04 Reg Cab / Project Truck / Race Truck "Toy"

[custom8726]

2004 GMC 2500HD Reg Cab project..

Back Ground..

Bought this truck a couple years back from a buddy of mine to use as a work truck, had it about a month and another buddy of mine wanted the truck badly, so I said what the hell and sold it to him VS letting it get ruined by my employees on the Tree Crew .

Fast forward to a couple months back and my same buddy ^ above decided he needed a Crew Cab and offered it back to me. I did not have any use for the truck at the time but it's really hard to find a regular cab Duramax in N.Y that hasn't been beat to death or a rust bucket so I decided to buy it back.

After it sat in the Garage for a month or so collecting dust I decided I
Wanted to build a Reg Cab short Box out of it (over time) but for now
Just wanted to make a fun toy out of it before spring hit.

How I bought it..

 

[custom8726]

Found some 22's on Craig's list (Cheap)

 

[custom8726]

To much bling for me, so off to powder coat they went.
Pulled front bolts and thrown on truck.

 

[custom8726]

 

[custom8726]

How truck sits currently

 

[custom8726]

Over the last few weeks..

Pulled motor
Had heads milled, pressure tested and gone through.

Inspected cylinders, Pistons and lower end (visually) everything looked good

Installed ARP Head studs with LML gaskets

Installed Exergy 60% injectors

Installed Danville modded LBZ CP3

Fass- 150

New OEM glow plugs

Bolted motor mounts

New water pump (Welded)

Picked up a Wehrli turbo install kit with a billet 366 turbo (used) and threw it on

 

[custom8726]

Contacted Evan at Limitless for transmission parts and advice being he is less then a hour from my shop and recommended highly on here.

Evan was super helpful and spec'd out my clutches and pressure mods needed for my current goals with the truck.

Also picked up his new "Limitless" converter while I was there which will more then likely end up in my LML in the near future.

I had a couple questions as the transmission was going back together as a few things changed since the last time I've had one apart a few years ago. Evan got right back to me and I would recommend him to anyone in this neck of the woods, very knowledgeable guy :thumb:

 

[dirtydmax]

Clean truck and your doing a nice job with it!

 

[custom8726]

So that's were the truck stands as of now, over the next few weeks I plan on doing mostly cosmetic and suspension work until it warms up here.

The Short List

Install correct 04-05 GMC front clip (currently 02 bumper, grill etc)

Install rear 3" drop shackles to level the truck out (possibly remove overloads)

Traction bars

Pull rear bumper and Hitch for roll pan install as this truck won't ever tow

custom Exhaust (Not sure exactly which way I'm going yet) hood stack? :cool2:

New shocks, thinking Ranchos to keep it a budget build but maybe Qa1's if money permits

New clear headlights and markers, and either removing the cab lights ($$) or just doing some Recons to get rid of the Amber lenses.

I have a short box chassis already so that will make the short box conversation a little easier. I have been having trouble finding a rust free short box locally though and I don't want to get into body work or rust repair so that will be put on hold until a rust free, dent free one pops up.

Goal this year is just a fun street truck to mess around with and blow off some steam with. Hoping it holds together long enough to get some 1/4 passes in and if I get everything dialed in well, my goal is mid 11's with the above set-up..

I will be gathering all the parts to build the lower end as money permits and will hopefully have a built short block before this one shortens the rods or otherwise lets go is the plan, but time will tell

 

[Potthoffdmax]

Awesome build!!!:thumb:

 

[WVRigrat05]

Gonna be a sweet build. Subd for the updates.

 

[dunnc1991]

There's a black shorted just down the road from me. I'm a good run from you, but I do get up to North Jersey occasionally.

 

[TheBac]

Black GMC regcab. Like it. Have fun.

 

[DIESELMAFIAPER.LB7]

Over the last few weeks..

Pulled motor
Had heads milled, pressure tested and gone through.

Inspected cylinders, Pistons and lower end (visually) everything looked good

Installed ARP Head studs with LML gaskets

Installed Exergy 60% injectors

Installed Danville modded LBZ CP3

New OEM glow plugs

Bolted motor mounts

New water pump (Welded)

Picked up a Wehrli turbo install kit with a billet 366 turbo (used) and threw it on

lml gaskets are junk use the victor gaskets

 

[custom8726]

lml gaskets are junk use the victor gaskets

Opinions Vary ^^

Regardless its a mute point at this time as the motor is already back together and sitting in the truck. It seems some have had good luck with LML gaskets in built motor trucks running twins / triples etc. While others have failed for no apparent reason with close to stock boost.

That said In hind site after reading (recently) the LML gaskets are getting some bad press, I would have installed the victor's just for a peace of mind but I sure as hell am not pulling it all back apart now to change them.

 

[custom8726]

Clean truck and your doing a nice job with it!

Awesome build!!!:thumb:

Gonna be a sweet build. Subd for the updates.

There's a black shorted just down the road from me. I'm a good run from you, but I do get up to North Jersey occasionally.

Black GMC regcab. Like it. Have fun.

Thanks ^ :hug:

The truck has a long ways to go before its visually and mechanically were I want it to be, But I think it has the potential to be a pretty cool little truck when I finish it..

 

[juddski88]

Opinions Vary ^^

Regardless its a mute point at this time as the motor is already back together and sitting in the truck. It seems some have had good luck with LML gaskets in built motor trucks running twins / triples etc. While others have failed for no apparent reason with close to stock boost.

That said In hind site after reading (recently) the LML gaskets are getting some bad press, I would have installed the victor's just for a peace of mind but I sure as hell am not pulling it all back apart now to change them.

They had some bad press but I've personally used them in dozens of trucks without issues, and every dealership in the country has been using them for 5 years now at least, without any significant failure rate noted. They are all made by Victor Rienz, just to different specs. I hope I don't jinx you but I'd say you'll be just fine bud.

 

[bigmackmiller]

I was scratching my head for a minute, until you said it had the wrong front end on it, all makes sense now, if the grill and shell is in good shape let me know if you want to sell it, the chrome is coming off of my 8.1

So that's were the truck stands as of now, over the next few weeks I plan on doing mostly cosmetic and suspension work until it warms up here.

The Short List

Install correct 04-05 GMC front clip (currently 02 bumper, grill etc)

Install rear 3" drop shackles to level the truck out (possibly remove overloads)

Traction bars

Pull rear bumper and Hitch for roll pan install as this truck won't ever tow

custom Exhaust (Not sure exactly which way I'm going yet) hood stack? :cool2:

New shocks, thinking Ranchos to keep it a budget build but maybe Qa1's if money permits

New clear headlights and markers, and either removing the cab lights ($$) or just doing some Recons to get rid of the Amber lenses.

I have a short box chassis already so that will make the short box conversation a little easier. I have been having trouble finding a rust free short box locally though and I don't want to get into body work or rust repair so that will be put on hold until a rust free, dent free one pops up.

Goal this year is just a fun street truck to mess around with and blow off some steam with. Hoping it holds together long enough to get some 1/4 passes in and if I get everything dialed in well, my goal is mid 11's with the above set-up..

I will be gathering all the parts to build the lower end as money permits and will hopefully have a built short block before this one shortens the rods or otherwise lets go is the plan, but time will tell

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

 

[WisconsinHick1]

Look into Viking Shocks they are cheaper than QA1's and pretty much the same thing.

 

[duramaxzak]

Look into Viking Shocks they are cheaper than QA1's and pretty much the same thing.

X2 on the Viking shocks! I have there double adjustable coil over shocks in the front of my pull truck and work great. Viking shocks are made in the same factory as Qa1 shocks!