First five weeks with my 06 Black/Silver beauty

[shiftz33]

I purchased my 06 Black/Silver two tone SSR on 10/24/06. It's been a blast getting my 05 SSR accessories installed on my 06 SSR. He's a list of some of the things I've been doing

• Met with Jim G and spent a very nice evening talking about SSRs
• Met several NorCal SSR owners in Old Sacramento - Nov 12 - had a blast
• Replaced stock drive shaft with MMC drive shaft
• Applied truck bed water leak fixes ahead of the big rains
• Adjusted the roof stops to eliminate nasty roof noises
• Installed "Mike in AZ" OEM replacement fan (from my 05)
• Installed a new set of StabiliSSR kits (front and rear)
• Installed the 7r99 Diablo Predator (91 Octane Tune)
• Checked other 06 SSRs for valve noise (yep they had it too)
• Jim G let me drive his 6 speed SSR - wow is all I can say!
• Installed my soft side saddle and rear cargo box (from my 05)
• Located a slight leak in the rear seal of the top roof section - fixed it with some silicone
• Adjusted the window tip-in amount to correct an occassional window / seal problem
• Found the rear axle lub filler plug a bit loose and leaking - fixed that and cleaned off the rear axle
• Ordered a new GM12-AUXV12 device for the Bose head unit to get my MP3 player hooked up again
• Installed a chrome pedal kit (thank you Frank!)
• Located a mens SSR watch and purchased one
• Installed a new set of mud flaps like I had on my 05 SSR
• Installed the wheel locks from my 05 SSR
• Installed the flashing third brake light device from my 05 SSR
• Contacted AMI to see if I can get a chromed replacment bowtie for the front chevron bar (in progress - maybe ...)
• Installed my K&N air filter from my 05 SSR
• Missing like MAD the waterfall badge that I had to let go with my 05 SSR!
• Installed the WindsuppreSSR from my 05 SSR
• Applied my "thick felt" patch to the roof storage bay pad (on the bottom where it cuts a hole through it)
• Looking forward to the Laughlin NV gathering!
• Ordered the "Mike in AZ" radiator support bracket and automatic transmission cooler
• Installed the "Mike in AZ" air dam.
• Ordered two (2) replacement ignition switches (just in case)
• Sold the extra front chrome pieces from my 05 SSR
• Wrapped the passenger side roof cables that were hitting the lower roof section
• Installed wire wrap on driver side roof cables that were being caught (didn't have to do this on my previous SSRs)
• Installed the red top 75/35 optima battery from my 05 SSR
• Installed some "SSR" logo tire valve caps
• Located and installed two tailgate D-rings that I had to let go with the 05 SSR.
• Installed the LST replacement hood and cargo lid struts from my 05 SSR.

I guess I've been a bit busy over the last five weeks, but it's been fun too!

[Alex05SSR]

shiftz33:

WOW! That's quite a list, and you have been very busy for just 5 weeks. Great, isn't it? Once you get started, it's very difficult to stop. But then, who wants to stop all this fun? Surely, not me!

Alex

[Alex05SSR]

shiftz33:

Speaking of the chrome bowties, I've got an extra set of front and rear bowties that are at C.V. Vacuum Platers right now, along with an extra set of satin seat back hoops all to be bright chrome plated. I'll post photos when I get them back.

Alex

[shiftz33]

I called AMI earlier this week. AMI is located about 10 miles from my home. I spoke with one of the guys from the manufacturing side. I drove over to see if they had any Chevy bow tie that could be used to replace the stock gold bow ties.

None exactly fit, but my contact was willing to see if he could make one for me (as a side project). I left my "extra" front bow tie emblem (the one with the rock chip in it) for a template.

AMI lost the right to continue to make billet chevy bow ties because GM did not renew the license to allow them to continue to be made (non gold bow ties).

I'll post a photo if I can get one from my friendly AMI contact!

Robert

[XSELER8]

You did a lot nice things to your 2 tone. Enjoy & keep enjoying.

[hdflstf]

I curious. Jim G has an early SSR with auto trans not a stick. Who's stick shift SSR did you really drive?????

[RUN ROD RUN]

I curious to know why you gave up the 05 for the 06. Am I missing an earlier story from you about this.

[shiftz33]

Originally Posted by hdflstf

I curious. Jim G has an early SSR with auto trans not a stick. Who's stick shift SSR did you really drive?????

hdflstf,

I did drive Jim G's SSR, not JimGnitecki's SSR. A lot of people refer to JimGnitecki as JimG but that's not the same person as "Jim G" on this board.

"Jim G" is a nice gentlemen from Sacramento, CA that has a black 05 SSR 6 speed that I was lucky enough to drive. I've never had the pleasure of meeting JimGnitecki yet.

[Ricochet]

Did you buy this 06 new? Thats an awful lot of "fixes" needed...

[shiftz33]

Originally Posted by 89 Rod

I curious to know why you gave up the 05 for the 06. Am I missing an earlier story from you about this.

My 05 SSR was a single color (of course it's an 05) Silver SSR. It was one of the "few" LS2's with a nasty case of cold engine piston slap. GM would NOT fix this and it was very annoying (to me).

I tried to get a black/silver two tone (Allstate 400 pace trucks) back in Aug 2005, but they were too far away to justify the travel (to me) at the time.

By getting this 06 SSR I obtained the following things (made it worth it to me)

• Factory two tone paint scheme that I originally wanted
• No cold engine piston slap with this LS2 (although a slight case of warm engine valve train noise in this one - and three others on the lot as well)
• Full chrome package (inside and out)
• The 05 was smooth driving but this 06 is EXTERMELY smooth driving
• Did I mention the factory two tone paint scheme
• A whole 5 extra HP 395 vs 390

The cost of getting a two tone paint scheme on my 05 and the issues that might come out of the top being disassembled to paint the top portion black would have been less costly, but in the end the LS2 piston slap in my 05 would still have been present.

[shiftz33]

Originally Posted by Ricochet

Did you buy this 06 new? Thats an awful lot of "fixes" needed...

Yes it was "new". It was a GM special event vehicle with 2400 miles on the odometer.

Most all of the changes mentioned were the exact same things I had done to my 05 SSR except for the window "tip-in" and rear end leak. My 05 SSR had two different engine oil leaks that this 06 does not have.

The day I purchased the 06 and traded in my 05, I had to have a VERY quick de-install session for all of the options installed on my 05 to return it to "stock" condition. (front chrome, Mike's OEM fan, Mike's Aux fan, Windsuppressr, MMC drive shaft, Diablo Predator tune, webelectric flashing third brake light, soft side saddle bags, soft sided cargo box, K&N air filter, red top optima battery).

Each SSR has its own personality. This 06 had a couple of minor issues that I've been able to resolve myself. Most of the "fixes" where simply reinstallation of aftermarket items from my 05 SSR and working around some of the issues SSRs have in general that I had addressed with my 05 SSR.

[hdflstf]

Originally Posted by shiftz33

hdflstf,

I did drive Jim G's SSR, not JimGnitecki's SSR. A lot of people refer to JimGnitecki as JimG but that's not the same person as "Jim G" on this board.

"Jim G" is a nice gentlemen from Sacramento, CA that has a black 05 SSR 6 speed that I was lucky enough to drive. I've never had the pleasure of meeting JimGnitecki yet.

Got it.. Jim G not Jim G.

[TLC5 in CT]

Where did you purchase the mud flaps? Were they manufactured specifically for SSRs?

Thanks.

Tom

[shiftz33]

Originally Posted by clarytlc5@cox.n

Where did you purchase the mud flaps? Were they manufactured specifically for SSRs?

Thanks.

Tom

The mud flaps are generic flat mud flaps that I noted in this posting

[TLC5 in CT]

Thanks for info on mud flaps. Can you enlighten me on the "Diablo Predator Tune" addition relative to: it's function, price, and where to purchase if I decide I want it.
Thanks again.

[shiftz33]

Originally Posted by clarytlc5@cox.n

Thanks for info on mud flaps. Can you enlighten me on the "Diablo Predator Tune" addition relative to: it's function, price, and where to purchase if I decide I want it.
Thanks again.

I wanted something to drop the radiator fan on temps a bit, and the Diablo Predator (U7191 for the 05/06 SSR) has tunes "Diable Tune (93 Octane)" and "91 Octane Tune " with the fan on temps already reduced. The interface to select the on/off temps is a bit confusing, but the predefined Diablo temps seem fine to me. I do also seem to get a bit smoother idle and better off the line power.

I purchased mine from concoursdirect.com for around $320 shipped. They usually have instant coupons to reduce their price $399.99 to 319.99 with free shipping.

I've been running the 7r99 tune file since I had a small issue with 8r01 producing a check engine light on my 05 SSR. Others have reported some success with the 8r01 through 8r05 tunes but I believe that 7r99 has the same basic tune files in place as the later crom files from Diablo.

If you search on Diablo or Predator you should see several discussions of this device.

[TLC5 in CT]

Thanks much for the info provided above.
Tom

[shiftz33]

On Friday 12/8/06, my SSR will be one year old.

I've also completed the GM12-AUXV2 installation (without taking the dash out) this week as well.

[SSTINKR]

Originally Posted by shiftz33

I purchased my 06 Black/Silver two tone SSR on 10/24/06. It's been a blast getting my 05 SSR accessories installed on my 06 SSR. He's a list of some of the things I've been doing

• Wrapped the passenger side roof cables that were hitting the lower roof section

I guess I've been a bit busy over the last five weeks, but it's been fun too!

Sounds like I might have the same problem. Did you have a slight rubbing on the lower roof section? What did you use to wrap the cable?

[shiftz33]

Originally Posted by SSTINKR

Sounds like I might have the same problem. Did you have a slight rubbing on the lower roof section? What did you use to wrap the cable?

I wrapped my passenger side cable in a soft sock like material. My 03 and 05 SSRs did not hit the roof like this one does. It seems to be how the bend in the cables flex while the roof storage bay tonneau cover is returned to its closed position. This SSR is also the only one I had to wrap the driver's side tonneau cover cables in the plastic wire wrap to avoid one or both of the small cables being caught under the side shield (below the small rubber stopper - thanks 'Mike in AZ' for that tip back in Kingsburg).

[shiftz33]

A couple of snap shots of my 1 year old SSR (production birthday on 12/8).