Justinghump's '02 RCLB Build Thread

Update on the SchlongBed: Not much had changed other than some audio and insulation work in the cab until about a month ago. I lost the drivers side head gasket in the 4.8 at 185k miles....started with a slow oil leak that I thought was the rear main seal and then the mysterious LOW COOLANT lamp started on sporadically. So I have went off the deep end in favor of the +1.2 liter mod. With that being said here is what I have ordered or already purchased to remedy my truck problem...

-6.0 Crate Motor
-ARH LTs 1-7/8 catless
-Black Bear Tune
-NNBS Intake
-8.1 Injectors
-fuel pump
-90mm TB
-05 E-fans and 34" radiator
-New Accessories/sensors on motor
-SUV rear brake upgrade
-05+ front brakes
-Hellwig Rear Sway bar
-Bilstein shocks
-Belltech Drop Shackles (yep, I technically lowered a longed)
-Painted front bumper cap
-new OEM style chrome grille (to replace cracked)

I am forgetting a few things but in addition to that I have removed the bed and after dropping the motor/tranny, I have pressure washed, degreased and painted the frame, rear axle, front end because the oil leak more or less gave me a free undercoating...So for what it's worth I'll throw some pictures on here and try and document the progress.

Starting the teardown/cleanup

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where I confirmed that the rear main was not the source of my leak...

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Pops and Petey...

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Does anyone know How GM's Factory Undercoating works? My entire frame had a tar like undercoating on it that looks to have been applied while the frame was hanging vertically. If you look in the above pic at the rear crossmember you can see the run/drip marks. Most of it came off during the pressure washing, the thicker areas (like above) we left and painted over.

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This evening we mocked up the SUV rear brakes, sand blasted & painted the hitch and a few other odds and ends, installed the sway bar and then rear shackles.

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Old Rotors (10k miles) compared to the SUV rears. I haven't removed the old calipers yet. Need a second person to help me bleed the system.

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Sandblasted

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Shackles on and everything is covered in pollen...

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Sway Bar on, need to trim excess off of U-bolts still.

.....and this arrived today.

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Holy shit what a bump! I wonder if I'm losing a head gasket because I have a slow oil leak and coolant is disappearing somewhere


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The oem frame coating is a type of wax, and yes they dip the frames so the inside is coated as well. It can be removeed with any oil based solvent, gas, diesel, heat etc.

I like where this build is going though. Who did you get the crate engine from?
 
slicksierra said:
Holy shit what a bump! I wonder if I'm losing a head gasket because I have a slow oil leak and coolant is disappearing somewhere


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This project has been a long time coming for me, it definitely is a lot all at once. As far as your Head Gasket, I'd hate to say that you are, I tried to tell myself that it was something else, but it seemed every few weeks I was noticeably down on coolant in the expansion tank, then I noticed the black mayonnaise like globs in my oil during changes (even when the oil was still somewhat-golden). From what I have read on this topic the DexCool does not make the typical milky color when mixed with oil, instead it makes black/brown mayo like goo. What year is your truck? Before I discovered that it was a Head Gasket I had read about the 99-03 Castech heads that crack and cause a slow coolant leak. I even found a GM service Bulletin about it. After I was losing coolant for about three months I developed an oil leak that I thought would have been a rear main seal from where it was accumulating between in the bell housing.


a-fuso said:
The oem frame coating is a type of wax, and yes they dip the frames so the inside is coated as well. It can be removeed with any oil based solvent, gas, diesel, heat etc.

I like where this build is going though. Who did you get the crate engine from?
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That makes a lot of sense, I didn't remove it completely in all spots, I just cleaned and scuffed the areas where I left it. The motor came directly from ATK, they were cheaper than Summit or Jegs with it. The guys in my area wanted outrageous prices for used motors.


red94chev said:
What paint did you use on the frame? Looks perfect and not too shiny.
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That is what I liked about it, has a nice satin look. It is something that we had left over in the shop from one of my Dad's projects. He painted a TJ Jeep Hard top with it. It is called "Hot Rod Black" I hope that it holds up as it isn't really a chassis coating.
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justinghump said:
This project has been a long time coming for me, it definitely is a lot all at once. As far as your Head Gasket, I'd hate to say that you are, I tried to tell myself that it was something else, but it seemed every few weeks I was noticeably down on coolant in the expansion tank, then I noticed the black mayonnaise like globs in my oil during changes (even when the oil was still somewhat-golden). From what I have read on this topic the DexCool does not make the typical milky color when mixed with oil, instead it makes black/brown mayo like goo. What year is your truck? Before I discovered that it was a Head Gasket I had read about the 99-03 Castech heads that crack and cause a slow coolant leak. I even found a GM service Bulletin about it. After I was losing coolant for about three months I developed an oil leak that I thought would have been a rear main seal from where it was accumulating
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Thanks dude that makes a lot of sense. I imagine that's what's happening to mine. Burns about 1qt of oil between changes and needs coolant topped off every 6 months or so... nothing in the oil yet out of the ordinary but I'm sure the slow death is beginning



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slicksierra said:
Thanks dude that makes a lot of sense. I imagine that's what's happening to mine. Burns about 1qt of oil between changes and needs coolant topped off every 6 months or so... nothing in the oil yet out of the ordinary but I'm sure the slow death is beginning



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you ever change your water pump?

ls motors are known for using oil. gm says its acceptable to use i think its 1 qt every 3k.

Water pump weep is the known user of water. if it has a slight weep it will drip out the bottom of the water pump and evaporate before you can even find it. Its a common issue.

I wouldnt say its a head gasket unless your oil gets milky. i wouldnt say its a head or a headgasket unless it smokes white smoke on startup.
 
Ginger said:
you ever change your water pump?

ls motors are known for using oil. gm says its acceptable to use i think its 1 qt every 3k.

Water pump weep is the known user of water. if it has a slight weep it will drip out the bottom of the water pump and evaporate before you can even find it. Its a common issue.

I wouldnt say its a head gasket unless your oil gets milky. i wouldnt say its a head or a headgasket unless it smokes white smoke on startup.
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Yah doesn't do any of that but when I jammed my hand as far up on the back side of the engine as I could, around the back of the head there little pools of dexcool. Anywhere I stuck my finger it came back red


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Oh and btw do you have your factory shackles? I have drop shackles on but wanna put the factory ones back on


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Nope.

99-04 4.8/5.3s either got the 862 or 706 castings which are both aluminum.

99-00 6.0s got the 873 casting iron heads.

01+ 6.0s got the 317 casting aluminum heads.

Just doubled checked and the 97 LS1 had aluminum heads, so my post before wasn't 100% correct.


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Ginger said:
nope. my dad had his rot out and he took them for his truck. then i scrapped the leaf springs.

Also, you shouldnt have a cracked head, because your truck should be a iron head motor.
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First part was to OP cause he just installed drop shackles rofl


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Khaos said:
Nope.

99-04 4.8/5.3s either got the 862 or 706 castings which are both aluminum.

99-00 6.0s got the 873 casting iron heads.

01+ 6.0s got the 317 casting aluminum heads.

Just doubled checked and the 97 LS1 had aluminum heads, so my post before wasn't 100% correct.


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Good info there, My dad has a 2002 6.0 2500 HD and indeed has the 317s.
 
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