'97 Chevy Tahoe (2dr/2wd) mild custom

[likaroc13]

So, I decided to keep the Tahoe. I played out every scenario possible & just couldn't let it go for fear of regret. I plan to retire this one to tow pig/every now & then driver status once we get my wife something else to drive daily. Then I'll just take over her current vehicle as my daily.

However, I'm kind of glad I decided to hold on to it for the simple fact that I would've felt terrible for the new owner. See, Friday a week ago the transmission decided to bite the dust. It hit me out of nowhere! I was on my way to work Friday 8/10, headed up the ramp to the highway when I heard a clunk noise. Immediately afterward, the rpm's went up. It was similar to being in drive (or maybe lower) rather than overdrive. When I had to slow down & tried to get back up to speed, it was even worse. It wouldn't shift until you got up to 2k or higher. Luckily I made it to work. When I went to leave that afternoon, I came to realize I had no reverse. I put it into neutral & pushed myself backward. I had forward gears, so I knew maybe I could limp it home. I did indeed make it home safely, & I'm currently trying to get a plan worked out to get it fixed. While it's down, I hope to have the rear end rebuilt as well. The previous owner mentioned an owner before him using this thing to tow his race car. I'm guessing that may have played a factor is both the rear end & trans having issues at such low mileage.

I just got called back to work on July 9 after a 6+ month layoff. While it might've sucked from a financial perspective, it would've been nice if this had happened then. At least I would've had plenty of down time to get it fixed without needing to rent something.


Stay tuned for the next episode of "As the Tahoe World Turns."

[Palf70Step]

OK, I won't change the channel. I'll just sit here and wait for ya.

[likaroc13]

After about $1800, it's now been back on the road a little over a week. This was a bit of a setback, as I had intentions of getting the rear end rebuilt before the year's end. Along with that was planning to do a little frame & under body cleanup to preserve things long-term. I had a shop in mind to do that, along with the transmission, however I couldn't manage to get it all worked out. After trying a couple weeks, I just ended up using a local transmission shop to take care of that issue. It will likely be a bit later in the Fall or early Winter, but I still hope to get the other stuff taken care of before any bad Winter weather approaches.

[Palf70Step]

Glad to hear you are rolling again.

[Hankster]

Hate to hear that about the transmission. Glad you got it back on the road again!

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by Hankster

Hate to hear that about the transmission. Glad you got it back on the road again!

Thanks

[made2drag]

Love the Tahoe!

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by made2drag

Love the Tahoe!

Thanks! Wish I had something positive to post about it these days, but it’s been sitting most of the past few years. I keep it cranked from time to time, but it hasn’t been driven much. Tires have probably less than 20k miles on them and are now dry rotting. Got an undiagnosed coolant leak as well. I’ve talked with a local shop about getting it back on the road, and we just need to get it on the schedule. I sold my 1966 C-10 and kept this with intentions of finishing my vision for it. That has somewhat changed in recent years. I want it to look old school cool and period correct for a 90’s Sport Truck era ride. I did purchase the first pieces of that puzzle a couple years ago. They’re 17” Boyds Turbo Tech billet wheels.

I’m not on here much anymore, but I’ll try to remember to update when I have something worthy of sharing.

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by likaroc13

Thanks! Wish I had something positive to post about it these days, but it’s been sitting most of the past few years. I keep it cranked from time to time, but it hasn’t been driven much. Tires have probably less than 20k miles on them and are now dry rotting. Got an undiagnosed coolant leak as well. I’ve talked with a local shop about getting it back on the road, and we just need to get it on the schedule. I sold my 1966 C-10 and kept this with intentions of finishing my vision for it. That has somewhat changed in recent years. I want it to look old school cool and period correct for a 90’s Sport Truck era ride. I did purchase the first pieces of that puzzle a couple years ago. They’re 17” Boyds Turbo Tech billet wheels.

I’m not on here much anymore, but I’ll try to remember to update when I have something worthy of sharing.

cant go wrong with billets....

[likaroc13]

Popped on here to refresh my memory about an issue I had, so I could possibly point someone else in the right direction. Not a lot to update really, but early last year (2024) I took it to a reputable custom shop to try and diagnose the coolant leak. I had also been contemplating a full tune-up. I was told that the EGR valve was where the coolant was leaking. After looking underneath, he also thought that the freeze plugs were leaking. He thought the engine would have to come out to replace those. I chose to hold off, thinking I’d get a second opinion. I did have the distributor cap, rotor, plugs and wires replaced. The plugs and wires were still originals. I also did the MPFI injection upgrade.

I sold the Wheel Vintiques smoothies last year as well. Shortly afterwards I picked up a set of 5x5 factory steelies with nice used tires from a 71/72 C-10 to use for temporary.

Middle of last year I took it to my local mechanic because I started having a misfire. I had previously had O’Reilly scan it, and I tried swapping plugs with no luck. The mechanic ended up discovering that it was a different spark plug that was bad. While there, I also had him take a look at the coolant leak. It was pressure tested, and they couldn’t seem to find anything. I brought it back home and parked it, knowing the issue would pop up again.

As soon as the weather got colder again, I noticed the continued leaking underneath, along with the coolant dropping in the radiator as it had before. This time I took pictures for proof and took it back to the local mechanic in early 2025. Needless to say, they found the culprit this time. It wasn’t the freeze plugs as the custom shop first thought, but it was actually the intake gasket. I was told by the previous owner that they had been replaced under his ownership, which is when it was swapped to green coolant. Anyway, all is good with the coolant now!


Then this past March (2025) I came across a Facebook listing for a set of NOS factory steelies with trim rings and black GMC center caps for an OBS truck. Knowing I wouldn’t be happy with the center caps, I began searching and luckily found a new set of chrome GMC center caps for an OBS. Those will not only look better with the trim rings, but they also coordinate with the GMC grille. This will give me an original look to run when the billets aren’t installed. Those are still sitting in my bonus room waiting for someday in the future.

[likaroc13]

Attached are pics of the factory OBS wheels I bought, along with a couple pictures showing the look I’m going for. I can’t remember if my lug nut covers are chrome or black though.

[likaroc13]

A couple pics I took last year, and it still looks the same. Don’t remember if I covered it previously, but a few years ago I discovered the passenger side front carpet being wet. My interior has been dismantled as a result. I’ve since found it leaking on the drivers side as well. It always seems to run into the channel underneath the door sills. I’m pretty sure it’s the windshield. The roof needs to be repainted, along with several other things. I want to replace the rear quarter windows as well, because the seals are getting pretty weathered. I’ve heard mixed reviews on the quality of new replacements though. If I can narrow down someone to do body/paint, I’ll try to get the glass work done then.

[Palf70Step]

Glad to see the ole girl is still with you.