1999 Texas Tahoe Project

[spacecadetz26]

http://www.finishlinewheels.com/special ... 29+17+x+8/


?????? sweet!!!

[95BerettaBase]

Well, I'll just let the cat out out of the bag I suppose. I'm going to be going with the 20x9 Camaro wheels in the back and the 20x8 in the front. I'm looking at a set of black chrome replicas or the dark grey wheels that are on the 2012 models.

They will be one of the last things I buy for it because they'll be one of the most expensive.

[95BerettaBase]

Well I'm still in the process of installing the spindles, springs and shocks. I've been having a hell of a time pressing the ball joints out, but hopefully I'll have it finished soon. I went to the store today and grabbed new rotors & pads, inner/outter wheel bearings, wheel seals, and sway bar endlinks. I got most of the frame sprayed with undercoat as well. These are the only photos I have right now. I believe the total cost at the moment is somewhere around $1,000 for all of the things I've bought not including the actual truck.

[3X00-Modified]

You need one...



Harbor Freight sells these for $55... Used it on the old sportsman car that had the lower ball joint pressed into the lower control arm.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-in-1-bal ... 38335.html

[95BerettaBase]

You must be reading my mind. I am borrowing an older Snap On balljoint press from a friend. It looks the same, just a bit greasier.

[3X00-Modified]

lol, you mean seasoned...

[95BerettaBase]

I was reading up on the 2wd Tahoe and I found out there was a limited production of them in '99. I did not know that so I guess they are hard to find. On another note, I saw a Tahoe Limited last weekend and I have to say, those are pretty badass. It has made me think about colormatching the front end.


Back on topic, I haven't had that much time lately to do any work. Like I said before, I'm having a hell of a time on the balljoints. I have the lowers installed, but I can't figure out how to get the uppers off. I know they were riveted from the factory and then the new balljoints just bolt on. I've tried drilling out the rivets and using a pry bar. I figured next I'd try an air chisel, but I don't know if that will work either.



I also was able to throw my new headlights/parking lights in this afternoon. I bought a set off of eBay and just used the stock mounts and they went in with no problems.

[95BerettaBase]

Here is another shot of the front end with the new headlights. I may end up looking into a black chrome Street Scene grille for it eventually.


Well today I did something I've never done before. I went picking through someone's trash. I happened to go by a house and noticed a third row leather seat lying next to the road. I stopped and looked at it and didn't find any tears. It just needed a good cleaning. It came from a Suburban that was in a rollover so its bent just a bit in the center, but you can't even tell. I'm happy with the outcome of the cleaning.

Before:




During:


After:

[95BerettaBase]

We got the upper balljoints taken out today finally. Before I came into work tonight, I installed the new uppers, the passenger side spring & shock and the drop spindle. I'm hoping to have the front end re-assembled by Sunday night. All I need is an alignment and I can use it as my DD until November or so.

[Koots]

These trucks ride like caddy's when the front end is in good shape!

[95BerettaBase]

This will hopefully ride like a Camaro when its all said and done. I would like to look into new sway bars though. Once the suspension work is done, I'm having an alignment done and the front windows tinted. Then it is done until the spring. I'll gather interior parts over the winter and hopefully have everything in the interior finished over the winter. Once spring is here, the bodywork and paint will be starting.

I didn't realize these springs were so beefy. I'm hoping to have the driver side finished up tomorrow. My schedule is messed up so its a pain trying to find time to work on the truck.


Its hard to tell in this photo, but I undercoated the wheel well and the entire frame. All I have left is the rear axle.


Here are a couple photos of the spring/shock installed as well as the spindle. I still have a lot more to do.

[95BerettaBase]

A couple from earlier today.

[95BerettaBase]

Well we finished it around 6:30 this evening. I took it up town to wash it off and the key fob for the alarm died, which somehow disabled the engine. So we had to walk to the gas station to grab a battery. The truck then fired up and I went to pull out of the wash bay. I turned and the front wheels started grinding on the lower control arm. I remember reading somewhere that a 15" wheel is too small for the drop.......so it looks like a set of 17's may be in my near future. Here are several photos I took of it with everything installed. Hope you guys enjoy!!









Look familiar??? lol

[95BerettaBase]

I took a couple photos today that I just liked the look of so here we go. The truck is pretty much done for this year. I wanted to get the suspension parts done before this Fall. I plan on looking into Hotchkiss front and rear sway bars to tie it all together. I'm going to work on the interior this winter. I'd like to find a set of black/gray Tahoe Limited seats for it if I can. I'm installing Denali door panels inside as well as possibly having small portions of the interior hydrographic dipped in a black burlwood. Paint and body work will be in the spring along with wheels then.

[95BerettaBase]

Well. my new HIDs came in yesterday so we got them installed this evening. I went with 5000K Xentec HIDs. I got them off of eBay for $30. I had a set in my Sierra and my brother has a set in his Saturn and we've never had any issues with them. I was hoping they would be a bit whiter, but I suppose I will have to get 4500K for that.

A photo just for the hell of it