I don't have a whole lot of experiance with the performance aspect of trucks. I'm still learning like you. I do however know a thing or two about the offroad side of these trucks. I'm going to tell you right now that I would factor in looking for a 14 bolt semi floater for the rear. You can get one from one of the light duty '88-98 2500 trucks, some Escalade's and some SSS's. They have a 9.5" ring gear, slightly larger axle shafts, and are overall a beefier axle. Your already pushing past the accepted limits of your 10 bolt rear with the 37's and stockish power. Throw a turbo on it and kiss it goodbye.

The same goes for the 4l60. A fully built one might buy you some time but your better off swapping in a 4l80 and getting it over with. A built 60 has a hard time surviving under a blown truck with stock tires let alone 37's. Some on here have been lucky with their built 60's but they aren't lugging around heavy 37's either. The weight of the 37's are going to tax the axle a lot more than the increase of power is going to.

The truck I had before this was an '04 with 9" of lift with 36 15.50's underneath it. I did all the work on it along with all the repairs. So I know where your coming from. Its hard to find info on this site (or any performance site) that pertains to lifted trucks that want to add some performance as well. What will work for a lowered or stock height truck might not work for lifted truck.

 

i would deffently recomend the 80E. your pushing a heavy truck as it is with big tires. now you want to go fast too, 80E is the only way to not have to replace the trans yearly.

i think your gears are what are buying you some time on the axles. 3.73 and 37's that thing has to be a turd.

in all honesty i think with the setup you want you will be finding weak link after weak link. your putting a lot of strain on 1500 parts as it sits right now. be prepared to shell out more cash. it will be a bad bitch when its done. good luck and post some pics.

 

Ask me how i know....
Dont worry about putting any money or time in the 4L60E... Go straight for the 80E. I wish i would have from the start. ITs alot cheaper than building a 60E also.
ONLY pulled my trans 16 times, for TC problems to Broken Output shafts... Get what im saying?


BTW Welcome to PT.net! $7k will get you started..

 

you have basically the same truck as me only lifted. Mine passed the road side sniffer without a cat, so just put one on and you should be fine. I think you'll reach you goal pretty easy. good luck