shakenfake

I know why aluminum heads are better, just wanted to bust your *****

I actually thought that the 2500 burbs were only available in 2001+

strutaeng

Yeah the 2500 suburbans showed up in 2000. If I was in the rustbelt, and knowing how rare these trucks would be up there, I honestly wouldn't shy away from the iron head LQ4. I actually saw this one video they was saying he actually like the iron heads for turbo applications ( I don't know how true that is?) A 317 Al. head swap is not that difficult if it still bugs you.

Ditto for the 8.1. Obviously, that's not what you are after and a lot of extra work and money, but an 8.1 to 6.0 swap would be pretty straightforward, since this generation came with both engines. The rest of the drivetrain is pretty much the same (except the BBC came with the 10.5 FF vs 9.5 SF). Just thinking out loud here.

_zebra

iTrader: (5)

i'd definitely pick a 2500 as a tow pig for brakes, suspension, & frame strength. drivetrain's an easy swap - the others, notsomuch.

_zebra

iTrader: (5)

and the 8.1s technically got 4L85s (slightly beefed over the 4L80)

strutaeng

Yes.

OP, another one popped up. No mention on engine, but it's a 4x4. But has the iron heads we were discussing:

LQ4-E39

iTrader: (3)

Coming back to this, looking at possibly picking up a 01-06 Yukon XL Denali. The 6.0 is a no-brainer for me. Haven't yet purchased a truck, so I'm still in the process of determining which year is more advantageous. These seem to be much easier to find than a 2500 6.0 and at much better price points. The rear air suspension is nice too.

Anyone swapped a 4L80E into one of these and kept the original transfer case and AWD? Plans are a small turbo long term, so no way I want to run any kind of 60E/65E. I'm sure some folks have had good luck with their built 60E but I am not interested in going down that path at all.

What's it take to get an 80E in a Yukon XL Denali?

silentbravo

iTrader: (1)

If you get an 05-06 Denali it will have factory electric fans. Not much difference other than interior that i know of, when that updated starting in 03.

There might be some shenanigans with output/input shafts and the 4l80e to AWD tcase. Seems like there is a thread or 2 about that on here somewhere.