Shucks First Build

[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.

[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!
Posted via Mobile Device

[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!
Posted via Mobile Device

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.

[Dads79GMC]

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

[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.

[Shucks]

I appreciate all you guys's inputs! Very helpful.

So I have a pretty good mechanic in the family and he's going to help me rebuild this rear end. He told me how to accurately measure the gears and to find out I actually have 3.07 gears. He and I figured up some parts and sounds like I'm going to be doing all new bearings, ring and pinion and a LSD cage. Won't be for awhile because he's pretty busy right now, but none-the-less I'm going to help him out and learn how its done!

Before this happened I took a video of my new exhaust and how its ran. I couldn't find much information on the best way to run an exhaust on these trucks, so I figured I'd make a video on how I did mine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQOB...ature=youtu.be

[LT7A]

Your truck is looking great. Sorry about the disappointment on the 5.3. Regarding interiors, you could do brown with your truck, but the lighter the better. In fact a tan would look great. One of the distinctive things about these trucks is the number of interior colors that were available back then. I like a black interior as much as the next guy, but it's been done a lot, and has become more and more common since that era. With that high-powered blue exterior, neutrals are your best bet - grey, tan, taupe, oyster. Any blue would need to have a high contrast with your paint, so a pale blue or a dark blue are possible but not great options. Any red or green or strong color is going to wrestle with that bright blue paint you have.

[Shucks]

Well I went ahead with a full rebuild. Found out I did not have 3.73s, I had 3.08 gears. Which I learned that 3.08 with a 700r4 is pretty gutless. I went ahead and ordered a limited slip diff 3.73 with all new gears, bearings and seals. Went pretty smooth actually!




Crushing this sleeve was a real pain.

[smpoulin01]

That gear change will really wake your truck up!

[Cape Codder]

I see a new set of rear tires in your future. Nice job.