'99 K1500 Suburban "Storm"

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Stepside_fever95

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It's been a good while since I've posted an update on here. Insurance covered all the stolen items thankfully, but the theif has not been caught. I've replaced most everything I needed to.

I finally got the engine back from the machine shop. He discounted the labor costs as an apology for taking so long to finish it. I got everything dropped in, fired it up, and everything worked as it should! This iron 6.2 is a HUGE difference in power and torque compared to my old LQ4. It will spin in 4wd from a dig with 265's on it. But the fun only lasted for a day...

The day after getting the suburban back on the road, I took off and let out at 45mph when I heard something pop. Suddenly it revved in gear like it was in neutral. I tried every gear, but it had no movement at all. It ended up being a broken output shaft once I removed the transfer case (stock 4l60e shaft). I have since sent the trans back to Performabuilt to be rebuilt and upgraded from a Level 3 to a Black Edition (awesome customer service, even though my warranty had expired, I explained the circumstances with the engine and they prorated my warranty).

While it's been parked, I have sold my 20x10s to a friend (they are much heavier than the 18s I had on it the day I got it running, and I noticed a huge loss in acceleration from the heavier wheels), lowered it 2.5-3" (3" drop keys and 2.5" shackles), installed my VAS traction bars, removed the fender flares, roof rack, and tow mirrors, installed an Eaton True Trac differential in my 14 bolt, bought 2022 Silverado wheels, and have a set of 285/60r18 Toyo Proxes ST3 tires to install.

It looks like a whole different vehicle than it did 3 months ago. I'll have the transmission installed in about 2 weeks, then I'll put the rest of the break in miles on the engine. The plan is to make it to Street Car Takeover Charlotte on June 25th for Test and Tune.
 

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Erik the Awful

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It ended up being a broken output shaft once I removed the transfer case (stock 4l60e shaft). I have since sent the trans back to Performabuilt to be rebuilt and upgraded from a Level 3 to a Black Edition
While I don't think the 4L60 is as weak as some people, you're definitely over its capabilities. I'd head straight for a 4L80. I'm not even going to consider a 4L60 for my 2wd one-ton, and it's only getting a 350.
 

Supercharged111

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It's been a good while since I've posted an update on here. Insurance covered all the stolen items thankfully, but the theif has not been caught. I've replaced most everything I needed to.

I finally got the engine back from the machine shop. He discounted the labor costs as an apology for taking so long to finish it. I got everything dropped in, fired it up, and everything worked as it should! This iron 6.2 is a HUGE difference in power and torque compared to my old LQ4. It will spin in 4wd from a dig with 265's on it. But the fun only lasted for a day...

The day after getting the suburban back on the road, I took off and let out at 45mph when I heard something pop. Suddenly it revved in gear like it was in neutral. I tried every gear, but it had no movement at all. It ended up being a broken output shaft once I removed the transfer case (stock 4l60e shaft). I have since sent the trans back to Performabuilt to be rebuilt and upgraded from a Level 3 to a Black Edition (awesome customer service, even though my warranty had expired, I explained the circumstances with the engine and they prorated my warranty).

While it's been parked, I have sold my 20x10s to a friend (they are much heavier than the 18s I had on it the day I got it running, and I noticed a huge loss in acceleration from the heavier wheels), lowered it 2.5-3" (3" drop keys and 2.5" shackles), installed my VAS traction bars, removed the fender flares, roof rack, and tow mirrors, installed an Eaton True Trac differential in my 14 bolt, bought 2022 Silverado wheels, and have a set of 285/60r18 Toyo Proxes ST3 tires to install.

It looks like a whole different vehicle than it did 3 months ago. I'll have the transmission installed in about 2 weeks, then I'll put the rest of the break in miles on the engine. The plan is to make it to Street Car Takeover Charlotte on June 25th for Test and Tune.

Is it a stock 6.2? Or a 6.2 bottom end with a conglomeration on top?
 

Stepside_fever95

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Is it a stock 6.2? Or a 6.2 bottom end with a conglomeration on top?
Neither. Iron block LQ4 bored .065" over, LQ4 crank, forged 6.125" Scat rods, forged flat top DSS pistons with -5cc valve reliefs, coated skirts, and coated tops, 228/232 .600"/.600" 111lsa cam, milled. 018" 799 heads with dual valve springs and titanium retainers, and a trailblazer ss intake manifold. Estimating around 430-450 rwhp. I'll see in a few weeks when I get it on the dyno!
 

Stepside_fever95

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While I don't think the 4L60 is as weak as some people, you're definitely over its capabilities. I'd head straight for a 4L80. I'm not even going to consider a 4L60 for my 2wd one-ton, and it's only getting a 350.
The trans is getting hardened, cryogenic treated input and output shafts, a 4L78 input drum, new servo of Performabuilt's design proven to work better than Sonnax's superhold servos, along with all the upgrades it already has. Also getting a new FTI 9.5" 3000 stall billet single disc converter and a 2 year warranty on the trans. They have had zero failures with this Black Edition transmission due to too much power.
 

Stepside_fever95

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OEM wheels look much better! I think color matching the flairs would really set it off.
Thank you! I really hated to see those black 20x10s go, but they rubbed more than I liked, and to lower it they had to go. I was going to paint the flares, but decided to just remove them since they can cause rust and rub into my paint. I'll save them to maybe stick on something else later though.
 

Supercharged111

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Neither. Iron block LQ4 bored .065" over, LQ4 crank, forged 6.125" Scat rods, forged flat top DSS pistons with -5cc valve reliefs, coated skirts, and coated tops, 228/232 .600"/.600" 111lsa cam, milled. 018" 799 heads with dual valve springs and titanium retainers, and a trailblazer ss intake manifold. Estimating around 430-450 rwhp. I'll see in a few weeks when I get it on the dyno!

Ahh OK, more like a built 6.0 then. Is it common for a 6.0 block to have enough meat to punch out that far? I know the 5.3 motors can typically be punched out to a 5.7.
 

Stepside_fever95

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Ahh OK, more like a built 6.0 then. Is it common for a 6.0 block to have enough meat to punch out that far? I know the 5.3 motors can typically be punched out to a 5.7.
Quite a few people punch them out, but I don't believe they can be honed much more after that because the walls begin to get thin. First I heard of it was on performancetrucks forum a few years ago. Much cheaper than buying a gen 4 aluminum 6.2.
 

BBslider001

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So wait, just finished reading through htis thread. Nice work....but you lowered a K1500? Did I read that right? And why get rid of the tow mirrors? Aerodynamics? Just wondering....
 
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