans are s10 Xtreme front bumper, a full bellet looking s10 grille so I can get the s10 back headlights/turn signals and them put a 2017 GMC emblem in the center. All LED lighting and thats it so far. But like everything, you are almost never done.

Should have a video soon about the rims and tires.

Those wheels look great! Excellent choice. Where did you buy them?

For the record, they never made an extended cab long bed S10/Sonoma. You could only get the long beds on a regular cab.

Nice truck, I liked the video you made for it. I wouldn't recommend any type of custom exhaust for it whatsoever. Like most 4 cylinders, the quieter, the better IMO. I bought a 2000 Xtreme many years ago with the 4 cyl, and it had some kind of loud aftermarket exhaust on it. I was soooo happy to pay an exhaust shop to replace it with a quiet OEM-style exhaust. And it's not very often I pay money to make something quieter, it's usually the other way around

I've owned four of these trucks, two of the 4.3 and two of the 2.2, and really liked them all. Great choice for a daily.

2 Sweet said:

Those wheels look great! Excellent choice. Where did you buy them?

For the record, they never made an extended cab long bed S10/Sonoma. You could only get the long beds on a regular cab.

Nice truck, I liked the video you made for it. I wouldn't recommend any type of custom exhaust for it whatsoever. Like most 4 cylinders, the quieter, the better IMO. I bought a 2000 Xtreme many years ago with the 4 cyl, and it had some kind of loud aftermarket exhaust on it. I was soooo happy to pay an exhaust shop to replace it with a quiet OEM-style exhaust. And it's not very often I pay money to make something quieter, it's usually the other way around

I've owned four of these trucks, two of the 4.3 and two of the 2.2, and really liked them all. Great choice for a daily.

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Thanks! I got them from eBay. Seem like good construction from what I looks at them.

Yeah, I saw a long bed today and noticed a difference, it's interesting though because when I was looking at the wheel base lingths I could've of swore there was two different lengths for the extended cabs. Must of been bad information (KBB). And yeah, I've pretty much decided to keep the exhaust stock. I hate the sound of a fart can, but I also like loud good sounding exhaust. So I guess this one is going to be without it, unlike my two Jeeps and Yukon.

Yeah, so far I'm loving it. Seems it might need some valve body work on the trans, don't think it ever had the recall/service bulletin done to it. Torque converter doesn't want to always lock up in overdrive all the way and the RPM bounces up and down 100 RPM or so (between 40 and 50ish). OR doesn't lock up at all (sometimes at highway speeds). Shouldn't be too big of a deal though.


Also forgot to post, it has 77,8XX miles on it.

Yup I'll be checking out the jeep threads. I like these lil trucks, my grandpa has one he bought brand new in 99, 2000 model, and it's only had 1 problem which was a dead battery from sitting since he doesn't drive much anymore. Think hes got 90k on it

I almost bought a white extended cab 4.3/5spd when I bought my 400. I anyways wanted a crew cab Sonoma. Looking forward to seeing the progress one this one. The paint looks like it would benefit from a good buff and polish.

BerHntr said:

The paint looks like it would benefit from a good buff and polish.

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Yeah, it definitely could use a buff and some wax. As far as I can tell, the clear coat seems to be sticking and not pealing (like my Yukon) and it also has some scratches and paint transfer down the side. Looks like a lot will buff out but some is through to the primer but doesn't look like it got down to bare metal.

Just a heads up on the 2.2. I see a lot of s10's on Craigslist for great prices that say that they need an engine. Every one of them is the 2.2.

skylark said:

Just a heads up on the 2.2. I see a lot of s10's on Craigslist for great prices that say that they need an engine. Every one of them is the 2.2.

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Yeah, from some research, it seems the timing chain and head gaskets are the main problem with the 2.2. Timing chain issues can be avoided by regular maintenance and looking out for timing chain noise. Head gasket is just something if it happens, it happens. But supposedly the later models are better than the earlier ones.

Also common for oil leaks, looks like my valve cover, oil pan, and rear main are leaking. Also a sensor on the side of the block. I'll probably just fix the valve cover and look at that sensor for now. Since to do the oil pan you have to pull the motor... Runs too good at the moment for me to want to pull the motor out.

Took a video in the parking lot during lunch today with the new wheels and got a picture in the daylight.

Well, I got my new center caps in for the IROC's last week. Like I thought, they did need a little modification to work with the wheels. But the center caps I bought I imported them from Australia. Figured it out yet? They are OEM GM parts, but under there Australian branch. Holden. I ordered some Holden Commodore center caps. More specifically the Holden Commodore SSV Redline caps (just like any other GM Redline edition). The Holden Commodore is the same thing as the Chevy SS, in fact, they imported them from the australian assembly plant to the US. So you see people in the states importing the Holden grille, center caps, and other badging to make the SS's into Commodore's. But, the SS and Commodore in there current form (V8, RWD) are discontinued since they closed the assembly plant in October. (RIP)

Anyway, what makes the Redline edition caps so special is, they are red besides the normal back. (like any of the other GM redline products, they had lots of red accents) The GM part number for them is 92286946.


And here is what they look like. Again, the regular caps have a black background, but since I'm going a black and red theme, I wanted more red on the rims. The logo is a Lion and a racing helmet.


Then on the modifications, they fit in the hole of the rim, but the tabs were too long. I already knew that would probably be a problem so I had just planned to do something on the backside to hold it tight. But the cap itself was also smaller in diameter, I knew that also but it was smaller than planned. So I just popped the holden emblems off the cap they came on and modified my IROC caps.

The Holden caps had 4 tabs and 1 pin that corresponded to slits and holes on the OEM cap. So I took the OEM cap, centered it up in the IROC cap, drilled a couple holes and installed some self taper screw to temporarily hold the caps together, and then I took a dremel and routed the holes out.

Here's what that looked like after.



Then I snapped the Holden emblem into the cap, and just to be sure I JB Welded the cap on. Since the plastic was thicker on the IROC cap and I just wanted to be safe. Seemed to hold fine but still.



Here it is on the IROC's (the first one I made, got better by the last). The red is a little brighter than the lug nuts, valve stem, and body color. But after looking at it for a week and in direct sunlight, it's actually not bad.



Then a couple days later I made the last two caps. Got a lot better at making them and even got them to snap in really good and secure. Still JB Welded them though, just because I wanted to be safe... The caps were not cheap.




Here's an overall picture with them. Really need to figure out a way to clean my lifeproof over the camera. So small it's hard to clean any dust or smears off it and it smears the pictures/videos that are reflective. Oh well.


And here's a video I did of making the last one. It's a cell phone video again, didn't feel like going inside and getting my camcorder (through after videoing it, and remember why I got the camcorder in the first place, makes me wish I'd went inside and gotten it.). Decent enough video, just focus problems (could be the lifeproof affecting it, this new phone has a good camera) and blurry from smears in reflective areas.

That's it for now. I was going to order the drop kit, but the transmission is taking priority. Got out the Torque App and did some looking at various transmission PIDs and could definitely see when it was locked up and when it was not. Alos found out when it's not locked and slipping the trans fluid it getting to 260°F. That's really not good, shouldn't be much more than 200°F (or engine temp.)

So sometime this week I'm ordering an ACDelco valve body, ACDelco separator plate/gaskets, and trans filter/gasket. And other stuff like fluid (going to try and get it flushed by either me or the trans guy at work) my even order new check balls just incase I lose one or one is damaged. Also if the valve body doesn't come with them, new ACDelco solenoids.