Massey
Full Member
I just picked up a 2004 for $1000 plus a transmission @ $1500, so $2500 for me!
I have used 'Ospho' brand rust treatment. It a green liquid that contains Phosphoric Acid. Nothing has worked better for me on trucks and boats for decades. Though DO NOT use without goggles and a long sleeve shirt, even if not under your truck. The rust on my undercarriage doesn't bother me nearly as much as the rust that ate up the body under my body cladding behind the rear doors. Never saw it coming because of the cladding.What kind of rust remover are you using, I have a little on my frame and I would like to take care of it before it gets any worse.
I presume you don't have body cladding. I never saw the rust attack my rear quarter panels until both had holes 25-30 Sq. Inches and one side ate up my rocker panel on one side.I have a couple of spots on my quarter panel right behind the doors, I can fix it but matching the color is going to be a little strategic, I think someone has had the entire thing painted once before and it's not a perfect match to the factory color. I might have to take it to a friend of mine and have him do the paint work. He has one of those fancy gadgets that can read the color and mix it up with a computer.
My 03's right front fender paint was a shade off of the rest of the body color (yellow). I thought it was a repaint until I went through it with a fine tooth comb. Every other Avalanche I see with a mismatched right front fender turns out to be a 2003 also.I have a couple of spots on my quarter panel right behind the doors, I can fix it but matching the color is going to be a little strategic, I think someone has had the entire thing painted once before and it's not a perfect match to the factory color. I might have to take it to a friend of mine and have him do the paint work. He has one of those fancy gadgets that can read the color and mix it up with a computer.
I ran 9000's on my 78 Bronco for a decade and loved them. I bit the bullet and got the onboard compressor and in-cab switch. Always glad I did. You'll love them.What kind of rust remover are you using, I have a little on my frame and I would like to take care of it before it gets any worse.
What kind of rust remover are you using, I have a little on my frame and I would like to take care of it before it gets any worse.
Update on modifications: No luck, if not bad luck.I'll post some soon. It's not yet a beast but like you, I love the 2003-only color also. I have driven it since new, beat it up a bit, over towed with it and it spent the first 12 years of its life living and hunting in Northern Indiana winters with no garage or carport. 220k miles now days but still runs perfect.
I finally decided to put some money into it (actually my wife ok'd it) so its on jack stands as I am typing this. I am currently installing new leveling keys and longer Bilsteins (2-1/2 inch) in the front and stiffer, longer coils and longer shocks in the rear. With camping/tool boxes in the bed it sat level before but lower. lol. So with 4 inch longer and larger diameter coils it should sit 2-1/2 half to 3 inches higher with an increased payload to help with additional racks and equipment.
I am installing new tubular upper control arms, and urethane bushing top and bottom, longer sway bar links, and moog ball joints again.
In my younger years my son and I built many 3/4 and 1 ton Fords with 500 hp big blocks, 8-12 inch lifts, and 40 inch mud tires. Now being older, I just want to add a small lift with slightly bigger tires to overland with so my wife and I can still climb in and out of it.
The only engine mod so far is the air intake and a mild tune. It has great compression still and does not burn oil yet so I may keep it stock for another 100K miles. Then the 383 bore or 6.0 replacement, unless I can find an 03-06 2500 in decent condition that is.
I will post pictures ASAP.
Don
Update: This os one of the times many of us wish we had opted for a regular pickup or even a suburban. (sacrilege)!!! Bear you castigate me, hear me out please... I have been thwarted by every Ford or Dodge Gremlin on my still-ongoing quest to modify my Av's suspension.I'll post some soon. It's not yet a beast but like you, I love the 2003-only color also. I have driven it since new, beat it up a bit, over towed with it and it spent the first 12 years of its life living and hunting in Northern Indiana winters with no garage or carport. 220k miles now days but still runs perfect.
I finally decided to put some money into it (actually my wife ok'd it) so its on jack stands as I am typing this. I am currently installing new leveling keys and longer Bilsteins (2-1/2 inch) in the front and stiffer, longer coils and longer shocks in the rear. With camping/tool boxes in the bed it sat level before but lower. lol. So with 4 inch longer and larger diameter coils it should sit 2-1/2 half to 3 inches higher with an increased payload to help with additional racks and equipment.
I am installing new tubular upper control arms, and urethane bushing top and bottom, longer sway bar links, and moog ball joints again.
In my younger years my son and I built many 3/4 and 1 ton Fords with 500 hp big blocks, 8-12 inch lifts, and 40 inch mud tires. Now being older, I just want to add a small lift with slightly bigger tires to overland with so my wife and I can still climb in and out of it.
The only engine mod so far is the air intake and a mild tune. It has great compression still and does not burn oil yet so I may keep it stock for another 100K miles. Then the 383 bore or 6.0 replacement, unless I can find an 03-06 2500 in decent condition that is.
I will post pictures ASAP.
Don
If you could post a picture of what you're having problems with I can offer you some advice, I'm a master certified mechanic and I've run into just about anything that would or could be a problem, I'm not sure what bolt you're trying to get out and I've been trying to picture it in my mind. I'm getting a little older now and trying to remember what everything looks like is somewhat of a task, lol, I'll try to help you in any way I can.Update: This os one of the times many of us wish we had opted for a regular pickup or even a suburban. (sacrilege)!!! Bear you castigate me, hear me out please... I have been thwarted by every Ford or Dodge Gremlin on my still-ongoing quest to modify my Av's suspension.
For the sake of brevity, just a few examples:
1. Skyjacker assured me that their extended coils would fit. I wanted to get the 2" increase in height in the rear from springs and not spring spacers. When they showed up I tried to place these heavy beasts on the rear axle but found that the ends of the springs were not the 'pig-tail' design of our factory springs where the top and bottom coils are a smaller radius, tapered, to fit the Av's mounting plates. Skyjacker does not manufacture mounting plates and they still insist these will fit even when provided pictures. Now to try to get a return postage slip and a refund.
2. First set of front upper control arms from KSP were well built, quality-powered coated and lighter than others, but even though they assured me, the minimum 10-1/8 inches to fit stock brackets they came 21/2 short and were offset to boot. But they were real fast sending a refund and telling me to send them back within thirty days. A great company all-in all.
3. Second set of control arms, are the right design but the width of the washers make it 1/8th of an inch too big to fit in my brackets. This time I am going to either grind down the washers, switch them, or do whatever it takes, and still be able to align them.
4. The factory torsion keys have slightly rotated in the hexagon opening in the keys so they are jambe real good. 7 days of penetrating oil and at least 40 whacks with a small sledge failed. Heating them up with a torch didn't help, no room to allow any type of hydraulic press. I don't see how other have cut them off because I don't have the clearance for a sawsall. Next attempt is to disconnect the supporting cross member to hopefully gain a better angle to drive the torsion rod out.
Any suggestions?
Thanks- hope you are all healthy and happy.
I paid 10K for my 2004 Z71 3 years ago with same mileage (from South Carolina). If it's rust-free, probably worth it.Paid 8k for mine. Way to much for a 2003 Z71 with 140k on it. But I wanted one real bad!
That makes me feel a little better about it than. I felt I overpaid by at least a grand.I paid 10K for my 2004 Z71 3 years ago with same mileage (from South Carolina). If it's rust-free, probably worth it.
I know some of the dealers around here are putting older models that are in great condition in their showrooms, because they cant get new models.Bought it off the showroom floor? Either that or you have a sweet garage...nice ride.