Project: "Bad Idea"

[BlackenedRR]

I guess I'll start a build thread since I'm finally getting my a$$ in gear with my '95 GMC, plus I'm hoping it'll keep me motivated. For those that haven't seen my intro thread, here's the truck...


This is from when I brought it home in March, and it's pretty much sat untouched since while I rebuild the parts fund and decide exactly how I want to build it.

The goal so far is to end up with a truck that I'm comfortable driving every day, have it just pretty enough to show it without having it in the "under construction" class, but not so pretty that I'll think twice about entering an auto cross with it. It'll retain all it's modern amenities, such as AC, power windows and locks, and cruise control. I'm going to add a decent audio system, but I'm limiting bass to either 2 8" subs or 1 10", just enough to have great sound inside. I'm undecided on seats right now, but I'll probably use some sort of factory sports car seat instead of full-on race seats. As I've mentioned in my other thread, the truck already has a full RideTech front suspension and an S&W coil-over rear suspension. I plan on replacing the airbags and coil-overs with the Titanium Series ShockWaves in the future, as well as revamping the air delivery/storage system with dual compressors, a 5gal tank and either braided stainless lines or stainless hardlines.

I decided to get the truck up on jackstands today so I could get a few pics underneath and measure the front suspension travel for new shocks...

Driver side

Passenger side

Anyone guess what's missing?

Rear suspension




It's hard to see, but the panhard rod is in front of the rearend, first time I've seen one there. Oh yeah, can you say "surface rust"?!

And here's the wheels I'll be running for now.
BOSS 338
20 x 8.5 front
20 x 10 rear

Tires will be Toyo Proxes S/T II
275/40/20 front
295/40/20 rear

So that's the beginning of phase 1 for the build, just fixing some little things to make it a driver while I stockpile parts and ideas. I can't promise daily updates, but I'll do my best to keep working and taking pics along the way. If anyone has ideas, please feel free to share, and also post pics of your ideas if possible.

[tobenk]

Cool man. U goin like those Toyos I have some on my 07 Vmax and there some awesome tires. I like those wheels too.

[SS1156]

Can you fit anything like 335 or 345 in the back? I know there are some really nasty ass 6.0 SWB trucks running around my area that have handed some of these little ricers their asses. They walked away scratching their heads thinking I just got my s*it packed by a pickup truck. I used to have a Dodge Ram 2500 w/ a Cummins that I did some work to and I loved doing that to some of these little Hondas. Keep up the work man, the truck looks cool as hell. Those wheels will look awesome on there too. Make sure to post up some pics.

[tones2SS]

Very cool man! I'm digging your wheels.
Do you post on performancetrucks.net at all? Those guys would love your build as well!

[BlackenedRR]

Originally Posted by tobenk

Cool man. U goin like those Toyos I have some on my 07 Vmax and there some awesome tires. I like those wheels too.

I get to play the waiting game right now, seems there's a national backorder on the 295s. Jon at DriversInc.com quoted me the best price, just waiting to hear back from him on how long it'll take to get them.

Originally Posted by SS1156

Can you fit anything like 335 or 345 in the back? I know there are some really nasty ass 6.0 SWB trucks running around my area that have handed some of these little ricers their asses. They walked away scratching their heads thinking I just got my s*it packed by a pickup truck. I used to have a Dodge Ram 2500 w/ a Cummins that I did some work to and I loved doing that to some of these little Hondas. Keep up the work man, the truck looks cool as hell. Those wheels will look awesome on there too. Make sure to post up some pics.

Eventually I will tub it and stuff some 345 Nitto Invos in the back, but that's gonna be way down the road. I had been seriously leaning towards an LS3 or 6.0, but lately I've been thinking that an aluminum block 5.3 with a turbo or 2 would be fun and different.

Originally Posted by tones2SS

Very cool man! I'm digging your wheels.
Do you post on performancetrucks.net at all? Those guys would love your build as well!

Thanks! Yep, I'm on there with the same name, but I don't post very often. I'm on several truck forums under this name, just lurking and trying to gain all the info I can. I'm definitely relieved to see all the LS swaps on the CK trucks, glad to know the info is all out there so I'm not flying blind when I get ready to swap my engine.

I decided to toss the new wheels on while I had it up in the air...


I forgot to snap pics of the fronts, but the wheels didn't rub anything at all. I might have some slight rubbing issues once the tires are on, but I think I'll be alright. And the rears will tuck up more on the ground, I didn't have it sitting level so the weight was all up front. Right now it's got 275/35/18s in the back, and the tops of the tires are almost tucked, so 295/40/20s should be up in the wheel wells...

[tones2SS]

Should look killer Jeff.
Yeah, some of those trucks on performancetrucks.net are down right NASTY!! In a good way.

[BlackenedRR]

I've been looking over all the builds on there, so far Spoolin's "Project Kermit" is my favorite.

[PASD U]

Well well well, look what I found. I had no idea you even had this thread. As much as I hate to admit it, you've made more progress than I have. Ideas? You know we both have a TON, so no issue there. Now that you have two, the challenge will be splitting the time between them. Can't wait to see any and all progress and...like always, discuss many many many ideas.

BTW...you should've thrown this up in the Trucks section...just because.

[BlackenedRR]

Ok, it's only been a few years! After moving to Texas and starting life over from scratch, I'm finally working my dream job!! Somehow I've managed to keep from selling my project, even though it probably would've been the smart financial decision several times. As of this week I now have a small shop to work out of and moved the truck in yesterday. I plan on spending the next month or so getting workbenches and shelving built for the shop, then I can finally turn my attention to tearing this damn thing apart.
Here she is, comfortably resting in her new home.


Best part is the shop is less than 2 miles from my apartment, the guy that runs the place is also a design engineer for Painless wiring and has offered to help with the wiring when I reach that stage. I was gonna start tearing into the truck this weekend, but I'm going to GoodGuys Fri and Sat and if I can manage to find a few extra minutes I might pay attention to the girlfriend... LOL!

[BlackenedRR]

The project is dead, at least for me. Call it life getting in the way, working too much to even touch the truck or just losing all interest, but I threw in the towel. I signed the title over to my Dad and I'm letting him do what he wants with it, only condition being that if he decides he doesn't want it then it comes back to me.

But I bought something faster, meaner and way more capable of doing what I wanted the truck to do. Now it's not a matter of building a truck that can handle my barely there driving skills, it's a matter of improving my driving skills to match what this car will already do.

2015 Camaro 2SS/RS 1LE with Recaro seats, NPP exhaust, NAV and not much else.





After a month of owning this car I want to meet every person that had a hand in getting it into production so I can shake their hand! Now to decide if I leave it alone until the warranty runs out or go for broke and void it right away...