Sorry didn't get back sooner but I've just taken a look under the truck to see where it was cut to do the lowering. It look like he cut out about 2 inch square piece from the bracket that holds the hitch to the chassis. He apparently needed to do that to get the bolts in.
In response to jblair1's entry about the drive train being voided if he lowers his truck. I asked my dealer to lower mine and they told me didn't do that work but send it all out to be done at a local suspension shop. They recommended that I take the truck to them to be lowered. A relative of mine also got his truck lowered and his dealer did his. I realize your truck is a crew cab and ours were 2500 extended cabs maybe that is the difference. I'm not a mechanic but I don't see how the drive train could be affected by lowering the bed. The drive is attached to the chassis and that doesn't change. I could be wrong, "been that before" but I'm sure there are more knowledgeable truckles out there that can sort this out.
I'd like to get some feedback from any of you with bug deflectors on the 8.1 trucks. Are you experiencing any unusual wind noise or rattling at freeway speeds. Also I'd like to know what brand you are using. I tried 2 bug deflectors on my 2000 1500 Sierra and they both caused the rubber window molding around the top of the window to vibrate. I've since talked to a number of people who had the same experience but didn't realize what was causing it. When they removed the deflector the noise went away. I realize the hood on the 8.1 is contoured different to the 1500 and wouldn't probably set up the same air turbulence but I wanted to test the water before I went through the bother of replacing defectors. Thanks for your input Wooly
rear end 3.73, also as of today noticed a squeak coming from right doors sounded like dry rubber door gaskets put some silicon spray on rubber no help, i have the bug flectoor from walmart no noise but you are right wont help keep bugs off , but does help to keep rocks from chipping paint
i installed a its defector on my chewy 2500hd and have had no problems (100miles) since install. it was a super easy to mount and took every bit of 20minutes. several people have posted a problem with their windsheild, my truck intermitently has a loud whistleing sound around 65 to 80 mph, does this sound like the same problem as the others have posted?, if so what is the fix?
After waiting 5 1/2 months. GMC dealer called to let me know that they were unloading my HD. Will pick up Thursday night. Gas in SoCal is $2.17 for 92 octane. Some parts of the state, it's even higher.
Has more vitality then the one I test drove. Have to take the truck back in the morning, as the dealer forgot to detail it. They were to busy taking care of Frank Sinatra Jr., I was told. After the HD is detailed, I'll stop by J&J Enterprises and order running boards for it. Then my wife can get into the truck. She likes the HD, almost as much as she enjoys her ES300. HA! HA! HA!
It has gone out of control in southern IL. I heard that is is over $1.80 now. That new duramax is looking better and better all the time if I could get a 3.42 rear end for milage.
Love to have the 8100, but I can't afford to feed that hog, I know I would drive it hard and get even worse.
Thanks for all of the input I knew I could count on you guys to confuse the issue :-) I'm curious about your statement Obyone, what would the dealer fix under warranty, the rubber molding wasn't damaged at all when I had the problem with my 2000 Sierra it just vibrated and sounded like someone was throwing gravel at your wind screen.
bigorangefan... thanks for input was the gts deflector designed to fit the holes in your model truck or did you have to drill your own screw holes to mount it. Probably the best way to find out if yours is making the whistling noise is to run without for a day at freeway speeds. Like I said the noise is more like fine gravel hitting the wind screen.
I was under the impression when I first saw the 8.1 HD Sierra that the hood was different to the 1500 hood but I was told today by a truck accessory store owner that they were the same. What's the verdict.
Has anyone received an email that is going around about how we can try to combat the high fuel prices. I've seen others but this one kind of made sense to me. It suggest that we boycott the 2 major gas companies Mobile and Exxon and buy our gas from other companies. Maybe if enough of us do it they will feel the pinch and start lowering their prices to compete.
What's with this spell checker, even when you select the text box to keep the original spelling it still changes it !!!
problem with the '99-'00. some siliconed themselves...some took to the dealer...some got some polyurethane adhesive from the dealer and did it themselves. All a matter of what you want to do.
didn't they try the boycott of gas for two or three days last year also? did it work?
Live in Parker. Usually use Parker's MiniStop or sometimes the Phillips 66 on Tower @ Hampden in Eastern Aurora. Two days ago $1.67 reg to $1.89 premium at the one in Parker. Think I might have noticed it's gone up $0.02 since then, but no more than that. Don't know the exact diesel price. They usually aren't the cheapest, either. A couple of stations on Mississippi between Buckley and Chambers, the Conoco @ Chambers and 6th Ave, and a Coastal station at Broadway and Arapahoe are usually a few cents off those two. -- Don
Here goes another Saturday. I knew I shouldn't have turned the damn sprinkler system back on. Why the hell can't this happen on a weekday? Oh, come to think of it, a couple of weeks back it did! -- Don
thanks for the info on the windsheild noise, the gts bug sheild has three screws (screws in plastic gromets that go in pre punched out holes from the factory) and two clips that go on each side of the hood that are supplied with clear tape strips that won't allow any paint damage, very sano setup, looks great. i have had every make of deflector over the years and this is the best.
Do not exist, according to 5 accessories stores I've been to trying to find a bug deflector. My wife suggested to get a bra for it. I told her the truck wasn't old enough to wear one. HA! HA! The whine in the Allison tranny is caused by a heavy duty oil pump trying to circulate the 20.7 quarts of oil in the pan according to the dealer. Thats got to be one hell of a oil pan. No wonder the truck sits so high and shows off the rails.
1/2 cu. Just read your post on the bug deflector. Suggest trying Stylin Concepts. They have one molded to fit the truck. And can get in the color of your truck. Had one on my 99. Just got 8.1 on monday. Will be ordering one of these deflectors again. Just a suggestion
dinosierra for the info. I'll ask around for a Stylin Concepts bug deflector. I picked mine up on Thursday night. I now have a whopping 125 miles on mine. I drive mine to work only 1.2 miles from the house, all down hill. I could ride a bike to work, but who wants to ride a bike uphill at 0515 hours, after being there since 1700 hours.
didn't get any response about the difference in hoods for the 1500 and the 8.1 2500 so maybe there isn't any.
obyone... you are right they did try to boycott the gas a year or so ago but it wasn't organized and they were asking everyone not to buy gas at all which was a joke. No matter what the price of gas we are going to buy it just to get to work if for nothing else. This suggestion just to boycott the 2 largest gas companies could work if everyone did it. I remember years ago in limeyland one of the largest breweries started upping their prices for a pint of beer and everyone stopped buying their beer. It wasn't long before the price came down and it starting selling for less than it did before they raised the price.
I'm curious what kind of oil pressure you guys are getting on your 8.1. I've noticed that mine will fluctuate between 20 and 60. If I am in low gear and at low speed it will be 20. When I am driving around town at 30 mph it will be 40 and if I get on the freeway it will go up to 60. Does this sound normal to you ????
Thanks dinosierra for the info on the Stylin Concepts bug deflector I will be checking it out. I was told that Lund makes one for the truck so I rattled off an email to them to find out what they recommend and to ask about the rubber molding problem. I'll let you know what they say if and when I get an answer.
Stylin concepts has a web site www.stylinconcepts.com I looked for the hood deflector,doesn't show it. They call it a hood guard.Painted (99 & up)# 82421p Shows them in their catalog. Also want to check out their vent shades (aslo painted same color as truck). Figure it might look good if the shades were same color. May not stand out so much
Mine runs up to about 70 psi when cold. Idling about 40 when cold. After it is warmed up, it runs about 60 to 65 at 2000 rpm. At idle, it drops to about 30. It has 2000 miles with Mobil 1 oil. No noticeable difference between regular oil and the synthetic. cowboyjohn
Finally gave me a TPW of 5/21 - for the start of production... If they started a few days later I guess I would get a 2002... Wonder if I should wait and get two-tone or the electric camper mirrors? What do you guys think? Maybe a d-max with the current gas prices?
I know everyone has discussed these in the past so I am trying learn from your research what nerf bars are easy to install, fit well, and are located where they will hide the frame ? Anyone know of any numbers or websites where I can look ?
Hey Ryanbab,
The ones in your picture look great. Do you happen to know where they came from ?
easy to install......and I would suggest Chrome plated stainless. Solid stainless is great...but stainless is soft and scuffs easy...(trust me...I know)....Chrome is hard....but rusts too quick.....and Black looks great...but will be trashed the quickest from chips...then rust.
Thanks for the feedback guys it sounds like my oil pressure is about the same as yours cowboyjohn1.
Nice looking truck (ryanbab)... is that a GoRhino nerf bar by any chance. I have one on mine and like it a lot, the extra length is just what I needed to be able to get into the back of the truck and to unlock my Roll-N-Lock cover. Comes in handy for washing the rear window too.
nmkevin ....what I did when I was researching nerf bars and steps was to put truck accessories and nerf bars into a search engine and then weeded out the best sites from the results.
eric2001 ....Are the 2002 coming out with electric camper mirrors, I'd like those but don't like the regular kind. I wanted two tone on my 2001 but it wasn't offered which I thought was typical of GMC.
Has anyone found a floor console that will fit on the hump in the cabs that have the bench seats. There's not much room in the console in the middle seat and I'd like to add another one seeing as it is wasted space no one uses the middle seat. So far all the ones I've looked at have 2 cup holders and little storage compartment for CDs, not what I want.
I went with the Westin Chrome plated stainless. They were one of the first out with nerfs that would fit my 2500HD crew cab. Truck has 4000 miles and so far so good. Gas mileage is actually starting to improve a little. Got 13.6 on my last tank. 6.0 automatic 4x4. Filled up this morning in Atlanta $1.44, $1.54 and $1.64 per gallon
But black is usually cheaper and easy to fix after you scratch the hell out of it off-road. I'm a firm believer in satin black Krylon spray paint for any parts hanging out there to get beat up -- just make sure you keep it up or you end up with the uglies and rust, like Tim said. -- Don
my black nerf bars look like crap after this winter. No rust but a bunch of fine scratches all over the passenger side. Guess i drove through some sharp ice or something.
Comments
In response to jblair1's entry about the drive train being voided if he lowers his truck. I asked my dealer to lower mine and they told me didn't do that work but send it all out to be done at a local suspension shop. They recommended that I take the truck to them to be lowered. A relative of mine also got his truck lowered and his dealer did his.
I realize your truck is a crew cab and ours were 2500 extended cabs maybe that is the difference. I'm not a mechanic but I don't see how the drive train could be affected by lowering the bed. The drive is attached to the chassis and that doesn't change. I could be wrong, "been that before" but I'm sure there are more knowledgeable truckles out there that can sort this out.
Are you experiencing any unusual wind noise or rattling at freeway speeds. Also I'd like to know what brand you are using.
I tried 2 bug deflectors on my 2000 1500 Sierra and they both caused the rubber window molding around the top of the window to vibrate. I've since talked to a number of people who had the same experience but didn't realize what was causing it. When they removed the deflector the noise went away.
I realize the hood on the 8.1 is contoured different to the 1500 and wouldn't probably set up the same air turbulence but I wanted to test the water before I went through the bother of replacing defectors.
Thanks for your input
Wooly
3M Invisible Bra. Best yet!
Any window tinting shop.
do i have the radio to high?
it was a super easy to mount and took every bit of 20minutes. several people have posted a problem with their windsheild, my truck intermitently has a loud whistleing sound around 65 to 80 mph, does this sound like the same problem as the others have posted?, if so what is the fix?
pol/Chris
Gas in SoCal is $2.17 for 92 octane. Some parts of the state, it's even higher.
- Tim
Have to take the truck back in the morning, as the dealer forgot to detail it. They were to busy taking care of Frank Sinatra Jr., I was told.
After the HD is detailed, I'll stop by J&J Enterprises and order running boards for it. Then my wife can get into the truck. She likes the HD, almost as much as she enjoys her ES300.
HA! HA! HA!
Regular $1.77
Prem Diesel $1.57
89 $1.99
92 $2.09
diesel $1.79
Full serve
87 $2.69
89 $2.79
92 $2.89
Mid $1.55
Premium $1.65
Diesel $1.35
By the way SF0383, out there in Georgia you have no oil, but ALWAYS have the lowest US prices in Atlanta. Ain't fair!
Richland, WA regular - $1.44
Prices as of yesterday.
cowboyjohn
Love to have the 8100, but I can't afford to feed that hog, I know I would drive it hard and get even worse.
Hunter
I'm curious about your statement Obyone, what would the dealer fix under warranty, the rubber molding wasn't damaged at all when I had the problem with my 2000 Sierra it just vibrated and sounded like someone was throwing gravel at your wind screen.
bigorangefan... thanks for input was the gts deflector designed to fit the holes in your model truck or did you have to drill your own screw holes to mount it.
Probably the best way to find out if yours is making the whistling noise is to run without for a day at freeway speeds. Like I said the noise is more like fine gravel hitting the wind screen.
I was under the impression when I first saw the 8.1 HD Sierra that the hood was different to the 1500 hood but I was told today by a truck accessory store owner that they were the same. What's the verdict.
Has anyone received an email that is going around about how we can try to combat the high fuel prices. I've seen others but this one kind of made sense to me. It suggest that we boycott the 2 major gas companies Mobile and Exxon and buy our gas from other companies. Maybe if enough of us do it they will feel the pinch and start lowering their prices to compete.
What's with this spell checker, even when you select the text box to keep the original spelling it still changes it !!!
didn't they try the boycott of gas for two or three days last year also? did it work?
Woolyback -- I think about the only thing we could do to combat high gas prices is all switch to compact Honda sedans.
-- Don
-- Don
-- Don
-- Don
-- Don
Shell is at $1.94 for 87
Amoco is at $1.91
speedway,clark,and misc stations are at like 1.85
I think i can hold off till monday hopefully then they will go down.
The whine in the Allison tranny is caused by a heavy duty oil pump trying to circulate the 20.7 quarts of oil in the pan according to the dealer.
Thats got to be one hell of a oil pan. No wonder the truck sits so high and shows off the rails.
I picked mine up on Thursday night. I now have a whopping 125 miles on mine. I drive mine to work
only 1.2 miles from the house, all down hill. I could ride a bike to work, but who wants to ride a bike uphill at 0515 hours, after being there since 1700 hours.
obyone... you are right they did try to boycott the gas a year or so ago but it wasn't organized and they were asking everyone not to buy gas at all which was a joke. No matter what the price of gas we are going to buy it just to get to work if for nothing else. This suggestion just to boycott the 2 largest gas companies could work if everyone did it.
I remember years ago in limeyland one of the largest breweries started upping their prices for a pint of beer and everyone stopped buying their beer. It wasn't long before the price came down and it starting selling for less than it did before they raised the price.
I'm curious what kind of oil pressure you guys are getting on your 8.1. I've noticed that mine will fluctuate between 20 and 60. If I am in low gear and at low speed it will be 20. When I am driving around town at 30 mph it will be 40 and if I get on the freeway it will go up to 60.
Does this sound normal to you ????
Thanks dinosierra for the info on the Stylin Concepts bug deflector I will be checking it out.
I was told that Lund makes one for the truck so I rattled off an email to them to find out what they recommend and to ask about the rubber molding problem. I'll let you know what they say if and when I get an answer.
Shows them in their catalog. Also want to check out their vent shades (aslo painted same color as truck). Figure it might look good if the shades were same color. May not stand out so much
- Tim
cowboyjohn
Hey Ryanbab,
The ones in your picture look great. Do you happen to know where they came from ?
Good Luck
- Tim
Nice looking truck (ryanbab)... is that a GoRhino nerf bar by any chance. I have one on mine and like it a lot, the extra length is just what I needed to be able to get into the back of the truck and to unlock my Roll-N-Lock cover. Comes in handy for washing the rear window too.
nmkevin ....what I did when I was researching nerf bars and steps was to put truck accessories and nerf bars into a search engine and then weeded out the best sites from the results.
eric2001 ....Are the 2002 coming out with electric camper mirrors, I'd like those but don't like the regular kind. I wanted two tone on my 2001 but it wasn't offered which I thought was typical of GMC.
Has anyone found a floor console that will fit on the hump in the cabs that have the bench seats. There's not much room in the console in the middle seat and I'd like to add another one seeing as it is wasted space no one uses the middle seat. So far all the ones I've looked at have 2 cup holders and little storage compartment for CDs, not what I want.
-- Don
I figure probably in 2 yrs ill replace them.