1996 Chevy Silverado Upgrades

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discobrob
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12:10p, 4/9/25
AG
Let me start by saying I'm not a 'car guy.' I don't know a lot about vehicles.

My son is turning 16 soon and has his great-grandfather's white Silverado. It's in very good condition and runs very well. For his birthday, he wants to do "something" to the truck. His idea was LED tail lights, but a friend told us that might not have the look he was going for on that truck model.

I wonder if this board has any recommendations. $200 or less 'upgrade' on a 1996 Chevy Silverado.
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04.arch.ag
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12:15p, 4/9/25
AG
For replacement tail lights on the older models make sure they are DOT approved as a lot of the Chinese junk is not and he could get harassed by cops. 20 year old me got pulled over multiple times in my 92 through out HS and college. Maybe that's changed in the past 20 or so years.
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txyaloo
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In reply to discobrob • 12:26p, 4/9/25
AG
discobrob said:
Let me start by saying I'm not a 'car guy.' I don't know a lot about vehicles.

My son is turning 16 soon and has his great-grandfather's white Silverado. It's in very good condition and runs very well. For his birthday, he wants to do "something" to the truck. His idea was LED tail lights, but a friend told us that might not have the look he was going for on that truck model.

I wonder if this board has any recommendations. $200 or less 'upgrade' on a 1996 Chevy Silverado.
There's a lot of aftermarket LED options available for those trucks. I'm a fan of OE+ type looks over some of the stuff that looks more aftermarket.

https://www.amazon.com/AmeriLite-1988-1999-Suburban-Replacement-Assembly/dp/B07TP526XJ

LED head lights if he's looking for a more "modern" look there:

https://www.amazon.com/MOVOTOR-Replacement-Anti-glare-Headlights-Compatible/dp/B0BMTM1GS3
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Silvy
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12:46p, 4/9/25
AG
There are a multitude of ways to improve it. It depends on what he wants and what it needs. It's a 30 year old truck, it has deficiencies. Figure out what the deficiencies are and then upgrade the deficient parts.

Nothing makes a clean truck look like **** quicker than aftermarket lamp assemblies. Others will ***** and moan, but LED or HID lamps in OE style headlight will improve visibility and not look riced out provided the color temperature of the bulbs does not exceed 6000K.
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Flaith
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1:45p, 4/9/25
AG
What Silvy said.

How about something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Chevrolet-Cadillac-Upgrade-Carplay-Android/dp/B0DFYYCYYX

I recently replaced the OEM head unit in my 2008 F150 with something similar, ran and wired in the backup camera, and it is a BIG difference. Carplay + backup camera with view of the hitch ball. Upgrade the stock paper speakers for Christmas, maybe an amp. He'll be blasting Pink Pony Club louder than any kid at school.
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discobrob
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1:48p, 4/9/25
AG
thought about doing speakers. any recommendations there?

And my boy loves 90's country. So his head is on straight!
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will.mcg
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2:08p, 4/9/25
AG
No truck pictures??
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Flaith
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In reply to discobrob • 2:16p, 4/9/25
AG
discobrob said:
thought about doing speakers. any recommendations there?

And my boy loves 90's country. So his head is on straight!
Good choice. Go to Crutchfield.com and go nuts spec'ing it out.

https://www.crutchfield.com/car/carselector.aspx?lp=%2fcar%2foutfitmycar%2fmycar.aspx

Kicker always seems to be highly recommended, but I'm sure some audiophiles will be along soon to correct my assumption.
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Silvy
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In reply to discobrob • 2:26p, 4/9/25
AG
discobrob said:
thought about doing speakers. any recommendations there?

And my boy loves 90's country. So his head is on straight!

I'd do head unit before speakers if it doesn't already have an aftermarket HU.

For speakers, only do the door speakers (6.5"). The speakers in back are a PITA and require a lot of disassembly. Given how old the plastic is, it will break and you'll just introduce rattles. As mentioned above, Crutchfield for audio stuff.
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Tumble Weed
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In reply to discobrob • 2:26p, 4/9/25
discobrob said:
thought about doing speakers. any recommendations there?

And my boy loves 90's country. So his head is on straight!
A good stereo system is always step number 1.
I like 6x9 s powered with a good amp.

Tint is step 2.

Loud exhaust step 3.

Truck nuts finish out the ensemble with a touch of class.
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Silvy
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In reply to Tumble Weed • 2:36p, 4/9/25
AG
I'll disagree with 6x9's (cutting up the interior), but tint, exhaust, and diy truck nutz are logical next steps
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The Wonderer
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2:39p, 4/9/25
AG
Everything Flaith and Silvy have said.
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P.H. Dexippus
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3:28p, 4/9/25
AG
It's not sexy, but performing some of the 100k or 150k service interval work would probably be more helpful in the long run.

But that's the 43yo me talking, not the 16yo me who spent my lawn mowing money on upgrading my '95 single cab F-150's head unit and speakers to JVC and Sony. Dad bought me a Bazooka bass tube. https://a.co/d/2jbWTNf
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Gigem_94
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3:40p, 4/9/25
AG
Definitely add the backup cameras. Biggest regret I have is not adding those to my 2 older sons' vehicles esp the the truck bc he can't see small cars. Boy did I pay for that mistake.
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Tumble Weed
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In reply to Silvy • 4:17p, 4/9/25
Silvy said:
I'll disagree with 6x9's (cutting up the interior), but tint, exhaust, and diy truck nutz are logical next steps
You can put 6x9 s in boxes. I didn't cut anything.
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discobrob
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4:29p, 4/9/25
AG




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The Wonderer
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In reply to discobrob • 4:58p, 4/9/25
AG
discobrob said:

Here are some pictures of his truck. We've had it serviced and it runs really well.











Host them on Imgur and then copy/paste them here.
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Silvy
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5:24p, 4/9/25
AG
It looks pretty good. I presume 2wd? If so, lift spindles are relatively cheap (still over $200) and not terribly hard to install. Would make for a good father/son project.

For the tail lights, they could be restored pretty well with some sanding (fine grit) and then buffing with a drill/foam pad & something like Meguiars Ultimate Compound.
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Jbob04
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In reply to discobrob • 5:27p, 4/9/25
AG
Nice! One of my farm trucks is the same exact year and model. 245k miles and still running strong.
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a07nathanb
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8:42p, 4/9/25
AG
For less than $200 you can get a harbor freight sawzall and blades to cut the muffler off
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George08
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9:09p, 4/9/25
AG
I think switching to led may throw some problems because the truck will think the lights are burned out
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George08
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9:10p, 4/9/25
AG
Window tint on the front 2 windows would be a great upgrade in his budget
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EskimoJoe
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In reply to George08 • 9:35p, 4/9/25
George08 said:
I think switching to led may throw some problems because the truck will think the lights are burned out


an electronic flasher will solve that. some led units have resistors built in so you don't get the quick flash.
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f2foxes2001
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9:46p, 4/9/25
AG
Nice truck. Ran 305,xxx miles on a '96 1500 with the 350. Save your money for alternators and fuel pumps. Both were notorious gremlins I dealt with. Don't run them low on fuel as well. If I was going to be frivolous, I'd do dual exhaust and dump it right behind the cab.
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JP76
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In reply to a07nathanb • 10:26p, 4/9/25
a07nathanb said:
For less than $200 you can get a harbor freight sawzall and blades to cut the muffler off


If this is a 350 v8 it already has 2 converters and is dual exhaust that runs into 1 muffler and then one tail pipe.

You can cut the pipes before the factory muffler and convert it to true dual exhaust and it makes a pretty good mod hp wise. I used to do this by ordering 2 flowmaster part number 42541 mufflers.

https://www.amazon.com/Flowmaster-42541-40-Muffler-Aggressive/dp/B01LRJ0Q2E/ref=asc_df_B01LRJ0Q2E?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80058382139991&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=m&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583657852753540&psc=1


Cut it just before the muffler with a sawzall. These mufflers will bolt straight on to those 2 pipes and you can add 2 turn downs with out any welding by just using muffler clamps.
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will.mcg
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In reply to discobrob • 6:25a, 4/10/25
AG
Nice looking truck! Wheels & tires when the boy strikes it rich after laboring all summer in the rice fields or whatever.

I had a baby blue 89 with the 350. I put an "aeroturbine" muffler on it & let it scream everywhere I went. Terribly annoying on the highway but it was a lot of fun everywhere else!
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Tumble Weed
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8:18a, 4/10/25
Removing the Bush Cheney sticker will be a huge upgrade
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discobrob
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In reply to Tumble Weed • 8:38a, 4/10/25
AG
Ha! There are some great things about this truck because it belonged to my grandfather. He passed a few years ago snd there will never be another man like him.
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Tumble Weed
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In reply to discobrob • 9:09a, 4/10/25
discobrob said:
Ha! There are some great things about this truck because it belonged to my grandfather. He passed a few years ago snd there will be another man like him.
It is an extremely clean ride.

After seeing the pics, I would add tint and then polish the taillights with a Meguires product. Not many survivors out there in that condition.
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discobrob
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8:04p, 4/10/25
AG
I think he decided on window tint. Thanks guys!
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