$400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3 v6, a few weeks ago i purchased this truck out of a farmers field for $400.00. i trailered it home. promptly upon getting home with it, i put a battery in it, checked its oil and coolant, put fresh fuel in it and it started and ran. the farmer told me it leaked alot of oil and that is why it was parked. he was correct, it leaked alot of oil. but it did run and drive, trans worked well, and 4x4 worked fine.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

so i went to oreillys and got new upper and lower balljoints, new inner and outer tie rods, new idler arm and mount, new pitman arm, new shocks front and rear, new brake pads front and rear... yes a 4wheel disc truck. and went to town replacing things. i also bought a new 2006-2007 grill and new hd hood, new headlights, and new marker lights, new door handles, new tailgate handle, and new front under bumper valance. some nice oem aluminum 17" chevy wheels and new BFG 32" mud terrain tires all around. now i have $400. truck price, $467.00 oreillys, $100. 17" alloys, $630. BFG's, so $1597.00 in a really nice truck that runs and drives. i drove it for 2 weeks and the oil leak got worse, yes i suspected it would. and i pulled it in the shop and started pulling the 4.3 as already have a 2004 5.3 87k mile rebuilt for it on the engine stand. the 5.3 was free from a friend but i put new king main bearings, new king rod bearings, $49.00. new melling oil pump $89.00. new cloyes timing chain and gears $37.00. new hastings rings $46.00. and a new gm engine gasket and seal set $167.00. so now as of today... $1990.00. in a nice reliable 4x4 with a proper 5.3 swap and new bfg mudders. all new brakes, new suspension, so on... nice truck and low buck.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

Very nice score! Exactly the sort of unicorn I've been hunting for. LOL. :D

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

thank you garmar for the kind words.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

pulling the 4.3... getting ready for the 5.3.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

Reminds me of my crew cab, they swore the engine was shoe at 270k miles and no oil pressure, picked it up for 3500, and put a $60 oil pump on it. She is my daily and has 303k miles on it currently. I'm subscribing to see what else you do with this.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

Not bad!

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

yesterday... 5.3 going in...

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

Great score! Looking forward to seeing the progress. By the way, do you know where the oil leak is on the 4.3?

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

the oil leak was the rear main seal

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

I don't know that I've ever seen a GM truck without a rear main seal leak lol. My 5.3 has a rear main leak but the leak eventually formed it's own new old oil gasket and I don't have to add oil between changes.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

Nice score..

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

It goes to show you can get into a truck for cheap if you don't mind doing the work. I once bought a 78 C10 stepside with v8 and 3 on the tree, no accessories. Slowly I added things to it like power steering, power brakes, A/C, carpet, better seat and some trim. All done with careful shopping I was able to keep the total investment down.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

thanks guys!

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

30 day mechanically rebuilt the truck, 4 new bfg mud tires and oem 17" aluminum wheels, 4 new balljoints, 4 new tierods, new pitman arm, new idler arm, new idler mount, 4 new shocks, 4 new brakes, rebuilt and swapped in a 5.3 v8. Todays progress...

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

still have to install the accesory drives, water pump, and finish the wiring for the v8.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

got it running today. more progress

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

got under the hood all tidyed up, now to put the hood back on and start driving it again.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

Nice truck and nice find! Any pictures of the outside with the new wheels and rubber?

Kent.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

subbed

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

papa, ill get you some pics today. truck is looking and running good. happy with it for under 2k investment.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

papa kent here is a pic from one of my test drives today. hood not on it yet.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

front end pic today... dramatic change from when i picked it up.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

What a transformation! Another truck saved from rotting in a field and it looks great too.

Thanks for the pictures.

Kent.

Re: $400.00 2004 1500 4x4 rclb 4.3v6 build. 5.3 swap.
 

thank you for the kind words. i am liking it.