1995 Chevy Tahoe Overland Build

The Tahoe started out as  a $500 project. Needed a new transmission and engine, rear end rebuilt and a makeover. Many of the photos in this build were done by cellphone, so please excuse the low quality photos.

When I first bought it..

 

When I first got it, I paid to have a vortech 5.7L engine and a rebuilt trans installed (My wife and I were living in an apartment at the time). When My brother and parents trailered the Tahoe to my parents house, it wouldnt stay running at all - More on what I did to get everything running later.

 

 

16" wheels from my dad's 03' silverado..

 

Installed Rubber flooring.

I removed all of the lower chrome stick on trim and masked off the lower are to being preping it to coat.

 

Removal of chrome trim and stickers and installed pre runner light bar. Also note the black "sport" grille and red bowtie.

Primmered and ready to coat.

 Coated with DupliColor Bed Armor.

Built  my fuse block and realys setup into a Radio shack "project box"....

 

And wired my fuse block to these Carling Brand Rocker switches that I purchased from Over The River And Through The Woods ---OTRATTW.com

 

I utilized a blank cover for the center (future place holder and it helped space everything else out), three center snap together sections and two "end" sections.

 

I used Cat-5 cable to activate each realy, since activating the relays takes extremly low voltage. The Cat-5 cable allowed me to run all of the wires from the center console to the fuse/relay box, all at one time.

 

 

 

 

Added a Surco Roof Rack and factory style fender flares.

 

Phase 1 Complete: First beauty shot I was able to take. After stopping to take this photo, my throttle body was leaking through my drivers side injector and flodded the enigine with fuel.

 

Also not the VERY cheap Junk offroad lights. I bought these off ebay and still feel ripped of ( almost 3 years later). I updated the lighting (pics below).

 

After a tow back to my house, I rebuilt the throttle body and that was the last of my issues with the throttle body.

 

 

After I got the truck running, I started to install some other nice offroad "toys." I purchased a hardwire remote controled GoLight --This was a great light setup to have. Works great and I have never had an issue with it.

 

 

 

Installed "tow" mirrors. I purchased these from a seller on ebay for the 88-98 GM trucks. Bolted up and worked great. I also added some upgraded headlights and corner signal light covers. I added the Sylvania head light bulbs => Super Bright!!

 

 

 

  

I purchased a bumper from RCL Fab (Spelling?). The guy that built this bumper normally only builds Jeep bumpers. I asked him if he could fabricate me a bumper for my tahoe. I believe he is selling these on eBay now. Seach 88-98 bumper and It should be a picture of my tahoe like the photo below.

 

 

  

 An on the road, out of the garage, cell phone pic.

New additions:

• I re-installed my Golight control panel
• Installed c-cell mag light holders
• Installed a 4x4 posi lock setup: http://www.4x4posi-lok.com/app_chevy-k.html
• Made a control box to totally cut out all power to my winch
• I have yet to install my new MSD coil pack for the ignition; see below
• I bought a set of 17x8 crgar soft 8's and a set of Maxxis Bighorn 305/70/17's but i havent picked them up from my brother yet.
• I fixed my air conditioning. After having to tear the dash out to replace a ruined evaporator.

Ignition pack:

 Mag Light holder installed.

 Golight Controls made into factory blank panel, just by the auto shifter.

A photo with the 315-70-17 Maxxis BigHorns and 17" cragar Soft8's.

 

After a big snow storm last winter - 2011

 

The tahoe in its current state. my brother now owns this great truck and has enjoyed all of the time and money I invested! He has offroaded with it more in his 6 months of owning it than I did.  He has swapped on some 275 70 16 Maxxis Bighorn tires onto stock gm wheels.

Some other work that was not photographed was the addition of a heavy duty rear replacement bumper, a 4x4 posi-lock setup and routine maintencae items.

Please contact me about anything you may be interested about regarding the build of this 1995 Chevy 2 door Tahoe.