Cover-to-Cover Swap
I love the magazine and I especially turn to "Readers' Rap" every month to see what problems are being solved. I have a 2005 Chevy Tahoe but I really like the look of the Yukon Denali. Can I replace the Tahoe's front bumper with the Denali cover? Will it slip over the stock Chevy bumper or do I need a GMC piece? I have seen it done but I don't know what modifications it takes to accomplish, if any at all. Thanks for all the help.Dominic YanezVia e-mail
Dominic,
The shape of the GMC and Chevrolet bumpers is different. GMC has more of a dropped center section on top of its truck bumper. With the dropped center, the Denali bumper cover contour is shaped to follow suit. Not all hope is lost, but you would be wise to swap to the GMC bumper and brackets first and add the Denali cover that way. See what kind of gap you have between it and the grille; then adjust accordingly. It is a mostly bolt-on customization, but final fit and finish will require a bit more.
Filler Neck Fill-Up
I have a 2001 S-10 and there are a few body mods I want to have done. One is shaving the gas door and moving the fuel filler into the bed. I'm not sure if I want it flush or if I want it to stick out of the bed. Could you tell me who makes a filler neck. (Or is it safe to use the stock one?)Berwyn PennaVia e-mail
Berwyn,
Filler necks are a dime a dozen. Yes, you can reuse your stock filler neck without issue. Marine supply stores have many choices and hot-rod stores have even more. Heck, even off-road supply centers have them due to their use of fuel cells in certain applications. Unless you need it to be custom looking, then by all means, go ahead and use the stock neck; otherwise, a hot-rod-style flush fill unit or flush-mount door setup would be cool as well.
6-for-8 Swap
I own a '93 GMC full-size with a 4.3L V-6 in it. I plan on swapping the V-6 for an LS1 out of a Corvette. What modifications would I have to do to my truck in order to run the LS1? Help get me on the right track so I can get my project finished.Jon MartinVia e-mail
Jon,
Dropping in an LS1 motor shouldn't pose much of a problem. Your V-6 motor mounts will need to be swapped right off the bat, but the motor has a self-contained wiring harness that includes the computer and will be separate from the truck's harness. Be sure you get an automatic transmission compatible with the Gen III motor, such as a 4L60E. You are going from an OBD I motor to an OBD II motor and as such, it would be in your best interest to get both exhaust manifolds, catalytic converters, and Y-pipe to help get you started. The Corvette oil pan will need to be replaced with the Camaro counterpart to clear your truck's front crossmember as well. Check with companies like Arizona Speed & Marine (www.azspeed-marine.com), Painless Wiring (www.painlesswiring.com), and Jaguars That Run (www.jagsthatrun.com) for more help and additional information.
Smoke in the Clear
I have been an avid reader of the magazine for a few years. My question involves an impossible-to-find part that is driving me crazy. I drive a 2002 GMC Sierra Denali Fleetside, which has the rear steering. On each of the rear fenders on either side of the wheel are two side marker lights. I cannot find anywhere that makes replacements for these that are either clear or smoked. Got any ideas?Greg BrownVia e-mail
Greg,
If you can't find them ready to bolt on, then the only solution we can offer you is to get the lights smoked yourself. Check with the major body shops in your area that are doing the custom and hot-rod paint jobs. Most custom painters worth their spray gun know how to smoke lenses. Take your request there or try Smoked Lamps (www.smokedlamps.com) and see what they can do for you.
Cutting Out The Exhaust
I can't find a website and I have looked through all my stacks of magazines but I swear I know that what I am looking for exists. I am trying to find an article with an El Camino that had some electronic exhaust baffles or switching system for opening the exhaust. I would like to find a company to order some from. I am working on swapping a TPI motor into my Chevy truck, and having cutouts would be exactly the thing to set off my new performance.Randy BredekampVia e-mail
Randy,
We can understand your desire to have the sound of uncorked exhaust tearing through the air. It seems baffling that you were unable to come up with a website in your search, as a query for an exhaust cutout brought up plenty of information. Try Quick Time Performance (www.quicktimeperformance.com), as they have exactly what you seek in the way of noise enhancing exhaust devices.
Tail Of Twin Rams
I have a problem that I know Truckin' can help me with. I am a Mopar man with two Dodge Ram 1500s. My daily driver is a '05 Daytona and my project is a '96 extra cab short bed. The predicament is that with a Chevy you can put a Cadillac front end on it, and a Ford guy has the Navigator, but with a Dodge everyone does the same billet grille, bumper cover, air dam, and hood. Even with all those accessories, the truck still screams out stock. I had found on a forum that someone had put a 2002 front clip on a mid-'90s Ram and basically updated it to a newer look. Could you help me with this swap? What kind of difficulty is it to do such a clip? Furthermore, some good stories or tech articles about unique Mopars would be great. Thanks!Billy BlackTyler, Texas
Billy,
There are actually a couple of hot Rams out that are going into the pages of "The World's Leading Truck Publication," but Hurricane Katrina put one back in the body shop, and the other is darn near completion. Just keep a sharp eye posted for those killer Rams to be editorialized. Your other desire is also not a big deal, as what you are describing is merely a matter of parts. Swapping front sheetmetal years will obviously require that you have all the 2002-and-newer parts, like the hood, fenders, lights, grille, bumper, brackets, and core support. Dodge did not make huge leaps between the front clip parts, so you should get started now. Just think! You could even change your truck to resemble the SRT-10 Ram and scare the lesser Mopars in your hometown.
Missing Trucks
Hey, guys. I've been a subscriber of your great magazine for years now and would like to get some information regarding the Chevy Colorado. I've always been a big fan of GM's mini and midsize trucks and have owned a Chevy Luv and five different S-10 pickups and Blazers over the years. Even though it took me a while to warm up to the Colorado after its debut, I'm now wondering why I'm not seeing more of these trucks. I have seen the great looking custom Colorados in your magazine but why aren't there more of these trucks on the road? Even though they could stand some additional refinements like horsepower, interior, etc., I'm starting to get the itch to build one and would like to see more of them and more features about them. Thanks for your help, and keep truckin'!Jimmy HoughSpringfield, Missouri
Jimmy,
It looks like you answered your own question. With the base price of a Standard Cab 2WD 4-cylinder kicking in at just under $16,000 and near $30,000 for a Crew Cab 4WD 5-cylinder, then you can begin to realize why they aren't selling. As you mentioned, they can stand some additional refinement like horsepower, interior, etc.; and at that pricing one would expect to be buying a done truck more or less. Topping that is just the plain fact that after the long-running history of the S-10, the Colorado and the Canyon are drastically altered in every area, and not for the better in most people's opinion.
The Little Ranger That Could
Some time ago I read about the Ford Ranger Lightning Bolt but I cannot recall where. That particular truck inspired me, and I'd like to share a dream with you. I own a 1998 Ford Ranger with the 4-cylinder 5-speed. Not remarkable, but with the addition of the Ford GT's 550 horsepower V-8, it could be. That car that motor comes from is amazing, eloquent, smooth, and fast. I want to do the same with my Ranger. I would like to call it a Ford GTR and I have already created my own logo. The "GT" is obvious, but the "R" is for Ranger. My cry for help is my need for one of these motors. Where can I get my hands on one? What else would I need to make this dream into reality? Thanks for your time, and keep up the great work on an amazing magazine.Ezekial ZachariasVia e-mail
Ezekial,
You do have one working imagination. A Ranger with that motor would be killer in the right chassis. We are going to have to downplay the GT motor, as acquiring one of those motors would require an act of you-know-who and the price would be horrendous at best. The GT's motor makes 550 hp out of a 5.4L V-8. We bet that starting with the 5.4L, 3-valve motor and then adding the right parts, including the blower, would net you the same, if not better, numbers and wouldn't need for you to refinance your left lung on the black market to obtain it. As for the chassis, a custom tubular chassis fit with an independent, 6-speed transaxle out back would be the trick ticket. Go the wrecking yard route for the motor or head to the smiling Blue Oval dealership, as either would be more than happy to empty your bank account.