New guy. Refreshing an '06 Border Patrol Tahoe.

[Tonyrodz]

I'm getting things cleaned up for the header installation. The grounds all look good! I'll grab some new O2s and HPtuners software is standing by.

This wire looks cut by the driver's side frame rail. I'm not sure if it was from service or emergency lights in it or old factory fog lights. Chasing the wire, it looks to travel up to the firewall. There are some patched wires under the center cup holders but I didn't test them for continuity just yet.

There are no fog lights installed, so there's nothing to reconnect.
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The only other thing I didn't like was this. That cable has a mount there on the outside of the frame rail. I didn't like that it protrudes into the fenderwell. Road debris could do a number on it at an inopportune time.

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The suspension looks good, otherise. The front axles are actually holding up, this time. I still think pulling the stiff anti-sway bars is a bit more forgiving on the rest of the chassis and suspension. It may corner unnaturally well with those big bars on it, but I think the rest of the chassis and driveline pay a certain dear price for those faster cornering speeds. This is still very forgiving on our pot-hold and rutted dirt roads.

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That wire in the 1st pic almost looks like it could've been a block heater. What does the attached tag say?

 

[War_Pig]

That wire in the 1st pic almost looks like it could've been a block heater. What does the attached tag say?

It had a little electrical diagram on it for the 3 wires. No real identifier or P/N.

BTW, love your header install shenanigans. I'll be getting mine ceramic coated .

 

[Fless]

That wire in the 1st pic almost looks like it could've been a block heater. What does the attached tag say?

That's exactly what I was going to say, 110v AC. Tag says "operates below 0°F" or similar I'd bet.

 

[War_Pig]

That's exactly what I was going to say, 110v AC. Tag says "operates below 0°F" or similar I'd bet.

Do they attach back by the flexplate, on the block? The wire looked to travel back there somewhere.

 

[West 1]

I bought a former CHP Tahoe years ago and fixed it up and drove it for 5 or 6 years. Mine was a 2002, 5.3L 4.10 gears. I found another Tahoe being parted out with full nice leather interior and did a full interior swap, added heated seats. For police duty it also was set up with Dual Batteries which I liked a lot. The body on mine had been hit more than a few times and even after having it repainted the damaged parts would show in certain light so I sold it. It was a great driver, had plenty of power with the 4.10 gears and my MPG was the same as I have had with newer rigs that had the 3.42 or 3.73 gears. For highway driving I prefer the 3.73 gear set but around town and for towing the 4.10 gears were hard to beat. Good luck with your project.

While your oil pan is off make sure you replace the Oring on the oil pick up tube at the oil pump. They all fail and leave you with no oil pressure. $3 part but all that labor to get to it. You will already be in there so do it.

 

[Fless]

Do they attach back by the flexplate, on the block? The wire looked to travel back there somewhere.

Left rear side of the block, I think right below the exhaust manifold around cylinder 7's area. Should never be needed where you are.

 

[War_Pig]

This paint sucks. It was likely thrown through the booth at a high rate of speed .

The ride was rougher than I liked and felt like it threw the truck around a bit. The tire pressure when warm was 52psi. I dropped it to 45 and it rides and handles like a dream. That slight dead zone on steering center isn't so light. I'll try 40 next. The weather warmed up so that snuck up on me.

 

[War_Pig]

37psi when these tires are warm is perfect. No more slight understeer or "skateboard" feeling. The roads don't broadcast every flaw to the inside of the vehicle.

 

[War_Pig]

(EDIT) Datalogging looks ok. The MAP sensor code looks like a hiccup.

I de-tuned the shift settings a little to upshift earlier considering the 4.10 gears, dirt tires, and no bars. Drives like a peach .

 

[War_Pig]

This is after the lift and stock 31in diameter tires. This looks almost 5in over a base model, but not much taller than a Z71. What made sorting this a little hard was that it's an LT body with Z71 underpinnings. Interceptor sway bars made it worse trying to sort the chassis tuning. No bars and 37psi, this handles great.

With Z71 springs and extended 5100 shocks, this is what you get for height. Not too much and not too little, IMO. It's hard to do the ricer math of what the lift actually LOOKS like because Z71 springs and different chassis do different things.

Shorter people have a hard time getting in, but taller people just slide right in. On 33-35in tires, I'd have to hop a little to get in.