2000 sierra rcsb lq4 4l80e 14 bolt build

[DMarts10]

I recently bought a 2000 silvy 2500 with a snapped frame and no trans for 500 bucks. I planned on building a late 4th gen camaro with the lq4. After removing the 14 bolt rear with 4.10s, I changed my mind and decided on moving the 2500 drivetrain to a regular cab short bed v6 2wd stepside. I found one on craigslist and struck a deal to buy that very truck (formally an arizona truck) for 3k. I should be taking delivery this week if all goes to plan (I made the owner sign a contract, if that matters). I guess you never know with craigslist. In the meantime I have begun building the lq4 in a friends shop. I kept the bottom end stock, just cleaned out the sludge and carbon with brake clean and purple power. I purchased an ls2 timing set, melling hv pump, 224/ 224 comp cams cam, true union kit for the rockers, tsp pushrods, compcams beehive springs, ls6 intake, ls6 injectors, head bolts, gaskets, ect. I am using stock lifters and 706 heads, milled 30 thousandths (should bring me to around 10.7:1 compression). Still searching for a 4l80e out of an express van. Here are a few pics of the progress so far:


Where the lq4 came from:

Here is the engine short block cleaned up and painted, new cam, melling oil pump, and timing set installed

I should get my heads back from the machine shop on thursday and get my new timing cover in the mail (broke mine removing the seal) today or tomorrow, so I can get a good amount of the engine done. Just in time to get the truck. Then time to pull the 4.3 / 4l60e and rear end, buy a 4l80e trans, converter, cross-member, and have a drive-shaft built. I will do my best to stay current, as I plan to finish this project within the next month.

 

[962000chevy]

That sucker outta sound mean and freaking fly. Any idea on wheels and tires? Either way in for pics and hopefully burnout bids.

 

[DMarts10]

That sucker outta sound mean and freaking fly. Any idea on wheels and tires? Either way in for pics and hopefully burnout bids.

Thanks! and yeah it will be loud and decently fast. I hoping for around 375hp to the wheels before I install NO2. For now I am going to have an issue with wheels bc It will be 8 lug in the rear and 6 in front. I don't wanna do adapters so I will likely paint the front and rear stockers black until I find a better solution. I dont feel like buying a 1500hd 6 lug axle, bc I have this one for free. As for sound I'm thinking pacesetter LTs w x-pipe and spintechs

Here's the rear:

 

[962000chevy]

They make 6 lug axle shafts for the 9.5 14b. You should be north of 375 I think. From what I've read 5.3s with 220 cams and supporting mods routinely have 330ish to the wheels. So yours will probably be even higher. Best of luck to you.

 

[DMarts10]

They make 6 lug axle shafts for the 9.5 14b. You should be north of 375 I think. From what I've read 5.3s with 220 cams and supporting mods routinely have 330ish to the wheels. So yours will probably be even higher. Best of luck to you.

I haven't had any luck finding a kit to convert this axle to 6 lug. I would like to keep these disk breaks intact as well. I wouldn't be interested in converting to a 6 lug drum set up, which to my knowledge is common with the light duty 3/4 ton and hd 1500 trucks. If you know of a company let me know. Thanks!

 

[962000chevy]

After some more looking the 6 lug 14b sf that came from GM for these trucks was some kinda hybrid bastard. Using 9.5 ring and pinion but 8.6 shafts.

 

[DMarts10]

Black painted wheels it is!

 

[DMarts10]

Hers a pic of the motor after my buddy and I yanked it.

 

[962000chevy]

Looking forward to the swap. Can't wait to bookmark this since its in my 2000's future, I just haven't told the truck yet lol.

 

[silverado13]

subbed, awesome build so far

 

[nate3531]

subbed for updates

 

[DMarts10]

I'm taking delivery of the Sierra tomorrow morning, picking up my firebird from the body shop (had the nose repainted), and picking up my milled and vacuum checked cylinder heads from the machine shop. Going to be an expensive day! I'll grab some before pics of the truck. If I have enough time I'll light up the tires in a brake stand until they explode. Smokey burnout time.

 

[silverado13]

yes indeed sounds expensive

 

[DMarts10]

Update: Finally took delivery of the truck today. Needs two new rockers, aside from that the car looks and drives great. Time to post the engine, trans, and rear end to craigslist to make some of my money back. I didnt take any pics of the lq4 today, but buttoned up the rear seal cover w new rear seal, the timing cover w new front crank seal, and torqued down the oil pan. Heads should be ready for pick up tommorow, but I have a bachelor party this weekend, so I'll get to torquing down the heads on monday, and painting valve covers, damper, and modifying and painting the accessory bracket. Here are some cell phone pics of the truck:

 

[silverado13]

thats a familiar engine, ive spent some serious hours under the hood of my 1997

 

[DMarts10]

update:

Got to the machine shop today to pick up my buddy's 383 and my cylinder heads. He had his complete engine built by this place, I just had my heads milled 30 thousandths. I got the heads back to the shop, cleaned them (which sucked), then wire wheeled the valves, and installed new beehive springs and stock rockers (with the true union upgrade). Then I torqued the heads and mocked up the valve covers and ls6 intake. I also painted the valve covers and acc. bracket. Here are a few pics:

 

[silverado13]

looks great man

 

[cowboy63645]

Looking forward to more progress! Wish I had a shop to do some work in, I had a project similar to this in mind for awhile now.

 

[silverado13]

yes a shop would be nice

 

[DMarts10]

Only got to the shop for a couple hours today. Just enough time to modify my accessory bracket. This was done to move the idler pulley, to make room for the throttle body on the ls6 intake. I also pulled the coils off the brackets, sandblasted the brackets, and painted them green. I'll post pics of the coil brackets when they are installed. Here's the mod'ed accessory bracket and alternator installed.