[nealinator]

Way to make it work. Gonna rename you to Big Blue Dremmel! haha

You should do a nice tailgate to tailgate angled pic for a new siggy...since you are working on your dads and have this build going.

Are those power folding HD mirrors?

 

[BigBlue2014]

Way to make it work. Gonna rename you to Big Blue Dremmel! haha

You should do a nice tailgate to tailgate angled pic for a new siggy...since you are working on your dads and have this build going.

Are those power folding HD mirrors?

lol, thanks. I'm going to try and get both trucks nice and clean one of these days and try to get a good pic so I can make a new sig.

I'll update on the mirrors tomorrow (when I have some pics to go with everything) but knowing boost... You know they are nice!

 

[roorancher]

Love my Boost mirrors! Have fun Matt!!!

 

[BigBlue2014]

So today was another busy day working on the truck, getting it all set up to the way I would like to have it.

1st thing was to install the replacement overhead console with home link. The only thing is that it did not have the switch for the auxiliary lights like the original one from the truck, so I had to do some customizing. I was able to cut out the hole for the button and pop it in. Now I have the home link and the auxiliary button (may install strobe lights in the future to that circuit in the future)

Next was the Boos Auto Parts mirrors. Installed them both easily (thanks to various videos and instructions online) and wiring was a breeze. They are definitely an upgrade from the OEM towing mirrors - and now I found that the mirror adjustment switch is failing (seems to be a common issue in this generation truck) so its something else I will get replaced.

 

[BigBlue2014]

My Craigslist find of the day!

I found a 2008 Sierra 1500 that was wrecked on craigslist and it was posted as whole or parts. I messaged the seller about the truck and asked if the truck had the jump seat with the (3) cup holders and storage under the armrest. He replied that it did, and he was asking $150 for it. How could I pass that up, when they sell for $300-$400 daily online?

So I made the hour and half drive out to the boonies and picked it up. It looked rougher than it really was, but that was ok, knowing that I was going to clean it up and everything.

While taking the seats out of the truck, I found some "treasures"... lol

A 12 gauge shotgun shell and a key to a kubota tractor. Also found a french fry and an almond, but those weren't picture worthy...

Finished bolting everything together, and decided to install some seat covers that I had laying around from when we sold out Nissan Murano a month ago. I want to get the Gray Carhartt seat covers, but these were already here so I figured, why not...

Finished product - Not too bad given that they were custom made for something totally different.

 

[desertboy13]

Whoa ..Great job

Sent from my SM-A102U1 using Tapatalk

 

[roorancher]

Nice work all around Matt!

And just FYI.....the grey Carhartt seat covers were one of the best things I did to the truck. They're washable and dryable, and they don't shrink.
If you decide to buy them, don't do it from the manufacturer's website. There's an EBay seller called "blackslatebrands" out of Austin, Texas, that not only discounts, but when I bought mine I didn't want the console/jump seat cover, so he custom ordered just the two front bucket covers, and reduced the price accordingly.

 

[BigBlue2014]

Nice work all around Matt!

And just FYI.....the grey Carhartt seat covers were one of the best things I did to the truck. They're washable and dryable, and they don't shrink.
If you decide to buy them, don't do it from the manufacturer's website. There's an EBay seller called "blackslatebrands" out of Austin, Texas, that not only discounts, but when I bought mine I didn't want the console/jump seat cover, so he custom ordered just the two front bucket covers, and reduced the price accordingly.

That's good to know, especially since my dad does construction and painting and will probably ruin those covers within the 1st year. But at least I can offset purchasing the carhart covers until then.

 

[d0wse]

Man, I thought you had the ford for a work truck. Nice rig!

 

[BigBlue2014]

Man, I thought you had the ford for a work truck. Nice rig!

Gavin, I have the F250 as well. This truck was to replace a van we had in the fleet.

 

[BigBlueLB756]

Matt, I wish I had a son like you! That's nice.

 

[BigBlue2014]

Matt, I wish I had a son like you! That's nice.

Thank you. We're very close, and I figured that I would also modify the truck (in his best interest) but the way I would like to have it if it were mine. The truck already stands out because of how rare it is to find in this configuration, so I might as well make it stand out a bit more.

 

[BigBlue2014]

So I had a few minutes this evening so I decided to install the vent visors I picked up off of amazon. Originally they were $48.xx but there was a set on amazon warehouse under "acceptable" condition for $15 and it said it came repackaged. I figured I'd take the gamble, and I could always reapply the 3M tape if needed. So they came in and there was nothing wrong with them, just a piece of tape on one of them and a smudge on another. So after a quick wipe down they were ready to install.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[nealinator]

Gotta love those warehouse deals. Most of the time it has worked out well for me too.

 

[BigBlue2014]

Gotta love those warehouse deals. Most of the time it has worked out well for me too.

Neal, you gotta love them. I've picked up a few things here and there, and have always been happy with my purchase.

 

[BigBlue2014]

So another package came in today, so I had to spend a few minutes on the truck. Today's projects were to upgrade the dome lights and the reverse lights.

The stock dome lights are incredibly dim so I purchased some 42mm Canbus Festoon style LED bulbs and replaced the original bulbs. This way they wont have that slight glow when the are not in use, and they are not polarity sensitive. What a difference over the original bulbs.

Next was the backup bulbs. Since I have the Boost Auto Parts mirrors on the truck, I wanted to make the reverse bulbs match, so I purchased a set of Luyed 1700 Lumen LED bulbs for the reverse housings. As you can see the bulb is slightly larger but there is plenty of room for it in the housing

Super bright white light

Stock bulb on the drivers side, and LED on the passenger. The color difference and intensity is clear (even in the daylight)

Both bulbs installed

Next: Thinking LED License plate bulbs then going to go for the headlights/high beams.

 

[BigBlue2014]

Another day, another project. Since the sierra is a "Work Truck" trim it didn't have a backup camera, and for such a large vehicle it certainly is a help. So that was today's project. I purchased an OEM style camera that is in the tailgate trim bezel and a rear view mirror with integrated LCD monitor.

1st I had to remove the tailgate and drill a hole into the bottom to allow the wiring from the camera to pass through.

So to keep the bare metal from rusting in the long run I sprayed some rubberized undercoating in and around the hole to cover everything up.

To help get the wiring from the camera through the hole, I used an old antenna that I have modified to use as a "pokey" device. Just pushed it though the hole up to the handle, taped the wiring to the end, and fished it back through the bottom.

Finished result of the bottom of the tailgate:

Since the truck also does not come with a lock on the tailgate I used a carriage bolt to plug the lock cylinder hole for the time being, so at quick glance nothing looks out of place. I have a Bolt Brand Tailgate lock on order and I will install that when it gets delivered to finish everything for good.

Image of the rear view mirror when the truck is in reverse. So far it looks pretty good. My only complaint right now is that the image is pretty dim, but that may be a direct result of the lack of tinted windows in the truck as well. After it gets tinted I will see how things look, and may replace the mirror with another. [also something visible in the rear view mirror that Neal will appreciate - lol ]

 

[nealinator]

I see that Akorn! haha

Just curious...are you discussing each of these mods with your dad and is he all on board with them or are you just adding stuff and telling him "look dad...added something else for you!"?

Maybe you could get ahold of an OEM rear view mirror if it can be wired to connect to the aftermarket camera. Mine is a bit smaller picture I think, but the picture is very bright. More so than the larger screen on my Eonon radio head unit so I use the mirror more in the daytime in some situations and the radio screen at night is plenty bright.

 

[BigBlue2014]

Neal, I gave him a basic rundown of the things that I wanted to do with the truck to get his opinion on them. The seat upgrade, mirrors, camera, all cool. I've been tossing the idea of a 6 inch lift with some 37's and he starts to go crazy about the thought, saying it's a work truck and he doesn't need it! Lol.

I'll look into the oem mirror and see if it can be wired to accept an aftermarket camera, because that would help tremendously.

Btw, I was cooking a few racks of ribs on the akorn while doing the Installation.

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[BigBlue2014]

Had to do some work at a friend's house so I snapped a quick pic... I think tint is necessary and next on the list.