PROJECT LOOKS. MUSCLE. LONGEVITY
PART FIVE: UPPING THE SUSPENSION
Part Five of our ongoing 2012 LML Duramax saga finally digs into to making this thing look better while offering a little more off-road versatility with a leveling kit, new shocks and some new hybrid all-terrain tires on matte-black 20-inch wheels. The factory 18-inch wheels had virtually brand-new Michelin tires on them, but this shimmering graycolored truck was lacking some serious style and it’s amazing how far the right wheel/tire combo can take a truck.
In the earlier parts of this build—see the last four issues of Diesel World for complete in-depth information—we took this higher-mileage used Silverado 2500HD from a bone-stock truck with a camper shell to what you see now. We’ve upgraded the intake and exhaust with a Jammer 2 kit from Edge Products and installed new tuning and an in-cab color monitor for better mileage, throttle response and power with the Edge Evolution CTS2. Part Two brought better airflow with a 3-inch high-flow intercooler tube from Deviant Race Parts, and we ditched the camper shell in exchange for a Bestop Ez-roll tonneau cover so we can hook up to a gooseneck trailer while still being able to protect stuff in the bed. In Part Three we installed the FASS Titanium 165gph fuel lift pump to help with fuel filtration and take some load off the factory CP4 injection pump. Last month was general maintenance time with a transmission service for the 6-speed Allison, swapping out the filters for new ones and adding a deeper transmission pan and a transfer case brace from Merchant Automotive. While the trans pan was off we also added a Shift Solenoid fooler from Deviant Race Parts to up the line pressure within the transmission so it could