GorillaH1Kydd
07-16-2008, 03:50 AM
Hey Guys,
The Man:
My name is Andrew Melvin and I am 21 years old. I am from Buena Park, Ca (However I spent the better parts of my years in Arizona on the Colorado River) This is my first diesel I have ever owned, FINALLY. All my life I've been obsessed with the rough sounding knock of an ideling diesel engine (however now adays with the advances in modern technology, the knock is not so much). I have always been amazed at the potental for power that can be pulled from an engine and have always wanted one of my own. Now I have been deployed (just returning from OIF VI), have a little extra cash, a new project truck and big plans. Don't get me wrong, I know that this isn't going to be some weekend deal, It's gonna take time, money, and more than likely another deployment to finish it, but when it is all said and done, I will have a truck that I will get to keep for a long time, custom made just the way I want it.
The Truck:
Urban Gorilla makes Hummer H1 body kits to fit on just about any truck. However the cost of a single, bare bones, open top, is about $5,900. But i was looking through a 4x4 Magazine after purchasing a 1986 Chevy S10 Blazer on ebay, getting ideas for a different build. I saw an ad for these body kits and instantly became obsessed. I started trying to budget in a kit for the little blazer, but all they could do was a 2 door truck. So I started looking for other donor vehicles. One night, browsing for an old suburban, I found this truck. It is a 4 door soft top with all the deluxe package stuff, retail is just about $14,000. It is sitting on a '97 Suburban 4x4 chassis, about another $6,700. I won the bid on ebay for $3,000. Holy Sh_t right. It's sitting up in Jersey right now.
The Legend:
So I wanted to do this right. I want to have this truck for a long time. It just wouldn't be right to have a Hummer lookin truck that is powered on regular pump gas. But my budget didn't allow for a decent power plant. So I was just going to Build the 5.7 it had and go from there. But i wanted an Allison Tranny nontheless. So I went to the mother of all bargin sites eBay, and found me a tranner/transfer out of an 04 silverado with 25,000 miles on it for $1,800. Then by accident I found me a LLY Duramax out of an 06 Sierra with a starting bid of $3,000. It went through 1 week of bidding and didn't sell. So it was reposted for the same price. I talked to the guy and after a few messages back and forth and him finding out I was in the service, HE LET THE ENGINE GO FOR $2,500, everything included. So now I've got an awesome set up and as soon as I get outta Iraq, I can get started on my truck.
Andy
The Man:
My name is Andrew Melvin and I am 21 years old. I am from Buena Park, Ca (However I spent the better parts of my years in Arizona on the Colorado River) This is my first diesel I have ever owned, FINALLY. All my life I've been obsessed with the rough sounding knock of an ideling diesel engine (however now adays with the advances in modern technology, the knock is not so much). I have always been amazed at the potental for power that can be pulled from an engine and have always wanted one of my own. Now I have been deployed (just returning from OIF VI), have a little extra cash, a new project truck and big plans. Don't get me wrong, I know that this isn't going to be some weekend deal, It's gonna take time, money, and more than likely another deployment to finish it, but when it is all said and done, I will have a truck that I will get to keep for a long time, custom made just the way I want it.
The Truck:
Urban Gorilla makes Hummer H1 body kits to fit on just about any truck. However the cost of a single, bare bones, open top, is about $5,900. But i was looking through a 4x4 Magazine after purchasing a 1986 Chevy S10 Blazer on ebay, getting ideas for a different build. I saw an ad for these body kits and instantly became obsessed. I started trying to budget in a kit for the little blazer, but all they could do was a 2 door truck. So I started looking for other donor vehicles. One night, browsing for an old suburban, I found this truck. It is a 4 door soft top with all the deluxe package stuff, retail is just about $14,000. It is sitting on a '97 Suburban 4x4 chassis, about another $6,700. I won the bid on ebay for $3,000. Holy Sh_t right. It's sitting up in Jersey right now.
The Legend:
So I wanted to do this right. I want to have this truck for a long time. It just wouldn't be right to have a Hummer lookin truck that is powered on regular pump gas. But my budget didn't allow for a decent power plant. So I was just going to Build the 5.7 it had and go from there. But i wanted an Allison Tranny nontheless. So I went to the mother of all bargin sites eBay, and found me a tranner/transfer out of an 04 silverado with 25,000 miles on it for $1,800. Then by accident I found me a LLY Duramax out of an 06 Sierra with a starting bid of $3,000. It went through 1 week of bidding and didn't sell. So it was reposted for the same price. I talked to the guy and after a few messages back and forth and him finding out I was in the service, HE LET THE ENGINE GO FOR $2,500, everything included. So now I've got an awesome set up and as soon as I get outta Iraq, I can get started on my truck.
Andy