Well, it's official, my trans is on it's way out the door. So instead of pulling it and having it rebuilt, I decided to buy an entire 2500HD pickup truck and swap the 6.0, 4L80e, and HD transfer case into my truck.
While nothing spectacular has happened yet, I have managed to make all of my purchase price back by parting out the pickup. It's an 03 2500HD 6.0L Silverado 4x4 Ext Cab 6ft bed, Arrival Blue. Sold pretty much all of the stuff worth a damn, still have some good smaller items and the seats, doors, and cab. Here are a couple before and after shots of the donor truck.
Here is when I first got it home. I drove 3 hours away to get it, drove it back with my FIL following. What a trip!
And after the vultures got to it....WOW!
So I've essentially got myself an entire HD drivetrain for free. I'm still selling parts, and hoping there is enough cash left over to do a transgo shift kit, and MAYBE a cam, but we'll see. The donor truck has 214k on it (my Tahoe has 197k so not too far off)
I did have this wild idea of having my buddy who owns a custom shop body swap my Tahoe onto the HD frame but I might have to part a few more trucks before I can afford that, but it may still be in the future.
I'll post up more once I get moving on the actual swap (or removal) or the 6.0L and all that. I need to put new knock sensors in it, and do the manifolds (one is cracked) and I might clean up the block a bit and paint it so it's nice and fresh in the bay of the Tahoe.
Stay tuned for more! Should get exciting here in the coming days.