02TahoeMD

 Trip through George Washington National Forest, VA. YouTube Video click me!

                                                             NOT A MALL CRUISER!

Intro :

My 2002 Chevy Tahoe, started as a used run of the mill LT that I bought in 2005. I have been working on her ever since. It is about 90% complete, and my first project truck I have owned and been able to do everything to it that I wanted to.

Added the Safari Snorkel in Spring of 2008, converting it from a Toyota model. A complete how-to write up is located on both z71tahoe-suburban.com and expeditionportal.com - links are on page 4 of this site.  List of all modifications below.....up to date as of 05/31/2009.

After installing a Mile Marker E9000 I didnt want to break up the lines of the bumper by having a big switch box sitting in the middle. So I rewired the box and mounted it to the fan shroud inside of the engine. Keeps the solenoid out of the weather, and the controls are still accessible just by popping the hood. Also wired up a MileMarker wireless remote too for convenience.

 A complete how-to for the bumper conversion is on the z71tahoe site under Offroad Tech, link on page 4 here.

    The Mod List:

Here is the list of what has been done so far:(see page 4 for how I did my mods)

(NOTE: If it is underlined, it is a clickable link)
1.Black Bear Tune (hoorah! Highly recommended for any GM truck owner) 
2.Flowmaster Series 50 Dual Side outs
3.Volant CAI intake mated to a Safari Snorkel (converted one for a Toy Landcruiser - how I did it is on page 4 here )
4.Defender Roof Rack with 4 KC Hi-Lite Pencil Beam lights, Yakima fairing and pads
5.North Face Gauge Face set from JP Customs
6.All interior dash lights converted to red using combination of theater gel material and red translucent model paint
7.XM radio / Roady RC with mini-hi-def screen
8.PIE Aux - 9 Input Adapter     /  Scan Gauge 2 engine & trip computer (Tahoe did not have factory one)
9.Kennesaw Mountain Acc . rear bumper with tire carrier, hi-lift jack mount, tow points, LED reverse lights, and removable jerry can holder with twin Adventure Trailers Jerry Can Holders

10. ARB Winch Bumper on front, converted one for a Toyota Land Cruiser, ARB part #3413090, with Blazer fog lights and Hella off road lights, MileMarker 9000E winch with wireless remote
11. THE LIFT:  Z71 Rear Coils with 2" coil spacers from eBay seller MC Motorsports and F150 Keys and torsion bars cranked, Rancho RSX shocks - all added up got the truck almost 4" higher!
12.American Racing Mojave's in black Teflon, 17 x 8
13.Nitto Terra Grapplers in 295/70/R17 (33" tire, got the truck 5" higher when added to the suspension work)
14.Debadged & Dechromed
15.windows tinted extra, Ventshades , bugshield
16.converted DRL's into fog lights, Painless Wiring hi beam with low beam relay for GM trucks             

17. converted a used Gamber Johnson cruiser console with Jotto Desk trim plates to hold Yaesu 2M Ham Radio, Midland CB Radio, Sound-Off Smart switch system (easy power source!) and Federal Signal red dash light.

18. modified the center cup holder to hold 4 red LED lights to provide illumination of cupholders at night

19. added a Garmin GPS, custom fabbing a central bracket to hold the GPS, XM radio, and Scan Gauge 2 all in one information center

20. (04/2009) Added alley lights to the sides of the roof rack, along with mounts for an axe and shovel. Also added a floor to the roof rack using plastic farm flooring from FarmTek.

21. (04/2009) Direct wired a 12V Edgestar 43 QT fridge and mounted in the rear cargo area

22. (04/2009) Added on board air system - Viair 44040 compressor, 2.5 gal tank, two air outlets, and Grover Stuttertone Air Horn. (click link to hear sound)

Have done just about all the work myself, have the scars and sore back to prove it. And had some help from friends and family williing to get their hands dirty too, their help has been invaluable!  Like the saying goes "Built, not bought" - been a lot of fun learning the ins and outs of my truck. Check out page 4 for links to my modification write ups on the forums. 

TO BE DONE: 
F35 6' awning
Roof top tent (maybe...)
rock sliders

Will keep updating the build details on Z71Tahoe-Suburban.com and Expeditionportal.com

I changed the gauges to the North Face gauge set from JP Customs (since out of business, regrettably). Identical to an SS guage set, but made for the 2000 - 2002 clusters. Later on I converted the interior lights to red.

Here are my illuminated cup holders, easy mod to do:

I also converted the cassette deck to an MP3 input using a PIE Aux 9 Input adapter. Spring 08 changed out the XM Roady2 for the XM RC Color, as well as a Scan Gauge 2 Driver Information Center. Great little electronic toy, delivers tons of information. Fall 08 switched out the factory center console for the setup seen below, an old Gamber Johnson 13" MCS console I got of eBay.

Pic of the center stack with everthing light up at night

View of my Kennesaw Mountain Accessories rear bumper with tire carrier and removable jerry can holder. I will only run with the jerry cans holder on long trips. Built solid as a rock. Ended up modifying the jerry can holder to hold an additional can in Fall 2008.

page 2: more pics   page 3: a Thank you   Page 4: web links

Thanks much for visiting my page! Happy wheelin!