Hey guys, thought I'd start a build thread as a means of tracking my build from start to "never finished" and learn from those who have already done a similar build. The basis of this build is a used car lot special 2005 Z71 RCSB, 5.3L, 3.42 rear gear, bone stock except for a flowmaster muffler. I plan to pull the motor and gap the rings when I do the turbo. So far I have been accumulating parts:

Craigslist 4L80e out of an 03 8.1L 2500 Suburban (also got the cooler lines)
Circle D 258mm 3400 converter
Trans Go HD2
Midwest Driveline & Gear 32 spline input shaft / case saver/ seal kit
Tru-Cool 40k w/ AED bracket kit
eBay head studs
LS9 gaskets
BTR .660" platinum springs/ titanium retainers
Tick Stage 1 turbo cam (not shown, on the way)
Trick Stage 2 76mm GM kit (being built)
Aeroforce gauge w/ dash holder (on the way)
Speartech 4L80e swap harness
LS2 timing chain
LS7 lifters
BTR pushrods
new GM cam retainer
Deatschwerks 60lb truck injectors

Planned but haven't ordered:
Front limiting straps
Cal-Tracs bars

So far, I have just done only basics to the truck, while collecting parts. I rebuilt the instrument cluster with new servos and bulbs, replaced a clunking front axle, Bilstein HD's all around, and Belltech shackles, with rear block removed. Truck rides real nice now that I installed a fresh set of the new GM jounce stops. Rode like sh*t with the trimmed bumpstops. Anyways, a few pics. I would love to hear any criticism, insight, support, questions, anything that will prevent me from making the same mistakes others have already made LOL.

4L85e


Circle D converter:


Circle D 4L80e swap flexplate:


LS9 gaskets, Tru-Cool 40k, all the small misc parts:


Midwest Driveline & Gear 32 spline input shaft, seal kit, case saver:


Transgo HD2 (btw this thing is date coded 2007... do they have an updated version)?


The truck itself (I plan to pickup some lighter 17" aluminum Silverado wheels this weekend, and install slightly shorter 265/65/17 tires):

 

Subscribed. I'm looking to do the same thing, only my truck is in a lot worse shape than yours. Lol

How much did you lower yours? Are your CV axles flat?

 

After seeing all these new builds i need to quit messing around and get my truck going lol. Looks like a solid plan you got there and one heck of a clean truck there.

 

CV axles are perfectly flat. I only lowered the front 1/2" by turning the torsion key bolts out a bit and the rear came down 3.5" with block removal / Belltech 2" shackles in the top hole. I wouldn't mind going a 1/2" lower all around l but my goal is to run 11.5x or quicker and I don't know how lowering spindles would affect the geometry up front. 2" spindles would mean I'd have to use the torsion bolts to raise the truck up 1" to achieve a 1" final drop up front. I'd also have to do hangers in the back.

Thanks for the compliments! Truck has 140k but the pics were taken after I clayed and polished the truck.

 

Subscribed Your pretty similar to my setup. You have a good parts list wondering about the eBay head studs? I would only use ARP studs for pease of mind

 

how much did the truck run you?? Looks to be in near perfect condition for the age.

 

I feel I overpaid at $11k which is a good $3k over book, but I simply could not find a push button rcsb z71 anywhere so instead of flying to another state I paid a bit more to get what I wanted.

Zaathur the eBay head studs actually are pretty proven on ls1tech / yellowbullet. Are they as good as the ARPs? Probably not. I don't plan on making more than ~550rwhp so I'm confident they'll work fine.

 

For that power level keep the stock head bolts, they're actually stronger than the china junk

 

Going to be a really cool truck! 11k isn't really too bad considering how good of shape it's in.

 

How many miles are on it?

Pulling the motor and gapping the rings sounds like a waste of time to me.