G.M. 3500 HD Projects

[Dan Barlow]

As most of you know , I love big trucks . While I really wanted a C50 or 60 , I really do like the 3500 HD . I really didn't know about them till a few years ago . I knew the 2500 was a dually 1ton and thought that was the end of line for a pickup cab with fenders and hood that also interchange with a pickup . Then I became aware that the 3500 was a more thick and straighter commercial chassis . It looks to be sitting on a body spacer ( not sure if it is or not yet ) and to make this look better the filler panel between the bumper and grill is taller . All that to better introduce to you my project truck . It is a factory Vortec 454 4L80 automatic truck that is pretty much my least favorite normal color on a truck , white .It has west coast style mirrors which you really need with the really wide utility body . But thats coming off for a flatbed . I'm planning on building it and it will have some neat features I'm hoping to pull off . I want to be able to pull a gooseneck trailer even though I'll probably never own one . But you never know . I also want to figure a way to have a detachable dovetail and maybe a partially tiltable flatbed to be able to get a vehicle on the back incase me or the kids have a dead vehicle that needs hauled . I have acquired a 496/8.1 engine as of last Saturday and a NV4500 manual trans as of last Friday. The trans came out of a 3500 HD and has the same style drum brake on the back as the 4L80E that my truck came with . Then 496 came out of a 2003 3/4 ton avalanche. Until I bought this engine , I didn't know they made them . But they are basically a suburban with the roof cut off the back so why not .I was planning on this getting a T56 or the beefed up version they call the TR6060 cause with 4.56 gears I thought 2 overdrive would be great . But Loren put enough question in my mind that I started thinking maybe the granny low 1st and the one overdrive in 5th might be the better way to go . Plus since I figured since it was a factory option it would go together easier and with less custom work like drives haft. Well , I've found that that engine trans combo was only available in 2002 which is the next bodystyle . So finding a flywheel on a 1 year 20 year ago option is almost custom . I was able to track 1 down today and get it ordered . Clutch kit was ordered last night . Still have to get a bellhousing. Anyway , here's what I have so far . And while I am moving pretty fast on this right now, I'm lightly into home repairs that after new years will turn into a living room / wet bar / kitchenl into a living room / pantry / kitchen remodel . So , it will slow down when new years happens . Pics to come in the next post .

[Dan Barlow]

More

[Dan Barlow]

Looks to be about a 10 foot bed

[Dan Barlow]

d Engine / Trans

[Dan Barlow]

P.S. its also a factor air-condition PS/PB truck that has a base interior with a fabric bench and rubber floor covering ( no carpet . Manual windows and locks .

[SuperBuickGuy]

nice!

[Russell]

You could always look for a roll back bed. The are good for hauling cars!

[Russell]

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/hvo/d/cartersville-rollback-bed/7569403850.html

[Dan Barlow]

If he was really motivated he'd have put the price up . But yeah a rollback would be the ultimate.

[Skeptical]

Engine / Trans

Now you need to get you a newer top cover for that sweet trans and top it with a worthy shifter!

https://core-shifters.com/collection...r-silverado-hd

I'm glad this dude took up where Hurst left off. I just ordered one for an NV3500 I'm swapping into my S10. I ran the original Hurst on an NV1500 in a previous s10 and regret ever getting rid of it.

Edit - Found a pic of the hurst shifter in the old 4cyl S10.

[Russell]

If he was really motivated he'd have put the price up . But yeah a rollback would be the ultimate.

Your correct I was thinking 4300 was the price that's the model of the truck

[Dan Barlow]

Now you need to get you a newer top cover for that sweet trans and top it with a worthy shifter!

https://core-shifters.com/collection...r-silverado-hd

I'm glad this dude took up where Hurst left off. I just ordered one for an NV3500 I'm swapping into my S10. I ran the original Hurst on an NV1500 in a previous s10 and regret ever getting rid of it.

Edit - Found a pic of the hurst shifter in the old 4cyl S10.

While I don't want this in the $5000 Challenge, Thats basically myShort term budget on it so , if I know it still works for the most part , it stays . But I do like it so maybe in the future.

[Dan Barlow]

I got the day off from life in general . Tinker with the big truck today . Got the flex plate off and put the flywheel on . Unfortunately the bolts aren't long enough from the flex platfort to hold the flywheel on by a long shot . Came up dry on getting some . It seems GM dealerships can't look things up on their computer unless you give them the VIN . Stuck the bellhousing on . Also got some chain to fix my HF engine tilter .

[SuperBuickGuy]

ARP? also, a 'beware of' a lot of trucks in those days came with dual mass flywheels - and required different bolts then what you're looking for... again, ARP will know..

[silver_bullet]

We swapped in a Core Shifter on Sean's Xtreme with the NV3500 back in the day.... it is patterned after the Hurst, but uses a billet top rather than a cast one.... I'm providing the link: https://core-shifters.com/collection...r-silverado-hd