Shucks First Build

[Shucks]

Originally Posted by Willowrun

Very nice work! Not enough built stepsides out there and your's looks great. I'm really liking the rim/tire combo. Did you end up with the size rims and tires you mentioned a few pages back?

Yessir. 255/45/r20 and 295/40/r20 Nitto G2 tires with 20x8 and 20x9.5 wheels.
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[Claytona08]

The finished product looks great! I tried to go through the thread but the photos are broken thanks to Photobucket. Do you happen to have a pic of the truck when you started?

[Shucks]

Originally Posted by Claytona08

The finished product looks great! I tried to go through the thread but the photos are broken thanks to Photobucket. Do you happen to have a pic of the truck when you started?

Yeah photobucket really killed me on this one. But I do have most of my photos still. Heres a rundown.

[Claytona08]

Wow, that truck came a long way man! Looks great

[Shucks]

Alright so the project never ends, right?

So if you remember I had a 5.3 I wanted to swap in before I painted the truck. Now the truck is painted and I've had my summer and fall fun but now I realize why fuel injection became a thing, I'm tired of adjusting and tinkering the small block. So this winter I'm starting my 5.3 build.

So I pulled this out of a 01 Silverado with 110,000 miles on it the other day and it was just given to me by a buddy. I was told that it ran out of oil and had zero oil pressure. They drove it a mile or two to load it on a trailer and it was parked ever since. They never did find out what the problem was but I was told that 5.3's have had many oil pump failures.

This is as far as I've taken it down, I need to get it on a stand so I can drop the pan to see if there's any more hints to what the loss could be from, hoping the bearings in the crank are good.







The cross hatches are still in the bores and they feel very smooth. I'm really hoping the thing doesn't need to go to the machine shop but for peace of mind It'll probably end up there..

[Cape Codder]

My daughter has an 08 with 5.3 and lost oil pressure. Shut down the truck checked oil,full restarted and had oil pressure . A mile later no oil pressure again so towed it home. There is a very fine screen under the sending unit upper rear of motor replaced the screen and sender a year ago and good readings since.

[Shucks]

Originally Posted by Cape Codder

My daughter has an 08 with 5.3 and lost oil pressure. Shut down the truck checked oil,full restarted and had oil pressure . A mile later no oil pressure again so towed it home. There is a very fine screen under the sending unit upper rear of motor replaced the screen and sender a year ago and good readings since.

Yeah I have heard that as well. Took my sending unit out and there is no screen in there. I read up on it and it sounds like the screen is only on 07-13 Silverados.

[Jrgunn5150]

Oftentimes the O-ring on the pickup fails and they suck air.

Good luck on the swap, I'm doing one as well, having a more modern, driveable truck is something I'm looking forward to.

[Shucks]

Boy I wish it was an O-ring or a clogged screen... I'll just leave this here.





4 of the 8 rod bearings were scorn and the main bearings were all in pretty good shape. Looks like an overhaul coming.

[Jrgunn5150]

Originally Posted by Shucks

Boy I wish it was an O-ring or a clogged screen... I'll just leave this here.





4 of the 8 rod bearings were scorn and the main bearings were all in pretty good shape. Looks like an overhaul coming.

I had to put a new set of bearings in mine as well, my cam bearings came out with the cam lol.

But it's almost back together now.

I do have a set of standard size main and rod bearings if you're interested, they sent me two sets and didn't want the other set back lol.

[Shucks]

Machine shop said it was worthless to rebuild that block since it would cost so much to fix the cam bearing bores. So that engine now sits in a junkyard.

So I took the pickup out for a stroll instead.

[Low Elco]

Came out great, nice job!

[Shucks]

Few shots I've taken recently. Got a new pup and he sure digs it!

I'm also looking for interior suggestions. My interior has barely been touched other than a dash cover, carpet and a seat cover. I dig the new brown interiors from TMI but not sure if that would look good? I also don't like the price that comes along with TMI products, very pricey. I'm really into suggestions.

[Cape Codder]

Good looking pup. I don't think a brown interior is the best for the blue. I would go with a dark blue or black to be conservative or red if you want the wow factor.
Whats the pup's name?

[Shucks]

Alright who's good with rear ends? I'm not! Someone help me out here!

I was driving the other day after I got my new exhaust installed. The new exhaust quieted down my truck and allowed me to hear a lot of noises that I couldn't hear before, which it may have been too late. So I took the diff cover off...

12 bolt rear end with 3.73's. Definitely looks like it needs a rebuild. Is this worth putting my money into or should I find something else?

[Cape Codder]

I am no expert on rear ends and setting up gears but it looks like you have a pinion bearing issue that was discovered just in time before a total destruction. You may be able to save the carrier with some filing of rough edges and get away with new bearings. I would show it to one of your old shop teachers or a good rear end guy.

[Nick_R_23]

+1, pinion bearing or retaining nut failure there. That’s an excellent opportunity to ditch that stock carrier and upgrade to a Tru-Trac with a fresh set of gears.

[Dads79GMC]

Good luck on the rear end, I’m clueless on those matters. Love this build! Mike

[Shucks]

Originally Posted by Nick_R_23

+1, pinion bearing or retaining nut failure there. That’s an excellent opportunity to ditch that stock carrier and upgrade to a Tru-Trac with a fresh set of gears.

That’s probably what it is. Thanks for the replies guys.

Can you educate me what a tru track is and why that would be in my benefit? Honestly I know nothing about rear ends besides the fact that mine doesn’t have Posi!
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[aggie91]

Originally Posted by Shucks

That’s probably what it is. Thanks for the replies guys.

Can you educate me what a tru track is and why that would be in my benefit? Honestly I know nothing about rear ends besides the fact that mine doesn’t have Posi!
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Tru Track is just another more modern version of the posi (Limited Slip) style carrier. Do some google research on it. There are a few options out there. A full rebuild with bearings, new carrier (Limited Slip type) and new gears could run over $600 in parts easy and if you have a shop do the work, I have been quoted at $1000 for gears, carrier, new bearings and seals (including axle bearings). Its not hard work, but without the right tools it can be a costly learning experience if you get the set up wrong...

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Tru Track is just another more modern version of the posi (Limited Slip) style carrier. Do some google research on it. There are a few options out there. A full rebuild with bearings, new carrier (Limited Slip type) and new gears could run over $600 in parts easy and if you have a shop do the work, I have been quoted at $1000 for gears, carrier, new bearings and seals (including axle bearings). Its not hard work, but without the right tools it can be a costly learning experience if you get the set up wrong...

Karl is spot on. Everyone says build it, they are cheap. Survey says BS. Unless you really want to learn to do it yourself, setting up a GM ring and pinion is no picnic. It requires specific tools that are not commonly available, and it can be a lesson in frustration.

I have found the most economical option is to find a replacement axle. They can be bought very reasonable and are not hard to find. Locating one with 3.73 gears is a bit harder than the more common 3.08 or 3.42 but they are out there.

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Karl is spot on. Everyone says build it, they are cheap. Survey says BS. Unless you really want to learn to do it yourself, setting up a GM ring and pinion is no picnic. It requires specific tools that are not commonly available, and it can be a lesson in frustration.

I have found the most economical option is to find a replacement axle. They can be bought very reasonable and are not hard to find. Locating one with 3.73 gears is a bit harder than the more common 3.08 or 3.42 but they are out there.

Adding to what Ken stated, the GM 10 Bolt rear end in these trucks is actually a good replacement. The pinion on the 10 bolt has a larger diameter then the 12 bolt pinion, therefore the 10 bolt is a bit stronger and can be found at a reasonable price. Finding one with a 3.42 or 3.08 would yield you a little better MPG if you are worried about that.

[Cape Codder]

If you decide to rebuild what you have try to find someone that knows what they are doing and will let you watch how it is done. You are young and will need to do it again someday if you like doing burnouts.

[Whamo]

Originally Posted by Cape Codder

If you decide to rebuild what you have try to find someone that knows what they are doing and will let you watch how it is done. You are young and will need to do it again someday if you like doing burnouts.

and burnouts are life...even 1 legged ones...



just sayin...

[Wraith]

Great build! Sorry to hear about the rear end.