New guy with a build project from iowa

[iLikeEggs]

The "build" is ongoing and the threads are scattered, lol. However, everything's searchable.
Build up your albums with photos and descriptions.
Personally I think that they should have an SSV/PPV section since these things are kind of their own animal. We have a unique set of challenges to deal with on top of everything else that goes along with a Tahoe/Yukon.

 

[iLikeEggs]

Thanks all for the welcome. I apologize as i don't get around the computer much but its nice to have this kind of resource around. @iLikeEggs . My tahoe started out with just over 110k. Its now sitting at 128K so I haven't gone crazy with the miles. I will have to post some pics of it currently. Possibly do a build thread. If only i could figure out how to do that....

I got mine with 124k. Currently pushing 128k.

 

[Tahorado08]

If I may, I drove one of those for years before my promotion, and we beat the heck out of those things. One thing I learned about builds, its absolutely sucks when something else breaks while your attention is on another portion of the build. My suggestion is corvette servo, new belts and hoses, and new fluids and seals. The servo will save the high mileage transmission (the 4l60Es are great, but don't last). 5.3s are good motors, the only thing Iv ran into so far is bearing trouble after high mileage and sensor failure(the 5.3 in my 82 K5 started life in it at 315k miles and a rattle can rebuild). wouldn't hurt to have new bushings up front either.

 

[iLikeEggs]

My buddy is a cop and we talked about that a lot, lol. I pretty much realized what I was buying. I figured for what I paid for the thing that even if I had to put a new motor and trans in it i am still ahead of the game.
So far it's been a strong runner though. When I got it it ran like shinola due to lack of maintenance, worn plugs, E85, etc. Now it purrs like a kitten.

 

[Tahorado08]

Good to hear its a good runner! for about $35 bucks you can get a performance (corvette/Camaro/firebird) servo which will save stress on your transmission. Easy to install and changes the extremely soft shift from 1st to 2nd to a much firmer shift. At WOT it'll jerk you in the seat and squeak/spin tires. for about $150 you can delete the exhaust resonator, swap to a flowmaster, and have a nice stainless tip (welding or clamps required). for about $140 you can get an Air Raid MIT tube and modify the box. be a good safe start to waking it up. All mods mentioned have been proven for more HP without robbing you of mileage, reliability, or dignity, and all mods will be under $400 total.

 

[iLikeEggs]

Good info, thanks!
I bought a Superchips Flashpaq. You can make a lot of adjustments for performance with it as well as clear out codes, etc. I flashed their fuel economy file and have been happy with that. It still whomps like a bat out of he'll when I nail the throttle though. Lol.
I got 19+ mpg Hwy already and get 12-13 city. Probably more if I can stop having fun with the posi rear.... Haha.

 

[ExPoliceTahoe]

From what I'm hearing above that corvette servo sounds like a wise investment, especially if i was going to invest in changing the trans fluid myself soon. How hard would this servo be to change, and do you have a part number by chance.

 

[Tahorado08]

Look up corvette servo for 4l60 or 700r4. They're the same. If you pay more than 40, your paying too much. I don't have the part number, got mine from the local transmission shop.
1 Block your vehicle

2 look for the round cap on the pass side of the transmission. Drip pan is necessarily. I had a shield I had to remove.

3 depress the circular cover and remove the snap ring. Pull the shift out, swap servo parts and O rings

4 assemble in the reverse order

Took me about 15 minutes my first time. Make sure the snapping goes all the way in the grooves. You'll notice a much stiffer shift from 1st to 2nd.

Thanks for asking, and I'm more than happy to help out when I can!