Dumb Denali 14 bolt converstion question

[rook]

Short question: would a lift kit for a 2500 be a good route to go if I want to swap 14 bolt rear end and upgrade to HD 2500 front IFS on a 2007 Denali? (This would likely include some other upgrades noted below)

Long story:
I really like my '07 Denali. The body style and interior from 2007-2014, the aftermarket options, etc. Long term, I'd like to look into 14 bolt conversion and 6L90 upgrade (6L80 now), overbuild the Denali to handle the winter camping, hauling, etc. abuse while retaining the ability to drive everyday, take the wife and kids out around town (3 kids - because, irresponsibility). Maybe a mild lift, 3-4", nothing with huge tires - I think that is what the picture below has. This wouldn't be a rock crawler, no SAS for me... But, it would hit the mountain every winter and haul loads in the summer - I'd get closer to my dreams of a boat too.

I have a 1995 K2500 now too, this would allow me to shrink the fleet. I don't want to get a full size 2007-12 2500 suburban because 1. they're unicorns, 2. for all the hauling and full size plywood/drywall I carry with the K2500, the smaller Denali is really growing on me. I'll probably upgrade to a legit lift trailer I've been needing this whole time by offloading a vehicle.

It could also be my frustration in the light duty Denali drivetrain: the 6L80 transmission is build for a princess, and the shift points need a tune (BlackBearPerformance is in my future); my AWD t-case bearings already crapped out once, I've got a thread or two on here about that fiasco; I think the Denali rear end is different than the Tahoe/Suburban diff's, right? I've read that you can't just switch to 4WD from AWD, and others have exploded the rear end soon after doing so; for the NW winters up here, I want to lock the front wheels rather than let two diff's slip in the snow. The old 'Burb is definitely better in the snow right now.

This would be a long term build, acquire a long list of parts over time for sure.

I'm thinking look for wrecked/junkyard GM 2500 series rig and swap diff's, rebuild a 6L90, maybe try to upgrade the brakes... wondering if I can keep front IFS from a 2500 truck (I'm not going to be rock crawling, but would be a daily) by getting a 2500 lift kit?

Just curious.

 

[mikeyss]

2007-2013 2wd Escalades, 2wd Denali, and 2009 Tahoe LTZ with the L9H have 14 bolt rears from the factory. I think the Silverado with L9H get the 9.25 front axle, but don't quote me on that.

 

[W8TVI]

I had a '94 Olds Bravada.
GM put the Borg Warner 4472 transfer case in them.

Acording to Wikipedia: "At the heart of Smart Trak system was the Borg Warner 4472 transfer case (also shared with the limited production GMC Typhoon and AWD GM M platform vans (Astro/Safari)), offering 65% rear and 35% front torque with more to the front when it slips."

Between the snow tires and the AWD system (and this was a real AWD system, no traction control or anything like that), not even wet, bumper deep snow would stop it.

They can survive V-8 upgrades in the S-10 sized trucks, so they should be able to handle the torque, and I've heard of people putting them in larger vehicles.

I've tossed the idea around of finding a Denali and putting a Borg Warner 4472 in it, (and a G80 rear differential, if it didn't have one).

 

[rook]

This is AWD, doesn't have the 14 bolt. The BW4485 had a bearing explode a couple months back, and the replacement kit squeaked something bad after I rebuilt it - when I was installing, I had one bearing feel "off" a bit, and thinking twice about just reusing the old one I instead used the new bearing. Sure enough, it squeaked bad. There are only two kits generally available(many sites had the same Chinese kit), although before I pulled the trigger on the different brand kit to rebuild again I located a cheap yard replacement that worked fine.

I figure the Denali AWD system is all mechanical, no electrical games - so it would be an awesome upgrade to go Atlas T-Case, maybe some lockers up front, if I were to go all out for a 14 bolt conversion.

I just don't want to go SAS, this isn't a rock crawler, and am looking into the least amount of pain to accumulate some 2500 series IFS parts for an upgraded front pumpkin.

4" lift, 2500 front diff, 14 bolt rear, atlas T-case, 6L90 tranny upgrade. A guy can dream, can't he?

 

[Jason_S]

Getting the 2500 HD IFS to work will probably be a bit of a chore since its a torsion bar suspension and not the coil spring setup the 1500's have. The ride will also be a bit more rough. I went from an '07 4x4 Tahoe to an '09 4x4 Suburban 2500. there is a very noticeable difference int he ride. The 'burban rides alot more like a truck.

Edit: There is a thread over on Pirate where they put used a d44 for the pumpkin on a h2 ifs.