comeaux818

I' looking at buying a higher milege HD just for the parts because let' face it, 6.0 and 4l80e are getting up there in price. Found a few in the $2000/2500 range. One has the newer HD hood which is a huge bonus considering I have a 03 (ex cab 5.3). Wondering how to tell if it has the better rods because mid year '05 they came with them from my understanding. Also, is the 14 bolt really worth the headache?

FFDP

iTrader: (2)

Open up the engine it kind of the only way.

The build date on the truck is kinda up in the air here. It could be a 2004 engine in a early 2005 truck type of thing. The switch over is around the 2004.5ish mark.

14 bolt is worth it if you are going crazy maybe but the 10 bolt is very strong with the right rear locker installed.

03sierraslt

iTrader: (22)

My 04 was a factory strong rod motor. The following isn’t proven that I can find, but if it has 13mm head valley cover bolts it has gen4 rods. 10mm head bolts are gen 3. Again this is speculation, but it has held true in every case I have seen. Removing the oil pan is the only sure fire way.

comeaux818

Yeah, I figured that since it has the different hood that it was maybe a updated version. Makes since to use leftovers in the newer years. I just thought it was cut and dry like a hard date. Thanks

GREENSIERRA

my 05 l33 had 10mn valley cover bolts, never dropped the pan but I figured it was gen 4 stuff.
I have heard what you said about the bolts before tho.

kbracing96

iTrader: (26)

I bought 2 04 6L that had the 13mm valley bolts and both had the good rods. Then we bought what was supposed to be an 04 5.3 and turned out to be a 4.8, it also had the 13mm bolts BUT had the skinny rods. Maybe just a 4.8 thing but the crossover year 13mm bolt thing isn't always 100%.

tim wellington

I notice same thing

tim wellington

I notice same thing

Vortec350ss

iTrader: (20)

Yea the tell tale signs are the length of the head bolts, and the valley cover bolts. I dont think either are 100% though.

kbracing96

iTrader: (26)

Yeah, It's not a 100%. That 4.8 we got was a 04, had both 13mm valley cover bolts and 04+ head bolts but still had the old style skinny rods. Maybe it's just a 4.8 thing since they use a different rod then the rest of them, idk...