Toying around idea of getting rid of my 99 Z71 for an 03 Silverado before my trans or 5.3 takes a dump. I have several repair items needing attention now (nothing major) but not sure if I want to put money in it.

Now, I will get an excab, but should I get another Z71 or a standard 2wd? I rarely take the truck off roading. I really like the extra size the 4x4 provides. I also like the traction it provides on the street and track. I'm not after a lowered street truck. But, its my daily driver and gets some miles on it. The 4wd option adds lots of weight to it. I will make this a performance truck no matter which option I go for. If its a 2wd, I'll go no lower than droping the rear 2". I really don't want to have to deal with all the traction isses that the 2wd guys have.

So, should I save $5000 and 500 lbs and get a 2wd, or stick with the 4wd and bettter all around vehicle?

 

if i could start over again i would either go with a 3/4 ton ext cab 4wd or a 2wd short box reg cab.

go small and light or get the heavy drive trian that can take the big power.

just my .02

 

I like the idea of a non 4wd truck for the setup. The 4wd is definately better on street tires trying to get traction... but if you just buy some slicks you will have the same traction and no worries about the transfer case holding the power.

4.8L ecsb's are pretty cheap as it is <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

I agree. If I didn't need the room and have kids, I'd do an SCSB in a heartbeat.

Let me add some background: I'm ready to do a major upgrade. I just dont want to really do it on a 4 year old truck. I'd rather do it on a new one so I can enjoy it for longer.

I'd be buying either vehicle with a 4.8 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

just remember that if you plan on using the 4wd for traction the auto 4wd t-case setup transfers the power to the front wheels through a set of clutches that can burn out from too much power being applied

 

Thats the first I've heard about the auto 4wd burning up the clutches. Several of us use the auto 4wd feature all the time for assisted traction. Do you have any more info on this?

 

i was using the auto all the time, anywhere i went i was in auto and for racing i put it in hi4, with the g80 craper 2wd wasn't any fun but now i get prety good traction with the eaton in 2wd so i no longer use auto at all. it is either 2wd or 4hi for racing and by racing i mean an actual 1/4mile run from a stop.

i could peal out at 50mph before the eaton, now i believe i have more power than before and if i hit it at 30mph i just get a little squealing, not really breaking loose. makes me think a 2wd might not be all that bad.

in my truck a hard launch in auto was way more violent then 4hi, it seems like it would let the engine rev up and get some momentum and then try and grab it with those clutches

 

This has me thinking about getting a non-autotrac truck. Then finding a AWD transfer case for it. Basically turning a 4.8 4x4 into as AWD SS conversion.

Would changing the transfer case only need tuning to work properly? I wonder what other parts I would need?

I'd also have to get rid of the floor shifter.

 

i would love to see soemone throw some serious power into an awd tcase. the only wiring they would have to put on it would be the speed sensor but that doesn't mean they didn't put 5 other things on there.

 

If I were you id get a 2wd and TUB it <img border="0" alt="[burn out]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_burnout.gif" />

you wont have any problems with only 2wd after that