Keep in mind the 8.1 is coil near plug and don't have a dizzy like your 454 does, but bigger wires never hurt anyone, other than the wallet.
CK5
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2001 3500-HD / 2002 3500-HD - NEW build with 2002 truck now .
- Thread starter sweetk30
- Start date
8.1 bbc vortec / nv4500 / 4.63 rear 1.5ton truck was a 12ft flatbed dump now 10ft flatbed dump .
I run Taylor wires on the L29 in my Crawlabago. I have a couple sets on the shelf for my green 8.1 truck and the 57 truck also. They are pricey but seem to work great at any rpm/gear.
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yep these 8.1L engine can lug REAL LOW .
Yeah, I was kinda thinking they might be more help because of the longer run?
For sure. I remember seeing the ones on Ron's L29. It works. Gotta have all the electrons flowing to the sparkolators.Yeah, I was kinda thinking they might be more help because of the longer run?
Got my pinky size wires today 
and some plugs .
and some plugs .
She's so fine my 409....
Hell yeah.
7mm to 10.4mm 
Happy to report back from what i found .
Someone had done tune up of ngk single platinum plugs . Found to have heavy fuel detergent deposits on them . Then some basic store brand 7mm wires were used .
I put in the ACDelco factory double platinum plugs and the TAYLOR 10.4mm wires . She fired up easy no real change . Test drive i heard a difference out of the driveway and up the street . . Much less of a whisp sound under load as i have stick shift and lugged it right out of the gate . .
Then up the main road at 45-50mph and it was smoother for sure . Then the real test after i turned around . . . Got rolling to 20mph and skipped 3rd/4th and direct to 5th overdrive . . . Foot to floor and it didnt even hickup or any real whisp sounds it just climbed up slow and steady till i laid out at 50mph .
Overall thats a MOD worth its weight . . . Next real test is in the am . Got FULL 550 gal tank of sealer and headed 1hr north/west to the BIG lake and doing up the FANCY section of cottages. 6 to do if i recall and the private road . Then if still time 2 houses up off the lake .
Someone had done tune up of ngk single platinum plugs . Found to have heavy fuel detergent deposits on them . Then some basic store brand 7mm wires were used .
I put in the ACDelco factory double platinum plugs and the TAYLOR 10.4mm wires . She fired up easy no real change . Test drive i heard a difference out of the driveway and up the street . . Much less of a whisp sound under load as i have stick shift and lugged it right out of the gate . .
Then up the main road at 45-50mph and it was smoother for sure . Then the real test after i turned around . . . Got rolling to 20mph and skipped 3rd/4th and direct to 5th overdrive . . . Foot to floor and it didnt even hickup or any real whisp sounds it just climbed up slow and steady till i laid out at 50mph .
Overall thats a MOD worth its weight . . . Next real test is in the am . Got FULL 550 gal tank of sealer and headed 1hr north/west to the BIG lake and doing up the FANCY section of cottages. 6 to do if i recall and the private road . Then if still time 2 houses up off the lake .
So the old fuel filler neck SUCKED to fill . Layed almost flat . BARFED on you almost every top off . Just sucked in general the design and layout .
I grabbed a 45* and a 90* and a 18" pipe length of 2" dia exhaust pipe at the parts store . Then used a chunk of left over 2" pipe i had to do up the rest .
The new layout is a LOT better and should flow better in the end .
And NO i didnt weld it atteched to the gas tank that was full
I grabbed a 45* and a 90* and a 18" pipe length of 2" dia exhaust pipe at the parts store . Then used a chunk of left over 2" pipe i had to do up the rest .
The new layout is a LOT better and should flow better in the end .
And NO i didnt weld it atteched to the gas tank that was full
Those wires work. No doubt about it.
Next item on the list is the fuel filter . But its a bit chunky on the nuts on the fuel lines . I got some tricks but also dont want to make new lines just yet before work season over .
After doing fuel filler today i would think the filter is getting FULL as the pipe was rusty and the rubber hose was full of rust chunks .
Its a newer tank and sender but older filer neck . But now its new and knowing all the filters i changed over the years i think this one is getting full of junk and killing performance.
Years ago i had a tbi350 in a 88c2500 . Full tuneup with coil and no real change . Then a old timer mechanic said change the fuel filter . Pulled the old one and couldnt blow threw it . . Installed new filter and test drove it and could FRY the tires off it easy . . I was sold on changing filters after this .
After doing fuel filler today i would think the filter is getting FULL as the pipe was rusty and the rubber hose was full of rust chunks .
Its a newer tank and sender but older filer neck . But now its new and knowing all the filters i changed over the years i think this one is getting full of junk and killing performance.
Years ago i had a tbi350 in a 88c2500 . Full tuneup with coil and no real change . Then a old timer mechanic said change the fuel filter . Pulled the old one and couldnt blow threw it . . Installed new filter and test drove it and could FRY the tires off it easy . . I was sold on changing filters after this .
WOW 
them new wires got a work out today . . . 10k lb loaded sealer trailer and over 1hr away to get to the first job of the day and climbed a few LONG hills to get there . then climbed even more hills to the next job and pulled some in 4th gear for a few miles just letting it spin rpm and burn the gas .
i lugged it every chance i could and was BLOWN away how much smoother it pulled and run . my co-worker was even blown away he picked it up right off the bat .
i was pulling away and not having a problem like i never have before . and the other key to this is a went back to 87 oct fuel
and the fuel filler neck i made worked 100% perfectly
them new wires got a work out today . . . 10k lb loaded sealer trailer and over 1hr away to get to the first job of the day and climbed a few LONG hills to get there . then climbed even more hills to the next job and pulled some in 4th gear for a few miles just letting it spin rpm and burn the gas .
i lugged it every chance i could and was BLOWN away how much smoother it pulled and run . my co-worker was even blown away he picked it up right off the bat .
i was pulling away and not having a problem like i never have before . and the other key to this is a went back to 87 oct fuel
and the fuel filler neck i made worked 100% perfectly
headlight upgrade tonight . . . 
ebay specials as i dont drive this truck much at night or winter so no crazy money j.w.speaker lights .
these are a almost dead on copy of the older j.w. speaker units and work real good for cheep . https://www.ebay.com/itm/284430628428
ebay specials as i dont drive this truck much at night or winter so no crazy money j.w.speaker lights .
these are a almost dead on copy of the older j.w. speaker units and work real good for cheep . https://www.ebay.com/itm/284430628428
New low beam . . And high beam . . 
Not much has changed . Still going strong and ROCK solid 10 mpg 
Did score a brand new old stock B&M trans temp guage kit today off local fb sale . Going to pop it in so i can keep a eye on it and not kill the nv4500 trans .
Did score a brand new old stock B&M trans temp guage kit today off local fb sale . Going to pop it in so i can keep a eye on it and not kill the nv4500 trans .
Well driving it a few weeks ago i had a POP and rock hard pedal and slipping clutch . Limped it home speed shifting and planning no stopping .
Ordered new LUK clutch kit / master / slave / line for it . Had the pedal brake so new clutch pedal from gm . Then 6qrt of gm oil for the nv4500 1qrt extra for pto and 1 more for slight overfill.
Dropped the trans found the quick connection popped apart . But screw it check it all over . Found wrong gear oil in trans . Found BURNT BAD flywheel and pressure plate but clutch life left ? ? . . Flywheel still had cut marks in it . Broken trans mount stud got new mount . E-brake cable bad / shoes bad already had them new on hand just didn't change yet .
Drive shaft had vibe and carrier bearing has rubber / squeaky noise . Dropped it with flywheel to get cut and d-shaft fixed .
So all that now equals new cut flywheel / clutch kit / pedal / master & slave / e-brake parts / drive shaft 1 joint & carrier bearing & balanced was way out . 5.5 qrt GM oil 1qrt for pto and 0.5qrt overfill .
WOW this is a mega change in the whole truck . Got about 1k in parts and labor for service work .
Someone needs to learn how to drive stick . This was not me in 5k miles .
Ordered new LUK clutch kit / master / slave / line for it . Had the pedal brake so new clutch pedal from gm . Then 6qrt of gm oil for the nv4500 1qrt extra for pto and 1 more for slight overfill.
Dropped the trans found the quick connection popped apart . But screw it check it all over . Found wrong gear oil in trans . Found BURNT BAD flywheel and pressure plate but clutch life left ? ? . . Flywheel still had cut marks in it . Broken trans mount stud got new mount . E-brake cable bad / shoes bad already had them new on hand just didn't change yet .
Drive shaft had vibe and carrier bearing has rubber / squeaky noise . Dropped it with flywheel to get cut and d-shaft fixed .
So all that now equals new cut flywheel / clutch kit / pedal / master & slave / e-brake parts / drive shaft 1 joint & carrier bearing & balanced was way out . 5.5 qrt GM oil 1qrt for pto and 0.5qrt overfill .
WOW this is a mega change in the whole truck . Got about 1k in parts and labor for service work .
Someone needs to learn how to drive stick . This was not me in 5k miles .
