What did you do to your GMT today?

[HARDTRAILZ]

Taking it to play in the snow

 

[fr34kout]

On my 1/0 I use my wire cutter that looks like this:

First I crimp it as good as I can by hand on one side of the split in the terminal, then I position that center nub thing in the middle of one side. I put it flat on the concrete, squeeze it down, then use a hammer to hit the handle end of the wire cutter / crimper. That nub ends up sinking into the terminal and bringing some of the brass / copper with it. Then I turn the wire around and do the other side and try to get them to overlap with each side having this deep "crater" so it can't move. Works great, I've never like the hammer punches.

 

[The_Roadie]

FINALLY, after my brother came back from Wisconsin for another winter of snow-avoidance, he ground the welds he didn't finish last year (and I was not able to get to), primed and truck bed lined it, and I got it back on today without his help!

Also reinstalled a LED-lit license plate holder that keeps the plate out of the way of rocks, but finally street-legal where my old liftgate position was not. Please excuse the hose spray ... I know my truck normally runs around like Pigpen. I had to get some of the dust off from last weekend.

View attachment 32314

 

[blazinlow89]

It's a miracle, the Roadiemobile is clean.

Bumper looks good.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

GoRhino Center Grille Guard arrived via FedEx!! Unfortunately I have been working overnights, and was asleep when delivered. Hope to have it installed on Wed or Thurs!!

 

[dmanns67]

Gave my TB a well deserved cleaning. Had about three weeks of liquid deicer and road salt all over it.

 

[Envoy_04]

Gave my TB a well deserved cleaning. Had about three weeks of liquid deicer and road salt all over it.

You mean you didn't get hammered with snow? Over on this side of the state we got hit with snow all day, probably 4-5 inches new snow just today - been way too cold, snowy, and windy for any cleaning to go on here.

 

[dmanns67]

You mean you didn't get hammered with snow? Over on this side of the state we got hit with snow all day, probably 4-5 inches new snow just today - been way too cold, snowy, and windy for any cleaning to go on here.

Not today. My weather channel app said we were supposed to get a few inches today, but now it looks like it is coming Sunday. Today was the "warmest" day its been other than the day it was 51º.

 

[Playsinsnow]

Gave it a wash. Parked for the weekend because it's so salty out. Sure does look good clean. Hopefully it dumps good tomorrow. Love driving in late with no one else out.

 

[Juicy K]

Yesterday my Mothers 02' Trailblazer started to smoke (from under the hood) while she was on her way to work. She popped the hood to find oil was all over the exhaust manifold and it was burning off. Dad and I started tearing into it to replace the valve cover gasket, when we removed the intake silencer from over the cam cover we got quite a bit of CLEAN water out of it. Once the coils were pulled off the plug valley for CYL 1-5 were all filled with oil. LOL I will have to see if I can get the pictures from him tomorrow. And her throttle body was the dirtiest I have ever seen, even compared to pics ive seen here and the OS. Last time I cleaned it for her was back in 2010 (the year she got it).

 

[IllogicTC]

Not today. My weather channel app said we were supposed to get a few inches today, but now it looks like it is coming Sunday. Today was the "warmest" day its been other than the day it was 51º.

Sounds like a housewife with a husband away from home a lot. "I was supposed to get a few inches today!"

State didn't even come through the main highway til about 9pm around here.

 

[Venomhatch]

Ok so I am trying to figure this out for my next few things I am doing but this first. Has anyone here taken off the parking brake handle and boot? I don't want to remove the whole assembly if I don't have to. But I got a used SS E brake, handle, boot, and assembly.

 

[IllogicTC]

Ok so I am trying to figure this out for my next few things I am doing but this first. Has anyone here taken off the parking brake handle and boot? I don't want to remove the whole assembly if I don't have to. But I got a used SS E brake, handle, boot, and assembly.

I'm going to quote from the Haynes because this process seems to be a very long and painful one.

1. Disconnect negative battery terminal. (Does this really need done? Maybe, I dunno)
2. Remove the floor console
3. Chock the wheels and place the lever in its fully-released position
4. Under the vehicle, pull the equalizer toward the rear of the vehicle to expose the cable. Clamp the exposed cable with locking pliers to hold the cable extended. Be careful not to damage the plastic coating on the cable.
5. Inside the vehicle, use a screwdriver to turn the self-adjuster clip to the lock position. It's a clip at the base, next to the toothed piece of metal.
6. Under the vehicle, release your clamp.
7. Inside, lift the brake lever partway, but stop before the self-adjuster touches the mounting bracket tab. Lift the latch, then raise the lever all the way.
8. Inside, disconnect the connector for the warning light.
9. Under, free the cables from the equalizer.
10. Unscrew the mounting nuts, then lift it from its mounting stud. There's three mounting nuts, I believe one toward the back of the metal bracket and the two on the front corners.

To reinstall:
1. Install the new lever and tighten the nuts securely, then connect the electrical connector.
2. Reconnect the cables to the equalizer
3. Inside the vehicle, lower the parking lever, then raise it. Pull the boot up to expose the multiplier lever at the front, then raise and lower the multiplier three times to re-enable the automatic adjuster.
4. Pull and release the lever three times to adjust the cables, then reposition the boot.
5. Check the operation before driving.


To remove center console:
1. Loosen the setscrew in the side of the shift lever, using an allen wrench.
2. Squeeze the sides of the boot to release the clips, then lift the knob to remove it and the boot.
3. Open the console lid and remove the six screws inside. Four in the top corners, two down in the bottom.
4. Remove the console mount screws. You'll see what looks like a bar running from the left to the right side under the storage bin, theres two screws just head of that.
5. Lift the parking lever all the way.
6. Lift the console up and back to access the connectors under the console, disconnect the electrical connector.
7. Lower the parking brake lever halfway and lift the console out.

To reinstall, reverse these steps.


It's a big job, but if the handle looks sweet enough it's worth it.

 

[Venomhatch]

I'm going to quote from the Haynes because this process seems to be a very long and painful one.

1. Disconnect negative battery terminal. (Does this really need done? Maybe, I dunno)
2. Remove the floor console
3. Chock the wheels and place the lever in its fully-released position
4. Under the vehicle, pull the equalizer toward the rear of the vehicle to expose the cable. Clamp the exposed cable with locking pliers to hold the cable extended. Be careful not to damage the plastic coating on the cable.
5. Inside the vehicle, use a screwdriver to turn the self-adjuster clip to the lock position. It's a clip at the base, next to the toothed piece of metal.
6. Under the vehicle, release your clamp.
7. Inside, lift the brake lever partway, but stop before the self-adjuster touches the mounting bracket tab. Lift the latch, then raise the lever all the way.
8. Inside, disconnect the connector for the warning light.
9. Under, free the cables from the equalizer.
10. Unscrew the mounting nuts, then lift it from its mounting stud. There's three mounting nuts, I believe one toward the back of the metal bracket and the two on the front corners.

To reinstall:
1. Install the new lever and tighten the nuts securely, then connect the electrical connector.
2. Reconnect the cables to the equalizer
3. Inside the vehicle, lower the parking lever, then raise it. Pull the boot up to expose the multiplier lever at the front, then raise and lower the multiplier three times to re-enable the automatic adjuster.
4. Pull and release the lever three times to adjust the cables, then reposition the boot.
5. Check the operation before driving.


To remove center console:
1. Loosen the setscrew in the side of the shift lever, using an allen wrench.
2. Squeeze the sides of the boot to release the clips, then lift the knob to remove it and the boot.
3. Open the console lid and remove the six screws inside. Four in the top corners, two down in the bottom.
4. Remove the console mount screws. You'll see what looks like a bar running from the left to the right side under the storage bin, theres two screws just head of that.
5. Lift the parking lever all the way.
6. Lift the console up and back to access the connectors under the console, disconnect the electrical connector.
7. Lower the parking brake lever halfway and lift the console out.

To reinstall, reverse these steps.


It's a big job, but if the handle looks sweet enough it's worth it.

All of this just to take the handle and boot off? I don't want to remove the whole mechanical parts if I can avoid it.

 

[IllogicTC]

All of this just to take the handle and boot off? I don't want to remove the whole mechanical parts if I can avoid it.

Yep, that's the official way to do it. Can't access a bunch of things you need to do to the parking brake if you haven't removed the center console, and dinking with the cables underneath is also necessary as to not affect the rest of the system.

 

[IllogicTC]

I ain't technically doing it to my GMT today, but I got some spark plugs headed my way in the mail. I figured as soon as it's decent enough out to do them, get that done. Doing the throttle body while I'm in there, since all the necessary stuff is removed already.

 

[blazinlow89]

All of this just to take the handle and boot off? I don't want to remove the whole mechanical parts if I can avoid it.

Thats the second thing they install in the body is parking brake handle

You may be surprised to see what you find under the center console, I found about $4 in change, a 9mm round, a gold chain (fake) and a set of earings (have no clue). It was like an adventure.

 

[IllogicTC]

Thats the second thing they install in the body is parking brake handle

You may be surprised to see what you find under the center console, I found about $4 in change, a 9mm round, a gold chain (fake) and a set of earings (have no clue). It was like an adventure.

Certainly made me curious. Especially as to how those worked there way under there. I don't think I'd have a 9mm round, but I do have a .50 caliber bullet (sans cartridge) sitting in that little cubby in front of the cup holders, mainly because I've never removed it.

Reminds me of when MCM took out the back seat of some old little car and found a condom under it. As far as it looked that seat was flush-mounted to the floorpan, I have no idea how that would have happened.

 

[TollKeeper]

When I installed my Nav system, I found 52 pens under my console, and 44 cents.

 

[gpking]

You guys are lucky, all I ever find when I take anything apart is dead spiders and stink bugs...


Yesterday I started wiring up my sub, I got everything run inconspicuously and even managed to get the power wire through the existing gromlet in the firewall (it took forever for me to figure a way to get it through).
I used a knife to first poke through the rubber, fed a thinner wire through to the engine, taped the thin wire to my power wire and pulled it through. Worked like a charm.

Today all I haveI to do is connect the power wire to the battery and wrap the exposed wire in plastic conduit then I should be rockin'.
We'll worry about mounting the amp later, I want to make sure it works first.

 

[Venomhatch]

Thats the second thing they install in the body is parking brake handle

You may be surprised to see what you find under the center console, I found about $4 in change, a 9mm round, a gold chain (fake) and a set of earings (have no clue). It was like an adventure.

Certainly made me curious. Especially as to how those worked there way under there. I don't think I'd have a 9mm round, but I do have a .50 caliber bullet (sans cartridge) sitting in that little cubby in front of the cup holders, mainly because I've never removed it.

Reminds me of when MCM took out the back seat of some old little car and found a condom under it. As far as it looked that seat was flush-mounted to the floorpan, I have no idea how that would have happened.

When I installed my Nav system, I found 52 pens under my console, and 44 cents.

You guys are lucky, all I ever find when I take anything apart is dead spiders and stink bugs...


Yesterday I started wiring up my sub, I got everything run inconspicuously and even managed to get the power wire through the existing gromlet in the firewall (it took forever for me to figure a way to get it through).
I used a knife to first poke through the rubber, fed a thinner wire through to the engine, taped the thin wire to my power wire and pulled it through. Worked like a charm.

Today all I haveI to do is connect the power wire to the battery and wrap the exposed wire in plastic conduit then I should be rockin'.
We'll worry about mounting the amp later, I want to make sure it works first.

Well since I bought mine I found $5.75 in change, a fake $20 bill, a few pens, 17x .22 cal blank rounds, and a lot of soda spillage under the console and I have removed it five times.

 

[Wishbone]

Maybe a comment or two on mpgs after first tank or two? Love the exit look.

Sound clip time!

Replaced the exhaust the other day, from cat-back. New Gibson 315597 Single Exhaust System.

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Nice low drone from inside the vehicle, a bit of a hollow gurgling rumble from outside. I like it...

Drove up to the U.P. and back, around town for a couple tanks and I don't think there's a mpg difference. Of course, I'm constantly sticking my foot in it because I like the sound, so perhaps the mpg's have actually gone down...

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

drove it to church.

 

[jrSS]

Drove up to the U.P. and back, around town for a couple tanks and I don't think there's a mpg difference. Of course, I'm constantly sticking my foot in it because I like the sound, so perhaps the mpg's have actually gone down...

Your truck will look great once u buy my tbss wheels

 

[paulcmartin]

I two toned my interior black and tan a while back. Something that always bugged me was the small crescent shaped accent pieces in the window, I had kept them tan for some reason. So I used vinyl paint and finished the door. Now my mind is at ease, until the next mod bug hits. I also ghetto fixed my center console. It was plagued by the broken plastic underneath. So I used a dvd case and chopped it up. Then I slid it in for a temporary patch until I can buy a new one.
View attachment 32337

 

[IllogicTC]

I two toned my interior black and tan a while back. Something that always bugged me was the small crescent shaped accent pieces in the window, I had kept them tan for some reason. So I used vinyl paint and finished the door. Now my mind is at ease, until the next mod bug hits. I also ghetto fixed my center console. It was plagued by the broken plastic underneath. So I used a dvd case and chopped it up. Then I slid it in for a temporary patch until I can buy a new one.
View attachment 19647

Very interested in the black/tan two-tone. Did you just get the parts or did you paint them yourself? I have a black/silver TB but the stupid gray/beige interior which doesn't match the exterior at all.

 

[redleg6]

added my latest mod today

 

[BoldAdventure]

Moving along on my front end suspension rebuild. Been taking my sweet sweet time.

Got the Fabtechs installed now. My only concern with these is that becuase they are so heavy duty, I could transfer the impact shock of a hard bump to the steering shaft and a bent shaft is probably worse than swapping out a broken TRE on the trail. Guess we'll find out... Fingers crossed.

Passenger side is all back together now.

Drivers side is almost ready for me to start torquing things down. Got my seal in. Just going to leave it open so I can do my alternator and big 6 wiring this evening, then start buttoning it down.

Anyways, moving along, slowly.

 

[Juicy K]

Got the wires for Moms hatch fixed, the orange power wire where it goes from the body to hatch was ripped in half.
Dad got moms intake manifold off. Talk about a mess with all the oil she was leaking out of the valve cover. Time to put everything back together with new seals.

 

[Venomhatch]

I two toned my interior black and tan a while back. Something that always bugged me was the small crescent shaped accent pieces in the window, I had kept them tan for some reason. So I used vinyl paint and finished the door. Now my mind is at ease, until the next mod bug hits. I also ghetto fixed my center console. It was plagued by the broken plastic underneath. So I used a dvd case and chopped it up. Then I slid it in for a temporary patch until I can buy a new one.
View attachment 19647

I have to say it looks really good! But I wanted to ask you mention that you painted the doors? What did you use for paint and prep on them? Thinking of blacking my doors.

Thanks

~D

 

[Porkins]

I looked at his build thread, he indeed paint it. http://gmtnation.com/showthread.php?p=176993

 

[paulcmartin]

Very interested in the black/tan two-tone. Did you just get the parts or did you paint them yourself? I have a black/silver TB but the stupid gray/beige interior which doesn't match the exterior at all.

I used vinyl and fabric paint. For the hard plastic pieces I prepped them with a high grit sandpaper (around 400) then I would scrub them hard with hot soapy water and let dry. The vinyl pieces I just cleaned really well. I took the door panel off & used a concrete masking tape because it stuck to the vinyl really well and did about 4 light coats. I've had it two toned for almost 6 months and there has been no peeling/flaking/fading to speak of. I really like it.
View attachment 32353

 

[paulcmartin]

Forgot to mention, you should use wax & grease remover to get all that built up armor all & junk off. But I used rubbing alcohol.

 

[Venomhatch]

I looked at his build thread, he indeed paint it. 02 Envoy DIY Build

I am looking it over now. I thought about this for all my doors to skip out of paying $100 per door for SSTB ones.

 

[Blckshdw]

I used vinyl and fabric paint. For the hard plastic pieces I prepped them with a high grit sandpaper (around 400) then I would scrub them hard with hot soapy water and let dry. The vinyl pieces I just cleaned really well. I took the door panel off & used a concrete masking tape because it stuck to the vinyl really well and did about 4 light coats. I've had it two toned for almost 6 months and there has been no peeling/flaking/fading to speak of. I really like it.

I've been on the fence about blacking out my interior vs making it two tone grey/black, since the 2 tone grey irks me. The pics in your build thread look really good, may have to put more consideration into going that route. I know one member on the OS (I think it was Smitty ) tried using the dye on the carpets but it rubbed off in a few months. Luckily I was able to find a place that sells pre-cut replacement carpet for my EXT. I'll have to remember to ask you how that's holding up down the road.

 

[kjkim93]

I'm glad mine came with the dark black trims and panel. Lol and then I plasti dipped the a and pillars

 

[rmsg0040]

Started to install a tranny cooler.

Was trying to find the transmission test port so I could install a transmission gauge, but I cant find it

 

[paulcmartin]

I've been on the fence about blacking out my interior vs making it two tone grey/black, since the 2 tone grey irks me. The pics in your build thread look really good, may have to put more consideration into going that route. I know one member on the OS (I think it was Smitty ) tried using the dye on the carpets but it rubbed off in a few months. Luckily I was able to find a place that sells pre-cut replacement carpet for my EXT. I'll have to remember to ask you how that's holding up down the road.

I've heard rumors that this fabric paint I used causes the carpet to get hard. I didn't want to risk it, I did contemplate doing a black carpet.

 

[Venomhatch]

I've heard rumors that this fabric paint I used causes the carpet to get hard. I didn't want to risk it, I did contemplate doing a black carpet.

I really want to do my doors and save that money.


*Also to I forget who was helping me with my ebrake handle swap question. The how to on what I needed was TMI after all. All I needed to do was twist the grip off of it and remove it with a lot of force. Almost ended up putting my hand through the new radio. But someone was looking out for me and my hand went north of the radio and hit the dash/speedo trim instead. Numb fingers and all I finished the install and now looks like in the pics below.

Also I have a video if anyone else ever wants to clone and swap to the chrome SS Style Button.

 

[Hatchet]

ordering a fuel pump right now.