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scottyd · 04-27-2011 08:02 PM

Alright, well the MazdaSlow3 is gone. So now it's time to update everybody on what I got to replace it with.

The Mazda is an awesome car. I loved it. Great power (too much) great gas mileage and very comfortable over long distance. But I couldn't really haul stuff and sure as hell couldn't tow with it.

So the search began with what to replace it with.

I wanted:
4-door.
4-wheel drive.
cheap.
Maybe diesel.
Maybe 3/4 ton or more.
Older.

I kept looking around trying to find what I liked.
I was thinking excursion but it was way out of my price range. I kept coming back to the Suburban. So I did some research, got some advice, found out the good and bad years.

Decided that 1997 or 1999 was the best. If I went diesel, it would have to be a '97, and if I went gas it would have to be a '99. The '99 was the last year of the GMT400 body-style and the best of course. The issue with a '99 diesel is that I would have to smog it. Boo.

So I searched all over Craigslist and finally found what I was looking for. A '97 GMC K2500 6.5TD with the barn doors.

The K stands for 4x4 and the 2500 means its a 3/4 ton.

Anyway, called the guy up, he was very nice but had run out of employment benefits and was trying to move. I asked him how low he was willing to go (he was asking $4500) and he said I'd do $3500 cash. Not bad. The only issue? It's in Red Bluff, CA.

That's 400mi away. Yikes! So I grabbed my friend Andrew with his truck and trailer and we set off on 4/10 (a Sunday).

The only flaw to this plan was that I forgot to go to the bank and get money. Ooops. So with lots of help from Alden, me pulling all I could from my ATM and many visits to grocery stores and buying $0.50 M&M bags, I was armed with $2900 in $20s. Talk about looking like a pimp.

We get there, and the vehicle looks to be in pretty good shape. Did I mention it had 220k on it? It fired right up, no smoke at idle, cruise worked, A/C needed a charge and 4x4 worked. Wow! It's full loaded and is actually only 1 of 2 like it in the country. Kinda cool.

So I told him I've got $2900 cash in an envelope, what do you think? He says lets do $3k and call it a day. So one more quick run to Walmart and it was mine. We then loaded it up on the trailer (which was hilarious) and set off. It was now 6pm at night.

We finally got the beast home at 4am on Monday morning. Many pit stops and driver changes. It was fun though!

So it needed a bit of work which I expected. Here's what I've done so far:

Changed oil (Did a Blackstone on this)
Installed new heater hose fitting
Replaced rear diff oil (Did a Blackstone on this)
Replaced front diff oil (Did a Blackstone on this)
Installed new pitman AND idler arms
Adjusted the rear brakes (drums FTL)
Installed a new fuel filter
Flushed the brake fluid
Changed the transfer case fluid (Did a Blackstone on this)
Flushed the coolant
Installed new thermostats (that's right, there are 2)
Stuck a remaned axle in on the passenger side
Put in a remaned A/C compressor (old one was toasted)

Fun!

It still needs a bit.
All of the bushings are ready to be replaced. Steering, ball joints, tie rod ends, a-arm bushings, leaf spring bushings. Power steering needs a flush. Needs a a new valve cover gasket, needs a new MAP sensor, and the oil cooler lines are ready to be replaced.

In the meantime the stereo needs to be fixed. So here's what I set up:
Front:
CDT ES-0642is
-6.5s go in the factory door
-4s go in Q-Logic kick panels that are reinforced
-Tweeters go in the kick panels

CDT UP5100i Upstage System
-Tweeters with blending module go flush against the top part of dash

Crossovers and Blending modules are all mounted in 2nd row, underneath the seat.

The 2nd Row:
CDT CL-6EX

The 3rd Row:
CDT CL-4EX

All speakers are being powered by the amp I had in the Mazda. It's a US Amps (RE Audio) XT1600.4v2

[Image: ShowImage.aspx?ImageId=RE-AUDIO-XT-1600-...gNgvfL.jpg]

For subs, I'm using the RE Audio SRs that I had in the Mazda. They are 10" 300w RMS 4ohm DVC. Very very very nice sound out of them. I think they'll blend really well.

Those are going into custom sized fiberglass boxes and getting power by my MTX Thunder 225HO amp I had. It does 700watts @ 1ohm. Perfect!

Whew. Okay so that's the speakers aspect.

For the head unit I decided upon an Alpine deck. It's an ida-X305s.

It has built-in Pandora control, bluetooth option and the Imprint system.

The Imprint system is awesome. It's comprised of this box PXA-H100:

and uses this KTX-H100:

What it does is EQ, time correction and blending. What it means to me? Much much better sound. It accounts for all of the acoustical discrepancies. Cool!

Then I am using the KCE-400BT bluetooth module for my phone:

and this KCA-SC100:

with this SC-C1:

Lots of boxes.
K.

A few more goodies:
Backup camera PLCM103:

A hardwire kit for my GPS, and direct power kit for future Radar detector.

That rounds that out.

Stuff that is in the near near future:
New exhaust.
This is a new mandrel bent 2.5" crossover pipe (replaces a crush bent 2.25")
New 3" DP (replaces a crush bent 2.5")
DP goes to an electric 3" cutout (w/dash mounted switch) which then goes to a 4" muffler and tail pipe.

So it can be really quiet, but a V8 beast when I need it to be.

B&M Shift firmer. Dash mounted switch for this as well.

I promise I'll get pics up of this thing. It's a very very interesting color.

I'm also really really debating getting FAILBUS as my license plate. And then get FAILWGN for the Volvo.

*M5Tucker* · 04-27-2011 09:14 PM

Nice find. That's about the same era of Ford I'm looking for. How about pics of the actual truck instead of lame stereo stuffs? Tongue

**Orie** · 04-27-2011 09:26 PM

Agreed!

**Shifted** · 04-27-2011 10:16 PM

Seriously...

scottyd · 04-28-2011 01:36 AM

(04-27-2011 09:14 PM)M5Tucker Wrote: Nice find. That's about the same era of Ford I'm looking for. How about pics of the actual truck instead of lame stereo stuffs?

(04-27-2011 09:26 PM)Orie Wrote: Agreed!

(04-27-2011 10:16 PM)Shifted Wrote: Seriously...

Yea yea you complainers. It's not in my possession right now. I'll get some pics tomorrow. I promise Smile

**Orie** · 04-28-2011 01:37 PM

What, me? Complain?

scottyd · 04-29-2011 01:00 AM

In all its glory. That's right, SLT bitches. Fully loaded.
[Image: 5666673097_de381da4c0_b.jpg]

Diesel FTW. 6.5 FTL.
[Image: 5666674317_66bbd550f3_b.jpg]

Reinforced Kick Panels w/ES-04 4" Mids and DRT-26s Tweeters. AutoMeter 3 Gauge pod in background.
[Image: 5666669661_1543dcfb48_b.jpg]

Custom fiberglass boxes for the doors. 0.5cuft. Perfect.
[Image: 5666670239_2cec729cdb_b.jpg]

ES-300cc Crossovers on the left and M-500 Blending modules on the right. Ignore the stains. Yikes!
[Image: 5667241304_ebe98f5c32_b.jpg]

ES-06 6" Woofer in the front door with a 1/2" spacer.
[Image: 5667241836_70e2e91961_b.jpg]

Ripped apart
[Image: 5667242292_3d419f0b9c_b.jpg]

More ripped apart. You can see the backup camera/mirror
[Image: 5666672173_12673eea93_b.jpg]

Table O' Goodies
[Image: 5667243280_646cccceee_b.jpg]

My 2 RE Audio SE 10s I saved. Will be run by a MTX Thunder 225HO. 700w @ 1ohm. Super efficient.
[Image: 5667244134_21c81dfcc0_b.jpg]

CL-4EX 4" speakers in the far back.
[Image: 5666674931_e781116770_b.jpg]

*142autox* · 04-29-2011 08:00 AM

I'm not normally amused by sub woofers but RE Audio makes some serious speakers. I've watched the slow motion of them in action and I must say, I'm impressed. Looks like you do some really good work. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Nice find on the diesel burban! Ahh the 6.5TD, throw some rocks in a GM big block and fill the tank with diesel. Good candidate for the "grease car" type setup.

scottyd · 04-29-2011 10:32 AM

Yea we're hoping to get a waste motor oil setup going again. There is also a guy in town who deliver up to to 300 gallons (in a fuel cube) of veggie oil @ $2/gal.

*Coupe' de Tat* · 04-29-2011 10:45 AM

impressive, respect earned on the complexity of setup daaaamn

**Orie** · 04-29-2011 02:26 PM

What the hell happened to the inside of the hood? Nice score though! Sound system looks sweet.

scottyd · 04-29-2011 02:34 PM

(04-29-2011 02:26 PM)Orie Wrote: What the hell happened to the inside of the hood? Nice score though! Sound system looks sweet.

It's got a heat blanket in there that's all gross.

**Orie** · 04-29-2011 04:07 PM

It looks like the engine barfed on it a couple times. lol

scottyd · 04-29-2011 04:07 PM

It's a 6.5TD. So yes it did.

**Shifted** · 04-29-2011 09:05 PM

Excellent young Skywalker, clearly the Force is with you. Smile

Optima battery and everything, wow...

cheers

*122power* · 04-29-2011 10:30 PM

Nice find on the car hauler, hopefully that thing wont stall out with no warning and not restart. Have a bunch at work that do that for no reason and no signs of doing it. Run a good diesel additive. Usually the sensor eye in the pump goes bad or gets clouded up. Should be a boost pump on the frame rail, you should hear it running when you turn the key on.

scottyd · 04-29-2011 10:31 PM

Also check the PMD. Those are the biggest issue.

Diesel additive is waiting in the garage for when it gets home. I do need to replace the oil cooler lines ASAP and check the lift pump.

*122power* · 05-01-2011 02:48 AM

Oil cooler lines, thats a common thing on those too, the lines at least. Keep an eye on that crank dampner too have seen them totally fall apart, the rubber part.

scottyd · 05-01-2011 02:50 AM

Yup, I've got a stainless line setup that I put together that needs to go on, and the crank dampener actually looks pretty good right now.

**badvlvo** · 05-01-2011 12:38 PM

The stereo should be enough to drown out the diesel noises, should sound good.

Maintenance shall not be delayed on this truck or it will cost you dearly.

Get one of these-
http://www.hdiesel.com/product.asp?id=42

And you might want to carry a spare PMD if you can find one for cheap/free in the JY.

scottyd · 07-26-2011 02:26 PM

Updates: I have finished the stereo on this thing. Awhile ago. It bumps. HARD.

Took it to Davis. Did a fantastic job of shuttling everybody around. It enjoyed it so much it tried to stay there. Found out my weird starting issues I had been having were caused by the starter cable from the battery. Turns out you need one to be 100% connected, not 1%. A huge thanks to a bunch of TB/BS'ers for the assistance/diagnosis on that.

Keep doing more maintenance to it. Thanks to Alden's mucho help, I replaced all of the suspension on it. Bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, steering stabilizer, idler, pitman, and shocks. The thing rides sooooo much better.

Also found a third row seat at the junkyard for half-off and a few other bits for it.

Still needs a few more things done to it. I'm slowly getting there. The good news is that the wagon will be next...

*Coupe' de Tat* · 07-26-2011 02:37 PM

looking forward to the failwagon phoenix

scottyd · 07-26-2011 02:40 PM

(07-26-2011 02:37 PM)Coupe' de Tat Wrote: looking forward to the failwagon phoenix

You and me both. This thing is so slow. Drove a friend's bone stock n/a Miata the other day and about creamed my pants because of how "fast" it felt.

*Coupe' de Tat* · 07-26-2011 02:52 PM

so when you say this here flail bus hits hard, is it like wow that's loud fingertwirl hard, or hair and clothing fly out the window hard?

good move on putting the suspension work in, the years really do take their toll on all vehicles and it makes apparent improvements in handling right away.

scottyd · 07-26-2011 03:01 PM

(07-26-2011 02:52 PM)Coupe' de Tat Wrote: so when you say this here flail bus hits hard, is it like wow that's loud fingertwirl hard, or hair and clothing fly out the window hard?

good move on putting the suspension work in, the years really do take their toll on all vehicles and it makes apparent improvements in handling right away.

I mean the sound is very very very clean at any volume. Quite enjoyable!

And yea the suspension was all original. I could shake the ball joints, the shocks compressed without effort and didn't rebound. Quite hilarious.