'98 K1500 Silverado Z71 Build Thread

[TrailBlazerZ71]

Bought this truck in December of 2013, fresh out of basic training. Was the first vehicle I ever purchased and owned. I drove it for a year, before I decided to make it a project vehicle. Unfortunately, my school schedule caused me to neglect it for the better part of 6 months, but now i'm going at it (finally)!

The photo was the truck when I went offroading out at Lake Mead (Found a sweet way to get past the Park Service toll booths)

The truck was stock when I bought it; All i've done was add 17" wheels from a GMT800, 265/70R17 Goodyear Wrangler A/T's, new A/C compressor (old one was shot, and didn't blow cold at all), and installed a Spectre CAI (got it for free from a buddy, definitely not my preferred unit)

My rather extensive plan for this vehicle:
crate engine - the current one has 200k miles on it, and I want a spare engine for future projects
rebuild the 4L60E - I love learning and working on stuff, and i'd rather do it and have it break, and learn from the experience, than have someone else do it and not learn a damned thing
NP243 to NP241 swap - I want the manual shift 4x4, and would rather chase down a mechanical problem than an electrical problem
dual batteries
install Magnaflow direct-fit cats and dual exhaust
new cooling system (radiator; oil cooler; power steering cooler; new radiator, oil cooler, & transmission cooler lines; new blower motor and accumulator)
hydroboost swap
14-bolt semi-floating rear axle swap
solid front axle swap (Dana 44)
4" Suspension lift (Alcan 4" lift rear springs & u-bolts for '98 1500, Alcan 1" lift front springs & u-bolts from 1987 Chevy V10)
install Nitto Trail Grapplers (LT315/70R17)
re-gear to 4.56's
install PSC hydraulic steering kit
brand new engine & transmission mounts, and body bushings
Iron Cross front HD bumper with grille guard, shackle mounts, LED lights, and a Warn M12000 winch
Iron Cross rear HD bumper with shackle mounts
Bushwacker fender flares
ARE Overland camper shell
curved 50" LED light bar
N-Fab hooped nerf bars
Go Industried bed tire mount (mounts on inner side of bed)
LED taillights, parking lights, & corner markers
projector headlights
power-adjustable tow mirrors (has power-adjustable regular mirrors currently)
new weatherstripping (water leaks through part of windshield, constant whistling sound front windshield and passenger door at highway speed)
repaint to Deep Ruby Metallic (the dark red that the 2015 Silverado comes in)
replace all interior lights w/ red LEDs
CB, and possible a HAM radio

 

[TrailBlazerZ71]

First thing I did was remove the old engine. It has 200,000 miles on it, and is in major need of a rebuild (that's for a later thread)
It was a real b***h. My biggest issue was that the garage I have the truck in was not tall enough for my hoist to go high enough to cleanly lift the engine out of the compartment, I had to air down the front tires. Still ruined the stock grille and hood latch assembly

 

[TrailBlazerZ71]

The week after I got the engine out, we had a cold snap, so I elected to not open the garage door, and focused instead on removing the OEM seats and center console. I will be using Mastercraft Baja RS Dirtsport seats in the front, a Tuffy security console as my center console, and the rear will have all my "necessities" in it (recovery gear, hand tools, ARB cooler, etc...)

 

[TrailBlazerZ71]

Got my crate engine in the other day. It's a Chevrolet Performance HD L31-R, with 4-bolt main caps (stock engine had 2-bolt mains). The kit came with an Accel distributor, spark plug wires, ignition coil, NGK spark plugs, mounting hardware for the ignition coil, complete upper gasket kit, and break in oil. I also purchased an upgrade fuel injector assembly (the one with electronic injectors at the tips instead of the retarded poppet valves), ARP bolt kit, shorty headers, a high-torque mini starter, new water pump, and a severe-duty fan clutch (old one was worn out). Re-using the old intake manifold, fan, accessory mounts, pulleys, throttle body, and flexplate.