2004 6.0 NV4500 Tahoe

[Dantheman1540]

this reminds me...i put passengerside coils back on the valvecover, and only put in and hand tightened 2 bolts for the entire bracket

I only put 3 of the bracket to valve cover bolts in, I think there are spots for like 7 or 8 and that's just unnecessary and weighs the truck down.

 

[randeez]

bingo, also i drove it to work..so if i pop the hood and theyre gone - then i worry about it the whole way home because i know theyre gone. if i dont - then i just have to try and remember to check it when i get home

 

[Dantheman1540]

Well lost to my buddies 408 denali by a truck length or 2 from a roll in second gear. It used to be neck and neck but his 408 is a new monster with the proper sized cam and the tune figured out. Then to add Insult to injury I pulled my slow POS in the shop and decided to investigate the awful front end creaking its had since I got it. Pretty sure it's just all the steering components except the tierods which are kryptonite but it's hard to tell nothing is 100% shot, it's all just old and sounds like a haunted mansion stair case. (No joke I had flight crew right that exact description up on a plane before)

Anyway noticed the front driver wheel bearing has a ton of play so now its grounded until the Timkin bearing arrives Wednesday. With my silverado cut up and my Tacoma in the shop that means I get to drive the gold car that's supposed to be a quick flip. It actually runs great but I'll be rolling dirty with no tag or title because it's an electronic title and the dmv has been booked until this coming Thursday. Guess I'll cross my fingers and show some cleavage

 

[Tonyrodz]

Well lost to my buddies 408 denali by a truck length or 2 from a roll in second gear. It used to be neck and neck but his 408 is a new monster with the proper sized cam and the tune figured out. Then to add Insult to injury I pulled my slow POS in the shop and decided to investigate the awful front end creaking its had since I got it. Pretty sure it's just all the steering components except the tierods which are kryptonite but it's hard to tell nothing is 100% shot, it's all just old and sounds like a haunted mansion stair case. (No joke I had flight crew right that exact description up on a plane before)

Anyway noticed the front driver wheel bearing has a ton of play so now its grounded until the Timkin bearing arrives Wednesday. With my silverado cut up and my Tacoma in the shop that means I get to drive the gold car that's supposed to be a quick flip. It actually runs great but I'll be rolling dirty with no tag or title because it's an electronic title and the dmv has been booked until this coming Thursday. Guess I'll cross my fingers and show some cleavage

Cleavage always gets them buddy

 

[Dantheman1540]

Started on the front end tonight despite the pitman arm not arriving yet. Got the wheel bearing off and wow it was gritty I'm glad I quit driving on it! Got the end links replaced even though they were decently new they were still rubber bushings compared to the new poly and were already pretty tore up, I may have over tightened them before. Also got the idler arm and bracket replaced which surprisingly they seemed to have no slop even though there's hardly a trace of the rubber boot or grease left. It appears everything was OEM from the factory which at 259k miles is impressive!


Oh and that OTC Pitman arm puller needed the teeth ground down as they we to close and wouldn't fit. After the chop job it did its job well and is ready for the new arm tomorrow!

 

[Dantheman1540]

Steering is all finished up as is the wheel bearing and fresh TR55 plugs to replace the random assortment of TR6s.

Steering feels a little tighter I wouldn't say its night and day but it was never really "bad" before. Only thing I don't like is I got a AC Delco professional grade pitman arm and it seems considerably smaller than what was on there which I'm 99.9% sure was stock however, I do like the better quality blue boot.

Plugs were a little oily but I don't remember if I ever got them real clean when I installed them with the new heads.

Anyway happy to have my girl back on the road. Got all the coilover measurements I should need while it was apart too.


P.S. to myself in the future this was done at 258,997 miles.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Steering is all finished up as is the wheel bearing and fresh TR55 plugs to replace the random assortment of TR6s.

Steering feels a little tighter I wouldn't say its night and day but it was never really "bad" before. Only thing I don't like is I got a AC Delco professional grade pitman arm and it seems considerably smaller than what was on there which I'm 99.9% sure was stock however, I do like the better quality blue boot.

Plugs were a little oily but I don't remember if I ever got them real clean when I installed them with the new heads.

Anyway happy to have my girl back on the road. Got all the coilover measurements I should need while it was apart too.


P.S. to myself in the future this was done at 258,997 miles.
View attachment 264595 View attachment 264596 View attachment 264597 View attachment 264598

Wow, old pitman was real beefy.

 

[randeez]

i like my pitman arms girthy

 

[Dantheman1540]

Wow, old pitman was real beefy.

i like my pitman arms girthy

Yeah Kinda wish the new one was equally girthy but it seems stout enough.

I hope the groning and moaning sound during parking lot maneuvering is gone.

 

[iamdub]

Only thing I don't like is I got a AC Delco professional grade pitman arm and it seems considerably smaller than what was on there which I'm 99.9% sure was stock however, I do like the better quality blue boot.

AC Delco "Professional" is aftermarket. In my experience, it's a "good" aftermarket, and oftentimes is just reboxed Moog for their suspension items. That blue boot look familiar? (Moog Problem Solver)

AC Delco "Original" is what is on there from the factory and is usually the most expensive, but is reliable. AC Delco "Professional" is an acceptable aftermarket aimed at a quality part for a lower price than Original. "Advantage" is aftermarket that caters to low price and sometimes quality be damned.