So I got anxious and decided to install the headlight bulbs today, even though I know I will need to do it all over again to install the high beam bulbs in the near future.

Instead of taking out the 2nd battery and the intake to gain access to the headlamp housings I decided to take them out. After watching some videos on youtube I realized how easy it really was. The whole process from start to finish was about 20 minutes.

So taking the headlamp assembly out was very simple. After the 8 or so clips on on the plastic shroud above the radiator, it was (2) 7mm bolts in the fender, then (3) 10mm bolts holding the headlight assembly on the truck.

As you can see, Passanger side has the LED's in the low beam housing and the Driver's side is still stock.

Both sides done.

Night shot - The cutoff isn't too bad, especially since the bulbs have a shield over them inside of the housing.

Overall, very happy with them. Drove around once it got dark and being out in the country on pith black roads it's a world of difference. Can't wait to do the high beams and install and upgrade the fog lights.

 

So today I was able to replace and upgrade the previous lcd mirror with a new one. After messing with the old one it only got worse. The image was backwards, very dim, and even would blink/flicker when backing up making it very dangerous.

I replaced it with this one by Master Tailgaters, and it's an OEM replacement mirror and a night and day difference. Now I can't wait to get the truck tinted and things will be even better.

 

Those LEDS make a world of difference

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Those LEDS make a world of difference

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The LED headlights? Yes they do. It's amazing the difference they made. I'll be doing the matching high beams in the near future so I can have the full set, plus I'm out in the country and we have wildlife in the roads at times.

 

So all day today I was thinking that there has to be a way to adjust the camera in the rear handle to make it display the rear bumper and help when backing into a parking spot (up to a pole) or up to a trailer since the truck is so long.

The first thing I did was obviously take the camera out to see what I was working with

Looking at the camera in the assembly it looks like there was some adjustability but when taking a close look the camera was already pointing down as far as it would go.

So the next thing I figured is that I would make more room for adjustability since it pivots on a single screw only. I used a sharpie to mark where I needed to cut and broke out my trusty dreamer with a cutoff wheel

After cutting the section off the camera has the room necessary to angle down

Now all the angles were just a guess, but the only way to find out if it was enough or not was to re-assemble everything and test it out.

Perfect! If you look at the corners of the monitor you can see the bumper, exactly what I was going for. Now I can comfortably get within an inch or 2 to something when backing up and see what I'm doing.

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So I took a small road trip to Massachusetts to pick up a cap for the truck. The story was that it came off the same exact truck but a different color and was in a front end collision and totaled.

The cap is actually in better condition than I was to believe in the pictures from the ad. It has new shocks and the seller even went out of their way and bought 6 brand new clamps for it yesterday to make sure it would be safe for the ride home.

We looked it over and there is one tiny scratch on it, and it's on the roof so it's out of sight, and no big deal.

Now my big debate is to keep it the metallic gray color or paint it white to match. The color contrast is growing on me, and it flows with the colors already and I'm planning on some black/gunmetal wheels for next summer. Also I think if I paint it white it will make the truck look like a van a bit too much...

Any opinions?

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I like it as is....If you paint it white, the truck may look a little too imperial Storm Trooper-ish....

 

Looks odd to me with a different color. I would color match it personally. A cap will always change the style and look of the truck.

 

Man, lovin this rig and all the details you're building into it. Well done!
I vote to color match the cap too. Looks great on there.

 

One more vote for color matching it.

 

^ Ditto. Color match.

 

Have to be honest, I don't think any color is going to make it look good but if it has to stay then white would be the best choice.

 

Have to be honest, I don't think any color is going to make it look good but if it has to stay then white would be the best choice.

I agree, with the 1st part since I am not a fan of caps/toppers as well, but my father drives the truck and uses it for work. Since he carries tools and materials its the best compromise to keep things dry and locked up.

After talking with him, I think we have a plan, given that he likes the contrast as it is (and I am on the fence for both ways) we will leave it as is for the winter and get it painted in the spring after I put the wheels onto it.

Also, I have a picture of what the truck would look like with the color matched cap. It makes it look like a big ass suburban... lol

 

Picked up the truck from the tint shop. Had 20% installed in the back 3 windows and a strip across the windshield

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Curious why you didn't do the front windows?

 

Curious why you didn't do the front windows?

It's technically illegal in NY and my father didn't want them tinted like I have in my vehicles. Maybe one day he will change his mind but so far he is thrilled with the way the tears came out

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Illegal to tint the fronts? Not heard that before. Usually there is a minimum light transmission allowed.

 

Illegal to tint the fronts? Not heard that before. Usually there is a minimum light transmission allowed.

The legal light transmission is 70% or something like that which is pretty much clear, so at that point it's not worth paying to have it done. My vehicles have 20% on the fronts to match the rears but NYS law now makes it illegal and cannot pass annual inspection unless you remove it or have "other" means of getting inspected

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California has the front window tint illegal thing too. Makes sense. I personally like the front being open like that. Good stuff.
I removed the front window tint on my truck when I got it.. made things unnecessarily harder driving at night. hah. I like to be able to see around me (and not giving any cops a reason to pull me over if they can't see me clearly).

 

3M makes a "tint" film that is almost clear, but reduces heat dramatically and cuts UV penetration by over 95%. My wife has it on her 8 store windows, which are all 5x8. It's expensive, but the difference is incredible.

 

California has the front window tint illegal thing too. Makes sense. I personally like the front being open like that. Good stuff.
I removed the front window tint on my truck when I got it.. made things unnecessarily harder driving at night. hah. I like to be able to see around me (and not giving any cops a reason to pull me over if they can't see me clearly).

The only time I have any "issue" when driving any of my vehicles with the front tint is when backing up at night. But to remedy that I've upgraded all reverse facing lights to brighter LED's to help with that. I can always lower the window if really necessary.

3M makes a "tint" film that is almost clear, but reduces heat dramatically and cuts UV penetration by over 95%. My wife has it on her 8 store windows, which are all 5x8. It's expensive, but the difference is incredible.

Yeah, I know about that tint and it might be an option if the heat gets to be an issue. I am a fan of the darker tint more for the privacy and looks. That is why I already have the front windows tinted on my infiniti and my blue silverado. Maybe next year we will do the front windows, after he gets past the shock of doing all the work to his newly acquired truck.

 

Looks good.

All this tint discussion going on makes me want to get the fronts done, too. Never actually got around to it with the NNBS, so maybe now with the new one. Nothing crazy, just the legal level. And nothing additional to the rears.

A bit on the fence about the brow thing, so we'll see about that.

 

Looks good.

All this tint discussion going on makes me want to get the fronts done, too. Never actually got around to it with the NNBS, so maybe now with the new one. Nothing crazy, just the legal level. And nothing additional to the rears.

A bit on the fence about the brow thing, so we'll see about that.

If you look at the build thread for my blue 1500 silverado (tinted on page 4) you will be able to see when I had it tinted in the front and get a bunch of pictures as well. That might give you an idea with the body style as well.

 

I installed my LED high beams this evening and as you can imagine it's a night and day difference over stock. Getting a good picture of them was hard but you can see the intensity difference in the picture below. The drivers side was replaced and the passenger side is still stock.

Both lights done - still hard to get a decent picture but the intensity is greatly increased.

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That's one way to get a white truck to "shine"!