04’ big blue 8.1

[72gmck5]

As some might have seen in my Jimmy build thread I recently picked up a 2004 Chevy 2500 ccsb 8.1/Allison combo.
Maybe not the best choice as a daily but I only drive about 5 miles for work so it’s not painful.
It’s pretty much stock except an Airaid intake box and slightly larger 285s on 18”s

 

[72gmck5]

After having it a few weeks I got rid of the body stickers and added a cat back exhaust I threw together. 3” y pipe into a 4” jones turbine muffler a magnaflow tailpipe for a diesel. Went together pretty easy and sounds great.

 

[72gmck5]

And cuz someone might want to know how it sounds..

 

[blazinzuk]

I like it!

Not as loud as I thought it would be

 

[72gmck5]

Yeah it did a lot better at controlling the Sound than I thought it would

 

[72gmck5]

Had a headlight burn out, so upgraded to some Mictuning LED bulbs

 

[fear_nothing]

Nice Rig - I have a similar truck that's roughly the same color. Good call on removing the stickers, they reminded me of this from 90's era travel mugs:

 

[jeff in co]

Nice rig! I love my 8.1L in my 04'. Just a lot of fun to drive! Congrats. Uses about a quart of oil per 2500 miles but otherwise, great. I have 170k on mine.

 

[72gmck5]

Ha, I just got to 2500 miles and added a quart last weekend. Its on par with everything that I've heard.

 

[jeff in co]

I bought mine with 18k, and was using oil then. So it's pretty normal unfortunately.

 

[kgblazerfive]

Exactly the truck I am wanting

 

[72gmck5]

Did some much needed maintenance today. I got a full set of brakes from Brake Motive and added 5100 bilstein shocks. The original shocks were still on the truck and were totally shot. The fronts barely rebounded and the rears had no pressure.
It used to bounce after every bump on the road and now I know why.
I have to replace a caliper slider tomorrow but I’m excited to see how it rides now.

 

[Mrpandazz]

How many miles on it when you purchased it? I'm looking for something similar, I recently drove a 2001 with over 350k and it felt pretty good. Seeing if I shouldn't be scared of some of the higher mileage ones out there.

 

[72gmck5]

How many miles on it when you purchased it? I'm looking for something similar, I recently drove a 2001 with over 350k and it felt pretty good. Seeing if I shouldn't be scared of some of the higher mileage ones out there.

I got it with 135k and now at 142k. @the_blaze just bought a burb with a 8.1 at about 230k and it runs like a top. It has required some maintenance and services.
I’d say if the one you’re looking at had service records and is at a good price, go for it.