2006 Silverado body swap/frame(chassis) swap 4.3 2wd to 4.8 4wd

[NastyBuzzard]

Hey guys. I have a 2001 Z71 donor that I used for my ls swap. It has 3.73 front end and (3.73 posi) rear end under it. (Rear disc.) I want to take that out and swap it in to get rid of my current 3.42 setup. Thoughts? Any links to threads of swapping them out? I have swapped quite a few rearends but for this I will need to go from disc to drum conversion and I have never swapped a IFS front end by myself. Thoughts? 3.42s are killing this truck even with stock size 265/70/17 tires, and I want to go up to more of a 33" tall tire, maybe an all terrain.

This truck will be used to tow and work out of. It won't see any mud playing unless it happens accidently.

Also considering doing vette servo, having trans flushed and filter changed and maybe putting in a transgo HD2 shift kit.

How it sits now.. I need a air deflector for it bad and fender flares.



My 3 LS trucks.









They all need baths and more work.

I also plan, if I get to do the swap, to take the rearend (3.42 posi) from the 06 now 4x4 and swap it into my crew cab with just has 3.42 peg leg now and rear drum conversion, those rear disc are useless.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Great job on the swap!

I can't help with the axle swaps, but just want to add something to think about/research.

You may have to replace the MC/Prop valve (do they even have one?) and/or ABS control module for the brakes to work correctly when swapping from rear drum to disc and vice versa. I've owned a 00 Z71 for the past 10 years and I've never paid attention to how the brakes work so I'm not even 100% sure on all the modern components. Maybe you don't have to do anything? Also, in my opinion the rear disc brakes are nothing to rave about. I do like the 3.73 rear gear I have though, so I think it would be worth the swap for the gearing.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Great job on the swap!

I can't help with the axle swaps, but just want to add something to think about/research.

You may have to replace the MC/Prop valve (do they even have one?) and/or ABS control module for the brakes to work correctly when swapping from rear drum to disc and vice versa. I've owned a 00 Z71 for the past 10 years and I've never paid attention to how the brakes work so I'm not even 100% sure on all the modern components. Also, in my opinion the rear disc brakes are nothing to rave about. I do like the 3.73 rear gear I have though, so I think it would be worth the swap.

Thanks!!! It definitely was worth it/work/$!

Yeah I do NOT want the rear disc, I want to take them off my 01 Z71 axles and chunk them and replace them with the drums from the rear of the 06 2wd.

Yeah got to have the 3.73s!! The 3.42s suck so bad! I have them on my 04 crew cab short bed w/ 5.3 and with the 20's and equivalent of 32" tall tires they suck!!! I don't live near any interestate so I am mostly cruising 55-65 which has the crew cab at like 1500 rpms and is sluggish...

Gotta have atleast 3.73s on the 4x4! I wish I had 4.10s but low on cash and need to use what I got.

[NastyBuzzard]

So I was outside after work today looking at what it would take to take the rear end out of the 01 Z71 donor. I noticed the leaf springs were different than the ones on the 2006.

Here is a pic of the ones off the 01 Z71.



Here is a pic of the ones off the 2006 4x4



So maybe the 2006 4x4 didn't come with towing package or something so came with weaker springs? I measured them and from axle tube to top of the spring on the 01 is 5" and the 06 is 4". So looks like when I do rearend swap for 3.73s I will gain an inch of lift! Woot woot! Free lift haha.

So I got froggy and pulled the rear and front end.

[NastyBuzzard]

Pulled the front brake setup off the 06 2wd chassis to put on my 04 crew cab.

I also pulled all the rear drum brake setup from it as well to put on the 01 rearend I am swapping into the 06 for the 3.73 and towing springs.



Hopefully once I pull the rearend from the 06 4x4 it will be in good shape, it is supposed to be 3.42 posi so it may go in the rear of my 04 crew cab so it will get the better drum brake rear and a posi. Screw the peg leg.

[NastyBuzzard]

Just got in from doing front brakes on the truck. Had rotors turned and new pads. Found one bolt was jerry rigged on there with a spacer, apparently they lost the oem one. I replaced it with another I had from parts truck.

New 02 sensor cleared the codes it was giving and put in a new oil pressure switch.

Took it for a ride to test brakes and all and man... 4.8, 265/70/17s and 3.42s make for a slow ass truck. I hope the 3.73 swap helps some.. I was wanting to step up to 285/70/17 tires b/c they all need replacing but I am not sure if that is a good idea even with the 3.73s. Thoughts?

[NastyBuzzard]

Having rear end swap problems.. Got my crap on hold. Really sucks!! I started a thread asking about it. Looks like I will be converting to rear disc brakes. Been swimming in brake fluid.

I hope the 3.73 and G80 posi are worth it.

[NastyBuzzard]

Well.. After new pads, new calipers, and turned rotors, I have 99-04 rearend and disc brakes on the rear of the 06.



I didn't want rear disc, I wanted the drums for towing but oh well. I did get the 3.73s and the posi. So much better, crusing right under 2000 rpms at 60 w/ the 3.73s and the 265/70R17s that are bald. Speedo is off 10mph.

Needs tires may bump up to 285/70R17 when I get some. Having trouble deciding.

I had problems with the DS caliper hanging up, on the 2nd new caliper it was still dragging some but I took a 10 minute drive to dump trash and when I got back it wasn't super hot like it was when I first drove 10 minutes to my buddies house.

Next is tires and to get rid of the V6 catback stock muffler. I heard flowmaster arent the best for LS engines so may investigate what is better. Still not dumping a lot into this truck. So far grand total is less than $2300 and is perfectly drivable as is just needs some tires.

Here is the only pic I have of it on the taller stock springs. I am on a hill and it doesn't have that much rake in person.

[old yelr]

Nice work!

[NastyBuzzard]

Thanks! It was a lot of fun. Need some new tires on the actual 5 star chevy 17"s instead of the steel wheels that are on it now.

Then I gotta get rid of that v6 muffler I put on it.

I would love to bring that 4.8 torque curve up to match the 5.3's. If I could squeeze 40 ft/lbs more of torque out of the 4.8 I would be so happy.

Also, I have a couple spare cabs now with good glass. My front windshield has a crack, I want to remove the front windshield from another cab and replace the one on this truck. Thoughts? I also want to pull back glass from the Z71 cab b/c it is already tinted and swap it onto this truck.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I picked these babies up in 2011 with brand new tires on them (still had the paint stripe on the tread) for a grand off craigslist (new tires alone were going to be $7-800!). Some guy bought a brand new truck and immediately put a lift and bigger tires on it. I think they came on 2010-ish to 2012/13 Z71's and higher trim level trucks. You can probably get a used set with good tires much cheaper now? I think they're the best looking "new" wheel GM has put on a truck in a long time. You WILL need the lug nuts that go WITH the wheels. I don't think the 99-06 lugnuts will work.

[NastyBuzzard]

Your truck looks good!

I just noticed you are not far from me. I live in Saluda, SC but I work in Greenwood about 45 minutes from Greenville. I actually got the 06 4.8/auto 4x4 chassis from Greenville.

Yeah I have seen a few around a grand on craigslist. However, the $ I have dumped in this truck so far and christmas around the corner, my budget has all but dried up for this year as far as play $ goes.

My wife just started back working last week after year and a half of being pregnant/home with our son, so that helps a tad.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I got mine from Alan's Wheels in Travelers Rest. He sells on ebay (and craigslist). I think he was asking $1,200 for them on ebay, but if I came and got them he'd take a grand if he could keep the wheel sensors. My truck don't need 'em, so he removed them while I was there and rebalanced them for me.

Congrats on the little guy! Throw some old used tires on it for now and keep an eye out for cool ones on Craigslist.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

I got mine from Alan's Wheels in Travelers Rest. He sells on ebay (and craigslist). I think he was asking $1,200 for them on ebay, but if I came and got them he'd take a grand if he could keep the wheel sensors. My truck don't need 'em, so he removed them while I was there and rebalanced them for me.

Congrats on the little guy! Throw some old used tires on it for now and keep an eye out for cool ones on Craigslist.

Yup I have seen them on craigslist. Just gotta save up some spending $$.

Been searching high and low for used tires. Can't decide on 265s or 285s though!! I just picked up 5 - 285/70 R17s today, 3 bfg A/T that 2 are runnable but have wear on outer edges and 2 fierce attitude MTs that have about 1/4 tread or so. I want my tires to at least match though, when I was going to meet the guy I was thinking they were all same style tire so I got them for $50.

Still don't think I am going to run them though.



I did score this for $40 earlier this week and put it on. Looks sooo much better!! Just hate couldn't get it in black.



I also went today and picked up two front fender flares today as well as front electric leather seats and center console from a 02 Z71.

Can't decide if I like the flares or not just yet. Still need to get the bobo metal rims off it.

OFF




ON



Thoughts? Should I find and buy some rears? Keep them black? Paint it all white?

Also where in the world is a good tutorial on putting in aftermarket stereo into one of these trucks. I understand that I have to run an alternate power wire from somewhere, constant hot or just ignition hot? Where do yall run it from? Any pics?

[Truck Guy99]

Looks good. How long did the swap take?

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Truck Guy99

Looks good. How long did the swap take?

Probably about one good 8 hour day to do the body swap. That's also with me cleaning and being miticulous and not wanting to break anything.

Drove it a good 75-85 miles yesterday to my uncles and back. Seems to drive pretty good.

If I just could get my radio in and working good!! That or exhaust, it's aweful quiet rolling down the hwy.

[NastyBuzzard]

Drove it another 100 miles today. Man I need tires!

Drives good, breaks still a little squishy. Almost on had to slam on them twice. I need to bleed again probably but they are all working!

It took way longer than it should but I finally have a radio/cd player. Well no radio b/c I still need an antenna.



Installing an aftermarket radio into a 2006 silverado only costed me around $15 worth of stuff from Amazon.

I read that you can get the wiring harnesses and just add an ign hot wire and be good to go as long as you dont care about door chimes and don't have a fancy bose system or navigation/on star.

Well for some reason, as always, my case wasn't as easy. After 4 hours I realized that the trucks original wiring harness had no constant 12v hot wire in it.

So I not only had to add a ign hot wire, I had to add a 12v constant hot wire. It took me way to long to figure that out but it works great besides no antenna and both front door speakers are shot!

I also got this bed cover from an auction for charity at work. I think I got it for $20 but it came off a 2010 2500hd short bed truck we have at work. I was skeptical if it would fit 99-07 but it does!! I am just missing one piece but that manufacturer, Extang, said they will get it out to me. I am not sure if I will keep it on there or not.

[NastyBuzzard]

Getting some used tires put on and front end alignment. Also had to get the d.s. tie rod replaced. Only place I could find that would do it that close to christmas, last tuesday. I paid a heavy price for it too, never again will I go there.



However, it looks so much better on these rims!!



I also went an looked at purchasing a "used" pole building. 24'x30' Here is a pic when it was being taken apart.



For $2k they took it apart and delivered it. Some assy required.





I am dying to get it put back up so I can get concrete poured and get out from under my carport. My wife is dying to be able to park her car under there finally. I can't get anyone come to help me set poles yet though.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Wow, you're one hell of a wheeler dealer!

Good job on all the scores! Truck looks much better with the new wheels/tires. I would rock the fender flares, but I'm biased. Check ebay for the back ones, they're gotten pretty cheap if you can't find them... might even get lucky at a pick n pull. What sucks is that you already have the easy ones, burbs/hoes/trucks all used the same front flare, but all use a different rear flare (BUT trucks and burbs may be the same, would have to check the part numbers) I know the hoes are different because the door cuts into them.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Wow, you're one hell of a wheeler dealer!

Good job on all the scores! Truck looks much better with the new wheels/tires. I would rock the fender flares, but I'm biased. Check ebay for the back ones, they're gotten pretty cheap if you can't find them... might even get lucky at a pick n pull. What sucks is that you already have the easy ones, burbs/hoes/trucks all used the same front flare, but all use a different rear flare (BUT trucks and burbs may be the same, would have to check the part numbers) I know the hoes are different because the door cuts into them.

THANKS!!

I picked up a rear set week of christmas for $40. Hardware from amazon to install them is on the way! Now I need to decide if I want to paint them white to match the truck along with all the other black body panels!

I agree... the truck looks sooo much better with those rims! Now it needs some lift and MTs!! However, the little 4.8 is working hard enough as is, the 3.73s help.

Right now main mission is getting the shop up.. But no one will come help, plus it has been raining. I need it up to finish the LS swap in my 87 and so my wife can have the carport back for this cold weather.