[Clutch]

Never started one here, and I keep getting a ton of questions about this or that; so here goes!

2006 GMC Canyon
3.5L 4X4 5 Speed Manual

I was stoked, since it was ordered from the factory like I would have specc'd one out. Plus I got this truck cheap! He sold it for what the dealership offered in trade in value. Had new drums put on, new power steering pump, front/rear fluids changed and new shocks.

First thing I did was install a Clutch snowboard sticker

Then a Canyonero badge

Then I bought stock size 235/75 R15 Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs (studded) to replace the stock Wranglers. Got them with rims for $450 off kijiji

Got it a bit muddy

Bought some 18" Pro Comp rims with 265/70 tires used for cheap off kijiji and tried a test fit on a stock Z85 for shits and giggles.

Sold those since I wasn't in the mood to lift it at that time. I also bought a 5" CST lift kit, but decided against lifting; So I sold it. I wanted more of a stance at the time.

Found these brand new out of the box Pro Comp Rock Crawlers off Kijiji 15x8 rocking a 3.75" backspace

So I went and paid for new 31x10.50 Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs and sold the other stock sized Duratracs

Purchased KrFabs lift shackles, tow mounts and krescue hitch mount with 3/4" Shackle and 5/8" Hitch Pin

Had another change of heart about lifitng and sold the Lift Shackles to Classic69

Ripped off the Z85 flares and sold them for $100

Installed bushwacker fender flares to help cover the backspacing.

Bought an ultraguage and a dynexmount

The chrome was really pissing me off and when I finally found some Plasti Dip I painted the front and rear bumpers + my third brake light.

Then I got annoyed again and blacked out the rest of the grill

Bought an old style GMC badge to mount on a billet grille

Bought another grill assembly already sanded with a billet grille.

I planned on getting it painted OEM colour and mounting the GMC badge,

December 2011 - Bought Truck
February 2012 - Found Canada355.ca
March 2012 - Sold car, started driving truck
March 2012 - Clutch Sticker
April 10th 2012 - Canyonero Sticker + 235/75/15 Wrangler Duratracs
May 2012 - Bushwacker flares + tow hooks
September 2012 - 31x10.50x15 Duratracs
July 2012 - Plastidipped front bumper
December 2012 - CAI
January 2013 - Switchbacks + HIDS + Shackles + Diffguard
February 2013 - Lift Kit/Billet Grille
April 2013 - 295/70/17 Toyos + Powder coated Bumpers + DRLs
June 2013 - 285/70/17 Duratracs + Jesters + SS Brake Lines + PIAAs
August 2013 - Header/Midpipe/Exhaust + 305/70/17 Dick Cepek Crushers on the Pro Comp rims
September 2013 - Red map Lights + 50" Rigid light bar
October 2013 - Replaced drivers side hub/cv axle after failure on highway.
December 2013 - Replaced damaged passenger side extended cab door, Alpine PDX-V9 amp, zone rear bumper lift
January 2014 - Door painted, replaced passenger side hub and cv axle, dyno tune, DTRL mod, new inner/outer tie rod ends, shorty antenna

 

[Clutch]

Re: Clutch's Build Thread

I picked up an ammo case to store my KrRescue hitch receiver and other little odds and ends.

I changed my mind again, and decided to lift the truck a bit. Went back to KrFabs and bought a rear diff guard, 2" lift shackles and some longer Rancho shocks.

I am also sitting on a box of Lamin X 6% headlight tint. Not installed yet.

Worked on the truck a bit at a friends place. Rotated my tires, put the center caps on my truck (finally after 8 months) and replaced the brake pads. Late summer my breaks started squealing a bit when I put light pressure, and as time went the brake noise consistently got louder and more common regardless of pressure. Then it kinda stopped in the last few weeks. So I went to napa and bought some new pads.

The old pads were in better shape then I was expecting, which is a piss off $$ wise. Whatever, it has new pads on it now and the noise stopped at least.

Passenger side pads.

Center caps on

Grabbed this emblem for my billet insert. Using this instead of the GMC emblem.

In the meantime I threw it on the regular grill, and it doesn't really look that great with the GMC logo

Also installed my Volant CAI, what a **** *** **** *** to install. Nothing barely fit, shit had to get cut down and nerves were fried. Did I mention there was no instructions anywhere but a stupid non descript diagram? However its in.

 

[Clutch]

Re: Clutch's Build Thread

Installed the switchbacks.

Quick little video.

Found out two of the switchbacks are defective, go figure. Anyways, here are some slightly better shots.

Note the defect, these were the same set of 2 bulbs, I just moved them to the inner sockets on each headlight to keep the look symmetrical.

PIAA bulbs for my lowbeams, so the white light goes with the switchbacks.

Rancho RS5375 shocks for my front

Threw it into the 'to do' pile

So installed the PIAA Xtreme white bulbs in my lowbeams (these burnt out 9 months later). Also installed the 6000k hids in my highbeams. Thought for a bit I had a defective ballast. The passenger side wouldn't ignite, and I double checked everything. Right before I was ready to rip everything out and repackage the lights I flipped the ballast wiring around and voila it lighted. Stupid locking clip was installed wrong.

Anyways, here is a shitty cellphone shot comparo. The glare looks terrible in this shot thanks to my cellphone and its tiny lens.

Quick video (glare alert again)

So my rear shackles are in, finally. The passenger side top bolt just popped out with no issue. The bottom was a bit of a pain due to the exhaust but it came out. The drivers side on the other hand was a total bolt seized completely, multiple hour long ordeal. Buddy ended up busting his 3 point grabber tool, and we fried his compressor trying to hammer/impact the bolts out. Ended up getting the bolts somewhat loose hammering and banging for 4-5 hours.

Had to end in the end, pry/bend the shackle out of the threaded bolt and hammer/grind/hammer the bottom bolt. Tried the same thing on the top bolt, but it wouldn't budge at all. Then another one of my friends showed up, and brought over a new compressor and some more pullers.

Pullers didn't grab anywhere, so we ended up throwing a press onto a jack and making a makeshift press with some grade 8 washers, and a pipe we cut down. First we had to unbolt the box and raise it to get out contraption to fit under the fender. Then we pressed, hammered, and pressed some more till the bolt was flush. Then took the pipe out, cut it down and did it again. Finally after getting the bolt out I just said screw it, and I just took a BFH to the damn thing and gave it a licking. The bolt then came out after that bit of TLC. Also while everything was lowered, we bent the brake line brackets above the diff and loosened it up a bit.

Royal pain in the ass, but it's in. Didn't even have time to get to the front end. I'll save that for a later date!

Quick and dirty pictures of our press-a-bolt-in-a-thingy and box lift

Consumed many a beer during this install. Washed my truck afterwards to clean out the bottom and snapped a few pictures. The front hasn't been touched yet. My plastic fuel cap also broke from the plastic sleeve later that week.

 

[Clutch]

Re: Clutch's Build Thread

Replaced the fuel cap. Also, picked up a new antena base, and antenna which I am cutting down before I put it back on.

Another shot of the passenger side shackle.

Screwed around with some HDR because I bored, and over did it and yes I'm whoring out my parking space yet again.

So took the truck out to my buddies again, and threw on the diff guard and replaced the rear ujoint.

That magnet was a bit filthy eh.

Full KrFab setup.

I also bought a tailgate protector off kijiji for $20. Haven't installed it yet, since I forgot to buy some 3M tape. I didn't feel like using the factory screws.

More goodies.

17x9 Pro Comp Rock Crawlers
4.25" Backspacing
CST 5" subframe lift

Picked up some rubber as well. 35X12.50R17 BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM. Load range D.

As you can see they came with some ugly Dodge/Ford Helos rims.

Took them straight to a local tire shop for dismount.

Dismounted! and sold the rims for a couple hundred

Test fit

Mounted on rims. Not bad for $400 35's!

Seeing how a pair of switchbacks were defective (the tips don't light up) I got a refund. So I ordered in 3157 White - 44 SMD LED CANBUS BULBs for my inner bulbs that don't signal. I was worried they wouldn't be as bright as the switchbacks due to 44SMD compared to the SB's which were rated 60SMD. However I was proved wrong when I installed them (plus I was being stupid, 44 white bulbs vs 30 white/30 amber on the SB's). These suckers are waay brighter as seen in these cellphone shots.

Defective switchbacks next to good switchbacks

New 44 SMD LED Canbus bulbs put in next to good switchbacks

Frontal shot with horrible glare, but you can see they are in fact brighter! Help having 14 more white bulbs!

 

[Clutch]

Re: Clutch's Build Thread

Installed the lift late February 2012 at my buddies place.

Cut and plated the body mount. Also had to smash in the front rear fender with a hammer.

5" CST Lift. 2" KrFab Shackles/2" CST AAL

Installed the grille assembly. Painted the outer part oem cherry red, and left the billet as it was. Put the new emblem in and voila. Only thing left to go on the truck from my parts pile is my 6% headlight tint.

2 months later I changed it up since the painted grille was chipping. I ripped up the plasti-dip on the front bumper and I was going to paint it black again but changed plans.

Instead I am going to paint the grille surround black with plasti-dip and go with that. Already black out behind the billet insert and plan on painting it soon.

Month later I took the bumper off to get powder coated 50/50 gloss/black by krfabs

Also installed some 295/70R17 Toyo Open Country MT's

Bought new turn signal lights. So goodbye nasty crud filled turn signal housings
old

new

Bought rims
17x9 Ballistic Jesters
-12mm offset | 4.50 Backspace

Got a set of PIAA LP570's from a PIAA rep for free. Won a photo contest.

Tried painting my grill again, and painted the jester inserts cherry red.

Also, installed 285/70 Duratracs

Was too humid and the paint didn't set right.

Washed off the paint, and installed the inserts.

 

[Clutch]

Re: Clutch's Build Thread

I got my rear brake line extended 9" with a braided stainless steel line. Plus of course a red jacket! So step one for a rear SOA is out of the way!

Got my PIAA LP570 lights installed.

Long Tube Header; 2.5" Midpipe, Magnaflow Exhaust! Deleted the catalytic convertor.

I can definitely feel the difference just in the low end. I get to 60km/h so much quicker! Best yet, not a ton of drone around the city.

Ordered a PTB and dome light

Also removed my ebay dome light which was bright, but looked like crap imo

Then installed my new all white dome light!

Sold the Jesters since everyone was running them. Also sold the Duratracs as they look too small. Bought a set of temporary runners 305/65/17 Dick Cepek Crushers

Some more LED lights arrived in the mail today. Installed a set of Cree SMD LED reverse lights in my truck (no pictures, as there are enough out there) and those suckers are bright! I also installed Red LED's in my map lights for driving at night and needing a quick bit of light without scorching my retinas.

De cranked my truck, so my cv's were level once again. Blew through (2) CV and a hub in a year.

 

[Clutch]

Re: Clutch's Build Thread

Purchased a Rigid 50" E Series light bar

went back to my favorite fabrication company (Krfabs) and got a light mount made up. In case anyone was wondering, that logo on the bottom is for ground/earth. Clutch (the band) released a new album (called Earthrocker) a few months ago, and they use the earth symbol quite a bit. Plus it ties into the title of my build.

Everything off

OEM Lowbeams

Just the lightbar

Lowbeams/Lightbar

 

[Clutch]

Re: Clutch's Build Thread

December 2011 - Bought Truck
February 2012 - Found Canada355.ca
March 2012 - Sold car, started driving truck

Mods List

March 2012 - Clutch Sticker
April 10th 2012 - Canyonero Sticker + 235/75/15 Wrangler Duratracs
May 2012 - Bushwacker flares + tow hooks
September 2012 - 31x10.50x15 Duratracs
July 2012 - Plastidipped front bumper
December 2012 - CAI
January 2013 - Switchbacks + HIDS + Shackles + Diffguard
February 2013 - Lift Kit/Billet Grille
April 2013 - 295/70/17 Toyos + Powder coated Bumpers + DRLs
June 2013 - 285/70/17 Duratracs + Jesters + SS Brake Lines + PIAAs
August 2013 - Header/Midpipe/Exhaust + 305/70/17 Dick Cepek Crushers
September 2013 - Red map Lights + 50" Rigid light bar

Not mentioned in the timeline.

Replaced the footwell/license plate lights with ebay LED's
Had the dual hi/low mod done.
The PIAA Xtreme White lowbeams burnt out after 9 months. Not a fan of HID warm up times, so I sold them to a Canadian member.
Replaced the 9005/9006 bulbs with Philips bulbs.
The rear shocks CST sells with the kit are too small. So I replaced them with RS5190.

 

[04z71rado]

Nicely done man. Btw who is kjjijij? Hahaha

[mobile]

 

[atxcoloradofan]

Awesome build

 

[Supermodulation]

Looks great! :salute:

 

[DocRockLBC]

NEver knew your truck was 2.8,, respect!

 

[un4giv3n]

Awesome build thread so far. Love that light bar

|mobile|

 

[moody1]

Nice build. Keep up the good work. :thumbup2:

 

[Czkrebbs]

Trucks came along way, n looks good. What's next?

 

[Clutch]

NEver knew your truck was 2.8,, respect!

3.5L. Would have bought and sold the truck for profit if it was a 2.8.

Trucks came along way, n looks good. What's next?

I was sitting on a 3" BL and 1.5" BL. Couldn't decide how high to go, so bought both. Ended up selling the 3" so probably going to install the 1.5" so I can clear 295/70/18 or 315/70/17 rubber. Buying some rims and probably drop in 4.10's before a tune.

Not much else to do besides that. Might ditch the AAL and just get some skyjacker leaf springs. It would bring my back end up another .5". That or just SOA and get a longer drivehsaft, but not sure yet. I know OTTP makes a full turbo kit for the 3.5L and sells it for a decent price. Not sure how a turbo setup would like mud holes though!

 

[Blue_Crew05]

Nicely done man. Btw who is kjjijij? Hahaha

[mobile]

It's a site like craigslist. Truck looks awesome Clutch.

 

[Racer X]

Nice shortened up version of your Canada355 thread Daniel..... :cheers: :thumbup:

 

[trailfiend]

Looks great, good work!

 

[ColoradoFamily]

Drooool!!!!!!!