[brobocop]

I've had the truck for right at a year now, and I have been modding it pretty frequently since the first week... So I guess it's finally time to start a build thread..



Somehow I found a Z71 Duramax CCSB at my local preferred dealership. At the time, I had been leaning towards the CCLB, but after test driving it, I decided the short bed wasn't a deal breaker. (A year later, I've only had a couple instances where I wished I had a longer bed, so overall, I'm glad I went with the short bed.)



She had 16 miles on her before I went for a test drive. A short drive later, I was in love.



Current Mods:

Exterior:​

• Air Dam Delete
• OEM Off Road Steps (Craigslist find)
• HIKARI LED High and Low beams (swapped for modded H9 and 9011s to melt snow in the winter)
• OEM Sports Bar (Craigslist find)
• OEM Off Road Lights
• BORA 1.75" Spacers in the rear
• Rally Armor UR+ Mud Flaps (with RokBlokz ZR2 mounting hardware)
• Red Line Colorado Badges
• Truxedo Lo Pro Tonneau Cover
• Gen5DIY DRL Relocate
• DiodeDynamics Switchbacks
• GoFab Bumper with Rough Country Black Series Light Bar and Smittybilt 12K X20.
• KD Fabworks License Plate Mount for the Hawse Fairlead
• Baja Designs Squadron Sports on A-Pillar mounts
• Color matched CHEVROLET grill (swapped in after my Glow-Tie died)
• Alla Switchback LED Fogs (white/amber)
• 589 Fab Bed Supports

Suspension:​

• ZR2 Wheels
• GM Accessory Skid Plates
• Bilstein 5100 RHA set at 2” (REMOVED)
• 265/70 Wildpeak AT3Ws
• Full ZR2 Suspension Swap (with 589 level, minus the front locker) Link
• Peak Suspension Differential Drop
• AEV Rear Diff Skid

Performance:​

• Provent 200 and Sasquatch Parts install kit
• aFe Turbo-Back Exhaust
• Hackler Tuning

Future Mods:

• Switch Pro 9100 (awaiting install)
• Peak Tie Rod Sleeves and Chevy Lean Shims (awaiting install)
• Heated Steering Wheel swap (whenever it’s not backordered....)
• AEV Bison Flares
• AEV Bison Rear Bumper
• Dick Cepek Fun Country's (but Wildpeak AT3Ws were on sale...)

Day One:

Currently:

Some of my favorites:

Some of the minor mods that didn't need to be in the main list..

• Weathertech floor liners front and rear
• Black center caps on the wheels
• Marathon Seat Covers (Dark grey and black two tone)
• Pro-Clip Phone Mount
• Aftermarket switch to control both light bars (because the 'Trail Boss' switch didn't work..)
• Plano box in the bed to keep the interior clean(er)
• CBI Overland Bars for RTT (when it's mounted 13.25” from bulkhead, 11.5” from end of bed rail)

I have a lot of things I'd like to do with this truck and I will do my best to keep this updated as I continue building it.

 

[Rpinaiii]

Nice! I have same color, we have good taste! Good build so far for ya

 

[SilverColorado2016]

Looks great. Could you post some more shots of the new winch mount bumper please. Possibly some from different angles, some close, some full shots. I've been waiting for a winch mount and had considered this one. I've almost decided to take the measurements needed and fabricate a design like the MOI ZR2 winch mount. Simple design, but I do like the one you have also, would be easier to buy instead of making. Thanks for your time and sharing your truck mods with us.

 

[brobocop]

Luckily I took a couple more shots this morning.

I upped the brightness on the last picture to bring out the bumpers details. I’ll have to get some close ups for you in the next few days.

 

[TBK]

I've had the truck for right at a year now, and I have been modding it pretty frequently since the first week... So I guess it's finally time to start a build thread..



Somehow I found a Z71 Duramax CCSB at my local preferred dealership. At the time, I had been leaning towards the CCLB, but after test driving it, I decided the short bed wasn't a deal breaker. (A year later, I've only had a couple instances where I wished I had a longer bed, so overall, I'm glad I went with the short bed.)



She had 16 miles on her before I went for a test drive. A short drive later, I was in love.



Current Mods:

• Air Dam Delete
  
• OEM Off Road Steps (Craigslist find)
  
• HIKARI LED High and Low beams (swapped for modded H9 and 9011s to melt snow in the winter)
  
• Illuminated Black "Glow Tie"
  
• ZR2 Wheels
  
• OEM Sports Bar (Craigslist find)
  
• OEM Off Road Lights
  
• BORA 1.25" Spacers
  
• Rally Armor UR+ Mud Flaps
  
• Red Line Colorado Badges
  
• Truxedo Lo Pro Tonneau Cover
  
• Gen5DIY DRL Relocate
  
• DiodeDynamics Switchbacks
  
• GM Accessory Skid Plates
  
• GoFab Bumper with Rough Country Black Series Light Bar and Smittybilt 12K X20.

Future Mods:

• Tuning (Not sure if I'll tune prior to deleting it, but at 60,001 miles it's getting deleted.)
  
• AFE Turbo Back pipe
  
• Baja Designs A-pillar lights (on order)
  
• Bilstein 5100s set at 2" (waiting install)
  
• 265/65R17s (for a little wider footprint)

Day One:

Currently:

Some of my favorites:

Some of the minor mods that didn't need to be in the main list..

• Weathertech floor liners front and rear
  
• Black center caps on the wheels
  
• Marathon Seat Covers (Dark grey and black two tone)
  
• Pro-Clip Phone Mount
  
• Aftermarket switch to control both light bars (because the 'Trail Boss' switch didn't work..)
  
• Plano box in the bed to keep the interior clean(er)

I have a lot of things I'd like to do with this truck and I will do my best to keep this updated as I continue building it.

Looks great. Nice build! I’ve learned owning a truck is like having a house not a apartment. You just keep customizing it until it’s “yours”. I don’t think the work is ever really done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jonz71]

Do you have a steel or aluminum front skid plate? Is it from SuperSkidz or does GM make it? If GM makes it do you know the part number? I can’t find anything other than the SuperSkids for a front skid plate. Thanks.

 

[BobsCreek]

Do you have a steel or aluminum front skid plate? Is it from SuperSkidz or does GM make it? If GM makes it do you know the part number? I can’t find anything other than the SuperSkids for a front skid plate. Thanks.

Front in the ZR2 style but made for the non zr2, and the 2nd skid.


84352136
84352135

 

[jonz71]

Thanks! Didn’t know these existed.

 

[brobocop]

Do you have a steel or aluminum front skid plate? Is it from SuperSkidz or does GM make it? If GM makes it do you know the part number? I can’t find anything other than the SuperSkids for a front skid plate. Thanks.

Front in the ZR2 style but made for the non zr2, and the 2nd skid.


84352136
84352135

Ah yes, thank you! I forgot to add that I have the GM front and mid skids. And they DO work without modification with the GoFab Bumper.

 

[brobocop]

I got my shackles today for the bumper. I got them put on...ish. They’re on and secure, but I’ll have to sand down the powder coating on the pin as it is currently too tight to tighten down and swing freely.. but that’s a job for a day off.

I didn’t get a picture, but I went with red with red isolators to keep my black and red scheme going.

 

[brobocop]

Got my Baja Designs Squadron (Sport) lights and the A-pillar mounts in today. Pretty nice kit. I felt enthusiastic and decided to spend the night installing them. They went in quicker than I expected.

I’m not 100% where I want to mount the switch, but for the time being the switch that they come with fits perfectly in the empty hole in the bottom of the steering wheel trim.

I couldn’t get any decent pictures of the lights because it’s dark, but...

Crappy inside the garage pic:

I took it for a drive and I’m super impressed with the output! (After I got them properly aimed.)

Disclaimer: the last two are just screen captures from my drone. I’ll have to see about importing the full pictures.

 

[brobocop]

Still haven’t had the time and motivation (at the same time) to get my leveling kit installed...

But I did sand the powder coating off of my shackles to get them swinging freely. I “properly” tightened them to be sure they didn’t walk off on their own.

The leveling kit is still a priority.. I’ve got some tentative plans to take it back out to southeastern MO and do a little more off roading. I’m hoping to be able to get the level on and swap out to some 265/65s in that time to help give me a little more floatation and clearance in the loose gravel of the creek beds.

I've also been debating on plastidipping my fog light surrounds and nix a little more of the "chrome." Or just buy the black OEM ones. I'm just not 100% sold on that look with the silver... (I'm open to suggestions and pictures.)


Anyways, a new driveway picture!

 

[brobocop]

I had a buddy call in a favor, he started the conversation with, “Hey do you want to try out your winch?” Turns out he was mowing and the ditch was wetter than he thought it was.

Since we were right next to a busy side road, I actually decided to use the winch over a snatch strap. Truck didn’t bat an eye pulling his 2200lb mower (commercial John Deere) out of a steep, muddy country ditch.

I then immediately called in a favor back and he helped me install my front leveling kit. Took us about 5 hours to do the front.

I set the Bisteins at 2” but with the bumper and winch, I’m not sure how much it pulled the front back down.

Anyhow, the part you really care about, pictures!

 

[brobocop]

Almost forgot to mention! 265/65s are on order! And should be here next week. Sign me in on the Falken Wildpeak AT3W train.

 

[brobocop]

Alignment and new tires today!

The truck didn’t pull after the leveling kit install, and surprisingly the alignment wasn’t off that much.

The Wildpeaks look amazing on it! Much better than the stock GYears.

I’m hoping to put the tires and level to the test the first weekend of October. Hopefully I don’t get it stuck in the creek again, but I’ve got the winch should that happen again.

 

[ziegs]

Looking good!

 

[brobocop]

Well my plans to do some offroading was foiled by some scheduled overtime (which I had a feeling was going to happen). Hopefully I can reschedule them before it gets too cold/nasty to want to be out in it. But doing a little back roading, and some curb crawling (moving furniture haha), I've noticed a slight rub on my mud flaps. I think I can fix it by adding a screw and clip "borrowed" from my air dam on the inner most part of the flap. That should gain me about 1/2" of clearance and keep the flap held tight to the wheel liner. Until then, it just scrapes my mud flap clean. 8)

The true test will be seeing if I can drill the hole in the flap/liner without removing the tire..

 

[brobocop]

Prepping for winter, which with the way fall temps hit us, could happen anytime..

I’m going to have to deal with a little contrast for the next few months. But the H9 and 9011s are back in. And it’s nice knowing that I won’t be burning these headlights unnecessarily.

 

[brobocop]

Yikes, somehow I have forgotten to update this thread... Not really build updates, but updates of what I've been doing with the truck..



I recently had a friend contact me and ask for a favor. He inherited a '65 Mustang (inline 200 with the manual 3 speed) and needed assistance moving it from here (Southern IL) to Louisville, KY. Since I've known him for the last 20 years or so (AND he offered to buy me some bourbon), I happily agreed to help. Minus shredding one tarp and putting a small tear in another, the truck did great! I averaged 15.8 mpg (hand calc) on the way down.



Side note, those U-haul car trailers (not the dolly) are a nice setup, with the exception of the hydraulic braking system...



ANYHOW, the part you care about, pictures of the car (and truck) haha.

The next day, he and I went to Lowe's so he could buy a nice tool box since he couldn't fit them in his Focus. Fun fact, a 52" toolbox will JUST fit in the short bed with the tonneau cover rolled up...

After we filled the bed with a toolbox, we went to Harbor Freight and my buddy proceeded to fill the remaining bed space and back seat with (most) everything he needed to fill the toolbox and start working on the Mustang.

Last week we got some snow here, and after fighting the roads all night in the (FWD ) Taurus, I still seem to always be amazed at how well these trucks stick to the slippery roads.

(Car graphic edited for Work policy reasons)

Took it Black Friday Shopping today. Menard's was my one and only stop. Picked up two 30 gun safes and 2 heavy duty rack systems for my dad. I cheated and pulled a 10' trailer with me. MUCH easier to load the safes onto the shorter trailer than the bed of the truck.



I still have a few projects I need to get to with this truck.. Namely the BMS catch can I NEED to get installed... Making the mount is giving me fits...

 

[madcratebuilder]

One of the nicest Z71's I've seen, well thought out build.