I've had a lot of lower/bagged s10s and blazers until I finally got a mustang. Now i'm back looking for a truck, I daily a 04 silverado z71 and would like a 2 wd silverado to lower and make into a sport truck. Kinda combine the best of the mustang and lower mini's I had. Anyways, I've been looking for a rcsb 5.3 to trade my mustang in on. Figuring out those are hard to find. I just ran across a ecsb that is being advertised as a 6.0. Its a non ss truck, were these able to be ordered when the trucks were new?

Heres the vin, 2GCEC19N341383296, it reads a 6.0. Heres the add Cars for Sale: 2004 Chevrolet Silverado and other C/K1500 2WD Extended Cab in O'Fallon, IL 62269: Truck Details - 322670246 - AutoTrader.com

 

It has the wheels and the vortec max badge, but i dont think they made them in that year. If its factory its probably a 5.3. I could be wrong though

 

Call and verify the VIN but yes that is a VHO edition Silvy. 2GCEC19"N" denotes the 6.0 LQ9 motor and 2wd. When you check it out in person, open glove box to verify your RPO codes, you're looking for LQ9, M32 and G80. That will again verfiy it's a VHO. Now let me educate you as to what the VHO package included and the differences between the years. I'm a VHO owner and positive in my research.

04 VHO's were 2wd only, LQ9 6.0, 4L65E trans., 10 bolt Eaton G80 locking rear diff with 3.73 gears. This was the only year this package was offered. In 05, my year, they came with a 14 bolt Eaton G80 locker, 3.73's and larger front discs and rear drum brakes. That 04 will have the smaller all 4 discs. These VHO are the exact same drivetrain platform as the SS models minus the cladding, the cluster, the rims and the bumpers of the SS. I would jump on this. It also has the Z60 suspension package meaning torsion keys up front and no springs. These are rare, jump on it!

 

VIN number says it has an LQ9. Looks legit. I have seen 1500 LQ9 trucks before.

 

Yeah I just got back from the local Chevy dealer since they are also called auffenberg. Was hoping they were connected and could dealer trade for it. Turns out there are 2 augffenburgs but they are brothers so they are checking. If not I'll just be driving to Illinois this weekend. I work service ay the local Chrysler dealer so I had their service dept print out the build sheet for me. Looks like a good deal the difference in the m32 rpo trans is it's stronger than the 4l60e but not as strong as the 4l80?

 

Correct, the 65E has a stronger planetary than a 60E. The 80E is stronger overall but if you do a swap there's a few things you need to fab. and change harnesses.

 

I wouldn't trust the transmission in that truck much further than I could throw it. I tuned one of those trucks several months back with long tubes and an overzealous driver who wanted the transmission to shift harder and harder. Despite my warnings, I wrote the tune in as he wanted...lo and behold, a couple days later he calls telling me its acting up and slipping. If you want to do any modifications to it, it needs to be swapped to the 80e. With recent evidence of how small the power loss is switching from 60/65 to 80, it doesn't make sense not to.

 

Did the SS trucks have t-bar front end setups too? Seems like it would get better handling from a coil spring from suspension?

 

Yes all SS's 03-06/07 classic had the Z60 suspension package with torsion keys. You can do a 3/4 drop easily on these VHO's.

Front drop spindles and drop t-keys for 3"
Rear hangers and shackles for 4"

 

Anything to check for on these trucks? It has pretty low mileage and looks like it was taken care of