Project---------------Tahoe

[M Hankel]

Project--------------- 6 Speed Tahoe

OK, been contemplating this for some time, so I guess I'll do a build thread and see how it goes. The original engine/drivetrain has over 240,000 miles so the entire thing needs to be rebuilt/updated.

Goal:
Get the Tahoe to perform (straight line) about like a stock LS2 GTO, CTS-V1 or Bolton 4th gen Fbody.

Plan of attack:
5.13 Rear Gears
Convert to 2WD and drop 400-500 lbs in process
T56 Swap
Fresh 6.0 Engine w/ Ported heads, full exhaust, boltons etc..

I got most everything needed for the rear gears and T56 swap.

Here is the old girl in all her glory,,, at 5480 lbs. She's a big girl but I still think she's pretty good looking.

That is all. Will update as progress is made.

Mike

 

[NathanJax]

 

[krazykurt]

Love the color looks great as is lol

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk

 

[M Hankel]

Thanks man. I like it a lot too but there are times when I wished it were black.

A couple weeks ago I picked up an 03+ center console and finally got around to installing it this past weekend. I got it in preparation for the T56 swap. I think these consoles look so much better than the original console. Plus, with having the drink holders on the side I can retain a drink holder while the shifter location will up through the left side. I will try to post a pic of what the final product should look like when its done.

OK here is a pic of an 03+ console with a shifter coming up through it.

 

[NathanJax]

OK here is a pic of an 03+ console with a shifter coming up through it.

 

[Big Buttons]

Interested in how this runs after everything is done and tuned. Also what mpgs are like.

 

[M Hankel]

LOL,,, that is a funny skit...

Interested in how this runs after everything is done and tuned. Also what mpgs are like.

If the engine was stock it would probably pick up 2-3 mpg in town and possibly 5-6 on the hwy. With the 6.0 and heads/cam I'm not expecting a lot but with some tuning it should still pick up 2-4 on the highway. The 5.13 rearend gears sound steep but with the double overdrive of the T56 it will only be turning around 1900 rpm at 70 mph with my current tire height.

Mike

 

[M Hankel]

Here's some updates on the build. Can't find a T56 GTO main shaft anywhere (Tremec is back ordered on just about everything) so I sent out one of my spares to get repaired. In the mean time, got some work done on the budget 6.0 engine build after getting the block back from getting honed.

Prepping the block for assembly...

Checked the tolerances on the main bearings and got the crank installed. Also got the rods mated with the pistons and installed the rings. Should have the short block finished up this week if I can find my cam degree wheel....

Mike

 

[M Hankel]

Well I can't seem to find my degree wheel for degreeing the camshaft... Not sure what happened to that but I did move twice last year so who knows.

In the mean time I decided to see how the cheapo Chinese eBay head studs fit. These were less expensive than stock GM head bolts so I decided to give them a try. Visually they look just like my ARP's on the Z28. They're even broached on the ends for allen socket which I was not expecting, and a slight taper on the block side just like the ARP's, with 12 point nuts to boot. Not bad for less than 70.00!!

Mike

 

[Big Buttons]

Can't wait to see how this runs

 

[Goodinblack]

Can't wait to see how this runs

X2

 

[07Burb]

This is going to be cool build!! The T56 swap really intrigues me

 

[M Hankel]

Thanks all. Should be a fun driver when it all comes together. The entire drivetrain from front pulleys to rearend will be completely new or rebuilt.

I will be hand porting some 317 heads and milling them to get the compression back down. The cam is a custom grind, 228/230 .587/.592 on a 112 LSA. I'm shooting for 420rwhp as a personal goal but I'll be pretty happy with anything over 400rwhp. Sounds big for a "truck", but it should work really well with the T56 and 5.13 gears (31.5" tires). Didn't want anything with crazy valve lift because I want the valve springs to last more than 25k miles.

Still need to order up front/rear seals for the engine covers and few misc gaskets to get the bottom end buttoned up. Haven't decided on a oil pump yet. Ported LS6 or a Melling unit.... ?

I'm leaving on vacation the first week of July. Was hoping to have the T56 and gears installed before I left but the damn T56 mainshaft is still on back order through Tremec and I haven't received the repaired one back yet. Once I get back from vacation I can at least get the rear gears installed and continue to port the heads. Hopefully the mainshaft will show up before July 10th.

Mike

 

[rob3827]

nice work.....looking forward to the progress

 

[M Hankel]

Thanks. I'll be making some progress within the next couple weeks. Just waiting on parts to finish up the short block. Here's a list of order for things yet to get done.

-Degree Cam, this week
-Install new seals/gaskets on short block once parts arrive, hopefully this week
-Flow test stock cylinder head, this week
-Disassemble C5 Corvette T56 Trans, this week
-Rebuild T56 to GTO style, this coming weekend
-Start cylinder head port work and re-flow test one chamber, next week
-Hoping to install the rear end gears the weekend of the 26th of this month.

Mike

 

[M Hankel]

Updates,,,,

So, it's been a pretty crappy couple weeks. Everything,,,, and I do mean EVERYTHING has been fighting me trying to get things done. Wrong parts show up, parts not working as they should, broken tools etc... But, I did get the gears installed finally after three days of cursing lol....

So,,, I spent a good amount of time setting up the gears to get a good wear pattern. Then I go to install the axles and need to remove the cross pin from the carrier assembly. Then I find this!!!! The damn pin can't come out because it hits the teeth of the gear!! WTF??

So the next day I called Rons Machine Service where I bought the gears and Yukon Duragrip package. He said "oh that is common with the 5.13 and 4.88 gears. Just grind the corner of the gear tooth away and it should clear no problem, just stay out of the wear pattern. We even have a 'how to' vid on our website". Dandy.... There goes 4 hours setting up my wear pattern I just accomplished. Well, I started thinking about it and I had to pull the ring gear off to get the pin out anyway. So, while it was out I just milled the pin flat on one side to clear the gear. I was a little nervous wondering if this would work or not. But, all is back together and it works just fine. Gears are pretty quiet. I thought they'd be a bit noisy since a numerically higher gear is usually louder, but these will work out just great.

Here's a couple pics of the milled down pin.

As for the other updates... well lets just say I'm still working on those and leave it at that. I hope things start going smoother or this is going to be a five year project!!

Mike

 

[BlueTahoe2001]

Can't wait to see this project finished and see how it runs. How do you think the T56 swap will be? It seems it could possibly be fairly difficult considering all the electronics you will have to deal with.

 

[M Hankel]

I'm not too worried about theT56 swap. I was dreading the gear swap more so than the trans. My buddy just yanked a motor from his 03 Silvy and said it want too fun. Kinda not looking forward to that now either lol...

Mike

 

[M Hankel]

Finally got some free time to dig into the T56 rebuild and some forward progress made again. This transmission started life in a C5 Corvette and I converted it to a hybrid. It's basically got the newer/better syncros design from the Corvette/GTO with the Fbody case and a GTO main shaft.

Parts all cleaned and ready for final assembly.

Checking the bearing end play for the main shaft.

Checking the counter shaft bearing end play.

Checking the counter shaft extension bearing end play.

That's about as far as I got with it last night.

Mike

 

[M Hankel]

Well it's been awhile since I've updated. I had some issues with the main shaft on the T56 and had to send it out for repair. Normally I'd just buy a new main shaft, but everyone in the country is out of stock on GTO main shafts, and Tremec parts in general. It took longer than expected to get it back, then when it did come back I assembled the trans again, only to find out the repair wasn't quite within tolerance. So, had to disassemble the trans once more and chock it up on the lathe to remove about .0015" where the 5/6 gear rides. Total pain in the ass but at least it's all together finally (third times a charm). Still need to install the top plate but it was getting late last night and I couldn't locate a GTO/Fbody top plate from my stock piled T56 parts. Guess I'll have to fabricate one from a piece of carbon fiber I have laying around.

I've also been hand porting some 317 cylinder heads while the trans main shaft was out for repair. I'll post up some pics of that once I get a little further along with the port work.

Mike