2003 Silverado Z71 solid axle build

[mccustomize]

Yep, the Chevy TSB about building a dam around the rubber inserts is phooey too.
Sealing them completely is the way to go.

Most guys building LS engines go for bigger cams.
What does your buddy think is the best stock torque producing truck cam in an LS engine?
I heard there was a cam designed for the 6.0 in a 2500HD application that was a good torque cam for LS engines, but I can't seem to find it.

For torque alone down low, stock cam, no other cam is going to build more torque down low in the range. When the time comes I will be going supercharged with a stock LS9 cam. A cam is going to move the power up the RPM range, he suggested for N/A torque building to go a 408 with a very mild cam. More cubes, more compression. There's just only so much you can do down low with 323 cubic inches.

 

[justcuz]

Gotcha.
None of the LS cams are small by comparison to a SBC. With a 1.7 rocker ratio in the LS engine they are designed to move a lot more air.
It just seems so counterproductive that they build an engine that is pretty efficient and kill it with high gear ratios.
So a 6.0 with a 5.3 LM7 truck cam would make sense that it would be a torque engine.

 

[mccustomize]

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/1307-ls-cam-test-comparison/

If you are up for some reading....

I am really leaning towards an 8.1L/Allison or 4L85 combo, they seem to be getting cheaper and cheaper, it's 99% bolt in affair and with Raylar heads and cam they make great power but the torque curve is unreal in those 8.1s

 

[justcuz]

Hey! Thanks for bookmarking that!
I did read that earlier and it looks like only one other cam is better than the LM7 below 4400 rpm.

The big block is definitely a torque monster, from what I've read 500 ft.lbs. is an easy deal for those 8.1 engines.
Big engine, big trans, is going to require you to install those big axles too.

When is that Ozark event you guys are going to?

 

[mccustomize]

Hey! Thanks for bookmarking that!
I did read that earlier and it looks like only one other cam is better than the LM7 below 4400 rpm.

The big block is definitely a torque monster, from what I've read 500 ft.lbs. is an easy deal for those 8.1 engines.
Big engine, big trans, is going to require you to install those big axles too.

When is that Ozark event you guys are going to?

Exactly, I'm thinking 8.1L/4L85E/AAM 9.25/14FF would be a nice drivetrain combination. Interesting thing about the 8.1 is you can use any old school chevy big block headers, cams will also work if you change the firing order. However the newer firing order is better.

12 days, and I am nowhere near what I consider to be ready. I am about 75% done with my sliders. Several other small things need to be buttoned up as well.

 

[mccustomize]

Made a little more progress on the rock sliders last night, material is 2x2 .25" wall square tube, roughly 44 feet of material, 1.75" HREW for the spacers in between the tubes.

 

[chilliwak]

Wow:Wow1: looks sweet Mr Custom!:drool:

 

[ademb]

Man, what a great looking truck. Looks and functionality!

 

[justcuz]

Have fun at the event and hopefully you guys will get some good pictures and do a trip report.

Read some interesting threads somewhere about some Arkansas trails being booby trapped with steel plates and bolts welded to them. Tire killers. Hope you don't have to deal with any of that mess.

 

[mccustomize]

Have fun at the event and hopefully you guys will get some good pictures and do a trip report.

Read some interesting threads somewhere about some Arkansas trails being booby trapped with steel plates and bolts welded to them. Tire killers. Hope you don't have to deal with any of that mess.

That was the K-trail in Oklahoma, but from what I've read they have that all sorted out.

 

[mccustomize]

Went to Hidden Falls saturday for a little shakedown run and to do some testing. Truck was working great until shortly after lunch....

The boys playing with R/C cars at our lunch stop

Shortly after lunch I was on a stairway obstacle and had an undercut ledge just shy of the height of my 37s. I bounced just a little and BANG, then the drivers rear tire started rubbing on the flare.

We thought I bent both leaf springs (which I did) so we made a trail fix with some big ratchet straps and made it several miles out of the trails with some winching in spots to make sure I didn't hurt the truck further.

Upon closer inspection when we were loading it on the trailer, I had spun a tube in the axle, DOH! moment for me, when I put the WFO torque arm on the truck I did not weld the tubes, so the housing and left side tube spun the tube with the torque arm.

Got the truck home saturday and got some rest, yesterday we got the tube spun back around thanks to a 24" pipe wrench, PB blaster, and a 5 foot long piece of 2x2 square tube. I found some 2500 leaf springs, pulled the overload springs and the shortest leaf, left 4 springs in the pack and bolted them in as well.

We are 9 days away from the overland challenge, I have a few things to finish but we are getting close, almost too close for comfort!

 

[justcuz]

88-98 GMT400 overloads are 41-42" long and taper toward the ends, making them a progressive overload.
I posted a picture of them in Jacks 2007 build.
Might help prevent the springs from doing the S wrap on your trip. Just a thought.
Reason I say this is even with the 2 extra leafs you now have, your 37" tires apply a lot of torque to the springs.
Now that you fixed the first weak link that force will transfer somewhere else.

 

[thethePete]

^ I would think his trac bar should do a sufficient job of preventing axle wrap, no? That was the initial cause of the tube twisting.

 

[justcuz]

Yes Pete but now that the axle is fixed and the springs modified the force will find another place to visit.
The overload I suggested would be similar to a slapper bar ahead of and behind the axle.

 

[chilliwak]

Well I am glad you got the truck back off the trail to safety Mr Custom. Now that you have done the repair the truck should be ready to Rock again. Funny how our wheeling is a constant learning curve. I hope to see you out there rockin again soon..