Quick GMC Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 (edited) I have an 06 GMC Sierra, extended cab, 2wd. Over the last 10 years I have had every intent to modify it and turn it into something special. 4 transmissions later, I am a little behind. I started when I bought it new, with a tranny shift kit, servos, 3000 stall converter, tuning, shorty headers, intake and 2" drop shackles. that's where it stopped. First tranny blew up the output shaft and grenaded the whole thing. Went back to stock temporarily with what I thought was a remanufactured unit. turns out is was just spray painted with new seals on the outside. Then I built my own, $3k in parts later, it was shifting hard and fast. THEN the converter clutch disk came apart, sending metal through the lines and into the tranny. Some parts were ruined, but most were salvageable, as I caught it right away and shut the truck off and had it towed. 1 more rebuild later and here I am. Everything seems good. New trans, new cooler lines and a 35,000gvwr trans cooler for a motorhome. I started buying parts a year ago, but have yet to install them. I keep changing my mind, but now I'm set for the next stage. Hellwig front and rear sway bars Viking Coilover shocks in the front with QA1 springs Viking rear adjustable shocks McGauphy's 2" drop spindles for the front Caltracs 2" drop hangars for the rear (2" shackles already on) Caltracs traction bar system Rear airbags Onboard compressor for bags Driveshaft center carrier relocation New rear shock relocation mounts Detroit Trutrac diff 4.10 Gears Diff cover The pictures are off the internet. My truck is white with chrome bumper and grill surround, but the wheels are very similar. This is essentially what I am going for. Not sure if I will keep it white, might do a color change Edited June 20, 2018 by Quick GMC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quick GMC Posted April 3, 2018 Author Share Posted April 3, 2018 This is my truck right now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 Cameron, did you by chance have (or maybe still have) a Citron '70(?) Dart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quick GMC Posted April 3, 2018 Author Share Posted April 3, 2018 4 hours ago, Casey said: Cameron, did you by chance have (or maybe still have) a Citron '70(?) Dart? No, I never had anything like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 I have owned a few Chevrolet pick ups and enjoyed playing with them. The last one was a '96 Extended Cab with the 6' bed. Stockland camper shell with no windows and it also was white with the light beige interior. I redid the suspension much as you have done. The 350 was replaced with a 383 crate motor from Blue Print with the Chip to compensate for the bigger cam and the FI modifications that I had done. The transmission was never a problem for me, but when I first lowered it I did have an issue that may or may not have anything to do with your problems. Like you I raised the center carrier mount when I lowered the truck. On the '96 I used the relocated front leaf spring mounts and longer rear shackles as this lowered it 4 inches. I used 2 inch drop spindles and cut one coil on the front. After I got the suspension where I wanted it I noticed under some driving conditions, especially from a stop getting up to speed a little faster than the rest of traffic, you could feel a slight vibration that could get kind of bad when I really stood on it. I figured out that when I changed all of the suspension around I had the pinion angle wrong. I put a very small shim between the differential and the leaf spring mount and the problem was solved. Your description of the modifications on your truck and the transmission especially if your pinion angle is off, and with all you have done I would think it is something other than stock, this can have a big effect on the transmission. You may not feel the same vibrations I had, but your drive shaft is in a different position than stock and the shaft will move further into the rear of the transmission under some conditions and this will have an impact on the internals of the transmission. As I said this may not even be your problem but it is something that will not cost a lot to have checked and them same for installing shims if needed to change the angle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robberbaron Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Sounds like a nice setup. My daily driver is also a white '06 Sierra that I bought new. Mine is a standard cab longbed, bought it as a Worktruck, but have upgraded it with a chrome grille, chrome rear bumper, chrome side moldings, etc. Aside from the regular cab and 8 ft bed, it pretty much looks like yours, except I replaced the W/T steelies with Denali 6-spoke rims. I always planned to do some additional mods, but I got married a year after buying it, then house/wife/kids ate up most of the previous free time. It's turned out to be a pretty bulletproof daily driver, though. I'm at 113K and the 4.8 still doesn't burn a drop of oil. Aside from routine maintenance, the only real annoyance has been blowing several brake lines due to road salt, since I'm in the heart of the rust belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quick GMC Posted April 4, 2018 Author Share Posted April 4, 2018 5 hours ago, espo said: I have owned a few Chevrolet pick ups and enjoyed playing with them. The last one was a '96 Extended Cab with the 6' bed. Stockland camper shell with no windows and it also was white with the light beige interior. I redid the suspension much as you have done. The 350 was replaced with a 383 crate motor from Blue Print with the Chip to compensate for the bigger cam and the FI modifications that I had done. The transmission was never a problem for me, but when I first lowered it I did have an issue that may or may not have anything to do with your problems. Like you I raised the center carrier mount when I lowered the truck. On the '96 I used the relocated front leaf spring mounts and longer rear shackles as this lowered it 4 inches. I used 2 inch drop spindles and cut one coil on the front. After I got the suspension where I wanted it I noticed under some driving conditions, especially from a stop getting up to speed a little faster than the rest of traffic, you could feel a slight vibration that could get kind of bad when I really stood on it. I figured out that when I changed all of the suspension around I had the pinion angle wrong. I put a very small shim between the differential and the leaf spring mount and the problem was solved. Your description of the modifications on your truck and the transmission especially if your pinion angle is off, and with all you have done I would think it is something other than stock, this can have a big effect on the transmission. You may not feel the same vibrations I had, but your drive shaft is in a different position than stock and the shaft will move further into the rear of the transmission under some conditions and this will have an impact on the internals of the transmission. As I said this may not even be your problem but it is something that will not cost a lot to have checked and them same for installing shims if needed to change the angle. I bought a carrier bearing relocation bracket. It's a 2 piece driveshaft, so this repositions the center carrier to compensate for the pinion angle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quick GMC Posted April 4, 2018 Author Share Posted April 4, 2018 4 hours ago, Robberbaron said: Sounds like a nice setup. My daily driver is also a white '06 Sierra that I bought new. Mine is a standard cab longbed, bought it as a Worktruck, but have upgraded it with a chrome grille, chrome rear bumper, chrome side moldings, etc. Aside from the regular cab and 8 ft bed, it pretty much looks like yours, except I replaced the W/T steelies with Denali 6-spoke rims. I always planned to do some additional mods, but I got married a year after buying it, then house/wife/kids ate up most of the previous free time. It's turned out to be a pretty bulletproof daily driver, though. I'm at 113K and the 4.8 still doesn't burn a drop of oil. Aside from routine maintenance, the only real annoyance has been blowing several brake lines due to road salt, since I'm in the heart of the rust belt. One of my friends still has his GMC from high schook, I think a 2000 or 2001. It's a 4.8. Great motor for a turbo setup. Some of these trucks are running stupid fast times on street trim with strokers and boosted 4.8 and 5.3 motors. I'm not much into drag racing. I would love to build a single cab AWD version, but with 2 kids I need the room right now. There is a guy with a single cab on coilovers with a 4 link that is very competitive in Autocross against a lot of the smaller cars. Eventually, I think I will go a little lower and a 3 or 4 link in the rear with coilovers there too, but that's another project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Nice truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 6 hours ago, Quick GMC said: I bought a carrier bearing relocation bracket. It's a 2 piece driveshaft, so this repositions the center carrier to compensate for the pinion angle. My '96 also had the two piece driveshaft and I also had the center carrier support. As I said my problem may not even be related to what you are experiencing, but if there is a vibration in say the rear drive shaft because of a change in it's angle, that will transmit to the front drive shaft.There is a curtain amount of for and aft play even though the shaft appears to be solidly mounted. Per the drive shaft shop I went too any vibration can set up harmonics that effect anything else in the driveline. This is one of the reasons balancing of the drive shaft its self is so important. Just like balancing the crankshaft in the engine or balancing your tires. Should your tire be off even an oz. you can feel it in your steering wheel, and look at how isolated your steering wheel is from your tire. Just a thought. Good luck to you on getting your truck done the way you want it. Maybe even post you progress here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quick GMC Posted May 2, 2018 Author Share Posted May 2, 2018 I changed gears a bit. Ditched the Caltracs and went with a full blown notched 3 link rear from Ridetech, along with their front upper and lower arms. Now I will be sitting on coilovers on all 4 corners, sitting just like the truck in the first pic. Attached is a pic of Ridetech's full bolt on system. I am doing the same thing, but with a mix and match bit of parts. Viking coilovers, Hellwig sway bars, McGaughy's spindles, and the rear section and A-arms in the picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobuzz Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 My 2001 with 518 RWHP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quick GMC Posted May 3, 2018 Author Share Posted May 3, 2018 (edited) 16 hours ago, kobuzz said: My 2001 with 518 RWHP NICE. Supercharged or Turbo? I like those 99-02 front ends Edited May 3, 2018 by Quick GMC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quick GMC Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 ok all done. Still some tweaking to do with ride height, shock settings and such. It's lower than I expected, but I have plenty of room to play with pre-load Rear components Main front components Front coilovers Rear coilovers Sway bars New front setup with upper and lower arms, spindles and sway bar with adjustable links New rear setup with no more leaf springs, c-notch, parallel lower bars and coilovers, installed sway bar after this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quick GMC Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 New 20" wheels SLAMMED, need to raise the ride height a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belugawrx Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 NICE !! Gonna roll that rear pan? I've got a 2016 black out Silverado 4x4 I am shopping a levelling kit for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quick GMC Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 23 minutes ago, Belugawrx said: NICE !! Gonna roll that rear pan? I've got a 2016 black out Silverado 4x4 I am shopping a levelling kit for. right now I ordered a new bumper, the original was bent. Got a brand new one with all new plastics an brackets for $200 on amazon. Not factory quality, but good enough until I can get the roll pan, handles and mirrors together to colormatch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belugawrx Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 2 hours ago, Quick GMC said: right now I ordered a new bumper, the original was bent. Got a brand new one with all new plastics an brackets for $200 on amazon. Not factory quality, but good enough until I can get the roll pan, handles and mirrors together to colormatch That'll look sweet This is what I'm starting with.. I would need to lose the front bumper drop,...which wouldn't hurt the looks for sure.. Thats Riley, protecting the office Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBcritter Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Nice! And a big contrast to all the lifted trucks out there in the desert (I used to live in YV/JT). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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