New TB Owner - Chicago - Hello Guys!

[PhotoGuy]

Hello everyone,

my name is Nick, I am new around here! This site has provided very useful so far in researching information, as well as learning A LOT about my new TB. First let me start off by saying thank you, for the wealth of information!

I recently purchased a 2005 TB LT with 113k on the clock. Great condition, someone took really good care of her

After replacing the sway bar end links and stabilizer bar bushings this past weekend I got to thinking, and that is where this story beings.

I am looking to make an expedition type vehicle. After looking at the TB's that participate in TECORE, I am very impressed with the amount of work, and capability of the your vehicles. They are amazing. Which is what I would like to do with mine as well. I am a photographer by trade, chasing storms, hopefully one day I will finally make it out to the mountains to get some shots. Anyways, I want to make my TB capable of handling some pretty decent trails, getting to secluded camping locations, climb up rough terrain and all the rest so that I can get the photographs I am looking for, and just have fun!

My plans so far are as follows:

3" suspension lift
32" tires
Baja Rack w/ lights
Rock Sliders
TAG armor bumper
Skid plates
GM87 front springs (I was going to do 88's but they are discontinued)
Tahoe Z71 rear suspension
Wheel spacers
Winch
8.6 TB EXT rear axle upgrade
Armor rear bumper
CB/ Scanner
Roof light bar/ lights on front bumper

And I think that is about it for now. I know it is a lot, and a lot of $$$$ but everything takes time, and hopefully I can have most of it on by Spring of next year!

Anyways, looking forward to meeting you guys, and thank you for providing such a great forum!

Nick

[Cable810]

Welcome!!
Your onto a good start!!! I'd suggest a MDB bumper over the TAG bumper.

[PhotoGuy]

Thank You!

I have seen the MDB bumpers on a lot of the trucks, and they look amazing! Is that a member that custom makes them? I would definitely be interested in purchasing one of those, as opposed to the TAG bumper. His work is great!

[Cable810]

Yes he is a member send bartonmd a message. He is the one who makes them!

[bartonmd]

Who, what?

[PhotoGuy]

Hey Barton,

I am interested in a steel bumper. I have seen some of your work and it looks great. In time (once I get the lift & new suspension put together) I would definitely be interested in buying one.

Nice meeting you, by the way.

[mikekey]

Welcome to the site Nick.

Yeah, do not buy anything from TAG. Buy from Barton, if you have welding skills, he's selling the kits. Almost all of us can vouch for Mike being an honest guy who builds a pretty freaking high quality product. Who should probably charge more (hopefully not till I buy more from him, ha!)

Might I suggest you consider 33" tires as your first pair after the 3inch suspension lift. I think you might be happier.

If you're interested in a cost break down of the various lift's to help you plan, I have this Google Doc I posted. Trailblazer Modfications

Look forward to seeing some pictures of your rig.

[bartonmd]

Cool. As I'm sure you've seen in my vendor section on here, I'm still taking and shipping skidplate orders, but am temp. halted on taking bumper and rock slider orders until I get my backlog down some. On the bright side, your timeframe seems like it lines up with my timeframe, so I think we'll be able to work something out, in time.

Thanks,
Mike

[bartonmd]

Yeah, do not buy anything from TAG. Buy from Barton, if you have welding skills, he's selling the kits. Almost all of us can vouch for Mike being an honest guy who builds a pretty freaking high quality product. Who should probably charge more (hopefully not till I buy more from him, ha!)

.

Thanks, Mike! The thing about the TAG bumpers is, you have to have welding skills or pay somebody to mount one, anyway, because the mounts don't come mounted on them. They have the vertical mounts, but you have to make and weld on the parts with the holes, where it mounts to the frame.

Mike

[PhotoGuy]

Thanks Mike, and well, Mike! Ha

Funny story, I have been reading through the forums and really took a liking to both of your guy's rigs. Awesome looking stuff! I would definitely consider the 33's over 32's, your can always use an extra inch of clearance haha And thank you for the cost breakdown, that helps a lot in planning out exactly what I would like to do moving forward. Eventually, I am planning on possibly doing the 3" body lift as well. Time and money are the only factor working against that one for the moment. That and I have heard stories of snapped break lines, and other mods that have to be done before you can successfully lift the body. Just does not seem like something I can really work in at the moment.

And Mike, thank you I will be ready to purchase something like that around this time next year. Along with sliders and skid plates. Might as well just get it all at once right? haha You have to love them tax returns!

And I checked out the vendor section and read the thread and posts following. Pretty excited to get to that point sometime, eventually haha

Thank you for all of your help!


I have a year to build it, and by God its going to be built! Haha

[mikekey]

Time and money are the only factor working against that one for the moment. That and I have heard stories of snapped break lines, and other mods that have to be done before you can successfully lift the body. Just does not seem like something I can really work in at the moment.

Suspension first is always a good starting part. We did the body lift with no problems. Went on in 3 hours and where done. We even rode around with the 30 inch tires and the body-lift for a couple weeks. The brake lines can be stressed at full drop of the rear suspension. But snapped ones from a body lift alone, don't see how that can happen on this platform, plenty of room in the lines. It's not the body lift that requires some extra mods, it's fitting the tires over 33 inches that requires you start thinking about things.

[darring70]

Welcome

[PhotoGuy]

Thank You Darring!

That is what I figured. Lift the suspension first, then go from there. Before the body lift I would like to get on the Massive kit, and the cranium for the rear dif.

Yet again, the stories I was reading seemed like they were caused by extreme wheeling, I was not sure, but it is better to ask people who know rather than figuring things out the hard way.

Once I decide on the final size of the tires that I am going to go with, I can complete the project. I know BMD offers a special bumper for the 3" body lifts. I want to make sure to get the right parts the first time, if I am going to do this, I am going to be sure to do it right.

[djthumper]

Welcome to the site!

[PhotoGuy]

Thank you Larry!

[darring70]

That is what I figured. Lift the suspension first, then go from there. Before the body lift I would like to get on the Massive kit, and the cranium for the rear dif.

That is what I did, I worked on my suspension lift, shocks, struts and coil/springs, I will complete my set up with tires and rad and oil skids and rock sliders for now.
Beside that I will buy the massive kit, upgrade to 4.10 gears rear and front, upgrade brakes and then go for 315/75/16 or 316/70/17 with a body lift.

[87chevy]

Welcome

[Diacom]

Welcome to the Site.

[PhotoGuy]

Thank you Noel, and Jim!

Quick question guys. With the set up I have described up above, what springs would you suggest I get for the front? I have been doing endless research and just can not make a decision. I was going to go with 87's but I am not sure. Thought I could locate a pair, and it has proved quite a challenge. Any help/ suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance

[djthumper]

honestly all of the OEM springs are hard to find.