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Thread: The ol' Tahoe is down for the count - coolant in cylinder(s)

  1. #221
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
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    Yukon Canada
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    1,612

    Default

    Or...
    buy a donar with the gear ratio you want in front and rear diff's and change them both.If you watch and not in a rush you may get lucky and end up with cheap diffs and some stuff to sell to cover the costs.
    90 Chev 3500 c/c 4x4,6.2na,400 auto,4:10 gears.DSG Timing gears,main girdle, isspro tach, pyro,boost,oil and trany temp.Dual Tstats, High volume peninsular pump,on shelf, Custom turbo and intercooler 85%complete. Change of plans for the dually, it's going to get a Cummins. Both trucks are Blue 90 4x4 crews

  2. #222
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
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    South Central Pennsylvania, USA
    Posts
    2,697

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    That's what I did. I picked up a pickup for $800 for the axles and manual transmission plus got a spare t-case and other parts.
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  3. #223
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Granby, Missouri, USA
    Posts
    3,081

    Default Update 10/29/22

    The Ol' Tahoe has 11K miles now since the rebuild was completed back on New Year's Eve. I've had zero problems with the engine or transmission, except for one small minor issue: I've noticed the past few weeks that on cold mornings the engine would miss just a little and blow a little more smoke for a few seconds at cold start. I could tell one cylinder wasn't firing right away.

    While changing the oil today and checking things over, I discovered the problem: one of the glow plugs had a broken wire. The terminal had broken off the end of the wire. Naturally, it was one of the most difficult to access: number 6 right behind the down pipe. Thankfully I was able to wiggle the heat shield out of the way without too much problem and get to the glow plug.

    Here is the wire as I found it just laying on the frame:







    I was able to put a new terminal on the end of the wire, and all is good!

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  4. #224
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Newberg Oregon
    Posts
    12,282

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    Glad it was a simple issue....

    One of the Burbs we had in years past was getting really hard to start......I removed the plugs that were the easy ones....Two on the Right side were not wanting to come out of the head, so I decided to leave them and not risk breaking them off.

    All the others got replaced.....Yeah it smoked a bit during a cold start.....But no worries....

    Not worth breaking the plugs off and having a big mess to fight..


    RH side anything on these engines is usually not fun......
    (1) 1995 Suburban 2500 4x4
    (1) 1997 Astro
    (1) 2005 Suburban (Papa Smurf)
    THIS IS BOW TIE COUNTRY

  5. #225
    Join Date
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    Montana
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  6. #226
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
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    Granby, Missouri, USA
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    I recorded my best fuel mileage to date with the new engine yesterday: 17.35 mpg. It had been hovering around 15.5 to 16.5 previously. I'm hoping that wasn't a fluke and that she's finally getting broken in and will keep providing better fuel economy.

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  7. #227
    Join Date
    Feb 2000
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    Montana
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    Quote Originally Posted by arveetek View Post
    I recorded my best fuel mileage to date with the new engine yesterday: 17.35 mpg. It had been hovering around 15.5 to 16.5 previously. I'm hoping that wasn't a fluke and that she's finally getting broken in and will keep providing better fuel economy.

    Casey
    That's encouraging!

    I'd like to experiment with Sarah's Blazer in an effort to improve fuel economy... First up, install a DB2, though it's not quite that easy. My Banks 6.2L TD 1982 GMC would get 24+mpg at 65-mph. I was always a little disappointed that this Blazer, with 3.73 gearing, produced 5-7 mpg less. That 1982 GMC had a TH700R4 and 3.42 gearing, but I'm guessing the 6.5 would do better with a DB2 than it does with the DS4. But, it would be a costly experiment - a good DB2, fuel injector line set and electronics package (TCM/harness) for the 4L80-E... ~ A couple grand... to experiment.

    From your summer post...
    Fuel economy - This is still a concern area. We had one long stretch of 4 lane highway that I pushed her hard to keep up with traffic (67 mph, 2600 rpm in 3rd), and that tank came back up at only 8.47 mpg!! I was shocked. After that, I backed the speed down closer to 62 mph, and used less of the cruise control. I noticed that with the cruise on, the ECM was often commanding a lot more fuel to keep up the speed, whereas if I just let it slow down a little on the hills, I would use much less fuel. After that, I averaged 10-11 mpg on the following tanks. Overall, after 1100 miles round trip, I averaged 11.7 mpg for the whole trip. I still think it should be better than that, but again, the 3.42 gears and 33" tires hurts the towing mileage for sure.
    Just as a frame of reference.... Our 6.5TD Project truck did the run from Montana to Dayton Ohio and back in 2001, while towing a medium sized 5th-wheel travel trailer - that trailer probably weighed about 7,000-8,000-lbs. The 6.5 averaged 10.8-mpg for the ~4.5K mile round trip, running mostly at 70-mph. That truck had 4.10 gearing, and always ran in OD (4L80-E) unless pulling a grade. I wish we'd had your Holset turbo, but it ran with a GM-8. It could pull grades about as well as a similarly loaded stock LB7 Duramax/travel-trailer that traveled with it. Never had a heat issue while pulling grades or on the flat, even though it was pretty warm... i.e. 105F running across South Dakota in late August. You can see pics of the truck/trailer and read more about that trip here: https://www.thedieselpage.com/finale.htm
    Last edited by More Power; 11-18-2022 at 11:15.

  8. #228
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
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    Granby, Missouri, USA
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    3,081

    Default Update july 2023

    I just turned over 20K on the 'new' engine, and it's been right at 2 years now since the head gasket blew starting this whole project. The whole rig has been running great, no issues at all now. I do have a slight coolant leak (a few drops on the ground periodically), but it appears to be either the radiator or lower radiator hose. I can't see where it's coming from, even with removing the fan shroud and the lower skid plate. It hasn't gotten worse, so I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to it. I fear the next step would be to pull the radiator, and I just haven't been concerned enough to do that just yet.

    I quit keeping track of my fuel mileage; I discovered my odometer is not recording mileage correctly. The speedometer is spot on, but when I check the odometer with my GPS app, it's showing a bit slow/behind. The trip odometer quit years ago, so after 395K miles, I guess it's not hard to believe that the main odometer would be a bit worn out by now as well.

    The engine starts immediately, in any weather, with very little smoke at startup. I've been on quite a few camping trips now, and she loves to pull hard, and never even gets close to being hot when towing. The old engine ran hot all the time when towing, and I always had to keep one eye glued to the temp gauge. Now I can tow as hard as I want, and not worry one bit. I still plan to swap to 4:10 gears one of these days in order to improve towing performance.

    The HX35 turbo works great, but there is quite a bit of turbo lag. The low-stall torque converter combined with 3.42 gears and 33" tires means that I have a lot of black smoke when pulling away from a stop when towing my camper. It takes a bit longer to spool up than the original GM4 I was using before, but the cooler running engine and less backpressure is really worth the trade off. Once it spools up, though, the smoke clears away and she pulls hard. I can barely detect any smoke at all, even at full throttle, so she's burning the fuel quite well at that point. Unless I really push it, boost stays around 10-13 psi on hard pulls. Once in a while it will climb to 15 psi if I really keep my foot in it, but generally that's not needed.

    I feel very confident in this rig now, and wouldn't hesitate to jump in and drive to anywhere in the country. I love driving an old school diesel rig, and love getting comments at fuel stations; a majority of folks are surprised to find out that this is, in fact, a factory diesel.

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  9. #229
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
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    Ft. Wayne, In.
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    535

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    That is awesome Casey! Looks good too!
    Makes my 131K unit seem like a pup!
    Dave
    Dave, N9LOV
    Member #242
    Dave's Diesels:
    Sold June, 07 '82 1/2 ton 4X4;340k miles
    '97 2 Dr Tahoe, Intercooled,
    Kennedy ECM, 4" Exhaust
    '02 GMC

  10. #230
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Newberg Oregon
    Posts
    12,282

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    Glad to hear the good news....

    Just being anal here.....I would chase down that coolant leak.....Issues rarely happen at a convenient time ....Out on the road is not at all the place to have trouble..

    May be just a quick tweak on a hose clamp....Or maybe a leaking water pump seal....

    Never know......
    (1) 1995 Suburban 2500 4x4
    (1) 1997 Astro
    (1) 2005 Suburban (Papa Smurf)
    THIS IS BOW TIE COUNTRY

  11. #231
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    Oct 2001
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    Granby, Missouri, USA
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    The leak is from the passenger side under the radiator; it's either the radiator or lower hose. It's just a drop or two periodically, but I agree, I need to get it figured out.

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  12. #232
    Join Date
    Dec 2000
    Location
    Hawaii/Arizona
    Posts
    259

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    Casey/arvteek,
    I agree with you I get a lot of questions and comments at the fuel stations about my 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD diesel. Yesterday I got some unexpected help while filling up at the diesel pump. The pump was on automatic shut off when full and I was cleaning the windshield when a woung girl pulled up behind me in a PS Ferd and jumped out and shut off the pump. She then came around to the front of the Jeep to tell me how she saved the day. When I told her it was a diesel her face turned so red with embarrassment that it may still be red today. We both got a good laugh out of it and I thanked her for the good intension. It was nice of her to attempt to help a stranger.
    *2006 Chevy, 3500, 4X4, DRW, (LBZ) D/A, CC, LT, 252K Miles, 19.5" Wheels, Mag Hytec Transmission Pan and Differential Cover, SS Grill Guard, Racor 2 micron aux fuel filter, 100 Gallon Aux Fuel Tank, using Edge Evolution, Predator Diablosport, Kennedy ECM tune, Fitch Fuel Catalyst.

    *2006 Four Winds, Dutchman, 36', RV, D/A, 5500 Kodiak.
    *1993 Harley Davidson, Turbo charged, Springer Softail.
    *2007 Pontiac Solstice.
    *2005 Jeep, Liberty, CRD (diesel).
    *Full-timing in USA, see America first.

    BUY AMERICAN or CANADIAN, NOTHING from CHINA .

  13. #233
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    New Hampshire - Live Free or Die
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    6,057

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    jumped out and shut off the pump
    Now that's funny!
    The Constitution needs to be re-read, not re-written!

    If you can't handle Dr. Seuss, how will you handle real life?

    Current oil burners: MB GLK250 BlueTEC, John Deere X758
    New ride: MB GLS450 - most stately
    Gone but not forgotten: '87 F350 7.3, '93 C2500 6.5, '95 K2500 6.5, '06 K2500HD 6.6, '90 MB 350SDL, Kubota 7510

  14. #234
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    13,573

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    I have had, twice, a station owner rush out to tell me I can't get fuel at their station. They "didn't need the business from anyone so stupid to pump the wrong gas in their car". I suspect their insurance company put them on notice (I noticed the pump handles, at least at one station, were all the same). The owners weren't born in The 'States. Probably somewhere more east of here. It's also happened to my wife (although, she's pumped the wrong fuel a couple times).
    1985 Blazer 6.2
    2001 GMC 2500HD D/A
    dmaxmaverick@thedieselpage.com

  15. #235
    Join Date
    Feb 2000
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    Montana
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    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by arveetek View Post
    I just turned over 20K on the 'new' engine, and it's been right at 2 years now since the head gasket blew starting this whole project. The whole rig has been running great, no issues at all now. I do have a slight coolant leak (a few drops on the ground periodically), but it appears to be either the radiator or lower radiator hose. I can't see where it's coming from, even with removing the fan shroud and the lower skid plate. It hasn't gotten worse, so I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to it. I fear the next step would be to pull the radiator, and I just haven't been concerned enough to do that just yet.

    I quit keeping track of my fuel mileage; I discovered my odometer is not recording mileage correctly. The speedometer is spot on, but when I check the odometer with my GPS app, it's showing a bit slow/behind. The trip odometer quit years ago, so after 395K miles, I guess it's not hard to believe that the main odometer would be a bit worn out by now as well.

    The engine starts immediately, in any weather, with very little smoke at startup. I've been on quite a few camping trips now, and she loves to pull hard, and never even gets close to being hot when towing. The old engine ran hot all the time when towing, and I always had to keep one eye glued to the temp gauge. Now I can tow as hard as I want, and not worry one bit. I still plan to swap to 4:10 gears one of these days in order to improve towing performance.

    The HX35 turbo works great, but there is quite a bit of turbo lag. The low-stall torque converter combined with 3.42 gears and 33" tires means that I have a lot of black smoke when pulling away from a stop when towing my camper. It takes a bit longer to spool up than the original GM4 I was using before, but the cooler running engine and less backpressure is really worth the trade off. Once it spools up, though, the smoke clears away and she pulls hard. I can barely detect any smoke at all, even at full throttle, so she's burning the fuel quite well at that point. Unless I really push it, boost stays around 10-13 psi on hard pulls. Once in a while it will climb to 15 psi if I really keep my foot in it, but generally that's not needed.

    I feel very confident in this rig now, and wouldn't hesitate to jump in and drive to anywhere in the country. I love driving an old school diesel rig, and love getting comments at fuel stations; a majority of folks are surprised to find out that this is, in fact, a factory diesel.

    Casey
    Nice update!

    It sounds like the HX responds similar to the Banks turbo I had on my 6.2. A little black smoke at the beginning is worth getting a cooler running engine and more power.

    Sarah took the Blazer back to her home some 120 miles distant, mostly I-90 traveling. Said she drives about 75 on the interstate. We filled the Blazer's tank just before she left and reset the trip meter. Hoping to get a better handle on fuel economy... though there'll be some town driving on that tank before we check it again.

    It's interesting to note that she immediately saw the difference in how the 6.5TD Blazer climbs grades compared to her Malibu. The Blazer didn't downshift on the grade over McDonald's Pass on US-12, where her car always dropped a couple of gears. The wonders of turbochargers and diesel torque!
    Jim

  16. #236
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Granby, Missouri, USA
    Posts
    3,081

    Default Update 1/12/24

    I just got back from a 1,200 mile round trip to French Lick, IN for an RV trade show. I drove my own personal vehicle, since I don't trust any of our company's currently available, high-mileage trucks! Even though the ol' Tahoe has over 405K on the odometer now, I feel perfectly comfortable driving her anywhere.

    This is the first time in many years that I've taken the Tahoe on a road trip without a trailer of some sort. I used my GPS app to check my odometer, and currently the odometer is off by 1%, not as much as I thought. But, I was able to set a record high of 18.9 mpg on leg of the trip. That's the highest I ever recorded with the Tahoe.

    She ran great for the whole trip with no issues whatsoever. Still running like a champ. I have narrowed down the small coolant leak to my "new" aluminum radiator (which is actually going on 6 years old now), and I'm still debating what to do about that. It didn't leak enough coolant on this trip to warrant topping off the reservoir, but it's still annoying knowing that I have that leak. I've also noticed my power steering gear box is leaking a little fluid, so those are a couple of maintenance items I will need to address eventually.

    I've also recently replaced the exhaust with a new, complete 4" system (3" downpipe to 4" after that). It was a tight squeeze, especially near the rear fuel tank. I'm still thinking of tweaking the tail pipe a bit for more clearance by the tank.

    I also just installed a Badland Apex 12K winch on the front! It's "hidden" behind the front bumper. I'll try to get pics uploaded soon of all that.

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  17. #237
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
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    Newberg Oregon
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    Glad you had a good trip....
    Those pesky little things (Leaks) Can be managed for a while ....But getting them fixed is surely the best plan........
    (1) 1995 Suburban 2500 4x4
    (1) 1997 Astro
    (1) 2005 Suburban (Papa Smurf)
    THIS IS BOW TIE COUNTRY

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