2004 6.0 NV4500 Tahoe

[Dantheman1540]

Alright, I figured I should make a little thread on here since there seems to be a lot of activity on this forum. This build isn't all about performance it's a little bit of everything.

Went and bought a 2004 2wd 6.0 NV4500 5 speed manual transmission Tahoe out in the great state of Texas in Aug 2019. The owner was a respectable member of another forum and when he posted it for sale I jumped on it right away. My other truck has an NV4500 which I have had for several years and in and out multiple times so I already knew I really liked the NV4500 and getting a Tahoe already swapped saved me a lot of work

EDIT: Turns out the previous owner was a member here as well https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/04-tahoe-6-0-nv4500-2wd.113658/

Mileage
233,*** - 8/20/2019 When Purchased
239,324 - 2/14/2020
260,000 - 1/6/2021
277,640 - 1/11/2022
280,525 - 5/14/2022
Front suspension/Brakes:
-Atomic fab & perf Coilover swap/torsion bar delete
-Viking double adjustable shocks with 1,000lb springs
-Kryptonite Tierods
-Hellwig 7702 sway bar
-OEM replacement idler arm, idler bracket, and pitman arm
-Both Front Wheel Bearings #(Timkin SP500300)
-Poly Front end link bushings
-KYB Steering stabilizer
-2021 Tahoe 4 piston brake swap

Rear suspension/axle:
-2011 AXN 9.5 Semi Floater 14 bolt axle (Out of 2wd 6.2 Yukon Denali with 132k) Swapped in Spring 2020.
-3.42 gears
-1410 forged yoke
-G80 OEM locker
-Eibach 3' drop springs
-Viking Warrior series shocks with shock extenders
-Airlift rear bags
-Free travel mod
-Hellwig rear sway bar and end links
-PML slim diff cover
-Spohn rear LCAs
-QA1 Panhard


Engine:
-Refreshed LQ4
-Cam is a TSP 224/228 113lsa .600/.600 lift
-Wilkes ported 243 heads with Stainless 2" valves
-CHE rocker arm trunion upgrade
-Dual comp cam valve springs
-AEM Wideband AFR and tuned VIA HP Tuners by me
-Arp Head bolts
-Upgraded timing chain (Can't remember the name lol)
-LS3 Throttle body with X link adapter
-NNBS Intake
-AFE Cold air intake
-Long Tube headers
-Lots of mufflers but also an electric cutout

​

Transmission:
-Rebuilt GM NV4500
-Hurst Short Throw Shifter (handle length part#:0295)
-Clutch master rod extension (Custom made by me)
-LUK OEM replacement clutch

Exterior mods:
-Paint correction
-Morimoto HID retrofit headlights
-Paint matched handles
-HD front end swap
-Rare style rear hatch glass
-Trailer connector relocated to bumper
-Esky roof rack
-Esky rear appliques
-Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro amber fog lights
-Z71 Valence (Black)
-275/60/20 2021 GMC Wheels


Other random things:
-Full fluid change
-Full interior de-funkify
-Knock sensors replaced as well as Valve covers because one was cracked and leaking.
-Weathertech mats everywhere
-Kenwood8906x Head unit
-JL Audio C3 door speakers
-Custom sub enclosure with JL12"W3
-JL RD900/5 powering the system
-Back up and dash camera
-Full sound deadening on doors, floors, and rear hatch
-5% tint all around
-4hi mod

Probably more I'm forgetting.

The next parts will be:

-Pull one decent-sized dent
-BOOST!

The overall goal is to have a good daily driver that I can hook up a car hauler and tow my "Race truck" or any other reasonable load of crap and also have a little fun toying with other trucks and SUVs from light to light.


Here's a crappy little video walk around from when I first got it.

And some pics

View attachment 268402

 

[Dantheman1540]

It was time for a little maintenance tonight and since my shop is currently full I had to do it in one of my barns.

Changed oil over to some thick stuff since the rear main leaks a bit. Drain plug looked normal and I cut open the filter which looked clean as a whistle. I think it's been 5 or 6k since the last oil change and around 8 or 9k since I did the filter when I first bought it.

Also added some tow hooks I picked up used.

 

[ivin74]

How many mpgs do you get on the freeway? Since it's a 5spd, I would think you get more than automatics.

 

[Dantheman1540]

How many mpgs do you get on the freeway? Since it's a 5spd, I would think you get more than automatics.

The one long trip I did I got mid 18s 2 of the three tanks and a low 19 on the other. That was going 75-80mph. With lighter wheels I think it would do better. Also that trip it had some unbalanced Bridgestone tires that rode terrible going faster helped smooth it out.

Just filled up today had gone 198 miles and put 11.4 gallons in it which is 17.3mpg that was mostly city driving. Best I've gotten in awhile and I always hand calculate cause I'm weird.

 

[iamdub]

I remember when this was posted for sale. Glad to see it's back on the forum! Your MPGs are pretty much inline, if not slightly better, than what the 4L60 should've gotten. The extra rolling resistance of them 285s accounts for a little loss.

 

[OR VietVet]

Wix filters=Good. I use the AC Delco on mine but would never hesitate with a Wix filter. I used them on my Harley's too.

 

[Dantheman1540]

I remember when this was posted for sale. Glad to see it's back on the forum! Your MPGs are pretty much inline, if not slightly better, than what the 4L60 should've gotten. The extra rolling resistance of them 285s accounts for a little loss.

Yeah next set of tires if I keep the LTZ20s I will stick with 265s in the front as the 285s rub ever so slightly at full lock. I could also work on getting lean cruise dialed in on the tune to squeeze another mpg or 2 out of it. But I'm not to bothered by it. My other truck gets 10mpg downhill in neutral with a tail wind so 15s is nice lol.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Wix filters=Good. I use the AC Delco on mine but would never hesitate with a Wix filter. I used them on my Harley's too.

I found a 12 pack of the longer Wix filters super cheap on Amazon one day so I ordered 24 of them lol.

Also Axekick the previous owner was a super standup honest guy. I asked him a ton of questions about it, flew into Austin TX he picked me up in it made the deal and off I went. I think hes building jeeps now.

 

[OR VietVet]

Lots of Jeep builds here in Oregon with the off road crowd. Have helped on some but they don't drink beer as fast as I do, so I get bored easily. They talk about the Dana 44 axles too much. Their eyes cloud over when I talk about a Dana 60 and a GM 14 bolt full float. Go big or go home.

 

[OR VietVet]

Is that the tall Wix filter 51522XP for the 5.3?