Ideas for a '99 Tahoe???

Hi - I have a question about my '99 Chevy Tahoe LT 4Door/4x4, solid black - I know this is a Suburban area, but I hope it's okay to post here (seeing as so much is interchangeable between the Tahoe/Yukon and the Sub).

Anyway, the truck is totally stock except for the 275/70/16 tires that I put on to replace the original 245/75/16s. I would like to: 1) black out the truck 2) get bigger wheels and tires.

For blacking out, do I need to de-badge the truck? Will I have to get new front and rear bumpers because paint won't stick to chrome very well? Will it look bad if I leave the front grille as is, but black out everything else?

As far as the tires/wheels go, I have seen some really nice wheel and tire packages on Ultrasmith and AudioIntellect Tahoes/Subs. The tires seem to stick out of the wheel wells (just a bit) which is a look that I like. Is this from the wheels and tires or is there an offset involved with the axle? What do you think the ideal tire size would be for the effect that I'm looking for? I think I'd get 17-18" wheels as I don't like them any bigger. Anteras look great, but they're very expensive (up here in Canada); any other ideas? I like a clean, 5-6 spoke design with polished aluminum, not chrome.

Finally, I have noticed that on some stock Suburbans and some Tahoes, there are some really nice fender flares on the trucks. How come my Tahoe doesn't have these flares?

I will need to do things in stages (budget considerations). Do any of you have any tips or ideas? I know I've asked a lot of questions, so any tips or ideas would be appreciated.Thanks a lot.

First off, welcome to this site. Hope you find everything you're looking for on here. Everyone is very helpful and informative so you should find out a few things.

Now to answer some of your questions.

Depending on exactly what look you are looking for, will determine what you do. So you need to find out which it is. Are you going for the "Off Road" look, "Poser" look, or just stock.

As for debadging, it couldn't hurt. Lot's of people shave all badges and a few other things to give the car/truck a cleaner look. Plus it lessens the possibility of distracting the viewer from other mods that you may have done.

As for the painting. You can pretty much purchase new bumpers, grills, etc from any website that may service or have parts for you truck. I don't recommend painting chrome either. They sell parts that come primed and ready to paint. All you would need to do is find a body that can do it for a good price.

Blacking out will look good, again, depending on which application you're going for.

As for the fender flares, the ones for the Burban and your truck should be the same I think. Not sure though. As for the wheels, again, depends on your application. If you go for the off road look, bulkier is better. However, if you're going for the poser look, you need to put 20's on and drop that bad boy.

Hope that helps.

Thanks a lot for the quick response. I am most definitely not going for the "poser" look - LOL. I am not into 20s and slammed trucks. I want an aggressive look (wider stance etc.), but not full-on off-road monster. This is my daily driver to and from work, so I can't get too crazy. Any ideas as to the most reliable websites to buy parts (like bumpers) from? Thanks again for the good points.

Sure. Here are some sites and let me know how things turn out.

www.wrenchhead.com
www.truckperformance.com
http://trucks.racesearch.com

Hope these help.

Hi - couldn't resist posting a pic of what I'd just go out and buy if I could!

well...
the wheels stick out a bit in the front b/c of the offset of the axle on the heavy duty 4wd vehicles... check out the ones like that, and im sure you'll see that most are eight lugs...

for more ideas though, go to www.stylinconcepts.com
there are bumpers, the flares, roll pans, rear bumper covers, all sortsa stuff there...

and wheel wise...
go for a silver finish, b/c chrome and polished are played out... unless you go for some torque thrust 2s... that would be the stuff in an 18in rim...

and your grille will look fine chrome w/ the all black look... debadging is the way to go...
hope that helps ya out

Thanks for the comments and the link. I appreciate it.

its a shameless plug, cuz i werk there...
and if you ever need to order, lemme know, and i'll hook it up a bit...

Hi - I just checked out the site and I ordered the catalog for my truck. You've got a really good site with some cool products. Of course, ordering from Canada, I would get nailed by the taxes and the import duty, so... I may just have to visit some friends of mine in Cleveland.....;)

if you swing in, make sure you call ahead... make sure it is all in stock if you come down...
and if you got the sport truck cat, it wont be in for at least two wks... you are better off calling in or checkin the site...

YEah, I have an idea, sell it and buy yourself an Expedition, and if you still want a boxy SUV i recomend the Trooper. :p

i think we can ignore that, b/c it was dumb.

and to back up the idea, chevy aftermarket is much larger compared to the ford one, especially for this tahoe, so the ideas can just flow forever... the expedition is a little stuck. and a little huge by size, but not by power, or you could go with the sky high ride height that handles bad, or anything, but all in all, for a 99, i would take a tahoe too, especially b/c the aftermarket is huge. it is based on those trucks/utes...

Hello all. I have been reading awhile, posting on Automobileforum because I know the regulars quite well...but now I have to participate here.

I have a black 99 2 Door Sport LT. Gorgeous. If you're lucky, I might post a pic.

JTS...I've got 18 inch Enkei wheels, negative offset. Makes a wider stance, looks great. I get compliments from women and even a few men on the street. They pull up next to me and ask me, "what kind of car is that?" Dumb broads...whatever pulls the ass i guess.


Here's a pic.

Hi Tahoe - Thanks for the comments. I'd love to see a picture of your truck. Please re-post. Thanks.

I thought I posted the pic. Don't know what happened.

Originally posted by JTS
Hi Tahoe - Thanks for the comments. I'd love to see a picture of your truck. Please re-post. Thanks.


i don't know what's happening to the pic. I'll try again.

Man that is such a sweet truck - congratulations. Of course, this leads to more questions/comments:

I think you've de-badged and blacked out? Was it a huge pain in the a** or was it okay?

Are the tires 285/60/18s? I love those wheels.

What about the brush guard? (make/model)

Done anything to the engine? (supercharger etc.)

What kind of exhaust is that?

Most importantly, do you have a web site with tons more pics? I'd love to see many more angles, especially straight on front and rear.

Thanks a lot.

Fine. The size of the pic was exactly 100 kb!

I've condensed it a bit more.

And what's with "the server is too busy?"

Here some more pics...

Here some more pics...

Here some more pics...

I don't know why my pics aren't coming up, but I'm sure I attached them.

here's a nother pic of my engine.

What I have done to the Hoe in overall performance:

K&N GEN II FIPK
MAGNAFLOW Catback w/ Sebring tip
HYPERTECH Power Programmer
HYPERTECH Thermostat 160 degrees

It is pretty fast now, with my best time of 6.8 0-60. That is using that one gizmo, but I don't remember it's name right now.

I will post some pictures of my blacked out '99 Tahoe this afternoon so that you can see what mods I have added.
Allen Blaylock
Memphis, Tn
[email protected]

SO FAR YOU GOT ADVICE FROM A SALES GUY HARD UP FOR A SALE, A FORD LOVER, AND VARIOUS OLD DUDES THAT BUY THERE TRUCKS PRE FIXED UP AT THE DEALER.

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT IN CALIFORNIA. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HATE ON ME BUT THE TRUTH IS WE LEAD IN EVERYTHING SPORT TRUCKS, 4X4s, SPORT COMPACT, HOT RODS, EVERYTHING!

1 LOSE THE MOULDING
2 BUY NEW BLACK AFTERMARKET BUMPERS
3 GET A 8" SUSP. LIFT
4 GET SOME 16.5X14" WELD WHEELS
5 A SET OF 33X15.5X16.5 SUPER SWAMPERS
6 PAINT THE GRILLE ADD A BILLET INSERT

THAT SHOULD GET YOU STARTED.