Silverado going in for a makeover. what to do?

[cofi]

Actually going to a lower (numerically higher) gear, is going to help mileage, as your engine doesn't need to work as hard to get things going. I'd make gears/locker/armor top priority if it were me.

this is right and wrong

taller gears(numerically lower) will be better on the highway keeping your rpms low shorter gears would be better for city driving/ off roading

if it were my truck(im on 37"s with 3.73s myself) i would leave the 3.73s and if your serious about wheeling get an ORU doubler for the low and low low range stuff

get lockers in the rear(and a 14 bolt rear end if u dont have one)ditch the IFS bullshit in the front and throw a locker dana 60 on the front

bumpers....your better off having someone local build em tactical armor groups are great when there not drinking that day but i have seen some fucked up twisted bumpers come out of that place

[sniper7]

Mtn man builds bumpers. Hook up a local board member.

[Chad4000]

Mtn man builds bumpers. Hook up a local board member.

not a bad idea there..

[Chad4000]

Actually going to a lower (numerically higher) gear, is going to help mileage, as your engine doesn't need to work as hard to get things going. I'd make gears/locker/armor top priority if it were me.

think I should actually consider some armor?

[Post Toastie]

think I should actually consider some armor?

Door panels, behind back seat, gas tank, etc...

[Ronin13]

think I should actually consider some armor?

Careful- the effective addons are gonna be very costly... 2010 Ford Excursion to upgrade to Level III armor is just over $260,000.

[ray1970]

Fairly certain the armor that was mentioned was meant to protect the transfer case, differentials, etc.

not the bullet proof stuff.
P

[Chad4000]

Door panels, behind back seat, gas tank, etc...

see,, Ive heard the weight associated is super high.. isnt that more rock crawler?

[spqrzilla]

I'm still trying to figure out how to make my Jeep Cherokee look like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAzFFRW2S7g

[Slapps74]

this is right and wrong

taller gears(numerically lower) will be better on the highway keeping your rpms low shorter gears would be better for city driving/ off roading

if it were my truck(im on 37"s with 3.73s myself) i would leave the 3.73s and if your serious about wheeling get an ORU doubler for the low and low low range stuff

get lockers in the rear(and a 14 bolt rear end if u dont have one)ditch the IFS bullshit in the front and throw a locker dana 60 on the front

bumpers....your better off having someone local build em tactical armor groups are great when there not drinking that day but i have seen some fucked up twisted bumpers come out of that place

A few things here.....First gear it!! Being a 3/4 ton it should have a 14 bolt in the rear and more than likely 4.10 gears. When running bigger tires the point of gearing is to get it back close to the stock ratio. If 265's were stock they are about a 31 inch tall tire and your now running a 37 inch tall tire. Too get things back to where they were rpm @ 60 mph you would need to go to a 4.88 gear, if it has 3.73 you would need to go to 4.56. You could still run 4.88's and gain some low end but you would sacrifice top end. I would not go air locker. I would go with a Detroit locker. Bullet proof and no air required. If you wanted to put a locker in the front then I would go air locker, that truck should have a 9.25 in the front and they are tuff as far as IFS goes.

If you wanted to do a carrier for the winch in front, be carefully you can't pull at more than a 30 degree angle without concerns of snapping the carrier off. Not often do you need to winch from behind. Standard rule of thumb is 1 1/2 times the vehicle weight for the winch. Learn how to use a snatch block.

I would get some spare parts, rear drive shaft, one front cv axle, oil, coolant, trans fluid etc, a spare belt. Next would be good under belly protection. Depending on budget that is my $.02 good luck.