Laser Blue Metallic Build - 2011 1500 4x4

cvand789

cvand789

New member
Mar 30, 2014
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Michigan
As promised in my intro, here is my truck, then and now.

I took delivery of the truck in October 2011. I fell in love with the color and couldn’t wait to get started modding it out. It came with lots of chrome from the factory, and though it was pretty, I thought that it needed some black to “toughen it up”. As of now I think I want to go back to the chrome route as I am becoming bored with what I have and I think it can look better. So, on to the pics:

It took me a while to track down some of my old pictures, in fact one of the only pictures I have of my truck completely stock was after an ice storm.





Then I decided to go with the BDS 4” kit with 305/55/20 Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs and 20x9 Ultra Baron wheels (although I wish now that I would have when with the 6” kit…sure you’ve heard that before). I was too concerned with making darn sure I would fit in the garages at school (knowing I would be going to college soon). Nonetheless, it lifted my truck up and I wish they came from the factory at this height. Fender measurements are 41.5” in the front and a touch over 43” in the rear.






Next came the color matched bowties





Smoked Recon cab lights came next on the list, followed by smoked third brake light, and towing mirrors








Then I added the black mesh OEM grille, Recon smoked tail lights, and chrome tailgate bezel, and removed the mud flaps/running boards.








I didn’t really like the chrome bezel, so…






I think it really cleaned up the back end.

Now that I have you pretty much up to speed, I most recently started piecing away at the little things. I removed the 4x4 decal, installed the rear wheel liners, and applied some undercoat spray to clean up the blemishes on the frame from the harsh MI winters. I also added a 20” Rigid Industries 20” SR2. The output is impressive, check out the video I made:

Rigid Industries 20" SR2 - YouTube




 
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Now on to the future…

I’ve spoken with Justin from BBP already and will be doing the EFI live tune with him over the summer, along with some Doug Thorley Tri-Ys (his recommendation, I currently have Gibson shorty’s). I will also be getting rid of the horrible 3.08s that the truck came with (thank god) and upgrading to 4.10s. I was thinking Yukon..they seem to be the most popular from all the research I have done. Do you guys have another recommendation?

Exterior: As I said before I’m looking to go back to chrome, and also adding Bilsteins all the way around (adjustables up front to level me off), I’m wanting to do a 20x10 and keep running 33s. I also plan to do the HD front end (hood and grille only), and do some color matching.

I do not have access or the skills necessary to use photoshop, but I did make some quick renderings using Microsoft PowerPoint (which is a PITA). The images are far from perfect but are enough to give an idea, which is all that I was after. I also plan to clear the headlights and remove the lower air dam.

Here are some front end/ wheel combinations.

Chrome billet HD, clear roof lights, color matching



Color matched



Black/color matched



Fuel Hostage with 6 step N-fabs



Hostages with stock lights back on. I like this look better actually, I wish I would have gotten the red Recons from the start. You live and learn I guess..



Unfortunately the wheels I really like are going to be impossible to fit. I really like the 20x12 Moto metals, and fuel octanes. I researched this topic to death, and I thought maybe with a level, nor cal fender mod, and 1.25” BL I would be okay because I saw some leveled nnbs trucks running x12’s, but I did not account for the 1.5” track width increase. Seems like most of you guys are running 8-10” in the front 20 make these clear….is that accurate?

Here are the pics for fun..




Anything else you guys suggest exterior wise? I could really use some input on some nice 20x10 wheels.

Hope you guys enjoyed, I will continue adding to this thread as I go along, hopefully with your input/help!
 
Chrome 20x10s of ur choice.. I like Gears.
I'd do 4:56 gears instead of 4:10s but that's just me.
Clear heads. Tint. Red tails. Drop that ass instead of lifting the front more imo
 
Fiesty said:
Chrome 20x10s of ur choice.. I like Gears.
I'd do 4:56 gears instead of 4:10s but that's just me.
Clear heads. Tint. Red tails. Drop that ass instead of lifting the front more imo
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Thanks for the reply. Good call with the tint, that is actually on my to do list. Clearing the heads are also on my list, and I do think I will go back to my stock tail lights even though I love the LEDs, maybe one day I'll buy the red ones from Recon.

I think my only choice is to raise the front up, especially to clear the 20x10s. I had to make a lot of adjustments with my current set up because I rubbed pretty bad with these x9s as hard as that is to believe…these wheels wells on the NNBS trucks are so narrow…

I like the 20x10 hostages but I feel like they're so overplayed. I looked at the Gear Alloy Big Blocks but I don't really like how they look in a 20x10. I'm stumped man I don't know what to do.

Really? 4.56s with 33s and the 6 speed? Lol no one would beat me off of a red light thats for sure, but that sounds like a little too much to me?

Cool truck by the way! Have always had a soft spot for red..
 
Yes 4.56 is over geared for a 6 speed, he was probably thinking u had the 4 speed. I think 4.10s and the low first and second gears in the 6 speed will make for nice truck.

I would make the 20x12s fit if its what you really want. Otherwise you're just gonna buyu 10s and then decide you want 12s soon afterwards. Been there and done that haha
 
a-fuso said:
Yes 4.56 is over geared for a 6 speed, he was probably thinking u had the 4 speed. I think 4.10s and the low first and second gears in the 6 speed will make for nice truck.

I would make the 20x12s fit if its what you really want. Otherwise you're just gonna buyu 10s and then decide you want 12s soon afterwards. Been there and done that haha
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I know what trans he has :proud:
4:56 are just a preference. 305/55 basically a 34". Goodyear Wranglers are one of, if not the heaviest mt, and 20x10s or 20x12s are heavy too. 4:10s will work just fine.
I like the Gear 726 wheels in chrome.
 
mike. said:
:imo:

I love that color. Black wheels kill it.


Sent from my b hole
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Yeah, I'm definitely ready for a change. I don't think the black looks terrible, but I'm definitely looking forward to going back to chrome.

a-fuso said:
Yes 4.56 is over geared for a 6 speed, he was probably thinking u had the 4 speed. I think 4.10s and the low first and second gears in the 6 speed will make for nice truck.

I would make the 20x12s fit if its what you really want. Otherwise you're just gonna buyu 10s and then decide you want 12s soon afterwards. Been there and done that haha
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Haha I honestly like the idea of a 20x10 a lot more, I think the 20x12s will stick out too far for my taste with the 1.5" track width increase. Unfortunately the wheels I really like are not offered in a 20x10 lol. I definitely get what you mean though, haha probably similar to buying the 4" kit and wining I had gotten the 6..:shifty:

Fiesty said:
I know what trans he has :proud:
4:56 are just a preference. 305/55 basically a 34". Goodyear Wranglers are one of, if not the heaviest mt, and 20x10s or 20x12s are heavy too. 4:10s will work just fine.
I like the Gear 726 wheels in chrome.
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Yeah those are the ones I was looking at!! I saw them in a 22x12 version and it looked awesome.

newwavehydro said:
I LOVE that color! Awesome looking truck man!
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Thanks man!!
 
Nice truck !!! I like the colour should look great on 20x10 chrome rims I'd also debadge and demold and de sticker the rear window just to clean things up


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Like the truck, love that color, pics don't do it justice if anyone hasn't seen it in person. Nice shade of almost purple in low light, bright blue in the sun and some crazy shades of blue/purple going on under floresant lights

Fiesty said:
Goodyear Wranglers are one of, if not the heaviest mt
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The Duratracs maybe but actual MTRs are actually one of the lighter MTs
 
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marc said:
Nice truck !!! I like the colour should look great on 20x10 chrome rims I'd also debadge and demold and de sticker the rear window just to clean things up


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Thank you! I've thought about de-molding before but just haven't gotten around to doing it. I sort of like the molding because it adds a little something to the side but, I am definitely looking to make some changes to clean it up so thanks for that tip -- I think that will be one of the first things I do when I get home. I would love to get rid of the stickers, however they do hold somewhat of a purpose.

Since I have a pretty "bright" blue truck and go to school in Louisville, KY, it is important to have some red on there (Hence the big red Cardinal on the rear) so nothing happens to it..as scary as that sounds.

There is another sticker on the rear to advertise my dad's dealership..I took it off of the tailgate to clean that up and decided to put it on the window instead. I run a hitch in the rear most of the time otherwise I would just use the hitch cover.

And because I've got two stickers in the corner it would look out of place without something under the 3rd brake light to even it out, so a simple "Malibu Boats" sticker goes there.

Totally with you though..maybe when I'm done with school I'll get rid of them all.

Yeah, I'm definitely excited to get new wheels. I wish Moto metal made the 962 in a 20x10. I was going to get the hostages, despite being over played online nobody in my area runs them….oh yeah except for one guy who just got them :pissed:

Now I've got to figure something else out. If there was a 20x10 moto metal it would be over. I checked out the gear alloy big blocks but something about them just doesn't connect with me...

nickyreno said:
That color is so sick
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Thanks! I love it, don't see many trucks this color. Are those Ultra goliaths in your sig?

Tylers88 said:
Like the truck, love that color, pics don't do it justice if anyone hasn't seen it in person. Nice shade of almost purple in low light, bright blue in the sun and some crazy shades of blue/purple going on under floresant lights
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Couldn't have described the color any better!
 
nickyreno said:
Yea, you want 'em?
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Haha no thanks -- I was just curious because I was actually down to the baron's I have now and those when I was initially making my decision. I couldn't really tell from the picture but I thought they looked familiar.

Adjusted said:
Chrome wheels is gunna set this thing off, awesome start dude. I like the last photoshop the best
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Thanks!!

Yeah I'm thinking so too. I've had my fun with black lol. I like it but I definitely think this color is better suited for chrome. Yeah I really like the fuel octanes…I wish they came in a 20x10 :bawl:

I don't think I have a prayer at making a 20x12 fit.

I think eventually I will do the first HD swap I posted with the billet, as well as swap my smoked cab lights for the clear ones. I think that will be a cool look.

Lol I wish I had access to photoshop because the edits would have probably came out much cleaner. I'm thinking about getting the software and having someone teach me how to use it. What I came up with isn't too bad for PowerPoint though!
 
Ginger said:
debadging and demolding will clean it up, colormatching would too.

sounds like you got good plans
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I'm looking forward to start working on it here in a few weeks once school is done and I can head back home. I'll for sure keep you all updated.
I can't wait to see what it looks like with the molding off, I'm really trying to "clean it up".

Thanks for the comment.
 
Just was playing around on PowerPoint yesterday and made another edit
20x12 moto metal 962
Cleared headlights
Color matched tows
4x4 sticker removed (already done)

I'm going to ditch the AVS vent visors too..

Not perfect by any means, deleting the background around the wheels was such a pain. You can see where I gave up haha. I need something more than powerpoint.



I'm really liking this. Just don't know how much it would take to make the x12s fit. I posted in the "what fits" section of the lifted and off road suspension and haven't received a whole lot of feedback -- so I'll post the basics here and see if you all have any input:

I've researched this topic to death and keep finding conflicting results. Right now I've got a BDS 4" lift on my '11 silverado. Fender measurements are approximately 41.5" front, 43.25 rear. 305/55/20 tires (that I plan to keep).

This summer I plan on getting some bilstein adjustables to bring my front end up level with the rear, putting me at roughly 43.25" in the front (duh).
Upon my research I've been able to gather that the popular combo x12s are on a 7" FTS or something similar with front measurements being somewhere around 47-48", which is out of my reach.

I understand the x12 with -44 is significantly wider and absolutely will not fit with only a level on my current set up. However, I have seen two trucks running only a 6" lift and running x12 octanes, one of which is a BDS (the other pro comp, which I think is similar in height), shown here **Wheel Offset 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Super Aggressive 3 Suspension Lift 6 Custom Rims**

This truck really stumps me because the wheels don't even appear to be too far out of the fender, and I know that the BDS kits have roughly a 1.5" track width increase. I've read on a couple of different places that guys w/ the BDS 6" and 35's have fender measurements of around 44-45, so can I add a 1.25" RCX BL and expect to trim the plastic and call it a day (putting me at approximately 44.5)?

If the x12s won't look stupid I'm not opposed to the nor-cal fender mod to make them fit right. I don't know what it is about that truck that I posted but I love that stance..(I know the rear is a bit higher, but I'm not all that concerned about that).

Thanks for the help and I apologize if this topic has been beat to death.

EDIT



Stock tail light.
Like this better.



Also did one with N fab steps….was thinking about them at one point on the fence now.
I can't afford amps with all of this other crap I plan on doing lol
 
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