Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Here is a quick writeup on my Daily Driver. I chose the name “Daddy Blue” because my little boy calls it that. I am the second owner of this and really seemed to luck out winning it on a Purple Wave auction back in May. I had been searching out a clean Arrival Blue (03-04 only) Crew cab diesel. These first shots are from the auction and site unseen in person.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Won the auction and my father and I road tripped out to Colorado to pick up the truck. I was glad to see that there was zero rust in the rockers nor the bed. Only modifications on the drivetrain appear to be a lift pump, which was great on the LB7. Injectors have been replaced twice in its life. Drove it back and it never missed a beat.
Got it home and started making it mine.
First, started with removing the wood in the bed and the toolbox. Followed by replacing the mirrors with some updated tow mirrors.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Up next, a 2015 & up 2500hd rear step bumper

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Played with some new-to-me Mickey Thompson/Alcoa Challenger wheels and swapping the hood for the 2005 & up HD hood and grill. I prefer the 2001-2002 HD front clip and will eventually swap out for it.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Removed the factory body trim from the doors.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Next, I tracked down a lightly used Rancho 4” lift that I was able to keep cranked down to keep my cv angles straight. Also, added a 01 & up 3500 under tailgate light.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Ordered 295/75/16 Cooper AT3 XLT’s. Just a little larger then the normal 285/75/16. I chose these because of their reviews in rain, snow, etc. plus towing. These tires are aggressive looking, but are quiet.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Took some time and body-worked and color matched my 05-07 hood. Also, figured I’d show a picture of my future little helper.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Added some Iboard running boards. Seem to be great quality and required no drilling. I also found a cheap steering wheel off Amazon. I dyed it Cocoa brown and plan on refinishing the Escalade interior parts to match.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Very nice, I just got a 2004 2500 LB7. Mine's 2wd, It's going down on 5-star 20's. Gonna be a boat tugger. Already have the grille to change mine to a 2006.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Beautiful truck!
Love all the changes.
There’s no way I could switch that front end out for the 01-02 HD front clip.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Thanks guys, still slowly collecting good parts for the 01-02 front swap. I just prefer that front end. I think the hood reminds me so much of the 69-72 hoods is why.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Looks great!
I have found some winners on Purple Wave and Big Iron.

Greg

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Looks good.

Can I have the '05-'07 Hood and grille?

(I'm halfway serious).

I'll need some front fenders, and pickup box pretty soon too if you happen to come across some nice (rust free) ones.

K

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

I don't mean to hijack - but - was the rear bumper you removed pretty decent?

K

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Cloth seats are nice. Hate the 04 grill. Like the 01 HD! Excellent.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Hey Keith, yes, it was relatively straight, and clean rust wise. I wound up giving it to one of my coworkers for his beater truck.
Trevor

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Yep, not a fan of the 03-04 grill and hood. I stripped the flaking chrome off the 01-02 HD grill and color matched the center bar. Thinking about color matching the front 01-02 bumper Blue as well like the Denali/High Country.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Let me know if you wanna lose the hood, I go right by there in January headed for the Devlin show. Building up parts for the Spring Spray-In!

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Low Elco, will do. Need to get all my pieces rounded up and painted first.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

love it, I had an 03 that I owned for 10 years. Sold it last year as it was time for it's second set of injectors and I didn't need a diesel anymore. I did most of what you did, I did pop the tailgate emblems off and the 2500HD and just left the d-max badge, cleans it up and looks clean and subtle. Blacked out stock tails and cab roof lights were sweet to. My painter hit em with clear that he dropped a little bit of black in, still could see the light come through easily but looked more aggressive all black.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

That's a great looking truck.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Great looking truck and your cute paint color matched helper,lol !!!

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

New gauges, went with a Carbon Fiber Escalade style with red needles and white LED’s.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

New headlights, and added stainless window trim like the newer high end models.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Still playing around with the exterior. Added traction bars, some new trim and emblems. Also slowly getting the interior ideas flowing.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Added GM bed rail covers. Previous owner had drilled a couple holes in the rails.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Spent a Saturday a couple weeks back in northern Missouri pulling Escalade Platinum seats and interior wiring& BCM . I am going to try to get the heated/cooled seats and cooled cup holders working, and get the seats redone.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

From bringing it home May 2021, until around the 4th of July 2022.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Nice, I did the hood/grille swap on my 04 looks so much better

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Truck looks great. I think they called that color electron blue on the 2000 Corvette. I'm curious about the M/T Alcoa wheels. I've seen some old M/T wheels that look like that but nothing current. And the Alcoas all seem to be for big trucks.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

The Mickey Thompson Challenger wheels that are on the truck were discontinued in the early 2000’s. It was a short partnership with Alcoa to produce these along with the traditional bullet hole wheels. The 8 lug version is less common, and was only made in 16x7 and 16x8.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Finally got all my wiring dissected and ran for the interior. Switched my tan interior out for the Very Dark Pewter. Also switched the dashboard for an Escalade dashboard and dyed it to match. Lastly, got my heated/cooled seats (front & rear), heated/cooled cupholders, and Katzkins installed. Went with the newer Denali Ultimates for the interior inspiration. Still waiting on my Console lid to get reupholstered.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Dang....that looks freaking great!!!

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Finally got my 2002 Escalade console lid upholstered and put back together. I went with the 2002 version because of the locking feature and the hidden compartment. I added an Amazon charge pad that fits that spot well.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

That came out nice.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Thanks, it seems to work good and free up clutter.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Stylin!
Looks great.

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Wow I've never thought about working/customizing on my 02 2500hd but wow yours looks so much better and cleaner with those upgrades. Nice work

Re: Daddy Blue - 2003 2500HD
 

Thanks fellas!