'05 Tahoe Z71 4x4

This is my 2005 Tahoe Z71 4x4 daily driver. It's got the LM7 5.3L 295HP iron block V8 w/aluminum heads, 3.73 gears and it's loaded with every option...DVD, heated leather seats, moonroof...it's a comfortable daily driver that gets decent fuel mileage for a 6000lb vehicle. I'm averaging 17½ MPG city/hwy combined, if I don't hammer on it. I'm sure it'll tow the Camaro to the track with no problem. I'm only gonna race 2-3 times a season so it's not like I needed something with a turbodiesel.

Gonna add some things to it in the spring:

Camaro Receipts

When I bought the Camaro, it came with a GM Assembly manual and a folder FULL of receipts from the first restoration. Whoever did it kept the receipts for EVERYTHING, down to the last can of paint! Here's the ones for the major stuff - engine rebuild, trans & rearend.

At one point, the car had a set of 15x7 Z28 steel 5-spoke Ralley wheels, but they weren't on the car when I bought it. I wish they were! They would've looked much better than the 14x6 6-hole Ralleys.

The Garage 

I figured since I was going to be spending a lot of time in the garage doing the restoration, I'd better have something comfortable to take beer breaks in. I had one of the seats from my first Camaro (still wearing the original Firethorn Red upholstery), but it was kind of rank smelling. I vacuumed it, doused it with Lysol, and viola! Instant garage lounge chair.

I also put up some pics of my favorite 2nd Gen Camaros as inspiration/motivation to get my car done.

Gotta add some pics of Oldsmobiles, since my next project is a '76/'77 Cutlass S or 442 with the collonnade roof and slant-nose front end, done in retro-NASCAR style. I might pick up the "raw material" soon just to have it, if I run across a good deal on one that needs work. I remember watching these cars hi-tail it around the banks of Daytona when I was a kid, and I've always thought they were really cool looking.

Thanks for checking out my site, don't forget to sign my guestbook and rate my ride! Good luck with your project no matter what make, model or year it is, and whatever style you do it in! Car crafting is all about personal taste and building your car the way YOU want it done, so do it your way...you're the only one that has to be happy with it! Don't forget to support the American economy with American-made parts!

Page 1: The Story
Page 2: Mods & Plans
Page 3: Pics w/Convo Pros & Hoosiers
Page 4: The Inspiration – Why I sold my GN and am building this car
Page 5: Restification Progress Reports - Page 1
Page 6: Restification Progress Reports - Page 2
Page 7: My '05 Z71 Tahoe 4x4 & Miscellaneous Stuff