AWD Tahoe Project
 

I'm not very good at creating these kinds of threads.

I have a 97 2 door 4 wheel drive Tahoe that motor pinged a hole in the piston of the Vortec 5.7. I had previously picked up a L29 Vortec 7.4, 4L80 and 241C transfer case from a 97 3/4ton Suburban but for a different project, now I have plans to use it for the Tahoe.

My plans are to rebuild the 454 and 4L80 (454 is currently at the machine shop in Carlisle) and put a NVG 149 and make it AWD while also lowering the truck about 3" in the front and 4" in the back. I am also putting 3/4ton front and rear differentials that I got out of a 97 3/4 ton suburban.

I have pics but will have to wait till I get home to put them on here.

Plans are to mirror it after my transam but instead of the dark shadow gray metallic being the stripes to have the arctic white be the stripes and the tahoe be painted dark shadow gray metallic. (I know its a Ford color, but I like it.)

Sweet! Lets see some pictures!!!

Dropped valve,

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...07836749_n.jpg

My theory is that it pre-detonated first and then dropped the valve later after loosing compression in that cylinder. It also blew a head gasket during the process, or cracked the block not sure yet. Waiting on the report back from the machine shop.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...66195705_n.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...6/P1070710.jpg


What I'm driving for the time being. 1977 Dodge D200 with a 440 and TF727.

https://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i...6/00e433f9.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...hoe/photo1.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...hoe/photo2.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...hoe/photo3.jpg

Everything from ECU to drive shafts and fuel tank. I don't need the NPG 241 as I will be picking up an AWD unit. You can see the custom exhaust from my Trans Am along with its radiator and fans. The rest of the stuff on the shelves is parts off of the 454.

If anyone has ever done a project like this, man I'd love to talk with ya. I keep reading all different kinds of stories about the transfer case not working perfect with the 4L80 and the 4L80 not working with a stock half ton.

I have the computer for the 454 and that is what I was planning on running. So I figured I wont need to do the wire modifications as I have the entire harness for the trans and engine. Since both ECU's are for the 97 body style I figured the rest of the wiring would work fine. I don't have any pictures of the 97 3/4 ton suburban that I picked up for the rear end and front diff parts. I want to put the 3/4 ton differentials in and have them matted up with the AWD unit. I figured this would cover my goals for the truck without giving me to much of a headache. I've just never seen a lowered 8 lug 2 door tahoe with a 454 and AWD.

I think it will be fun to autocross while I build the WS6 up. I hope that by lowering it I don't kill the ability to tow around 5k. I wouldn't think it would.

I would like to know how this goes. I too plan to one day AWD my 96 4 door.

Found a NP-146GM Transfer Case, it might need rebuilt though. Guy selling it is letting it go pretty cheap. Anyone else have any known places to pick up one? I have tried crapBay and they want 1200 for a rebuilt one, car-part.com wants 750 from a junk yard 700 miles away so thats not factoring in any shipping. I am on the east coast in PA if anyone knows of one that is a bit more local to me.

You'll either need to hotwire the 4wd shift actuator or find a AWD front differential. The AWD diff lacks the shift actuator altogether and is a 1-piece shaft on the passenger side.

I'd just run the 241 and pull it into 4wd if you need to launch. But I'm also probably the only person who has been buying parts to convert a denali to 4wd because of my hatred of the AWD systems.

The biggest problem you going to run into is mating the 4L80E transmission to the NP 149 transfer case. They no longer make the appropriate adapter.

Look around on SilveradoSS.com. The guy named time2kill used to make them.