Author Topic: Pre-Ranger 2007 Chevy Silverado truck build (Read 28816 times)

Flyin6 · « **on:** November 16, 2020, 07:28:16 PM »

Hello everyone my dad and I just bought my first truck
Its a 2007 1500 chevy silverado vortex max 4wd
Blue exterior, some rust, leather interior, 6.0 all aluminum LS engine 4L70 transmission, 14 bolt rear axle, 4.10
Well since this is my first ever truck I am extremely happy to have it and to work on it with my dad.
My plans with it are to clean it up first then fix the rust and paint it
Dad has a bunch of engine stuff we will bolt on to renew the engine somewhat since it has 265,000 miles on it.
But mainly i just want to enjoy working on it

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2020, 07:37:56 PM »

Dad here...

The kiddo was/is really excited to see it and go through the buying decision. He found it on line where it had been posted less than a day ago. After looking after the add, we decided to go right away to look at it.
It has a couple of dents in it, and the rockers both have rust holes. I wanted a project for us to work on together, so this looks about right. I figure I'll let him clean and tweak here and there until Christmas, then see what Santa may bring for him that could fit the thing. After that, we will get in on the body work and finish with a full repaint back to the factory color.

Since the motor has 265K I would like to get a new timing chain in there so while I have it apart, I'll toss in thet high torque cam I once had in the Burb. That, and a tune, and some headers and an exhaust and I'll get Nick to tune it and that should net us another 100 HP and that will be good enough

The previous owner put 2018 Silvy aluminum wheels on it and just tossed on a set of new 33" off road tires. The motor sounds good, has zero blowby and no ticking.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2020, 07:39:24 PM »

It has a 2" front lift spacer and brand new air bags in the rear.

We will post pics up as we get the thing turned around and headed in the right direction

stlaser · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2020, 07:44:10 PM »

Cool truck

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2020, 07:52:04 PM »

Wow!! Love it. The extended cab is perfect for a young lad

Now motor, thought we were going to pull the burb motor anc swap and d max in it which frees up that old tired 6.2 you have in it right?

Have you ever seen someone boat side a jeep? I’d like to try replacing the lower rockers with a 2x6 tube and welding it in place along the while cab leaving 2 “ out to act as rock sliders. One day?

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TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2020, 09:07:34 PM »

Nice ride there, pre-Ranger. Looking forward to detailed updates.

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oklawall · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2020, 09:50:42 PM »

Good looking truck pre range please keep us posted as you take care of it

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cruizng · « **Reply #7 on:** November 17, 2020, 08:30:38 AM »

Very nice truck and congrats! Great project for father and son. Good times.

BobbyB · « **Reply #8 on:** November 17, 2020, 08:56:21 PM »

Nice truck.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 17, 2020, 10:10:57 PM »

I got the thing paid for, registered and insured today.

Went over and picked it up. Pre-Ranger drove it home. He got the first drive, not me.

We went over the thing some before football practice to formulate a base plan. He will start with a massive cleaning of every square inch of the thing, then go from there.

Nate · « **Reply #10 on:** November 18, 2020, 12:04:55 AM »

So which pre-ranger are we talking about here...#1 or #2 (i believe he has a biblical name very similar to mine)? I am thinking #2, because if my failing memory is correct...#1 got a newer canyon?????

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #11 on:** November 18, 2020, 05:31:54 AM »

And my wife questioned why i need a bigger shop....I said by the time both girls are driving I’ll have a fleet to maintain.....

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Farmer Jon · « **Reply #12 on:** November 18, 2020, 06:38:44 AM »

Thats nice. My first car was a 73 Impala. We could pack 10 people in it easy. I bet He can probably fit 7 or 8 of his friends in there.

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EL TATE · « **Reply #13 on:** November 18, 2020, 10:11:02 AM »

Quote from: Farmer Jon on November 18, 2020, 06:38:44 AM

Thats nice. My first car was a 73 Impala. We could pack 10 people in it easy. I bet He can probably fit 7 or 8 of his friends in there.

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Nice acquisition there! Don't forget about the bed Jon, he can get 10 more easy with no issues since they're in the Tuk!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 18, 2020, 05:13:00 PM »

Quote from: Nate on November 18, 2020, 12:04:55 AM

So which pre-ranger are we talking about here...#1 or #2 (i believe he has a biblical name very similar to mine)? I am thinking #2, because if my failing memory is correct...#1 got a newer canyon?????

Korrekt Comrad!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 18, 2020, 05:14:17 PM »

Quote from: EL TATE on November 18, 2020, 10:11:02 AM

Quote from: Farmer Jon on November 18, 2020, 06:38:44 AM
Thats nice. My first car was a 73 Impala. We could pack 10 people in it easy. I bet He can probably fit 7 or 8 of his friends in there.

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Nice acquisition there! Don't forget about the bed Jon, he can get 10 more easy with no issues since they're in the Tuk!

See you're not thinking kler! What bout the roof and hood? Another 4-5 for sure

Flyin6 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 18, 2020, 05:33:10 PM »

I guess I'm writing this up for Pre-Ranger. He is off to practice tacklin' stuff.

Today was an all day effort cleaning the interior. We also tested and charged the battery, which was already in great shape, but I topped it off. The interior was scrubbed with cleaners and a brush forever, but all that elbow grease yielded upholstery which was in pretty good shape

Flyin6 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 18, 2020, 05:35:10 PM »

It has a squealing left rear brake and I suspect a dragging caliper. The wheel was pretty dirty so it is wearing more than the others. SO looks like job 1 will be brakes. Speaking of wheels, I touched one up with simple wheel cleaner and found a pretty stock 2017 or 2018 silverado wheel hiding out

Flyin6 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 18, 2020, 05:37:22 PM »

Motor tomorrow. Soaking then power washing along with the underside all the way back

Funny, but I never even noticed the tool box. Pre-Ranger says it stays...OK then.

We also got a matching topper which the kiddo does not want to install.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 18, 2020, 06:01:03 PM »

When you say topper. Do you mean shell or flat cover?

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 18, 2020, 06:31:40 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on November 18, 2020, 06:01:03 PM

When you say topper. Do you mean shell or flat cover?

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Shell, fiberglass

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 18, 2020, 06:43:00 PM »

I really do like mine, until it’s time to install or take off.

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Nate · « **Reply #22 on:** November 18, 2020, 06:53:46 PM »

My recommendation would be to sell that tool box and the shell.....and go with one of these setups (they do have tool boxes as well)

https://diamondbackcovers.com

Farmer Jon · « **Reply #23 on:** November 18, 2020, 07:40:58 PM »

Kids dont want some grandpa topper. How is he supposed fill the back with water and drive the bikini girls around in the mobile swimming pool.

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KensAuto · « **Reply #24 on:** November 18, 2020, 07:56:52 PM »

Pretty nice first vehicle!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #25 on:** November 18, 2020, 08:04:19 PM »

Quote from: Nate on November 18, 2020, 06:53:46 PM

My recommendation would be to sell that tool box and the shell.....and go with one of these setups (they do have tool boxes as well)

https://diamondbackcovers.com

Nate, I like that
Pre-Ranger wants to keep tool box, and sell or give away the topper. He has $12 to his name. Gets paid $10 an hour to shovel horse manure out of stalls nearby or $10 an hour from his dad to do about the same.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #26 on:** November 18, 2020, 08:06:05 PM »

Quote from: KensAuto on November 18, 2020, 07:56:52 PM

Pretty nice first vehicle!

Has rusty rockers and a few dents. Has 265,000 miles but it rides great and that thing has a ton of power. I never drove a Vortex-Max before but that L78 is a lot more spunky than the LQ4
We handed over $6,800 for it. Maybe a bit high, but it looked "right."

JR · « **Reply #27 on:** November 19, 2020, 05:16:24 AM »

Very nice first ride. Dad knows about upgrading vehicles well, called "fluid changes".

Will you get your own name on here or live under dads for awhile.

By the way, vacuums are great but try compressed air too, it will surprise you!

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #28 on:** November 19, 2020, 07:12:42 AM »

Yank those front seats and clean under them. Bet you find $5 in change and a few French fries.....

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Sammconn · « **Reply #29 on:** November 19, 2020, 07:45:05 AM »

Nice truck. Good luck with the fluid change.

You’ll also find a couple cheezies, a handful of pistachios and maybe the keys and knife you lost.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #30 on:** November 19, 2020, 09:10:46 AM »

Or one step further, pull the carpet and install the sound deadening stuff. Plus remove the extra 80 pounds of sand always found under the carpet

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #31 on:** November 20, 2020, 10:46:46 AM »

Complete bumper to bumper degreasing and pressure wash...Yuck

Followed up with an oil change. Decided to use high mileage Castrol 5W-30 and this time (Was on sale) STP oil filter saved $8 over a new AC-Delco.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #32 on:** December 23, 2020, 11:10:34 AM »

I tried to get the knucklehead to post up some of his work progress, but he hasn't managed much so far.

We discovered a power steering leak issue which will need to get resolved. That and the rear brakes has what looks like a possible sticking caliper. Therefore I can see Santa lugging some heavy parts down the chimney in a couple days.

We did manage to swap out the factory muffler for the magna-flow unit that I just removed from the Burb

Flyin6 · « **Reply #33 on:** December 23, 2020, 11:13:00 AM »

Then I popped on a little exhaust turn down to serve until we decide to do differently or not.

With the stock exhaust manifolds and cats intact, it is pretty quiet with this muffler.

We did however start to notice the very annoying drone when the thing goes into V4 mode

Flyin6 · « **Reply #34 on:** December 23, 2020, 11:15:14 AM »

Next we removed on each horrible spare tire which was held in place with a ratchet strap since the factory winch cable had failed. We discarded all that mess which opened up the rear to get after with a bunch more cleaning

JR · « **Reply #35 on:** December 23, 2020, 01:50:46 PM »

Shocks and rust need some addressing for sure.

Tune that V4 out!!

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #36 on:** December 23, 2020, 02:59:13 PM »

Who would like to sign their name to the exhaust weld lol
Iv always like the sound of that 5.3 v8 with a muffler

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #37 on:** December 23, 2020, 05:12:37 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on December 23, 2020, 02:59:13 PM

Who would like to sign their name to the exhaust weld lol
Iv always like the sound of that 5.3 v8 with a muffler

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Not a 5.3, this is a higher compression L76 6.0

Flyin6 · « **Reply #38 on:** December 28, 2020, 04:49:56 PM »

Pre-Ranger has come in at night past two days totally black from grinding. He has a wire cup grinder and is going after the frame at the moment. Plans are to get all the scale rust off and a coat of undercoating installed to protect the metal.

JR · « **Reply #39 on:** December 28, 2020, 05:50:59 PM »

Sammconn · « **Reply #40 on:** December 29, 2020, 10:55:11 AM »

That’s nothing.
I need to decide how crazy I’m going when I swap boxes in my truck.
No paint left anywhere...

stlaser · « **Reply #41 on:** December 29, 2020, 11:25:07 AM »

Don, I’m really impressed with this chassis saver.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #42 on:** December 29, 2020, 05:49:08 PM »

Quote from: stlaser on December 29, 2020, 11:25:07 AM

Don, I’m really impressed with this chassis saver.

Which one???

stlaser · « **Reply #43 on:** December 29, 2020, 08:47:09 PM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on December 29, 2020, 05:49:08 PM

Quote from: stlaser on December 29, 2020, 11:25:07 AM
Don, I’m really impressed with this chassis saver.
Which one???

https://www.magnetpaints.com/underbody.asp

I used the middle can in picture and mopped it on the bottom side of the flatbed. Napa sells it, not cheap but I like it.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #44 on:** June 27, 2021, 11:25:00 AM »

New rear brakes yesterday

Surprisingly, it all came off pretty easily.

I am not used to these 1/2 ton small parts. Mucho easier than the big 1-ton stuff I always play with

JR · « **Reply #45 on:** June 27, 2021, 12:17:32 PM »

Nice, hope what I'm about to tackle goes pretty easy,,,,,,,,rear bearings/brakes.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #46 on:** June 28, 2021, 08:49:37 AM »

Quote from: JR on June 27, 2021, 12:17:32 PM

Nice, hope what I'm about to tackle goes pretty easy,,,,,,,,rear bearings/brakes.

Pray first!

oldkoot · « **Reply #47 on:** June 29, 2021, 10:09:59 AM »

nice first ride... gonna mount the spare in the bed then?

Flyin6 · « **Reply #48 on:** June 29, 2021, 08:40:06 PM »

Quote from: oldkoot on June 29, 2021, 10:09:59 AM

nice first ride... gonna mount the spare in the bed then?

Hey Norm...

Naw, he wants to stay near stock

Can't imagine why he feels like that!

Nate · « **Reply #49 on:** June 29, 2021, 08:56:52 PM »

Thats the younger pre rangers right? Cause i thought you got the older one a colorado or something like that?