Growing up doesn't have to suck

[pwtr02ss]

I had some 20K-mile LS6 springs (yellow) from some Z06 heads I had for a past project.

I got the 2600-2800 converter. I think it's the famed I-6 Trailblazer converter, but with an upgraded clutch and slightly higher stall. The rep said my Tahoe should still roll if I idled in gear with my foot off the brake. Should be perfect for my setup. Mine has a 3.73. I was considering a stock reman for the price, but I decided I wanted known quality internals. Circle D's upgrade clutch and reputation sold me. I didn't wanna do all this work and have a failure cuz I wanted to cheap out on a converter reman'ed with unknown parts by an unknown company with unknown quality control. Getting stranded on the side of the road with a loaded trailer due to a crappy converter would make the cost of the Circle D converter a deal.

For gaskets, I wanna say I used Mahle, Fel-Pro and GM (ACDelco). I stuck to GM gaskets where it mattered, such as for head gaskets and/or where their price was better than or close enough to the aftermarket gasket prices. Now that I'm thinking about it, I can only say for sure that I got GM for the head gaskets. And I'm not even using them since I decided to go with thinner Cometics. Most of the gaskets are Fel-Pro and I think the intake and exhaust manifold gaskets are Mahle. The Fel-Pros look and feel virtually identical to the OEM ones and they come in kits (front seal kit, rear seal kit, etc.), making shopping easier.


Edit: Sounds like you got the exact one I did. This was before the peak of the COVID-19 stuff, but they told me three weeks. I wanna say I had it in two. It comes with a really nice shirt, pen, and koozie. Oh, bolts and shims, too.

Awesome! I have gm head gaskets already, as well. Thanks again for your help. You've made my life much easier and gave me the reassurance to just pull the engine and do basically the same thing you're doing. Two trucks, same year, same color, both basically 200k miles. I think its fate...

I'm gonna have to verify the gear in the avalanche. Id much prefer a 3.73 but I'm not going to swap them if its 3.42.

 

[iamdub]

Awesome! I have gm head gaskets already, as well. Thanks again for your help. You've made my life much easier and gave me the reassurance to just pull the engine and do basically the same thing you're doing. Two trucks, same year, same color, both basically 200k miles. I think its fate...

I'm gonna have to verify the gear in the avalanche. Id much prefer a 3.73 but I'm not going to swap them if its 3.42.

Happy I could be of use! Ours will be leak-free and reliable, but mine will be faster. lol

 

[iamdub]

Just a comparison pic of the stock push rod with the BTR one:

 

[pwtr02ss]

Happy I could be of use! Ours will be leak-free and reliable, but mine will be faster. lol

For sure!

I pulled the window sticker out. It has 3.73 gear

 

[iamdub]

For sure!

I pulled the window sticker out. It has 3.73 gear

Could've just checked the RPO label for code "GT4".

 

[pwtr02ss]

Could've just checked the RPO label for code "GT4".

All vehicles are parked in the back 40 so the driveway was clear for the contractor to park dump trailer for demo on the house, for window install. It’s been raining all week. Was easier to open the safe and pull the window sticker. Didn’t wanna get the new balances wet.

 

[Rocket Man]

Are your parts rolling in yet?

 

[iamdub]

Are your parts rolling in yet?

I've had all the parts I needed for about 3-4 weeks now. The only parts I still have coming in are the headers, but I just ordered those last week and they should be delivered within the next few days.

I just haven't had time. May is my most busiest month and this one had a pre-death visit and subsequent funeral resulting in two separate trips to AL (I'm writing this from a hotel in Birmingham), lots of out-of-town work during the week and weekends and a mess of other obligations that have kept me away from the Tahoe. It's stressing me out cuz I don't see an end in sight at the moment.

 

[iamdub]

Performed the manifolds, cats and Y-pipe delete mod today:

 

[iamdub]

... Did all that to make way for these:

Shipping might would've been a little cheaper had they not included the duplicate bag of hardware.


I guess my Tahoe is now officially for track duty only:

Long tubes? Short tubes? My answer: Neither! Tri-Y tubes!

I don't know what their idea was here, but I've already come up with a game plan:

 

[Tonyrodz]

... Did all that to make way for these:

View attachment 248737


Shipping might would've been a little cheaper had they not included the duplicate bag of hardware.


I guess my Tahoe is now officially for track duty only:

View attachment 248735


Long tubes? Short tubes? My answer: Neither! Tri-Y tubes!

View attachment 248736


I don't know what their idea was here, but I've already come up with a game plan:

View attachment 248738

She's gonna sound mean!!

 

[iamdub]

She's gonna sound mean!!

I'm ready for a little more attitude from her! I found a before-and-after YT vid of these headers- Losing the cats really cranks up the volume and snarling! These things are pretty hefty but still much lighter than the factory stuff. They're 14 gauge and ceramic coated, so I hope the sound is out of the tailpipe and not all at the firewall. They at least should not have the sound of the exhaust pinging in the collectors.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I'm ready for a little more attitude from her! I found a before-and-after YT vid of these headers- Losing the cats really cranks up the volume and snarling! These things are pretty hefty but still much lighter than the factory stuff. They're 14 gauge and ceramic coated, so I hope the sound is out of the tailpipe and not all at the firewall. They at least should not have the sound of the exhaust pinging in the collectors.

You def won't be able to sneak up on anyone. Without cats mine is LOUD!

 

[iamdub]

Since I finally got the all hose clamps I needed from the salvage yard, I was able to install the heater hose connectors. I definitely wanted this to be done before the engine was back in.


3/4" heater core connectors and 1/2" rear heater core connectors. The hoses to the two nipples on the water pump are 5/8":

About 12" each of 3/4" and 1/2" heater hoses and box of 3-way Ts and factory hose clamps (factory from GM, Ford and Honda )

Semi-comfy seat on cross member in engine bay:

The 1/2" tubes were too close, so I trimmed them down:

Minimal, but adequate gap and perfect alignment:

 

[iamdub]

Put together. I have all the clamps oriented so that I can reach them with extended-reach long nose pliers even if the engine were in the bay. Hopefully, I'll never have to mess with them, but they won't be too bad if I had to. Yes, I adjusted that rearmost clamp after the pics:

Pliers needed to access the clamps:

I think I'm gonna get 6' of 5/8" hose cuz I don't really trust the weird rubber of the hose on the Dorman aluminum Y-connector. For now, this is what I have:

I gotta find some wire loom, too.

 

[iamdub]

Just because I had easy access to it and because it couldn't hurt even if it doesn't help, I opened this hole up some:

Piece cut out, edges filed smooth, primed and painted:

Wouldn't make sense to not cut this out to match:

Peeled insulator off:

Cut out piece and smoothed the cut plastic:

 

[iamdub]

Since the factory insulator is kinda pathetic and mine is always falling in, I decided to replace it with something taller, wider and a little denser:

I hot-glued it into position:

...And test-fit it against the fender. Nice and tight seal that shouldn't fall out of place:

Compared to the factory seal:

 

[Rocket Man]

You’re almost making me want to go ahead and install the cam and headers on my Silvy but I finally got it driving again and I kinda like that....

 

[wjburken]

You’re almost making me want to go ahead and install the cam and headers on my Silvy but I finally got it driving again and I kinda like that....

Let’s know when the parts are ordered.

 

[iamdub]

You’re almost making me want to go ahead and install the cam and headers on my Silvy but I finally got it driving again and I kinda like that....

Take your time and just collect the parts. Or maybe you should order them cuz they may take a while if you're ordering factory parts.

I bought all my stock parts over a year ago. I'm really glad I got the lifters cuz they've doubled in price and rarity. I was the last-minute change of plans that stalled everything.