85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett"

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by moregrip

thanks for the info! Is the SEM product considered the best in terms of quality and durability? I see this process in my future! Appreciate the step by step!

For an aerosol application its the best. I have sprayed PPG before and it works great to.

[N2TRUX]

I finally got the last bit of blush covered over yesterday. Last night I spent time in the shop installing the Kicker Hideaway 8" Subwoofer in place. I also installed the LED lighting that will light the storage compartments and around the sub. The adhesive on the strip light was weal, so I used double sided tape to hold the strips in place. I'm still not sure if thats enough. I may have to go back and use Weldwood to get a better bond.

Note that the light is NOT as bright as the pics make it look. The red light had overpowered the cameras filters and I couldn't prevent it from having an evil glow in the pics.

[rustytruck50]

Looks great....you don't let up at all on the details, do you? The picture of the uncovered LED reminded me of a past Maroon 5 album cover

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by rustytruck50

Looks great....you don't let up at all on the details, do you? The picture of the uncovered LED reminded me of a past Maroon 5 album cover

Attention to details is my forte. It's also my madness. Sometimes I wish my mind would let me accept less.

Not really...

[N2TRUX]

It's amazing how a couple of small pieces can be so labor intense. I yet to determine exactly how I was going to fill the void between the end of the box and the cab. I has mocked up a scrap piece early on, to get an idea of what it would take.

I determined then that it was going to suck designing and fitting a filler piece . Not one of the edges in that corner are straight. Each one has multiple angles and curves combined. There is just no easy way out.

I started with making templates and adjusting the fit. The box must be in place to ensure accuracy yet the box prohibits you to see or feel what your doing. Combine that with the fact that each is is slightly different and design time doubles.

In the end, I prevailed. I can tell you there is a large scrap pile of failed attempts, and there were a few episodes of cursing but I have my filler panels.

On a side note, if you looks closely you will see that one is thicker than the other. I'm not pointing an fingers, but my centerline and side to side measurements were checked many, many times. Surely GM wouldn't build a truck that's off by .25 from side to side? Nah, it must be me.

[st1]

If that truck was built on Monday or Friday I am willing to bet it is NOT your measurements.

[rustytruck50]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Surely GM wouldn't build a truck that's off by .25 from side to side? Nah, it must be me.

Maybe you have one eye stronger than the other or a Monday/Friday made tape measure As many of those trucks that were built over the years and the replacement panels that were stamped, I'm surprised that it's only that much...not trying to minimize the PITA situation....I don't know if you've encountered this, but when I was wrenching on the '82 Silverado years back, I had to have a complete set of both standard and metric tools because of the mix of bolts throughout the truck...that's enough to make a preacher cuss

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by rustytruck50

Maybe you have one eye stronger than the other or a Monday/Friday made tape measure As many of those trucks that were built over the years and the replacement panels that were stamped, I'm surprised that it's only that much...not trying to minimize the PITA situation....I don't know if you've encountered this, but when I was wrenching on the '82 Silverado years back, I had to have a complete set of both standard and metric tools because of the mix of bolts throughout the truck...that's enough to make a preacher cuss

Having had several GM trucks, old and new I realize they are prone to variances in fit and finish. I just failed to compensate and it bit in the end. Most people will never notice but it bothers me. Next time I will whip out the laser level.

Oh yes, the wonderful world of what bolt is it. We encounter that constantly. Fortunately I have a well stocked tool box so we can accommodate what ever they were using that day.

[N2TRUX]

Sunday was a big day in my shop. I got an early start by running for supplies and started the final push for assembly. All of those additional hours spent sanding a fitting gaps were finally starting to pay off.
Chris arrived and started on the last bit of wiring. We had originally planned to utilize a switch for the LED light strip, but I couldn't find a location to mount it that I liked. We opted to expose the infrared sensor and use the remote control instead.

All I wanted was the ability to run red ambient lighting. With the remote we could turn on the audio sensor as well. Now Scarlett has the ability to go full disco mode. Not what I was after, but everyone seems to like it so what do I know.
We were able to install everything one last time and finally see the completed results. We spent some time tuning and shot a couple of videos while the seat was still out.
The vids are located here JLo and BEP.
When I get the seat installed, I will get a few more pics. Enjoy these for now.

[UKNOWME]

Did you ever go back and talk about what you learn from precision about the door seals?

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by UKNOWME

Did you ever go back and talk about what you learn from precision about the door seals?

Not yet. I plan to take that task on this weekend.

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Not yet. I plan to take that task on this weekend.

Ok, glad I didn't miss it

[N2TRUX]

I ran in to an issue as I was bringing to Kicker Audio install to completion. After our last tuning session on Scarlett, we pushed her back in to her storage spot. We had the key on and heard a weird rumble coming from the Hideaway sub. I researched the issue, but no luck. It would play fine then this deep rumble would come in. This is frustrating.

I contacted Tim Smith from Kicker. He suggested checking my ground. I ran an additional ground wire direct from the frame, but this wasn't the problem. Tim put me in contact with his coworker Jerimy for a more in-depth analysis. Jerimy suggested unplugging the remote gain control. I unplugged it and the rumble stopped. Great, this should be a simple fix.

Last night I chased the trouble and thought I had resolved it. The input to the controller gain uses a mini RCA that appeared to have come partially unplugged while securing all the wires under the dash. I pulled the controller and added a strain relief to the wire to prevent this from happening again. Problem solved, I thought but the super short screws used to mount the controller were now stripped. This lead to a search for new screws and an hour long ordeal in changing my mount design.

I tested the system and breathed a deep sigh of relief. I had solved the problem and now I could put everything back together. I left the system on while I replaced all the cover panels. When I got to the point of securing the Hideaway sub, the rumble came back. What now?

[gringoloco]

Boo. I hate gremlins, especially after midnight

[NewType72]

It's the kicker stuff obviously.. arc audio ahem arc audio hmm that's definitely odd, I've chased similar stuff before but it always was solved with a loose wire or rca. My buddy just replaced an end on his system where the rca was actually the bad contact point and was making the alternator whine through the system. I'm not really sure how you test that other than having to cut out connectors tho..

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Boo. I hate gremlins, especially after midnight

Its never fun, but I resolved this rather quickly

Originally Posted by NewType72

It's the kicker stuff obviously....

While I have no doubt there are many great brands on the market, Kicker Audio is at the top. I research customer reviews before I buy or endorse any product. My research allowed me to be very comfortable with endorsing Kicker Audio.

[N2TRUX]

Problem solved!
In my effort to make the storage area of the box as large as possible I condensed the size of the Hideaway compartment. I gave it adequate space for ventilation but failed to realize the 3.5mm input plug for the remote bass gain controller needed more space.
After my make over on the controller mount I plugged it back in the Hideaway and tested again. It worked fine till I snugged the woofer in place. The rumble came back once again. I realized it was in a bind and was bent.

I did some research and discovered the solution to my issue. They offer a 90 degree mini rca connector or an adaptor. I opted for a pigtail and replaced the connector entirely.

This proved to be a good choice. The original connector was now damaged, so the new one resolved multiple problems.

[85/Silverado]

I'll take one in Black...

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by 85/Silverado

I'll take one in Black...

I can do that but I work by the hour. The good news is I only charge 10.00 an hour. The bad news is I have a gazillion hours in this one😎

[N2TRUX]

Chris and I had a productive in the shop yesterday. With the Kicker Audio system working properly it was time to get the seat back in the cab.

Before we did, we had work to do in the doors first. It's much easier to work inside the door sitting on the cab floor so we took them apart.

The power locks weren't working again. The connection on the drivers side actuator came loose so we secured it and resolved that issue.
The exterior door handle wouldnt open the passenger side door so we replaced the clip on the actuator rod.
With everything working correctly again we installed the new arm rest pads from Brothers Truck Parts. They fit fantastic and are the final piece for door panels to look new again

[N2TRUX]

With the doors back together we set the seat back in. Now we could begin the final system tune. We tried several videos via Bluetooth on YouTube as well as FM channels.
The XM20 gives you the ability to tune on screen so you can do it from the comfort of the drivers seat. We spent an hour testing with a variety of songs. We are really happy with the sound quality. Currently the Hideaway is still set at 50% and has plenty of punch.

[N2TRUX]

With the tune set we called it a day. There are still several minor details to be wrapped up under the hood. We will be working on those concerns soon, but here's a short video for now.

Kicker Audio install by N2trux -link

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

With the tune set we called it a day. There are still several minor details to be wrapped up under the hood. We will be working on those concerns soon, but here's a short video for now.

Kicker Audio install by N2trux -link

That sounds Perfect & Awesome!!

[85/Silverado]

My truck was the exact same color as yours when i bought it, now it's all black except the headliner and bench seat. oh and the seat belts.
I have to find some bucket seats in black and grey.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by 85/Silverado

My truck was the exact same color as yours when i bought it, now it's all black except the headliner and bench seat. oh and the seat belts.
I have to find some bucket seats in black and grey.

There's a grey set that was just posted in the parts section today.