Malaki 2003 1500HD Build

9664 Views 138 Replies 22 Participants Last post by Malaki, Jul 11, 2018

Malaki

Discussion Starter · Dec 4, 2017 (Edited by Moderator)

4

Well I wasn't expecting to start a build thread again so soon. Especially not one for a 2003 again but here goes.

Here is my current truck (I am trading in soon) 2015 GMC Sierra (build thread) Malaki 2015 Sierra Build

I got a phone call from my father that works at a dealership about this 2003 1500HD with only 135,XXX miles that he could get me for a good deal. So I went in and looked at it and took it home to test drive. It has it's flaws but they all are normal for what it is. It has a manifold leak, Rust on the rockers and a couple dents. Nothing that can't be fixed. Dad called me a couple days later telling me someone else was wanting to buy it so I made the decision to jump on it and take on the new adventure. Here are the pictures of when I first took it home.

The interior looks immaculate. It looks like the back seat has never been sat in.

Future plans.
- Fix manifold
- Tool box
- New taillights
- Towing mirrors
- Exhaust
- Bigger tires

More to come

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41 - 60 of 139 Posts

Malaki

Discussion Starter · #41 · Dec 12, 2017

Thats actually what I wanted was the 285s but i couldn't find any for a good price so I settled for the 265s. Anything looks better than those awful 245s. Haha

Malaki

Discussion Starter · #42 · Dec 17, 2017 (Edited by Moderator)

4

Got the ole 6.0 detailed and looking good. It cleans up very nicely. I've already had multiple people tell me they want first dibs when I sell it. I haven't drove it much because I have been enjoying my GMC. When we get more snow I will be driving this truck every day.

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I went to the junk yard to get a gas door and they only had 1 that wasn't rusted out. And to my surprise it was actually green :shock: So I put that on to clean up the side.

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MOFF214

· #43 · Dec 17, 2017

Put me down on the dibs list. Looks freakin sharp!

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GobblerK5

· #44 · Dec 17, 2017

Need some undercoating on that frame...

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05Canuck

· #45 · Dec 17, 2017

Not that you don't have enough to do, but the passenger rear wheel needs a center cap and she'd look sweet with a little tint added!

Malaki

Discussion Starter · #46 · Dec 17, 2017

I am looking at getting new wheels from OEWheels for it so for now I am not going to get a new center cap unless I don't get new wheels. Tint may come in the future.

Malaki

Discussion Starter · #47 · Dec 17, 2017

GobblerK5 said:
Need some undercoating on that frame...

This summer I plan on doing something with the frame. I want to wait til it is warmer.

Malaki

Discussion Starter · #48 · Dec 17, 2017

MOFF214 said:
Put me down on the dibs list. Looks freakin sharp!

Thank you! I will put you on the list haha

05Canuck

· #49 · Dec 17, 2017

What kind of wheels where you looking at?

GobblerK5

· #50 · Dec 17, 2017

I hear ya on waiting til summer. Don't forget the POR15 rubberized undercoating that I used on mine. It's holding up really well.

Good deal on the green gas cap door...super lucky there! And that green sure does shine up nice. How's the roof look?

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Malaki

Discussion Starter · #51 · Dec 17, 2017 (Edited by Moderator)

The roof looks good, No peeling or rust. I will most likely use POR15. I used that on my old 03 and it worked great.

These are the wheels that I would like to get for it. I think it would make it look a lot newer and really sharp with 20s.

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Malaki

Discussion Starter · #52 · Dec 17, 2017 (Edited by Moderator)

2

Took it out to make sure the 4x4 is working properly...and maybe to play in the snow a little

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zachfletch573

· #53 · Dec 17, 2017

This really make me miss my ol' 2002 1500HD. I think that I might have to pick myself up one after I buy a house.

ProfBrown

· #54 · Dec 18, 2017

How are you liking the power of that 6.0, any plans for power upgrades or a different sound out back? The 6.0s have a nice deep sound, and int he 1500HD a sleeper for sure! I really like the green as well! Nice clean truck. What is the next thing you plan on doing?

1994Vmax

· #55 · Dec 18, 2017

The OE 20's look awesome on this body style. but then I am a little biased lol. I used oem ones with billet steel adapters 1.5" thick. It put the rims out but still within the confines of the fender flare. I have the ones with grey pockets and the inside of the rim is grey as opposed to polished. One set on my 2017 and the other on my 2004.

Malaki

Discussion Starter · #56 · Dec 18, 2017

I bet those look great! I have their wheels on my GMC and I love them. I think the grey pocket ones would look sharp.

Malaki

Discussion Starter · #57 · Dec 18, 2017

zachfletch573 said:
This really make me miss my ol' 2002 1500HD. I think that I might have to pick myself up one after I buy a house.

I didn't realize how much I missed my old 03 until I started driving this again. If you find a nice one keep ahold of it. these things are so hard to find. No one is selling them around here.

Malaki

Discussion Starter · #58 · Dec 18, 2017

ProfBrown said:
How are you liking the power of that 6.0, any plans for power upgrades or a different sound out back? The 6.0s have a nice deep sound, and int he 1500HD a sleeper for sure! I really like the green as well! Nice clean truck. What is the next thing you plan on doing?

I love it. This is my first 6.0 so I really like the extra power. I would really like to get an exhaust down the road but that would take away from my goal of keep this truck as cheap as possible but we will see. I don't have to many plans other than new wheels and tires and maybe a brush guard and window tint. But I am sure that will change soon enough. I really just want to clean it up and maintain it so it stays nice.

Malaki

Discussion Starter · #59 · Dec 19, 2017 (Edited by Moderator)

Just got done doing the light mod on the ole green beast with some extra diodes I had laying around. I forgot all about it until my buddy said something about doing it to his truck. I love the extra light output it gives.

Had to do a Chinese fire drill with the vehicles today. I want to keep the "vehicle of the day" in the garage so I don't have to walk to the 2nd driveway and scrape off the truck before I go to work. I attempted to kick kaylas car out of the garage but that didn't go so well :lol:

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1994Vmax

· #60 · Dec 20, 2017

Malaki said:
ProfBrown said:

How are you liking the power of that 6.0, any plans for power upgrades or a different sound out back? The 6.0s have a nice deep sound, and int he 1500HD a sleeper for sure! I really like the green as well! Nice clean truck. What is the next thing you plan on doing?

Click to expand...

I love it. This is my first 6.0 so I really like the extra power. I would really like to get an exhaust down the road but that would take away from my goal of keep this truck as cheap as possible but we will see. I don't have to many plans other than new wheels and tires and maybe a brush guard and window tint. But I am sure that will change soon enough. I really just want to clean it up and maintain it so it stays nice.

Do an exhaust if nothing else, even a catback. The factory setup on your truck is so restrictive it's not even funny. Neither my 04 or 05 would really pull above 5 grand, it was just noise with the stock exhaust. When the 04 had it's original 6 liter with long tubes and 3" duals even with no other changes it felt like it picked up 50 hp. Funny thing was my 05 was the same way when I did a 3" dual in 4" single out magnaflow. They both actually pulled to 5600 to 5700 rpm with no falloff in power ( I shift my LQ4's at 6000 rpm) and just nosed over a touch before the shifts.

The 1500HD have that dinky muffler and single 2 7/8" tailpipe and it's killing a lot of power.

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