CK5
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1990 crew cab.. Tow rig?
- Thread starter 85k5witha6.2
- Start date
While getting 8mpg and burning 2 quarts of oil every 3000 miles
I'd take an 8.1 over a 6.5 any day of the week....but what do I know (sorry, seems like that has turned into something that has to be said in this thread now
)12-valve would be cool, but he has already stated that it's not going to be a dedicated tow rig....just towing every once in a while. I think a 6.0 will suffice just fine
And please, please for the love of all that's good and sacred, people stop ragging on the 8.1 for "poor" gas milage. It's a freaking 496 inch block that goes in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks....of course its not going to get 20+ mpg's. Even some new trucks don't get any better than the 8.1 (the freaking Ford Raptor only gets ~13...and that's if its all highway...and if someone tells you different, they are lying). I saw on FB that a guy swapped an 8.1 into an older car and got 15.5 mpgs on a road trip! I just get so sick of people talking about gas mileage with a motor that was designed to be a gas motor to tow heavy. So stupid
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My 6.5 dynoed at 230/362 at the last dyno days in Anchorage , has nearly 300,000 miles and uses less then a 1/2 quart in 5000 mile oil changes oh and those numbers are through a TH400 ( so no lockup ) and 35" tires I get 19-20 empty and around 12 pulling my 30ft triple axle tag trailer with my rockwelled suburban on 45" ag tires full of fuel and gear for a week trip . Oh and we have Mountains here too
I've had both worlds. If I only towed, I would love to go back to an 8.1 I would also like a duramax. But I will not pay that much money. Which is why I am where I am. The 6.5 pulls very well compared to my old 8.1 and May pull better after a few upgrades. The real kicker is my gas mileage while not towing. This truck is also my DD. They both have very good strong points. I cannot say bad about either. But plenty of good to say about both.
Haha, I have too! Those could barely move themselves, let alone any additional weight.
3600 pound car for about 8 miles. Took me nearly an hour.
Lol, mine was an s10 full of broken concrete.
I've put thousands of miles on a 6.5TD in an 1998 C3500HD. Blew up a couple of them in that truck. I'd rather have a 496.
Martin
Martin
I didn't say a 6.0 or 6.5 wouldn't pull it, just that my 8.1 won't pull it like I want meaning in overdrive with the cruise. If I shut off the overdrive, it will almost pull it without shifting into 3rd on most hills. I want a engine that will pull in overdrive with the cruise, never downshifting (or loosing more than 2 mph), pulling any major hill and getting 20 mpg. Many people's "pulled fine" is different than mine. The plan is to someday make this 8.1 into a 540. Even if this truck rusts into nothing I can swap it into one of my K30s. I could always add the hairdryer i had on my lpg 454. Though I think gasser tow rigs with a turbo climb into high egts in a hurry.
My 8.1 would never stay in OD. It also had 3.73's and 285's. It desperately needed 4.10's, and that would have been a whole different animal.
im going to use a 6.0, there isn't any argument about it. I have several of them. I also have a complete 6bt with 5 speed that I paid $1300 for. But it's still in a nice dually dodge so no need to tear up that pickup. I don't care if it downshifts to go up a hill. Hell, I don't care if it downshifts to 2nd. So it's getting a 6.0 and 4.10 gears. And will probably never change.
Dynojet or mustang dyno?
Ahh, my stock 330k mile 6.0 made 240/280 through a 4l80 Dana 70 and on a mustang dyno, I figure this should make a bit more with exhaust and a tune.
At least the 4L80e has lockup , I hate the TH400 power sucking turd. If it wasnt headed down the road to being a buggy I would put a NV4500 in it and go with a better pump and injectors , and a VGT turbo . But for now I am doing a hydro sm465 and leaving the motor as is
I'm planning on using my nv4500 in this also, so that should help a little.
