2004 6.0 NV4500 Tahoe

[Rocket Man]

Instead of messing with stuff like the starter I decided to chop up the rear bumper and build something. Not done, still need to incorporate a receiver, build angled caps for the bottom piece to tie into the top tube, and reinforce the factory mounts somehow. This is what I have so far, not welding it at home this 4x4 is atleast 1/4” wall so I’ll prep everything really good at home and take it to class to burn in with a big boy welder and free gas lol.

What was wrong with the original pos that you needed to build a new pos?

 

[Dantheman1540]

What was wrong with the original pos that you needed to build a new pos?

It had saggy butt syndrome due to the body lift, and there’s no receiver. Plus I’m pretty sure somebody tried to ****** it out of the mud from the ball mounted to the bumper because it was out of wack.

 

[Dantheman1540]

This POS Tahoe finally for the first time ever, left me stranded to where I had to phone a friend. Of course I was on my way to work, I dropped the trailer and made it about two miles from the house when it did the weird ignition thing. I pulled over popped the hood and instinctively disconnected the TB connector and it fired back up. 100yards later it did it again and won’t start at all. Of course I didn’t grab my laptop today or code reader so I’m SOL.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Tow it home with the Lexus, no codes. I’m leaning towards fuel pump because it tried to start again then died like it got a touch of fuel then nothing. Wouldn’t surprise me that an after market fuel pump died.

 

[Rocket Man]

It had saggy butt syndrome due to the body lift, and there’s no receiver. Plus I’m pretty sure somebody tried to ****** it out of the mud from the ball mounted to the bumper because it was out of wack.

I think you were just looking for some shit to weld up myself.

 

[Dantheman1540]

I think you were just looking for some shit to weld up myself.

Yes and yes, I’ve had these piece of 4x4 for several years and I kept them because I wanted to get a cheap POS and build bumpers with them. It would have been a front bumper if this one wasn’t in such good shape. Since the rear is ugly as sin, it was the obvious choice. I really want this truck to be capable of towing my little trailer with 4wheeler on it, therefore a bumper with hitch was mandatory.

Honestly had the bumper been done this morning I’d have used the ranger to tow the Tahoe home instead of the Lexus. Fwd transaxles don’t typically like towing and that car is way to nice to abuse.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Looks like the connector is sending power to the bucket so it must be a bad pump.

 

[Rocket Man]

Yes and yes, I’ve had these piece of 4x4 for several years and I kept them because I wanted to get a cheap POS and build bumpers with them. It would have been a front bumper if this one wasn’t in such good shape. Since the rear is ugly as sin, it was the obvious choice. I really want this truck to be capable of towing my little trailer with 4wheeler on it, therefore a bumper with hitch was mandatory.

Honestly had the bumper been done this morning I’d have used the ranger to tow the Tahoe home instead of the Lexus. Fwd transaxles don’t typically like towing and that car is way to nice to abuse.

I’m seriously thinking about taking welding classes. It’s something I’ve wanted to learn for a long time. I’m just afraid I’ll fail and my shit will look like some of those ugly welding pictures on social media where they’re making fun of some monstrosity.

 

[Dantheman1540]

I’m seriously thinking about taking welding classes. It’s something I’ve wanted to learn for a long time. I’m just afraid I’ll fail and my shit will look like some of those ugly welding pictures on social media where they’re making fun of some monstrosity.

Do it! It’s a lot of fun. I do suggest finding somewhere that will let you focus on what you want to learn instead of sticking hard to their Curriculum. I suggest skipping stick welding completely unless you want to start a career in pipe welding. Focus on thinner metal mig and tig. There’s almost nothing in my life I’ll ever weld over 1/4” thick yet my entire class I was taught to weld 1/2” which is way overkill and super easy compared to the thin stuff.

Tig is the most enjoyable and prettiest, also somewhat the easiest. However it takes four times as long to lay down beads than mig does so it’s better for thin stuff or things that really need to look good.

Oh yeah and your welds are gonna be ugly but that’s what a grinder is for. As long as it holds for it’s intended application who cares.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Little more bumper progress last night after I identified the fuel pump being bad.