Been a member on here a long time but never owned a LS powered truck so I spent all my time over on LS1tech since I owned a 99’ WS6. Had to sell it several years back and FINALLY acquired another LS powered vehicle. God it’s been so long, lol. Every since I had to sell my TA something has been missing. Well I finally did something about it. Scored a 2004 Silverado Z71 with 160k for $6k. I looked at fixing up my 97’ Z71 but after parts and labor it was outside my budget. So I started looking to buy a truck, everything in my price range was a rusted torn up POS. Needless to say I was getting a little disheartened cause it was a several thousand dollar jump to get into a clean sub 200k mile truck. Then after looking at probably 40 trucks I found this gem, no price on it yet sitting in the corner of a small lot. Pulled in to check it out and it looked like a garage queen compared to the other **** boxes I had looked at. Not a spec of rust, LineX bedliner with zero signs of usage, interior mint for a 2004 including the driver seat not having wear. The bad was no radio, someone removed their aftermarket double din, no biggie. AC wasn’t working and they hadn’t checked the system yet. Dealer said he would fix those things but then would want $8900. Me and the wife drove it and it ran strong for a old 5.3 4wd truck. Get back and pop the hood and it’s just as clean, crawl under it and it’s clean. Already had tinted windows, exhaust and a CAI. Talked to the wife and she agreed we couldn’t pass on this truck, it was too clean. So I put $2500 down and drove off with it for the $6k as is price. Took it straight to my mechanic and had him look it over. Said it was a great buy in great mechanical condition and fixed the AC for $85 too. She blows super cold now. I noticed it was originally a jump seat truck but the seat is missing, at first I thought it was a console, again no biggie, I already ordered one on eBay for $85. It’s also not a electronic transfer case it’s a floor shift but that’s also fine by me as I don’t use 4wd a lot but it is nice to have. Whatever degreaser they used to detail the engine bay effected the painted engine cover so I’ll be respraying it gold along with the fuse center and possibly the radiator shroud so it’s all color matched. Next up is a new set of headlights to replace the old cloudy stockers and a double din. For now I’m using a Bluetooth speaker and my phone for music, lol. The largest things to me was the lack of rust, bedliner, solid motor and transmission and interior not shredded. The other things are little cheap fixes I don’t mind taking care of. I have since scrapped all the damn stickers, don’t worry, lol. My best guess is this was daddy’s truck handed down to son before graduation then sold when he left. It had a local high school faculty parking pass on the windshield so that’s where my Sherlock guessing comes from, lol. I’m so damn happy to be back in a LS powered vehicle at this point every time I start it and hear the exhaust it makes me smile, lol.

 

Welcome from Owasso!

 

Welcome. I'm here in OKC! Throw a set of longtubes on it and a good exhaust to start

 

FWI those top engine covers are black from the factory with silver writing. Someone sprayed thay gold with some cheap spray paint. Thats why its coming off.

 

Yea, I knew the stock cover was just black plastic originally. When I respray it I’ll use automotive touch up mixed to a perfect color match and some 2k clear so it’ll last.

Yea I already looked at the TSP stainless 1 3/4” long tubes. I will also be saving up for either a local tune or a Blackbear tune.

 

Score, found a set of powder coated valve covers for the TA that I never installed. They have been in my shed for 3+yrs, still look good. I’ll slap these on when I do plugs/wires along with a set of ICT billet coil brackets.