so i thought I would post the build I'm doing. I'm well into it so for the most part its going to be a picture show.

I was bored one weekend and surfin' the net and came across a CL add that I thought was a decent deal for me. I wasn't looking for anything in particular in a sense. 2003 4WD Tahoe drivetrain complete with wiring and PCM. 5.3L, 4L60E, NP246

call the yard up and they gave me the speill so I said I'd take it.





I new it would be cool to have touch 4WD but didn't want it so I picked up NP241C



and started to tear down the 5.3L



I'm not a transmission person and don't have the special tools so I had a local shop rebuilt the trans. they had 4l70e 5 gear planetaries installed for the low/reverse and OD gears.



I did install new bearings, seals, and SYE for the 241C



took the truck down and had the AC evacuated then washed to get ready for removal.



and yanked out.



fitted the block with empty transmission.



clearnace for the radiator



and that's not going to work



motor mounts comprised of 2 kits from TransDapt



started to build the engine and then a delivery came from the j/y





finished the rebuild on the engine

 

did some checking on the fitment again.



and at this point I knew some mods to the crossover hoop were required or a lower intake is needed.



truck AC would need to cut the frame, time for some thinking.



PS fits fine



but the alternator was telling me that a portion of the hood would need modification



removed the bed and fenders, doors to remove the cab





refit the engine, trans, t/case to make the rear mount







and I just wasn't happy with the angle of the front output



started fitting the new cab





and a little more trimming is needed

 

trimmed the cab to fit the frame and fuel tank







added the pathfinder tank to the frame



enclosed the cab





and sealed it





and lizard skinned it



transmission crossmember





not happy with the headers

 

That is a neat build.

 

trans mount finished





bracket for the fuel tank selector valve



and tried the stock exhaust manifolds, they fit better just not what I needed.





started to fit the bed, this is a bed I had around that was shortened 8" to fit pathfinder quarter panels to it.





made some heat shields for the coilovers





XMAS in May!!!!



new serp setup





and exhaust pieces



so i started that





and a buddy TIG'd them up

 

started the driver side







back to working on the bed to fit the cab, 14" off the front of the bed









new distance for the radiator, the corvette accessory setup is 1-9/16" shorter (closer to the block) than the truck acc. setup



and high mount AC, need to loose the battery tray



still needs some trimming



had to notch for the 4WD shifter





fit the trans shifter too



finished tacking up the exhaust





trans cooler came... hoping it was the radiator



but it came the next day



and its going to be tight

 

cooling fans came



thats a tight fit too



trimmed the front core support for the radiator and made brackets for it







picked up a LS1 intake for fitment, its low but I'm not liking the clearance to the radiator for the air cleaner tube.



finished tacking the pass side bed and alignment for the tailgate which needs to be narrowed 2"





and tacked in the front bed mounts



to be continued...

 

so today I work more on the bed, did some trimming for the spare tank filler neck hose and tacked in a wheel well from my old bed. did some more fitting for the taillight and the tailgate. I think there is a plactic piece that the Pathys have the goes next to the taillight but don't remember. I have about a 1/8" gap top and bottom between the sheet metal but the taillight gap is about a 1/4". More thinking here. I also went to the junkyard looking to stuff and found a 85 Pontaic GTA, hood louvres! sweet and in great shape too. (there's another GTA hood there in great shape too, I'm might pick that one up too)









yep, love the pathy taillight over the truck taillight









now I have to decide how I'm going to place them. these are true working louvres, so engine temps will be cooler for wheeling.

 

Wow man I appreciate all your hard work/fab ! Gonna be a fun truck when your done . Nothing better than an LSx engine under the hood !

 

thanks. I'm thinking it will be... tons of fun.

did some work on the dr. side bed and some more thinking on the louvres.



the long slats are at the slight slope of the hood to allow the air to flow into the engine compartment.





and these would be with the old style hood with the 3 slots in the front and made so that air would flow through them.