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

[trbankii]

I figure for under 5 grand I will have a new engine, new transmission, and rebuilt transfer case. I couldn't buy another decent 6.5L rig for that money, and it would barely be a down payment on a new truck.....

That's how I feel about working on my "ancient" vehicles - what I spend in a year on maintenance and repairs would barely cover a month or two of a new car payment.