2004 6.0 NV4500 Tahoe

[ivin74]

Filters are good.

Totally unrelated but I did make some new house garage progress. These hexagon lights are fantastic for the price! $100 for those. The tote storage workbench trend is hot and I see why, it’s very easy to build and works great.

I been wanting to buy some of those lights but curious how long they will last.

 

[Dantheman1540]

I forgot to add that it kept throwing the old tensioner belt after I installed the new compressor. I put a camera in there to watch when it would happen, and it was always when I had to step on the gas to accelerate quickly, like merging into traffic. Speculation on the interwebz at the time was that over time, the compressor mounting plane had warped ever so slightly over the 230K miles of heat/cooldown cycles on my aluminum block L92. But who knows. I switched to the stretch belt and never went back. No problems whatsoever in the few years and 25,000 miles since.

I vaguely remember reading about the stretch belts when I had my supercharged stick Silverado. The blower and the manual transmission shifts were super violent and it would shoot belts off. Went 8 rib and an innovators west kit for the serpentine belt but then the AC belts started flying off. No idea what I did to fix, I almost wonder if I went to a stretch belt too.

I been wanting to buy some of those lights but curious how long they will last.

I was kinda worried as well, with this second order I’ll have a dozen of so pieces left as spares. If they totally suck and just all go out I guess I’m out $230 but I’ve wasted more on less. I do sort of wish they were RGB color changers, the white is almost too much, a softer 4500-5000k would be nice. These are 6500

 

[Rocket Man]

I vaguely remember reading about the stretch belts when I had my supercharged stick Silverado. The blower and the manual transmission shifts were super violent and it would shoot belts off. Went 8 rib and an innovators west kit for the serpentine belt but then the AC belts started flying off. No idea what I did to fix, I almost wonder if I went to a stretch belt too.

I was kinda worried as well, with this second order I’ll have a dozen of so pieces left as spares. If they totally suck and just all go out I guess I’m out $230 but I’ve wasted more on less. I do sort of wish they were RGB color changers, the white is almost too much, a softer 4500-5000k would be nice. These are 6500

Every LED light for the garage or shop seems to be super white light, I guess they want us wide eyed when we’re working on shit and not all relaxed and ready for a nap.

 

[Geotrash]

Every LED light for the garage or shop seems to be super white light, I guess they want us wide eyed when we’re working on shit and not all relaxed and ready for a nap.

 

[Dantheman1540]

I messed up and this might total it……


Didn’t seat my trailer on the ball all the way as I was in a rush to go get my wife’s valentines gift after work (it’s a new/used washer and drier). Half a mile down the road I hit a rough spot and that mofo jumped off and smashed into my bumper. Thank god it didn’t hit the truck lid!

 

[OR VietVet]

I messed up and this might total it……


Didn’t seat my trailer on the ball all the way as I was in a rush to go get my wife’s valentines gift after work (it’s a new/used washer and drier). Half a mile down the road I hit a rough spot and that mofo jumped off and smashed into my bumper. Thank god it didn’t hit the truck lid!

You did a great job of "creating work" for yourself. That is what safety chains are for.

 

[strutaeng]

What kinda guy gets his wife a new/used washer and dryer as a valentine's gift?!

I'm kidding, of course!

Another bumper from the junkyard and off you go, right?

 

[Fless]

I messed up and this might total it……


Didn’t seat my trailer on the ball all the way as I was in a rush to go get my wife’s valentines gift after work (it’s a new/used washer and drier). Half a mile down the road I hit a rough spot and that mofo jumped off and smashed into my bumper. Thank god it didn’t hit the truck lid!

That'll buff out....

 

[Dantheman1540]

Haven’t touched the bumper still mad at myself about it and just hardly drive at all any more. Like maybe one tank of a gas a month out of all my vehicles it’s sweet.

Anyway been chasing a worsening squeak noise and so I pulled wheels and tires for some inspecting. Here’s what I found.

-Upper coilover mounts were loose, not that they backed off because there’s a jam nut but the bushing seems to have compressed so I tightened those.
-Endlinks are pretty trashed, not sure what brand I was running but they were def rubber and cheap. Tightened and greased for now but I reached out to NorCal Tony after not seeing any good options and he just suggested these so they are ordered.
- Lastly I think my driver inner kryptonite tierod is bad. Hard to see but if you watch closest there’s a distinct popping in and out of place happening in the video below. Kryptonite is working on sending me a new one and I’ll send the old one to them to verify it was bad.

Other than that I did take two coworkers for a ride in it to lunch the other day and the one girl squealed like a kid when I dumped the clutch. Tbh I did to because when you walk to work most days and drive boring city vehicles this thing feels fast as fuh boi. Hope yall are doing

 

[Dantheman1540]

NorCal Tony did good with his recommendation on endlinks. They fit nice and tight, and should last a few years. I still hate this design, I feel like there could be something better out there but it’s so cheap and easy to do if I gotta buy new ones every 5 years it is what it is.

Kryptonite is going to send me a new inner and I’ll send my old one off to be inspected to make sure I’m not lying to them. Guess we will see how long that takes. One thing I noticed doing this job is how bad kryptonite powder coat job is on their tie rods. A huge chunk flaked off more like paint when I touched it with my hand.

Ok last update kinda funny I took it off-road a few months ago to go shoot with some friend. My k2500 was being borrowed by a friend and idk what was up with my ranger but Tahoe it was. Not really hardcore off-roading but lots of sugar sand on 10ish miles of forest service roads. I had some fun and played dune buggy using all the horsepower available and apparently sand is all under the intake and the motor in general, nothing I expected to see in this truck ever.

 

[Jim b]

Alright, I figured I should make a little thread on here since there seems to be a lot of activity on this forum. This build isn't all about performance it's a little bit of everything.

Went and bought a 2004 2wd 6.0 NV4500 5 speed manual transmission Tahoe out in the great state of Texas in Aug 2019. The owner was a respectable member of another forum and when he posted it for sale I jumped on it right away. My other truck has an NV4500 which I have had for several years and in and out multiple times so I already knew I really liked the NV4500 and getting a Tahoe already swapped saved me a lot of work

EDIT: Turns out the previous owner was a member here as well https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/04-tahoe-6-0-nv4500-2wd.113658/

Mileage
233,*** - 8/20/2019 When Purchased
239,324 - 2/14/2020
260,000 - 1/6/2021
277,640 - 1/11/2022
280,525 - 5/14/2022
296,550 - 7/13/2025
Front suspension/Brakes:
-Atomic fab & perf Coilover swap/torsion bar delete
-Viking double adjustable shocks with 1,000lb springs
-Kryptonite Tierods
-Hellwig 7702 sway bar
-OEM replacement idler arm, idler bracket, and pitman arm
-Both Front Wheel Bearings #(Timkin SP500300)
-Poly Front end link bushings
-KYB Steering stabilizer
-2021 Tahoe 4 piston brake swap

Rear suspension/axle:
-2011 AXN 9.5 Semi Floater 14 bolt axle (Out of 2wd 6.2 Yukon Denali with 132k) Swapped in Spring 2020.
-3.42 gears
-1410 forged yoke
-G80 OEM locker
-Eibach 3' drop springs
-Viking Warrior series shocks with shock extenders
-Airlift rear bags
-Free travel mod
-Hellwig rear sway bar and end links
-PML slim diff cover
-Spohn rear LCAs
-QA1 Panhard


Engine:
-Refreshed LQ4
-Cam is a TSP 224/228 113lsa .600/.600 lift
-Wilkes ported 243 heads with Stainless 2" valves
-CHE rocker arm trunion upgrade
-Dual comp cam valve springs
-AEM Wideband AFR and tuned VIA HP Tuners by me
-Arp Head bolts
-Upgraded timing chain (Can't remember the name lol)
-LS2 90mm with 00-02 throttle box and 6-8pin adapter NO XLINK NO REP!!
-NNBS Intake
-AFE Cold air intake
-Long Tube headers
-Lots of mufflers but also an electric cutout

​

Transmission:
-Rebuilt GM NV4500
-Hurst Short Throw Shifter (handle length part#:0295)
-Clutch master rod extension (Custom made by me)
-LUK OEM replacement clutch

Exterior mods:
-Paint correction
-Morimoto HID retrofit headlights
-Paint matched handles
-HD front end swap
-Rare style rear hatch glass
-Trailer connector relocated to bumper
-Esky roof rack
-Esky rear appliques
-Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro amber fog lights
-Z71 Valence (Black)
-275/60/20 2022 GMC Wheels


Other random things:
-Full fluid change
-Full interior de-funkify
-Knock sensors replaced as well as Valve covers because one was cracked and leaking.
-Weathertech mats everywhere
-Kenwood8906x Head unit
-JL Audio C3 door speakers
-Custom sub enclosure with JL12"W3
-JL RD900/5 powering the system
-Back up and dash camera
-Full sound deadening on doors, floors, and rear hatch
-5% tint all around
-4hi mod

Probably more I'm forgetting.

The next parts will be:

-Pull one decent-sized dent
-BOOST!

The overall goal is to have a good daily driver that I can hook up a car hauler and tow my "Race truck" or any other reasonable load of crap and also have a little fun toying with other trucks and SUVs from light to light.


Here's a crappy little video walk around from when I first got it.

And some pics

View attachment 268402
View attachment 266837 View attachment 240551 View attachment 254071 View attachment 268401

That is a really nice rig. I love that your focus is to keep improving it not just tun it into the ground! 3 pedals are always a good thing!
Cheers! Jim B

 

[Dantheman1540]

That is a really nice rig. I love that your focus is to keep improving it not just tun it into the ground! 3 pedals are always a good thing!
Cheers! Jim B

Thanks Jim it’s been good to me it deserves life lol.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Inner tierod ordered, seems like expensive shipping for a single inner but whatever. I’m gonna drive the Tahoe to work tomorrow to see if the endlinks helped the noise.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Drove into the forest to do some stuff, needed to get there on time so I took this thang. I links have seriously helped ride quality, it kinda seemed to bounce when they were bad. Nice and tight now although I think the slight tapping I feel is the bad inner. Need to do a new steering stabilizer anyone got a link to something other than rough country?

 

[Fless]

Drove into the forest to do some stuff, needed to get there on time so I took this thang. I links have seriously helped ride quality, it kinda seemed to bounce when they were bad. Nice and tight now although I think the slight tapping I feel is the bad inner. Need to do a new steering stabilizer anyone got a link to something other than rough country?

No experience with it but KYB makes a kit.

KYB Steering Damper

 

[Tonyrodz]

No experience with it but KYB makes a kit.

KYB Steering Damper

I bought this about 4 yrs ago--still sitting in my garage.
Do you know if there's an installation video? Doesn't appear too difficult tho.

 

[Fless]

I bought this about 4 yrs ago--still sitting in my garage.
Do you know if there's an installation video? Doesn't appear too difficult tho.

I've never looked for one, but I'm sure there are some out there.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I've never looked for one, but I'm sure there are some out there.

I really need to get on this. My steering has gotten really sloppy. I'm guessing it can't make it worse.

 

[Dantheman1540]

I've never looked for one, but I'm sure there are some out there.

Actually, I forgot about that KYB kit, I think that's actually what I had before, and it started leaking, so I pitched it but left the brackets in place. I might just order a new shock and see if I have better luck.

I really need to get on this. My steering has gotten really sloppy. I'm guessing it can't make it worse.

It helps not wear stuff out and can kinda eat up some slack. It is not difficult to do, but if you do it wrong, it limits steering one direction or hits at full lock. I also remember it coming loose a few times IIRC I red loctited it.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Found that KYB kit “Used like new” $29 so it’s ordered!