The Truck GM should have Built

[99 B-VADA]

Hey guys i recently inherited my mothers beloved 99 Bravada. i love the car. its the car i learned to drive in and i like it a lot more than my dad's 02 Bravada. my goal with this truck is to build the Luxury SUV that should have been built. the closest they came was the envoy. with its great looking front end and the Xenon lights. i feel that is the best looking of the s-10 family. so my plan is to do

• intake exhaust
• envoy front clip
• new brakes
• rear adapters to spread the rear wheels to make it look right

and i am open to suggestion. What mods have you guys made that have been your favorite. let me emphasize that i do not wish to make this a lifted truck. or a slammed truck for that matter. i am open to all suggestions from the small to the large. can't wati to hear back.

[juddspaintballs]

if you want a quiet but kinda meaner sounding exhaust go with a dynomax superturbo exhaust.

does the bravada have a floor or column shifter on it? if its a column shifter then you can modify it to make a floor shifter like the luxury SUV's usually are.

[99 B-VADA]

i am fortunate enough to have a floor shifter. and a dyno max you say... I'll look into it. i sorta just assumed flowmaster

[4.3Xtreme]

Spintech sounds great!

But go for it!
Sounds like a great idea!

[SuperSS27]

magnaflows have a really nice rumble to them, but are very tame when just cruising.

[juddspaintballs]

flowmaster or any of the louder exhausts are gonna ruin your "luxury" feel by the resonating inside the cabin.

here's a clip of the dynomax on my Jimmy. ignore the helicopter at the end

http://people.cedarville.edu/Student...superturbo.mp3

[99 B-VADA]

i like the sound of that!! what sort of power can i expect? i have heard that these trucks are choked fromt the factory

[4.3Xtreme]

Don't expect hardly any performance at all from only an exhuast, it's pretty much there only for sound purposes.

[99 B-VADA]

ok i have been reading around and have come to the acutalization that my 4.3 will never be fast. but im all for it sounding bad ass and getting better gas milage. from what iv'e heard is that the best way to bost MPG is electric fan and pulley kit

[juddspaintballs]

you won't get much power out of it at all. possibly a slight increase in mileage though. its more for the sound and when combined with other engine upgrades you'll need the exhaust anyways

[99 B-VADA]

no more suggestions? what do you feel the Bravada is missing from the factory

[blizazer]

Quote: Originally Posted by 99 B-VADA

no more suggestions? what do you feel the Bravada is missing from the factory

Boost.

[DfntPntbll]

Quote: Originally Posted by 99 B-VADA

no more suggestions? what do you feel the Bravada is missing from the factory

an LS1? Crate 350?

[White&Crazy]

does it have lether? power seats? auto-tinting rear view mirror? Nav system? o maybe a nice analog clock in the dash if u want to go custom, suade headliner? Two tone interior? Ican go on and on, pm me if u want to dicuss, or hit me up on aim yenkoch3v3ll3

[Superpoo]

funny that you mention auto-tinting mirrors W&C. i just realizeed that my 99 s-series trailblazer has them. and all this time i thought i was going a little nutty. so i have pretty much the same ride as you 99 B. so far i've put a volant cool air intake on and the dynomax exahust should be on by the end of the weekend. same system paintball suggested to me. anyhoo, i was thinking of going to\he electric fan route as well. if you go with that mod before me please let me know how it works out. other future plans are just headers y-pipe and high flow cat. i'm just trying to get a small amount more power and more MPGs. i'm also probably gonna score a new tune from pcmforless. hope i can be of some help in the future.

Superpoo

[99 B-VADA]

ok im also thinking of lowering it a bit. i assume the setups for the s-10s are the same as the Bravadas jimmys and blazers. i might be delving into something that has never been attempted and i may be a fool to do so. but i would like my bravada to.... (drum roll) handle well!! what do you guys think??

[juddspaintballs]

depending on the years and several other factors, the setups for lowering are NOT the same

[99 B-VADA]

could you point me in the right direction?

[Blacknoma]

a lowering kit for a 99 4dr jimmy or blazer will fit.

[devilman13xx]

arent the bravs AWD?

[Blacknoma]

belltech 3/3 lowering kit

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

Quote: Originally Posted by devilman13xx

arent the bravs AWD?

oh i didn't realize this. i'm not sure if they are or not. if they are awd then that kit wont work

[Dan Plante]

It is the same as dropping a 4x4. You just need blocks in the back and then you just need new keys in the front to lower it or you can turn your factory torsion keys and that will lower it some.

[99 B-VADA]

ok well i have taken the first step towards the car i want. i have stripped off the badges and that stupid little golden stripe all alone the car. i have also removed the roof rack cross bars which will have to do until i can find some time and unbolt the rest of the stuff. i will post pics of my car soon

[whitenomaon20s]

Quote: Originally Posted by 99 B-VADA

ok well i have taken the first step towards the car i want. i have stripped off the badges and that stupid little golden stripe all alone the car. i have also removed the roof rack cross bars which will have to do until i can find some time and unbolt the rest of the stuff. i will post pics of my car soon

take the time to unbolt? it should just be like 8 hex head screws. or at least thats how it was on the roof rack of my blazer i dunno why it would be any different on yours. get ready to do some good cleaning and waxing cause its going to be gross under there not to mention the nice outline it leaves in the clear coat.

[99 B-VADA]

before i glue the badge down lemme know what you think of putting it in the door jam. And yes it does fit i have tried it.

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7...0609nw9.th.jpg

[BudRacing]

That badge in the doorjam looks awesome. I wish the blazer emblems werent so ugly. Maybe I'll do a cool bowtie

[99 B-VADA]

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7931/img0609nw9.jpg

there is a full size image

[YellowJacket894]

Research the GMC Jimmy Diamond Edition.

That was the luxury SUV of the S-Series vehicles.

[99 B-VADA]

i think i saw a "diamond edition" jimmy and i didnt know what it was. and it is cool but the only thing that i would like is the interior stitching on the leather. but that is way out of my price range to have something like that done. thanks yellow jacket for the reminder. speaking of special edition jimmy's what can you guys tell me about the typhoon?

[YellowJacket894]

Buy some Diamond Edition seats.

Why not just plan a Olds to GMC conversion? Strip the truck of the Bravada-ship and turn it into a modified Envoy?

As for the Typhoon, I have to say that it was the truck I wanted to own as a kid. It was such a bad-assed truck.

I don't know if the Typhoon is applicable to a "luxury SUV" conversion as a benchmark. It was more performance oriented. (As a matter of fact, the pickup counterpart, the Syclone, is a target for my own project. More on that some other time, some other place.)

[99 B-VADA]

Well if you could see my driveway at home you would know that my truck will always say Oldsmobile. (my dad drives a 02 Bravada and my sister drives a Olds Silhouette and i drive the 99 Bravada, were sort of an oldsmobile family) GMC is GM's truck division Olds was the upscale division underneath Buick and Caddilac. and since caddilac or Buick never made a S-series truck the Bravada should have been the nicest one. i am simply trying to remedy GM's mistake

[YellowJacket894]

I know about the GM division structure, but that's beside the point.

You said earlier that you were planning to install an Envoy front clip. If you're still planning on that, I'd would just go full GMC with the truck.

The Bravada was the nicest SUV out of the S-Series trucks, but when GM decided to give Olds the boot, they focused more on GMC and giving it more upscale versions of the Jimmy/Envoy.

Anyhow, you should set down and outline a rough idea of what you want the end result of your Bravada project to be. You should also make a list of what parts you think you'll need. Then come back and post it and we can discuss that.

And, on second thought, the Typhoon would be a good benchmark for what kind of power you want your modified engine to make. The Typhoon had a Turbo 3.8 (or it could have been a 4.3) liter V6 engine and I think it produced around 280 horsepower.

[99 B-VADA]

yellowjacket that is much easier said than done. haha

so far what i have thought of

• 3/3 lowering torsion keys and blocks
• exhaust
• cai
• rims

those are the easy things
the other things are not so easy

• projector headlights with bi xenon HID
• DVD/GPS navigation
• leather dash
• and anything else that i see in a luxury car that i want

let me know if you have any additional ideas

[YellowJacket894]

Ooh. The leather dash sounds very nice. It may cost some big bucks, though.

Everything on that list sounds feasible...well, except for the headlights. For some reason, that sounds like it wouldn't work. But look into it anyway.

[scomp23]

The headlights can certainly be done

[kevdog]

Quote: Originally Posted by YellowJacket894

I know about the GM division structure, but that's beside the point.

You said earlier that you were planning to install an Envoy front clip. If you're still planning on that, I'd would just go full GMC with the truck.

The Bravada was the nicest SUV out of the S-Series trucks, but when GM decided to give Olds the boot, they focused more on GMC and giving it more upscale versions of the Jimmy/Envoy.

Anyhow, you should set down and outline a rough idea of what you want the end result of your Bravada project to be. You should also make a list of what parts you think you'll need. Then come back and post it and we can discuss that.

And, on second thought, the Typhoon would be a good benchmark for what kind of power you want your modified engine to make. The Typhoon had a Turbo 3.8 (or it could have been a 4.3) liter V6 engine and I think it produced around 280 horsepower.

It was the 4.3L turbo, not to mention that it was also AWD like the Bravada's are. Boost is your best friend when trying to get more HP out of a 4.3L V6, whether it be from a turbo or a supercharger kit. Best way to go, imo.

[99 B-VADA]

a good friend of mine did a projector retrofit on his scion TC. the only thing i need to fix is the little glass magnifiers on the inside of the headlight lense. because if you leave them in they create ultra bright points called hot spots. so i need to find a clear lense or a way to get rid of the magnifiers.

yea the leather dash is a little dream of mine ever since i sat in a porsche 911 at the detroit auto show and it had a leather dash. and big bucks i dont have so it will probably never happen but one can dream

[scomp23]

I've done several retrofits on a Blazer, and so has Jeremy on this forum. You can sand out a small section of the fluted headlamp lens to make it work.

[YellowJacket894]

Scomp, you have good taste in music (AIC).

Just felt like saying that.

[scomp23]

Quote: Originally Posted by YellowJacket894

Scomp, you have good taste in music (AIC).

Just felt like saying that.

Thanks my good man, you do too apparently haha

[Mr Bravada]

Quote: Originally Posted by 99 B-VADA

yellowjacket that is much easier said than done. haha

so far what i have thought of

• 3/3 lowering torsion keys and blocks
• exhaust
• cai
• rims

those are the easy things
the other things are not so easy

• projector headlights with bi xenon HID
• DVD/GPS navigation
• leather dash
• and anything else that i see in a luxury car that i want

let me know if you have any additional ideas

welcome to the luxury SUV market, the dynomax is what i am running currently along with an airraid intake, along with other minor engine mods....

i just finished putting in a large ported sub box thumpin' kinda hard,

the drop kit was easy, the stuff that fits the 4x4 s-platforms are what to look for.

Bi-xenons are gonna be tough especially if you wanna keep the 'vada front end, Envoy lights are an easy alternative that look great in the dark and day... i wanted projectors so i swapped to the s10 front, and i am currently working on another projector project, with purple lenses and no fresnels..... ( which = pimp)

the nav stuff should be pretty easy and straight forward, systems are easy too.... my box is about as big as you can go and still put the backseats up and have enough room for the port

if you have any questions or need part numbers let me know

[99 B-VADA]

hey Mr Bravada thanks for taking a look. your truck sort of inspired me to lower my vada.

i know projectors are going to be a huge pain in the neck but it would be tight if i could do it.

ok where are some places to look at rims besides tire rack and discount tire inc and the well known sites

[Mr Bravada]

Quote: Originally Posted by 99 B-VADA

hey Mr Bravada thanks for taking a look. your truck sort of inspired me to lower my vada.

i know projectors are going to be a huge pain in the neck but it would be tight if i could do it.

ok where are some places to look at rims besides tire rack and discount tire inc and the well known sites

see i got screwed by buying my tires and rims locally, since you are in the states it would be feasible for you to be spending less even with shipping. the projectors would be sweet if you can get them in there, if you go the bi-xenon route those things are huge, we don't have a lot of real estate back there to fit them in, however i could see it being done in the stock housings with single projectors, i would recomend the Envoy lights, but i can't see buying those lights at the price they are, and then cutting them to see if a projector would fit..... hense the dime front for me.

thanks for using me as an inspiration, i had one too, he was on blazinlow, lowered on 17" vette rims, i think the vette rims look great on our s-trucks when dropped a bit, i am technically lowered like 2-2.5" in the front and 3" blocks in the back. I ordered them from streetbeatcustoms.com and it came to right around $150 or so, pretty easy instal...just make sure that you get an ailignment when you're done, i didn't, and it cost me.......lol

as far as wheel shops online, pick up a truckin' or mini-truckin' and just look around at the ads i can post some up if you'd like

[99 B-VADA]

ok guys im wondering what is underneath the body cladding? is it still shapped or is it just smooth down to the door sill? i think it is shaped like the early blazers i think. any one who knows let me know

[Mr Bravada]

Quote: Originally Posted by 99 B-VADA

ok guys im wondering what is underneath the body cladding? is it still shapped or is it just smooth down to the door sill? i think it is shaped like the early blazers i think. any one who knows let me know

yea that cladding is a hot comodity on blazinlow, and every now and then on here, somepeople want it, i guess its like a blazer underneath.... i'm thinking about it for next summer.... but we'll see

[jtcfanof3]

Quote: Originally Posted by 99 B-VADA

i think i saw a "diamond edition" jimmy and i didnt know what it was. and it is cool but the only thing that i would like is the interior stitching on the leather. but that is way out of my price range to have something like that done. thanks yellow jacket for the reminder. speaking of special edition jimmy's what can you guys tell me about the typhoon?

Other then its lowered ride height,cladding and being AWD it was basically the same as a Jimmy,the interior is a diffrent story,diffrent cluster,awesome seats/door panels Etc...
The powertrain was a Turbod 4.3 with a 700R4 tranny that GM should have built too be ALOT more durable before putting the turbo on those trucks!!!

[442typhoondude]

I'm going to go on a rant about what GM should have done.

I think they should have made a 1998 Hurst Bravada spec'd out like so. (1998 being the 30 year anniversary of the Hurst Oldsmobiles.)

-Supercharged Oldsmobile Aurora motor making 425hp.
-4L80E transmission.
-Standard with an 8.5" posi rear with 3.73 gears.
-Upgraded suspension resulting in a 3.5" inch drop.
-Stainless dual exhaust.
-Corvette braking system.
-Custom leather wrapped Hurst T-handle shifter.
-Custom gauge cluster with 160mph speedo, and 20 psi boost gauge.
-Upgraded factory seats with perforated leather and extended side bolsters.
-Suncoast ram air hood with gold stripes on top and a Hurst logo on each side.
-18" five spoke two piece wheels custom made by Hurst.
-Z-rated Goodyear tires.
-Gold pinstriping down the side.
-Hurst Olds logos on the hood, front doors, and tail gate.

[White&Crazy]

all for the low low price of $60,000

But that would be hella sweet

[98 Envoy]

1+ for the dynomax exhaust .. i have that along with the K&n intake . Anyone have any thought on which TB spacer i should get to compliment it?or anything else for that matter im looking for some more power

[Mr Bravada]

Quote: Originally Posted by 98 Envoy

1+ for the dynomax exhaust .. i have that along with the K&n intake . Anyone have any thought on which TB spacer i should get to compliment it?or anything else for that matter im looking for some more power

TB spacer is a waste, use the money elsewhere: ignition, synthetic oils, etc.....

yea, the dynomax is a great sounding cat-back, i'm waiting for that knock off AEM intake to get back up on ebay.....