2004 6.0 NV4500 Tahoe

[Dantheman1540]

AKA cruising to work and the grocery store. Babying it

It was also the oil that had the low OP cold starts. #adultowned #neverabused

 

[George B]

Ragged ole POS is the only thing I can think of.

Not covid but I already had it and was lucky to have very mild symptoms. I think I had the actual Flu (Yes it still exisits) I had body aches a mild temp and a throbbing headache.

I had rona twice once mild and once like a cold or mild flu.

 

[Dantheman1540]

I had rona twice once mild and once like a cold or mild flu.

I thought I had it again my GF is positive and we basically changed nothing about our daily lives except she didn’t go to work. I tested negative tho so I guess my anti bodies from the first time kicked in lol.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Picked up the oil pan and headers from my powder guy, headers are coated inside and out and the pan is clean enough to eat off of. I’ve always wanted a powdered pan just so when I do oil changes I can wipe it clean easier and or course spot leaks.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Would be done but the ARP rocker bolts I bought are actually rod bolts . Gotta get those ordered and a dipstick O ring, if anyone has the dipstick O ring part number I’d love you because I already ordered one and it’s totally wrong. I guess I also would like to find some shorter rocker bolts since the ported runners have the rocker bolt bottom hanging down into the runner.

Good news is I think I found my occasional low oil pressure problem, the O ring was harder than a ministers coqk. I also spent about two hours cleaning the pistons using the 4” foam pads soaked in sea foam, a wire brush, and in some spots a screw driver to scrape. I think they cam out great! I can also clearly see where the valve bounced multiple times a few years back.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Oh also the front of these heads has no spot for a steam vent, I suppose I put them on backwards and their just shouldn’t be a crossover in the back but I already torqued them down so I don’t want to try to remove and reinstall and waste expensive gaskets. Anyone have a solution for this?

 

[Dantheman1540]

Lastly @pwtr02ss I did a real basic way to measure pushrod length here’s the video, it ended up that the same 7.350 pushrods seemed to be the right fit. IIRC this is what I’ve done on the few motors I’ve done cams on and they have worked fine.

 

[pwtr02ss]

Would be done but the ARP rocker bolts I bought are actually rod bolts . Gotta get those ordered and a dipstick O ring, if anyone has the dipstick O ring part number I’d love you because I already ordered one and it’s totally wrong. I guess I also would like to find some shorter rocker bolts since the ported runners have the rocker bolt bottom hanging down into the runner.

Good news is I think I found my occasional low oil pressure problem, the O ring was harder than a ministers coqk. I also spent about two hours cleaning the pistons using the 4” foam pads soaked in sea foam, a wire brush, and in some spots a screw driver to scrape. I think they cam out great! I can also clearly see where the valve bounced multiple times a few years back.

Don't forget the sealant on the rocker bolts

 

[pwtr02ss]

Oh also the front of these heads has no spot for a steam vent, I suppose I put them on backwards and their just shouldn’t be a crossover in the back but I already torqued them down so I don’t want to try to remove and reinstall and waste expensive gaskets. Anyone have a solution for this?

My 799 didn't have a steam port on one of the heads (you'd think they would paid attention and shipped a matching set) so I just used the stock blow off on one side. IDK if you can leave the rear on yours and have front blocked off or not. It would look clean up front.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Don't forget the sealant on the rocker bolts

Yep I have a fresh can of ultra black for that, I need to find shorter bolts so they don't hang a half-inch into the runner.

My 799 didn't have a steam port on one of the heads (you'd think they would paid attention and shipped a matching set) so I just used the stock blow off on one side. IDK if you can leave the rear on yours and have front blocked off or not. It would look clean up front.

I suppose I could just run that one hose all the way to the back although that seems like it would just be a PITA later down the road. It almost looks like I could carefully drill out where the holes are supposed to be but that's scary.

 

[pwtr02ss]

Yep I have a fresh can of ultra black for that, I need to find shorter bolts so they don't hang a half-inch into the runner.


I suppose I could just run that one hose all the way to the back although that seems like it would just be a PITA later down the road. It almost looks like I could carefully drill out where the holes are supposed to be but that's scary.

I always remind about the sealant because I had to take my camaro back apart because it was smoking at start up. I also nearly forgot it on my avalanche.

That sucks about the steam ports. Id probably just bite the bullet and swap sides. Its one of those things that may take and hour now or it bugs you for the next year and you end up swapping them anyway.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Yep I have a fresh can of ultra black for that, I need to find shorter bolts so they don't hang a half-inch into the runner.


I suppose I could just run that one hose all the way to the back although that seems like it would just be a PITA later down the road. It almost looks like I could carefully drill out where the holes are supposed to be but that's scary.

You could always cut the bolts down--if they're too long.

 

[Dantheman1540]

I always remind about the sealant because I had to take my camaro back apart because it was smoking at start up. I also nearly forgot it on my avalanche.

That sucks about the steam ports. Id probably just bite the bullet and swap sides. Its one of those things that may take and hour now or it bugs you for the next year and you end up swapping them anyway.

Yeah, I've read some horror stories about people not sealing the bolts and having crazy oil consumption.

I've heard if you torque the heads down then the gaskets are trash which is whats keeping me from wanting to just flip the heads.

You could always cut the bolts down--if they're too long.

Its crazy I just cannot find a decent deal on OEM rocker bolts and since I bent a bunch of mine using the spring compressor I need new ones. I think I found an ARP kit that's actually studs and I can nip the end of the studs off.

 

[pwtr02ss]

Yeah, I've read some horror stories about people not sealing the bolts and having crazy oil consumption.

I've heard if you torque the heads down then the gaskets are trash which is whats keeping me from wanting to just flip the heads.



Its crazy I just cannot find a decent deal on OEM rocker bolts and since I bent a bunch of mine using the spring compressor I need new ones. I think I found an ARP kit that's actually studs and I can nip the end of the studs off.

View attachment 363891

If it won't bother you later down the road, just run the steam port off the back side of the head and call it a day.

BTR sells the bolts. I got them with the trunnion kit

 

[Dantheman1540]

If it won't bother you later down the road, just run the steam port off the back side of the head and call it a day.

BTR sells the bolts. I got them with the trunnion kit

Yeah I see BTR, Michigan MS, and somebody else has them but they are over a week away with shipping for some dumb reason. I think the studs are honestly the way to go anyway. When using the spring compressor tool I nearly pulled the threads out of the 862s which would have been bad!!! I had to clean them up with a tap but I think a properly installed stud wouldn't have that issue, and once installed properly with the RTV there's kinda no reason to remove them which would be nice.

 

[iamdub]

Would be done but the ARP rocker bolts I bought are actually rod bolts . Gotta get those ordered and a dipstick O ring, if anyone has the dipstick O ring part number I’d love you because I already ordered one and it’s totally wrong. I guess I also would like to find some shorter rocker bolts since the ported runners have the rocker bolt bottom hanging down into the runner.

Good news is I think I found my occasional low oil pressure problem, the O ring was harder than a ministers coqk. I also spent about two hours cleaning the pistons using the 4” foam pads soaked in sea foam, a wire brush, and in some spots a screw driver to scrape. I think they cam out great! I can also clearly see where the valve bounced multiple times a few years back.

Use a little sealant on them rocker bolts. They're known to let oil run down into the intake ports on ported heads.

*EDIT* Disregard. I wrote before seeing the rest of the replies.

 

[iamdub]

Lastly @pwtr02ss I did a real basic way to measure pushrod length here’s the video, it ended up that the same 7.350 pushrods seemed to be the right fit. IIRC this is what I’ve done on the few motors I’ve done cams on and they have worked fine.

That's the length I went with. 212/218 TSP Stage2 and .020" shave to get the chambers to 65cc. The .006" thinner head gasket is negligible. The number of bolt turns method, the zero lash + torquing method (in the vid you linked) and the wipe pattern method all checked out.

 

[iamdub]

Yep I have a fresh can of ultra black for that, I need to find shorter bolts so they don't hang a half-inch into the runner.

Just trim 'em?

I suppose I could just run that one hose all the way to the back although that seems like it would just be a PITA later down the road. It almost looks like I could carefully drill out where the holes are supposed to be but that's scary.

I'd run a hose from the back long before drilling the heads. To reduce the jankiness, you could get a factory four-corner steam vent setup and cut the front half off and just have a hose running out from under the intake manifold.

... I can't believe I just suggested cutting a four-corner steam tube in half. I'm trying to locate one for mine.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Use a little sealant on them rocker bolts. They're known to let oil run down into the intake ports on ported heads.

*EDIT* Disregard. I wrote before seeing the rest of the replies.

Disregarding

That's the length I went with. 212/218 TSP Stage2 and .020" shave to get the chambers to 65cc. The .006" thinner head gasket is negligible. The number of bolt turns method, the zero lash + torquing method (in the vid you linked) and the wipe pattern method all checked out.

I used an adjustable pushrod and checked 6 sizes going in .025 increments and thank god 7.350 worked because that was the shortest I had on hand. Also what was in it before and using that method the mystery lifters were quiet.

Just trim 'em?




I'd run a hose from the back long before drilling the heads. To reduce the jankiness, you could get a factory four-corner steam vent setup and cut the front half off and just have a hose running out from under the intake manifold.

... I can't believe I just suggested cutting a four-corner steam tube in half. I'm trying to locate one for mine.

Yep gonna trim the rocker bolts.

I think I can possibly flip the front stem vent around and have the hose point under the intake and just get a longer hose, that will be my plan Saturday morning when I get back to it.

Also, I don't think I ever posted my deck height since I measured it at .010. Gonna use the LS9 gaskets (.051 thique) which comes out to 10.55:1cr and a quench of .041 which is about as good as it can get.

 

[randeez]

Just trim 'em?




I'd run a hose from the back long before drilling the heads. To reduce the jankiness, you could get a factory four-corner steam vent setup and cut the front half off and just have a hose running out from under the intake manifold.

... I can't believe I just suggested cutting a four-corner steam tube in half. I'm trying to locate one for mine.

just drill them front ***** out, its just the water jacket 90% of the shavings are gonna be on the outside anyway. the last couple will just get caught in the radiator