New to me 1999 4x4

[firedog]

I am going to pick up this truck Wednesday evening. It is a 1999 chevy 4x4, what I have learned about it is it has a 2004 HD front clip, 5" lift and 37" tires with 20" wheels. Zero rust, none at all, which is why I jumped on the chance to purchase it. You just don't see these trucks with out the rockers gone. The truck has the 5.3 and the odometer shows over 200k. the interior is clean bucket seats and all power. No engine lights on currently. The bad the transmission will not shift into 3rd or 4th. The tranny was rebuilt 30k miles ago in Texas. So Wednesday I will go with my neighbor and load it up on his trailer and bring it the hour home. I have been searching for a 4x4 chevy truck preferably with a lift and something not abused. Craigslist and FB marketplace is full of 250k mile rust buckets with issues for $3000-$5000 so I hope this turns out to be a good find. I feel I got a great price at $1700.


Any suggestions on where to look first with the transmission? Or do I just pull it and replace it?

[EVRLET]

You can pull the shifter solenoid fuse and see if the truck will move in 3rd gear by manually shifting to 3. If so, then you have solenoid issues. If it doesn’t, then you may have clutch issues.

The theory is that you have two solenoids in the tranny. For 3rd gear, both solenoids are off. If you pull the fuse, both solenoids are now inop, thus off.

For gee whiz:

Solenoids are A (1-2) and B (2-3)

A on B on = 1st gear

A off B on = 2nd gear

A off B off = 3rd gear

A on B off = 4th gear

Check ohms on solenoids to test. Ohms value on the solenoids are usually 20-30 ohms.


I’m always skeptical of rebuilds unless a reputable tranny shop did it. “Rebuilt” means so many different things to different people. Some install a shift kit and considers that rebuilt. Some change out a pump and now it’s rebuilt. Unless everything was torn down, cleaned, inspected, and all wearable parts are replaced, then it’s not considered “rebuilt” in my eyes.

[firedog]

Thanks, that helps a lot. I did see the receipt from the "rebuild" it was over $2400.

[firedog]

Well surprise surprise I was doing an online vin check on the truck and it kept saying 2x4. So I asked the guy and sure enough it is 2 wheel drive... A little disappointed cause I really wanted a 4x4 but I still have a good deal.

[EVRLET]

You didn’t do a carfax check before purchase...brave man. On these trucks and how easy and often the gauge clusters get swapped out, carfax is always the first check.

[firedog]

I talked to him he said we discussed it when I came to look at it. I assumed with the lift it was 4x4 and all we talked about was the lift. Its still a good deal I will probably just fix the tranny now (which will be cheaper now) and see what it will sell for. A rust free truck in my neck of the woods should bring a decent price.

[firedog]

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/6818056726.html

maybe I can build a 4x4 from this

[firedog]

We made it home. Took the truck for a short drive down the road and it shifts from 1st to 2nd then goes to neutral. The fluid looks like motor oil. A quick once over and a it has a few more dents and dings than I remembered and both front tires have wear on the inside so a wheel alignment is needed and replacement of the 35 12.50 20s on the front.

[firedog]

Well still tinkering along, used tranny installed waiting on a seal for the rear drive shaft, have to replace both outer tie rods then swap on new to me front tires and hopefully its road ready.

[firedog]

HELP NEEDED...

Tranny installed everything hooked up, truck wont start, only noise it makes is a click from under the dash, took starter off it is tested ok, battery is new an full charge, messed with the black shift linkage neutral safety switch box on side of tranny it was cracked took it off replaced it with the one from the original tranny still no luck...

could I have missed a ground, I am second guessing that there was a ground wire on one of the top tranny housing bolts that I may have missed, I did hook up one to a bracket on the side of the transmission above the shifter linkage, or was that the wrong place? anyone out there that can help?

[jocko]

Am sure you’ve checked but make sure you’re in park... Don’t laugh, I’ve been there.

[firedog]

Thanks im sure it's something that obvious but i tried all the gears. I may have left off 1 ground wire gonna check that