HenryJ
Full Member
New to this forum, but not new to the forums. I have been keeping the S-10 crew cabs informed with the S-10CREWCAB.net forum for almost a decade now.
I have had a couple S-series trucks. The first was Thunder - '86 S-10 Sport , this was followed by Thunder II - 2001 S-10 crew cab. Thunder II was an awesome light expedition rig. Lots of great trips under its belt. The last trip over the Steens loop we out grew it. We needed more room and a little more power. I had been watching other s-series crew cab owners migrate to the fullsize and more than a few went to the Avalanche. I have been added to that list.
Dubbed "T3" mine is a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche. It came nicely equipped with most of the options.
A one owner vehicle from California with:
Power windows
Power heated leather front bucket seats
Deep tinted windows
Remote entry
Body colored wheel opening
Running boards
Power sun roof
Auto temperature control
Light sensitive mirrors rearview with compass and temperature, side with indicators , active tracking and courtesy lights. Body colored inserts
Illuminated sun visors with mirrors
G80 posi traction
4.10 ratio
Power pedals
Hyd power brakes
Active brake control
Cruise control
High capacity Air cleaner
4L60E
Built in Silao, Mexico
17x7.5 aluminum sport wheels
Leather wrapped steering wheel
Two speed auto transfercase
LT package
Front fog lights
Body color grille
S band digital audio
AM/FM/CD multiple disc radio
Homelink
Steering wheel controls
Rear seat ear phone jack and control
Premium Bose sound system
GPS
Onstar
Tow hooks
Trailer hitch package
HD trailer provisions
Engine block heater
145 amp alternator
Z71 offroad package
Bilstein shocks
Skid plates
A few of the options were things that I had to add to the last truck. That shortens the mod list a little. The idea is to get it where the last was and maybe just a little better. Light expedition ready is my goal.
I am a small truck guy and have been for a very long time. I like to be able to choose multiple lines on the trail where a larger rig has no choices. That makes this change sort of bitter sweet. I will adapt.
With winter knocking on the door some things moved to the top of the list. The transmission was long overdue for a flush and filter. The engine got a good oil filter and synthetic oil. The tires on it were old and cracking. That put tires as a must do.
In order to install the size I want a small lift was needed.
'97 Ford F150 keys replaced the stock ones
With those I was able to raise the front a little over 2" and with Bell Tech 1" coil spacers on the rear , I am left with about 1" of rake.
The new tires-
BFG TAKO 285/70-17 Installed and balanced with 6.5 oz Dynabeads each. Speedometer corrections and a little performance alteration done with a BullyDog GT tuner. Helps to keep a tab on fuel economy and operating conditions too.
I moved the Diehard Platinum from the BLT Offroad trailer into the engine compartment. Inside I mounted a surplus Jotto desk and the inverter to power the laptop.
Two more power ports under the cup holder power the inverter and the handheld GPS on the dash. Under the back seat I installed yet another power port to supply the APRS. The Yaesu FT8800 dual band radio head unit sits between the stock console power ports-
The external speaker is that square black box on the side of the console. The transceiver is hidden under the cup holder too.
Two 1/4 wave whips up top for antennas are connected via a duplexer.
I cut down a late model Suburban roof rack to fit and added my safari basket with awning on top of that-
The back up lights were upgraded to 50 watt halogens and an LED string light underneath. 1/0 cables with quik connectors on both ends can connect to the cradle mounted winch or booster cables.
Up front I put together a 2" receiver hitch for the winch-
The two 7" HID offroad lights are wirelessly controlled. Nice light out 1/2 mile or more.
Lots of reading on the forums was lucrative. I did the $2.49 Audio input mod for my Ipod , cut the recliner stops on the power seats and added the AOH lights mod.
Today I installed new Autolite XP iridium sparkplugs, added an underhood light -
Hayes trailer brake controller was plug-n-play, installed a new wireless light controller for the HID lights and installed a Spectre ProFab air intake
I added the Insultek insulation around the heat shield and stitched up a polyester pre-cleaner for the filter.
Still waiting on exhaust. New ship date is not until the 23rd. Looks like that might be a Thanksgiving day project.
I have had a couple S-series trucks. The first was Thunder - '86 S-10 Sport , this was followed by Thunder II - 2001 S-10 crew cab. Thunder II was an awesome light expedition rig. Lots of great trips under its belt. The last trip over the Steens loop we out grew it. We needed more room and a little more power. I had been watching other s-series crew cab owners migrate to the fullsize and more than a few went to the Avalanche. I have been added to that list.
Dubbed "T3" mine is a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche. It came nicely equipped with most of the options.
A one owner vehicle from California with:
Power windows
Power heated leather front bucket seats
Deep tinted windows
Remote entry
Body colored wheel opening
Running boards
Power sun roof
Auto temperature control
Light sensitive mirrors rearview with compass and temperature, side with indicators , active tracking and courtesy lights. Body colored inserts
Illuminated sun visors with mirrors
G80 posi traction
4.10 ratio
Power pedals
Hyd power brakes
Active brake control
Cruise control
High capacity Air cleaner
4L60E
Built in Silao, Mexico
17x7.5 aluminum sport wheels
Leather wrapped steering wheel
Two speed auto transfercase
LT package
Front fog lights
Body color grille
S band digital audio
AM/FM/CD multiple disc radio
Homelink
Steering wheel controls
Rear seat ear phone jack and control
Premium Bose sound system
GPS
Onstar
Tow hooks
Trailer hitch package
HD trailer provisions
Engine block heater
145 amp alternator
Z71 offroad package
Bilstein shocks
Skid plates
A few of the options were things that I had to add to the last truck. That shortens the mod list a little. The idea is to get it where the last was and maybe just a little better. Light expedition ready is my goal.
I am a small truck guy and have been for a very long time. I like to be able to choose multiple lines on the trail where a larger rig has no choices. That makes this change sort of bitter sweet. I will adapt.
With winter knocking on the door some things moved to the top of the list. The transmission was long overdue for a flush and filter. The engine got a good oil filter and synthetic oil. The tires on it were old and cracking. That put tires as a must do.
In order to install the size I want a small lift was needed.
'97 Ford F150 keys replaced the stock ones
With those I was able to raise the front a little over 2" and with Bell Tech 1" coil spacers on the rear , I am left with about 1" of rake.
The new tires-
BFG TAKO 285/70-17 Installed and balanced with 6.5 oz Dynabeads each. Speedometer corrections and a little performance alteration done with a BullyDog GT tuner. Helps to keep a tab on fuel economy and operating conditions too.
I moved the Diehard Platinum from the BLT Offroad trailer into the engine compartment. Inside I mounted a surplus Jotto desk and the inverter to power the laptop.
Two more power ports under the cup holder power the inverter and the handheld GPS on the dash. Under the back seat I installed yet another power port to supply the APRS. The Yaesu FT8800 dual band radio head unit sits between the stock console power ports-
The external speaker is that square black box on the side of the console. The transceiver is hidden under the cup holder too.
Two 1/4 wave whips up top for antennas are connected via a duplexer.
I cut down a late model Suburban roof rack to fit and added my safari basket with awning on top of that-
The back up lights were upgraded to 50 watt halogens and an LED string light underneath. 1/0 cables with quik connectors on both ends can connect to the cradle mounted winch or booster cables.
Up front I put together a 2" receiver hitch for the winch-
The two 7" HID offroad lights are wirelessly controlled. Nice light out 1/2 mile or more.
Lots of reading on the forums was lucrative. I did the $2.49 Audio input mod for my Ipod , cut the recliner stops on the power seats and added the AOH lights mod.
Today I installed new Autolite XP iridium sparkplugs, added an underhood light -
Hayes trailer brake controller was plug-n-play, installed a new wireless light controller for the HID lights and installed a Spectre ProFab air intake
I added the Insultek insulation around the heat shield and stitched up a polyester pre-cleaner for the filter.
Still waiting on exhaust. New ship date is not until the 23rd. Looks like that might be a Thanksgiving day project.