When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Is the 4.8 liter powerful enough for a lift kit and 33" tires?
Tahoe & SuburbanThe power, space, and brutal towing ability make the Tahoe and its longer sibling, the Suburban, arguably the best full size SUV's on the market today.
So my brother got his Tahoe a couple months ago, I helped him find it. It's a 2011, one owner, AZ vehicle that is super clean and rust free. The paint is in awesome shape, it must have been garaged. It's white, 2WD just like he wanted, and has a 5.3 and 6 speed transmission. It had about 174,000 miles on it, but he'll only be putting about 7000 miles a year on it, from here on. The engine was super clean like it came out of a showroom. All in all, it's a beautiful truck.
Right away we took it to my mechanic to have some maintenance done on it. He had an engine oil change with synthetic oil, and Lucas treatment. Same with the transmission, a fluid/filter change, and Lucas treatment. He had the valve cover gaskets replaced, they were leaking a little. We had the differential fluid replaced. We had the spark plugs and wires replaced with these high performance Edelbrock ones, the red wires look really nice. And lastly the air filter was replaced. Needless to say my brother dropped some serious cash on this maintenance, but he has peace of mind now, and this truck should last him many years, especially the way he drives it.
He still wants that lift eventually...but not a 5". That would look a little obnoxious. We're thinking 3.5" to 4", with some 33" tires and aftermarket rims. But no rush on that. Heck the factory tires are 31.5", which are huge in my opinion. And there's plenty of life left on them.
I bought some new headlight assemblies, I just need to install them. I got LED headlights and running lights to put in them. I'll probably leave the halogen turn signal in them though. I'd have to buy a voltmeter, test the wires, and install a resistor to eliminate hyperflashing, and I'm not up for that right now.
These Tahoes sure are nice trucks, I see why they're so popular. I might have to buy one for myself eventually! Oh, the dashboard has the notorious cracking in it. We'll just epoxy it a little and throw a carpet dashmat cover on top.
My brother got his lift kit and tires you all. I thought I'd follow up on this thread. He went with a Readylift 4" kit. It's 4" in the front, 3" in the back which levels it also (he won't ever be towing with it). The tires are BF Goodrich K02's, LT285/75R/17, making it a 33.8" diameter. They're mounted on new Method rims. The shop put on Bilstein shocks too.
I know you all were saying not to lift it, but I have to say it turned out good. And it rides nice. There's a little better visibility when driving now too. And it still fits in the garage! I told my brother, if you're timid on the road now, you better get a bus pass.
The only problem is I'm jealous now. I'm looking at my Chevrolet Express van, their tiny little wheels. I'm going to have to do something about that.