Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys

What did you do to your GMT today?

Trailblazer and Envoy related, but not off-road related...

by DustinC1989 » Thu Jan 02, 2014 7:39 pm

Ordered new tires, hoping they fit okay... went with a really odd size due to the stupid 18's.
Guy at the shop claims they will clear the ball joints but might rub on fender liners.

Hope that's all they rub, cause I'll keep them and pull liners if that's all
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by TBYODA » Thu Jan 02, 2014 8:20 pm

What size did you get? BTW 30.6" is the max without spacers.
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by Aries » Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:12 pm

Installed
  • 4.56 rear gears (Yukon YG GM8.5-456 w/pinion bearing kit PK GM8.6)
  • Powertrax 92-07863005


My friend Gary starting the re-gear
Image

Checking existing backlash after 11 years & 120,000 miles. Magnetic base wouldn't work, the differential housing is aluminum
Image

Finished setting pinion depth
Image

Start of many tries to install the Powertrax (four to be exact)
Marked paddle opening on Synchro facing aft, On the left side I marked oppisite side of Synchro because opening faced fwd and I wanted my white mark to face me.
Image

OK the re-gear went good (some what), reused the pinion shim to set the depth. Reused the carrier bearings and outer shims. The backlash came out within and the pattern looked good so we went with it. But the spring in the junk ass pinion seal would not stay in place. The kit came with two seals (no numbers on them) so we picked the one that looked the closest to the OEM and on the way home I notice it was leaking. I pulled over for a bite to eat and got on the phone to Randy's R&P told the guy :hissyfit: "Your pinion seals are junk shit" before I asked if the GM OEM seal would fit their Yukon Pinion he said yes and gave me a P/N 710506 so I stopped and picked one up from AA. So once the snow melts I'll change it out.

I got in a hurry wanting to get on the road before the snow and was having issues installing the Powertrax until I stopped and read the instructions
for the umpteen timeImage Once that was complete I tried to button things up only to find out the rear cover that I primed, painted and undercoated was wrong. Yes the one that I emailed Summit Racing and asked "Will this cover fit my GM 8.6" so I reinstalled the old rusty one. Then I snapped one of Gary's $200 Matco 3/8 drive ratchets trying to loosen the fill plug, after a little heat I got it out and filled her up.

Then a quick test drive to make sure everything was working properly before heading home to beat the snow.
I will say "Damn the TB ride nice"


Worked all day next to this
Image
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by DustinC1989 » Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:55 pm

TBYODA wrote:What size did you get? BTW 30.6" is the max without spacers.

I'll have to double check when the wife gets home, left the paperwork in the TB
The notes that their system shows said it will fit but rub on the fender liner. Guess we'll find out

EDIT:
stock I have 245/60-18
Which measures 29.6x9.65
I ordered 265/60-18's
Which measure 30.5x10.4
So its definitely gonna be a tight fit....
If its too tight, I guess I'll keep looking. But it would be awesome to get away without running a spacer
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by navigator » Fri Jan 03, 2014 9:36 am

if you have any rubbing on the liner, you can likely massage it a little to get it to work.
Next to the firewall you can see a bolt through the fender liner to a support. I had to bang on mine a few times with a drilling hammer but that pushed it back enough to not need any trimming.
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by Opeth » Fri Jan 03, 2014 11:04 am

Are we admiring the bondo'd car or what appears to be a cummins 6BT?
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by Chango » Fri Jan 03, 2014 12:40 pm

Opeth wrote:Are we admiring the bondo'd car or what appears to be a cummins 6BT?


I was looking at that too...does it have twins on it?
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by dvanbramer88 » Fri Jan 03, 2014 1:13 pm

Aries wrote:Then I snapped one of Gary's $200 Matco 3/8 drive ratchets trying to loosen the fill plug, after a little heat I got it out and filled her up.

Then a quick test drive to make sure everything was working properly before heading home to beat the snow.
I will say "Damn the TB ride nice" [/size]




If it were me, the FIRST thing I would of done would have been to take the fill plug out. It would of sucked after all that labor to have to leave the truck in the shop because the fill plug got buggered up.


Glad you got the rear end installed though. Did you regear the front yet?
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by Aries » Fri Jan 03, 2014 2:29 pm

Chango wrote:
Opeth wrote:Are we admiring the bondo'd car or what appears to be a cummins 6BT?


I was looking at that too...does it have twins on it?

Yes, two weeks ago when I stopped by to set a date for the re-gear that cummins was in pieces all over the bench. He did a complete rebuild with a 5K twin turbo package, he's just waiting for the owner to drop off more funds and then he'll install it back in the dodge dually 4x4. That bondo'd car has a story. Uncle Lee bought it after returning home from two tours in Vietnam, it had wheelie bars and a blower out the hood. He never really did anything with it. Uncle Lee passed away in the late 90's and now his brother JR (Gary's father)tinkers with it from time to time.
dvanbramer88 wrote:If it were me, the FIRST thing I would of done would have been to take the fill plug out. Did you regear the front yet?

:lol: That's what we said after we realized. Nobody wanted to try in fear of messing up the fill plug so after I broke the ratchet I said "Fire up the hot wrench". I have a spare front differential here I'm gonna re-gear but I want to do a write up as I'm doing it and then hopeful get with Gary to use his shop again.
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by dvanbramer88 » Fri Jan 03, 2014 4:55 pm

Sweet man. Good luck with the front.
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by DustinC1989 » Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:54 am

Got my LED light bar finally, now I just gotta figure out how to mount it.
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by Beamer » Sun Jan 05, 2014 12:14 pm

DustinC1989 wrote:Ordered new tires, hoping they fit okay... went with a really odd size due to the stupid 18's.
Guy at the shop claims they will clear the ball joints but might rub on fender liners.

Hope that's all they rub, cause I'll keep them and pull liners if that's all


I fit 265/75-16 Yokohama Geolander ATS's on mine without spacers, but did a little grinding on my ball joints. Check out my build thread, it is documented there.

Been running this way for a few years and no issues. I do have a shiny non-rusted spot on the ball joints that I blame on entering my driveway (wheels turned while transitioning from street to driveway).
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by DustinC1989 » Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:45 pm

Beamer wrote:
DustinC1989 wrote:Ordered new tires, hoping they fit okay... went with a really odd size due to the stupid 18's.
Guy at the shop claims they will clear the ball joints but might rub on fender liners.

Hope that's all they rub, cause I'll keep them and pull liners if that's all


I fit 265/75-16 Yokohama Geolander ATS's on mine without spacers, but did a little grinding on my ball joints. Check out my build thread, it is documented there.

Been running this way for a few years and no issues. I do have a shiny non-rusted spot on the ball joints that I blame on entering my driveway (wheels turned while transitioning from street to driveway).


Those would measure out at roughly 1" larger than the ones I ordered, but I will definitely be doing that if its needed.
My goals for the truck have changed slightly since I got it and no spacers is part of that new goal.
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by Regulator1175 » Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:18 am

Today I installed my new 200amp alternator, new starter, outer tie rods, green filter, and gator belt. Unfortunately the tension pulley has not arrived yet and the idler pulley was the wrong size, so I still have a lot of noise. I then got it in to a buddies shop for a free alignment.

Here is the final product.
Image
We left some positive camber since the coilovers only have 100 miles or so on them. We were thinking that as they settle a bit the tires will come into correct specs.

It was great timing as well. I pulled 6 cars out this evening, and got my wife to work safely. She was the only CNA to show up for third shift!
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by TBYODA » Mon Jan 06, 2014 10:16 am

Regulator1175 wrote:Today I installed my new 200amp alternator
Details were you pick up and $$ if you don't mind.;)
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by mikekey » Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:51 am

Regulator1175 wrote:Today I installed my new 200amp alternator, new starter, outer tie rods, green filter, and gator belt. Unfortunately the tension pulley has not arrived yet and the idler pulley was the wrong size, so I still have a lot of noise. I then got it in to a buddies shop for a free alignment.

Here is the final product.
Image
We left some positive camber since the coilovers only have 100 miles or so on them. We were thinking that as they settle a bit the tires will come into correct specs.

It was great timing as well. I pulled 6 cars out this evening, and got my wife to work safely. She was the only CNA to show up for third shift!


I'd be interested as well in knowing which aftermarket or (rebuild kit) you use.

Since I just replaced the battery last week and I'm planning out my e-fans & dual battery setup I was thinking of purchasing the DB Electrical 250amp high out put alternator. http://www.dbelectrical.com/p-9753-alte ... envoy.aspx
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by Regulator1175 » Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:34 pm

TBYODA wrote:
Regulator1175 wrote:Today I installed my new 200amp alternator
Details were you pick up and $$ if you don't mind.;)


This is the one I purchased.


There is also this one available that I looked at.

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by mikekey » Mon Jan 06, 2014 3:01 pm

Regulator1175 wrote:There is also this one available that I looked at.


That is a way better price than the one listed on DB Delectrical's website. Guess I'll have too pick this one up instead. :thumleft:
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by Trail X » Mon Jan 06, 2014 3:34 pm

I'm pretty sure this is Mike Key's true identity:

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by DustinC1989 » Mon Jan 06, 2014 3:43 pm

I've been looking for one for my 07, but apparently my google-fu sucks... only ever find them for the SS
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