LML Duramax build part 6

[Flyin6]

A good detailer can do paint repair and correction.  let a pro handle it.

There is a thing called a 3m eraser wheel to take off all that residue from the removal of the moulding.  Yeah, I know I’m fired for not mentioning it before you did it the hard way…

I don’t personally like toppers unless you are sleeping back there. I like open beds or covers that allow you to use the open bed, the essence of a truck.  Otherwise you have a suburban…but you already have one…


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Ya, I'm kinda getting to that point myself.

Everything I carry back there would fit beneath a tonneau cover or live for a short time in an open bed.

I'm thinking the 6" or so of the topper that pokes its head proud of the streamlined roof is costing me a little bit in fuel mileage. So in the interest of moving the truck back to being more of a truck and less of a cool play truck, the Topper could indeed move alone, as it very well may.

I know well the eraser wheels/pads. But some vigorous rubbing and a terrycloth chased with some mineral spirits will get the job done

I used to paint cars. Have painted one or two on these pages. I would go for a paint correction, but I have bonified holes in the finish from years of dirt roads.

Sanding the lower fourth will address 90% of that mess, but for those few areas remaining, I am pretty good at blending in, and a panel repaint with clear is so easy. Sand it with 1000-1500 do the usual prep and lay down three thin coats and just like that you're shinin' like a new one.

[Bob Smith]

I guess I will give my point of view on the canopy vs open bed. I use my truck to tow/haul stuff. Having a wall between gas and diesel containers and inside, keeps the smell in the bed not in the cabin area. I carry lots of stuff in the bed of my truck and it stays dry because I have the cab high canopy. Takes up no cabin area so lots of seating room. I can sleep in the dry on short hunting/fishing trips and still tow the boat or jeep.
And if needed, it doesn’t take long to remove the canopy if needed. I have never had to remove it yet.

[JR]

Yeah, I like having a shell. I carry to much but it would still fit under a cover. But I like that I can put things there and lock it up. Plus I get fuel all the time, like it vented per say. In fact I am looking at quick connects now for the aux tank.

Will the spare fit under the back? I have 33in under there now. If I can gain another 2 inches I can carry it there. The stock hitch is in the way now. I have a Runel that I can move back a little and its rated for more than the stock hitch.

[Nate]

I am also thinking hard about what I may do with the spare tire carrier. Part of me says to just toss it since that expensive wheel and tire broke off and rolled away, and I also think about getting rid of the topper and just adding a tonneau cover.

It is now faded a little, so it, too, would have to get a repaint.

But another part of me likes the truck with that tough-looking utility topper. I could just remove it, paint it too and reinstall it and go for another 11 years.

Thoughts?

when and what happened with the spare tire carrier you made?

[Bigdave_185]

I am also thinking hard about what I may do with the spare tire carrier. Part of me says to just toss it since that expensive wheel and tire broke off and rolled away, and I also think about getting rid of the topper and just adding a tonneau cover.

It is now faded a little, so it, too, would have to get a repaint.

But another part of me likes the truck with that tough-looking utility topper. I could just remove it, paint it too and reinstall it and go for another 11 years.

Thoughts?

when and what happened with the spare tire carrier you made?

I picked up on this as well,


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[JR]

Rolled away?

[Flyin6]

I have no clue as to where that tire is!

When I departed my home, it was there, but when I returned from the farm it was missing.

A really hefty weld, all 360 degrees of it broke. So, the hub the wheel was bolted to along with the tire and wheel are likely in someone else's possession at the moment. I wonder if it broke off when I was in busy traffic?

It likely broke away along the bumpy drive into the farm, but with 2'-3' weeds all along the road, I'll not know until winter sometime, but likely not then.

My neighbor allows some poorer people to come back there and cut firewood. I imagine if they found that they would drive straight to a pawn shop to get a few bucks for it.

[Flyin6]

I now have all four 35" tires. I'll get them installed on Monday if I have time

[Flyin6]

Tires are installed

Looks like a surfboard on roller skate wheels!

[Flyin6]

I came home and turned the torsion bar keys down 2.5 turns

Then let a bunch of air out of the bags. It was sloppy, so I added about #30 to the bags. It now sits nose high. Can't go much lower on air in them so I may have to raise the front end a turn...???

It is definitely lower now

[Flyin6]

Next, I got after the back end

It was a mess with crap all over, spilled oil, stains, dusty, with dirt here and there.

So the cleaning began!

[Flyin6]

A bunch of tossing things, and a gallon of simple green and some quality pressure washer time, and it cleaned up very nicely

[JR]

 

Still way higher than mine. You will find the happy spot.

[dave945]

Check this out Don, look familiar?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/5156646667737692/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_general&referral_story_type=general&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%22-5780844282388591622%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%22991899313841449002%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A991899313841449002%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A6%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A19%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A241965422230896640%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A501%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A5.9353359953268e-5%2C%5C%22upsell_type%5C%22%3A3523%2C%5C%22candidate_retrieval_source_map%5C%22%3A%7B%5C%226173147479367848%5C%22%3A3502%2C%5C%228238458906164272%5C%22%3A3023%7D%2C%5C%22grouping_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%2C%22lightning_feed_qid%22%3A%22-5780860156783847054%22%2C%22lightning_feed_ranking_signature%22%3A%22241965422230896640%22%2C%22ftmd_400706%22%3A%22111112l%22%7D


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[rpar86]

Looks like Dave found your missing tire!

[TexasRedNeck]

Oh that’s hilarious.


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[Flyin6]

Check this out Don, look familiar?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/5156646667737692/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_general&referral_story_type=general&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%22-5780844282388591622%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%22991899313841449002%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A991899313841449002%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A6%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A19%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A241965422230896640%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A501%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A5.9353359953268e-5%2C%5C%22upsell_type%5C%22%3A3523%2C%5C%22candidate_retrieval_source_map%5C%22%3A%7B%5C%226173147479367848%5C%22%3A3502%2C%5C%228238458906164272%5C%22%3A3023%7D%2C%5C%22grouping_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%2C%22lightning_feed_qid%22%3A%22-5780860156783847054%22%2C%22lightning_feed_ranking_signature%22%3A%22241965422230896640%22%2C%22ftmd_400706%22%3A%22111112l%22%7D


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Dave, that does look a little familiar!

I think I'll pay the finders fee and be happy I got it back...Message sent.

[Flyin6]

Update on my long-lost tire and wheel: Thanks to Air Force Dave, I clicked on the link, then messaged the person who had the tire for sale. I told him a brief story and sent him a picture of my truck. I offered a finder's fee and he accepted. He was very nice and cordial and hopefully, tomorrow morning, I will meet him and get it back.

A friend of his runs a state highway mowing crew. He is the actual person who found it and took it to the young man who currently holds it. How funny now that this comes full circle!

[dave945]

Just doing my part. I figure a finders fee would be cheaper than a new wheel and powder coating.  Funny thing is I wasn’t even looking for wheels and tires last night, it just popped up in my suggested items.  In hindsight, I should have bought it and stuck it on the Blazer.


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[JR]

What are the chances? Maybe use better cardboard on the welding table next time.

[cj7ox]

What are the chances? Maybe use better cardboard on the welding table next time.

ROFLMAO!

[Flyin6]

Welding grade cardboard? Where? how much?

;-)

[Flyin6]

Well, I am back in possession of my runaway spare tire and the broken hub which is still bolted to it.

Ride report on the tire change/suspension alteration:

In a word, the truck is better with the smaller tires. It is quieter than before. It does not roll nearly as much in corners as it did when it sat at least 2" higher. It feels planted and solid and can be driven on twisty roads at a faster speed than before. It feels more responsive and when driving to/from the farm yesterday, it scored 19.8 mpg. I usually turned in numbers from 17.3 all the way to 19, with most falling in the low 18's. I will cautiously say that I believe I am getting about 1 mpg more than before and possibly as much as 2 mpg.

The truck does not look as good as it did before, but all in all, it is a good tradeoff and compromise

[TexasRedNeck]

C.o.G.

Never lies


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[Flyin6]

Just completed another 110 miles to/from the farm today. This time 21.3 mpg.

That is definitely better and a solid gain. Rounding, I'd call it a 10% increase although it's a little better than that

I'll keep an eye on it to see if this change comes home to roost.

The leather interior shipped yesterday from OK city.

[JR]

Was going to ask. I just made a run and got 18.8, but you have a better turbo and exhaust.

Sweet. I don't think it looks funny, just what I'm used to.

[Flyin6]

Was going to ask. I just made a run and got 18.8, but you have a better turbo and exhaust.

Sweet. I don't think it looks funny, just what I'm used to.

Need to read a little further, JR. Made the same run and got 21.3. It was showing 22.3 for some of the trip, then came the hills!

BTW, the seat leather just came in. It looks pretty good.

Ordering the Dyna-mat sound deadener from Summit

Edit: I have this automatic price scanner installed on my computer. I loaded the Dynamat sound deadener into the cart at Summit which was some $369 before tax. The program posted a link to save money. I followed the link to Amazon where I bought the same item number for $281!

It's enroute...

[wyorunner]

Was going to ask. I just made a run and got 18.8, but you have a better turbo and exhaust.

Sweet. I don't think it looks funny, just what I'm used to.

Need to read a little further, JR. Made the same run and got 21.3. It was showing 22.3 for some of the trip, then came the hills!

BTW, the seat leather just came in. It looks pretty good.

Ordering the Dyna-mat sound deadener from Summit

Edit: I have this automatic price scanner installed on my computer. I loaded the Dynamat sound deadener into the cart at Summit which was some $369 before tax. The program posted a link to save money. I followed the link to Amazon where I bought the same item number for $281!

It's enroute...

Too late, but should have checked fatmat it’s cheaper and just as good.

Rattletrap by fatmat

[Flyin6]

Was going to ask. I just made a run and got 18.8, but you have a better turbo and exhaust.

Sweet. I don't think it looks funny, just what I'm used to.

Need to read a little further, JR. Made the same run and got 21.3. It was showing 22.3 for some of the trip, then came the hills!

BTW, the seat leather just came in. It looks pretty good.

Ordering the Dyna-mat sound deadener from Summit

Edit: I have this automatic price scanner installed on my computer. I loaded the Dynamat sound deadener into the cart at Summit which was some $369 before tax. The program posted a link to save money. I followed the link to Amazon where I bought the same item number for $281!

It's enroute...

Too late, but should have checked fatmat it’s cheaper and just as good.

Rattletrap by fatmat

Yep-Too late

[EL TATE]

i think taking the topper off will help with the visual aspect ratio of the smaller tires. it's funny how a mere 2" of rubber can make such a drastic difference.

[Flyin6]

Back to the truck

and

today

we will be tinting the windows

...All of the windows

And here we are at the beginning.

Now, silly me, I thought I already had tinting on the windows, but I confused this truck with the ancient 2001 Tundra I had tinted to 35%.

This truck was a virgin.

[Flyin6]

I went with 20% on the front doors, 70% on the passenger doors. We measured the factory tint at 18% on the back glass, so to make it pretty dark only requires a light tint. I elected to go with 70% on the windshield, 20% on the already dark tinted shell on the back, and finally, 20% on the rear-facing cab glass

The sequence shows the driver's door going from factory to 20% installed

[Flyin6]

Here the back glass is getting covered, all four of them

[Flyin6]

In this series, the remaining four doors are being covered

[Flyin6]

Pics of Ryan and dad (Darn, I can't remember dad's name...sorree...) They work well together and this job, like my T-car from a few days ago is a solid hit, a 10! I found no errors, just a great tint job!

Another great job for Sunshield window tinting of Florence, KY

[Flyin6]

I have decided to just keep the topper on the truck.

So I'll be painting it or doing something to brighten it up. Since the back side is heavily stained by sloshing gas and diesel for years, I feel like a complete repaint is in order for it.

I'll also have to reconstruct the rear tire carrier since once again, I have a rear tire to actually carry! I think I'll pull the topper off then at that time

[JR]

Need to get mine redone, 15 years old. Pass is gone and drivers is pealing.

Only issue I ever had was backing up at night, I have to roll the windows down.

[Flyin6]

Need to get mine redone, 15 years old. Pass is gone and drivers is pealing.

Only issue I ever had was backing up at night, I have to roll the windows down.

I took my mirrors off and beefed up my rear bumper. No problems backing up day or night now ;-)

[JR]

And use the "spare tire" as a stop?

[EL TATE]

And use the "spare tire" as a stop?

Makes you wonder if it really "fell" off, lol

[dave945]

Only when he can find it.


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[Flyin6]

Only when he can find it.


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I didn't, remember?
The highway mowing crew did ;-)

Outside ripping the interior out of it at the moment

[JR]

Or buy it back,,,,,,,,,,,

[Flyin6]

Started the interior replacement project today with the teardown phase.

Today's objective was to get the big interior parts removed and cleaned up and ready for the upholstery shop. Next, I hoped to give it a good vacuum and use high-pressure air to blow everything out.

I started with the small rear seat

[Bigdave_185]

I seen a post not to long ago where a guy took his headliner and painted it with that upholstery type stuff all black! It looked great   


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[Flyin6]

So, the pictures are going to be all ganked up

There is a reason

I am using my crappy I-phone

Honestly, I do not see what everyone sees in this apple junk. I hate the MacBooks, and you cannot type a text on the I-phone without it looking like hieroglyphics. So, I'll just let the POC i-phony screw up this set of pics

because

I no longer have a regular SLR Cannon

Work tip of the day: Never, and I mean NEVER use brake cleaner to clean your camera. Turns out in addition to removing stubborn stains, it will also melt interior and exterior body parts. Buttons will melt in place, batteries will get welded into a permanent place, and I've heard, some plastic lens parts will do some pretty strange stuff...and become opaque.

Just a tip mind you...

I'll start a thread on a new camera very soon...

[JR]

When I tool my drivers seat out the crud was nasty and I'm the careful one!

Heck, my phone works great for this stuff.

[Flyin6]

I seen a post not to long ago where a guy took his headliner and painted it with that upholstery type stuff all black! It looked great   


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Hmmm, never thought about that
Got a link?

[Flyin6]

When I tool my drivers seat out the crud was nasty and I'm the careful one!

Well, JR, I think I may have you beat. I never ever suspected my seat could be that filthy! Never knew that brake cleaner melts cameras either! Seems I'm learning a lot today

[Flyin6]

You (Well, JR asked) asked for it

Here's the horror story under my seat:

and the strange star nut that holds those seats in there