Bought a REAL tow vehicle

[Lynn]

I have used Bridgestones several times on my old Bimmer. Never been disappointed.

Picked them up early this morning. Getting ready to head down to the shop to install them.
Will be gone most of the day.

Many thanks to Gary (muscle_collector) for giving me such a smoking deal on these. Almost no miles. Spare has never been on the ground.

[396 SS/RS]

The shop that services my company truck highly recommended the Cooper over Michelin as he said Michelin quality has gone down. I went with the Cooper AT3 on my company truck since I travel on caliche roads a lot here in Texas. I was concerned about road noise and there was virtually none up until about 40k. Now there is some road noise but not that bad.

FWIW, I like Michelins for their ride, grip, long wear. I'll probably go with them on my '21 HD 2500.

[Lynn]

Got my new tires and wheel installed. Took me a while to figure out how to get this beast up on my lift. 157.5 inch wheel base. My Studebaker dump truck is only 131. That's about what the Yukon XL Denali is as well.

Rode really well. No vibration, so I guess the balance is good. I would have checked the balance on my wheel balancer, but I didn't have a large enough cone. Got one ordered.

While on the lift, I checked brakes; about 75% material left.

Also looked at the spin on filter for the trans: Fram. Yikes. Guys on the Ferrari forum have a saying: "Friends don't let friends use Fram filters."

Trans fluid is a little dark. I know the oil has been changed once a year over the last 9 years, even though the PO was only putting about 1500 miles a year on it. Doesn't look like the trans has been properly serviced, so will get that taken care of with proper filters.

Forgot to measure my pan, so don't know if it has deep or shallow.

Any Allison gurus here? What about TranSynd fluid?

[Lynn]

After a LOT of reading, I bought the Transynd fluid. Also bought Baldwin filters.

We have our Museum fundraiser next week, so I am buried in prep for that, but may still get to my trans service this weekend.

Man, I love this truck.

[Too Many Projects]

Originally Posted by Lynn

Have driven very little. Don't trust the rear tires (made in China).

Headed out early in the morning to meet a fellow member about 90 miles from home to pick up five new tires already mounted and balanced on the correct 8 lug wheels. He made me a deal I couldn't refuse. Bridgestone V-Steel tires with almost no miles. He decided to go with off road tires instead of highway.

Truck has 3.73 rear screw.

I MAY get a chance to swap out the tires and wheels tomorrow, but may not. We are hosting a fundraiser at the museum on the 24th, and my time is almost all spoken for the next two weeks. Headed to bed now, as I need to be up at 6.

Seeing as how it has the 3.73 rear gears, I don't think you will want the 6th gear conversion in the trans. It may drop the rpm too low for efficient towing with the gas engine.

[Donnie]

Lynn, while your at it check the transfer case for pump rub... do a google search

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Lynn

After a LOT of reading, I bought the Transynd fluid. Also bought Baldwin filters.

We have our Museum fundraiser next week, so I am buried in prep for that, but may still get to my trans service this weekend.

Man, I love this truck.

Yes, to both Transynd and Baldwin Filters. Make sure there is a magnet on top of the spin on filter. I use same fluid and filter in my 05 LLY Duramax. The GMT800 platform is one of the best trucks GM ever made. I love mine. Seats in them are almost like a lazy-boy recliner! Enjoy the truck!

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

Seeing as how it has the 3.73 rear gears, I don't think you will want the 6th gear conversion in the trans. It may drop the rpm too low for efficient towing with the gas engine.

I agree. Already did the math. Just makes no sense.

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by Donnie

Lynn, while your at it check the transfer case for pump rub... do a google search

2WD. No transfer case.

[Lynn]

As for the math on the trans:

Right now, with .71 OD in fifth gear my RPM at 75 MPH is 2190.
If I did the conversion (at about $2000 even doing everything myself) I would have a .61 sixth gear and would drop cruising RPM to 1878.

Might make sense with 4.10 rear gears, but makes no sense with the 3.73.

I have no trouble getting underway with the 3.10 first gear.

Happy with it just the way it is.

Serviced the trans yesterday using TranSynd. Wish there were a way to tell for certain what fluid was in it. Had a really crappy aftermarket spin-on filter on it, but I don't THINK the pan had ever been off. Just to make certain I get as much of the old fluid out as possible (without using a very expensive pump set up) will drive it a few days, then do a drain and fill one more time.

Man, the underside of this truck is clean.

Also, it drives great with the new Bridgestone V-Steel tires. Gary made me a helluva deal on those, and I am very thankful.