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6.2 for towing

I think I'd abandon the burb. All the factory available engines stink for really towing.

454's use too much gas, 350's use too much gas and are stupid slow, and 6.2's can be a little thirsty and are also stupid slow.

I'd look for an older Ram CTD or Ford 7.3 PSD like TrustyK5 mentioned. WAY more towrig for the money and get better mileage.

People like to think the 6.2 gets such great mileage, a CTD will dominate a 6.2 in mileage with any kind of load behind each.
 
I don't tow with my Burb - its a DD worktruck that I use as a service van. It does the job and didn't cost anywhere near what a modern diesel cargo van does. :crazy:

If I need to haul or tow, I have a PSD F350 for that.

If you like a 'Burban style body with a powerful diesel.... enough guys have made CTD Ramchargers, and CTD crewcabs that making a 'RamBurban' out of 2 such bodies shouldn't be rocket science. :D
 
Well I would either go for the diesel with the Banks kit. It adds a turbo and some other pieces. Or a 450 pound torque 383. Can get them straight from GM. I think they are like 340 horse. A BB would be nice if you can afford the gas bill.
 
I have two 6.2'- here's my thoughts: if your not getting close to 20mpg, there is something wrong to begin with. It means your either not burning all the fuel, not enough air, etc... Either way however... while it will never be a 7.3psd or a 6.0, or a cummins, or a duramax... it isnt that terrible- You just have to make sure that everything is working up to par, and you'll get decent performance.

a turbo 6/2 or 6/5 is much better... It was never a fair comparison- the other diesels were built with an intercooler and turbo in mind. The 6.2 wasnt, so it suffers from that.

I'd still go with the diesel though.
 
a newer rig would be nice, but i just forked ou 30K for a new ride fo rthe other half and traded my truck in for it as well. I cannot afford another payment, and coming up with 7-8K to get a decent used truck wont happen. I can slap this burban together for about $1500-$2000 total and it will get me by for a year-year and a half until I buy a new truck off the lot. By that time we will both have new jobs, doubling pay for both of us, and can afford 2 car payments. Im just overextened on credit with a new car, just finishing up building my Jeep, buying a new house, and all the new house BS you have to get. Thats why I need something I can do cheap, just need it to work half azz decent.
 
Just go with the 6.2 and don't expect to get anywhere fast. A 6.2 with some 3.73's should do ok for you for awhile. If you can a turbo would help out a fair amount but it will never be anything close to a modern diesel for towing.

If you don't tow that often then the 6.2 should get you some pretty good mileage like mentioned above.

Harley
 
tRustyK5 said:
:haha: :haha:

6.2 is fine, I really like mine...but I wouldn't give it much consideration for towing.

I wouldn't run a bbc for towing either, unless you only tow short distances. Nothin like single digit fuel mileage to put a hurtin on your wallet.

I'd look for an older Dodge with a CTD, or a Ford with the 7.3 PSD. If you're budget allows the Dmax/allison rigs are great too...but the Dmax is 2001 and newer so it's not like you're gonna find an 'older' one yet.

6.5 TD is marginal IMO, might be OK if you're not towing a ton of weight.

Rene
Click to expand...

BBC's like to get hot too... especially under heavy loads. Very easy to make stock dmax like tq with a bb for less money but you'll be paying for it in gas.

I agree on the dees tho. You'd be better off with something that actually will be able to tow. Honestly I think a very mild sb (about 330 ft lbs and 270 hp) would be alot better than a stock 6.2. A guy at my work has a 6.2 burban with duals and it sound REAL good but the thing is a dog for power. Might even want to think about a turbo and some other goodies... I hear they really aren't bad with some tweakin. I've seen decent numbers on dyno's from 6.2's. I am not a fan of em... I'm a sb man but some people are definetly pleased with the deece tho.
 
Don't forget most factory 6.2 rigs had brutally stupid gearing like 3.08's with an OD tranny. Tell me how well a sbc will tow with 3.08's...not well at all.

I've towed with a warmed over 350, ran it with 2.73's, 3.73's and 4.56's as well as a variety of tire sizes. It sounded cooler but was no faster than my current 6.2 with 4.56's, and had nowhere near the off idle torque. Don't even get me started on fuel mileage...

I'll be the first to say a 6.2 isn't ideal for towing, however I'll also say that an sbc is even less suited to the task (all other things being equal).

Rene
 
gearing, tire size, weight of trailer, and stock versus stock.

Rene
 
beastofablaze said:
You'd be better off with something that actually will be able to tow. Honestly I think a very mild sb (about 330 ft lbs and 270 hp) would be alot better than a stock 6.2.
Click to expand...

Thats why I said this.
 
Im going to run the 6.2, and once i get her all yup and going do some research on a small turbo setup for it possibly. for now it should do the job i do believe
 
I put 500,000 miles on my 87 3/4 ton 4WD Surburban with 6.2 diesel - many of those miles pulling a 4000 - 6000 lbs. trailer. It had the T-400 trans and 3.73 axles. Pulling power was fine except for steep-hills. When pulling a long steep hill, besides a 35-45 MPH top speed - you really have to watch the engine temp. I had a few occasions over the years that I got worried - and pulled off to the side for a few minutes before finishing a long hill. So, I don't know for sure what WOULD of happened. If you've got restrictive aftermarket mufflers the heat problem gets worse with heavy towing. The engine finally seized going down the highway - and I later found the crankshaft broken into three pieces and two main-bearing webs tore off the engine-block. Seems to be from metal-fatigue of some sort. So, my son put another engine in it and took it home to Colorado (I live in New York).
If you want to use a 700R4 with 3.73 gears, you'll be fine - but don't even think about using overdrive on hills. For general highway driving, 2000 RPM at 65 MPH is a good target for a diesel. After 2000 RPM, fuel mileage takes a nose-dive. I've got a K5 4WD diesel Blazer with 3.08 gears and the 700R4. It will not tow anywhere near as nice as my Suburban - and I put a shut-off switch on the lockup torque-converter which does help. When climbing a hill with a trailer behind, even when in third gear (not overdrive) - the thing pulls too hard with the converter locked up - runs much nicer with it unlocked and slipping a bit. I've had it that way for 70,000 miles (since the last trans rebuild) and it's been fine.
When I need to pull something heavy, i.e. over 5000 lbs., and I know there will be a lot of hills, I use my 94 Ford 7.3 IDI turbo - it handles the pull nicer than my 6.2 Suburban - but it's murder on fuel-mileage overall. When worked hard, the Ford IH diesel isn't too bad -but empty?? It's has 4.10 gears with overdrive and turns 2000 RPM at 65 and only gets 13.5 MPG empty. My non-overdrive Suburban with 3.73s - which turns around 2550 RPM at 65 MPH gets up to 19 MPG, and my Blazers (I've got four) with 6.2 diesels, 3.08 gears, and 700R4 get up to 22 MPG. Better yet, my 82 Chevy truck, 1/2 ton, 4WD, 6.2 diesel, 3.08 gears, and four-speed manual trans. with overdrive has gotten 24 MPG empty - but it's not much of a tower. And good thing it's 4WD so it's got a low-range.
I'm building an 83 K5 diesel Blazer - or I should say converting - for use as a small motorhome - so I've been thinking about trans and axle options. It's an 83 Silverado 4WD 6.2 diesel - I've had it for 15 years - but due to rust it's been mostly a snow-plow vehicle lately. I'm going to install a Blazer-Chalet motorhome camper-body on to it. So, I'm trying to figure what changes to make. It presently has 3.08 gears and a T-400 trans. with a mechancial governor shift (convertered years ago from a bad 700R4). It gets around 20 MPG tops. Now - with the added weight - probably an extra 1200 - 1500 lbs. when I get done, and some added wind resistance - I'm trying to guess at changes. I have an 89 GMC diesel Suburban up in my field. I'm thinking of putting the springs and axles from it, into my 83 Blazer. That will give me 16" load-range E tires, 3.73 axles and heavier springs - along with a larger u-joint at the rear-axle hookup. But - the trans choice? I'm still up in the air. At first I was thinking a 700R4 built as heavy as possible - but I don't now if I trust it. I also have a New Process 833 overdrive manaul 4 speed setup. I've also been thinking about a 4L80E if it can be done - but I know little about it. I love the T-400s - great transmissions - but I want some-sort of overdrive - and I dont' want to spend $3000 for a Gear-Vendors unit. And besides, even if I had a Gear-Vendors overdrive - I still would not have a lockup converter.
So far - this is what I've figured.
3.73 axle with 16" tires and 700R4 overdrive results in 2000 RPM at 65 MPH.
3.73 axle with 16" tires and T-400 trans results in 2550 RPM at 65 MPH
3.73 axle with 16" tires and 4spd OD trans results in 1876 RPM at 65 MPH

I haven't accounted for torque-converter slippage with the T-400, but the figures are close enough. The 700R4 has a .78 overdrive, whereas the New Process 833 four-speed overdrive has .73 overdrive. 16" tires are standard
235/85-16" tires with 31.7" diam.
 
I put 500,000 miles on my 87 3/4 ton 4WD Surburban with 6.2 diesel - many of those miles pulling a 4000 - 6000 lbs. trailer. It had the T-400 trans and 3.73 axles. Pulling power was fine except for steep-hills. When pulling a long steep hill, besides a 35-45 MPH top speed - you really have to watch the engine temp. I had a few occasions over the years that I got worried - and pulled off to the side for a few minutes before finishing a long hill. So, I don't know for sure what WOULD of happened. If you've got restrictive aftermarket mufflers the heat problem gets worse with heavy towing. The engine finally seized going down the highway - and I later found the crankshaft broken into three pieces and two main-bearing webs tore off the engine-block. Seems to be from metal-fatigue of some sort. So, my son put another engine in it and took it home to Colorado (I live in New York).
If you want to use a 700R4 with 3.73 gears, you'll be fine - but don't even think about using overdrive on hills. For general highway driving, 2000 RPM at 65 MPH is a good target for a diesel. After 2000 RPM, fuel mileage takes a nose-dive. I've got a K5 4WD diesel Blazer with 3.08 gears and the 700R4. It will not tow anywhere near as nice as my Suburban - and I put a shut-off switch on the lockup torque-converter which does help. When climbing a hill with a trailer behind, even when in third gear (not overdrive) - the thing pulls too hard with the converter locked up - runs much nicer with it unlocked and slipping a bit. I've had it that way for 70,000 miles (since the last trans rebuild) and it's been fine.
When I need to pull something heavy, i.e. over 5000 lbs., and I know there will be a lot of hills, I use my 94 Ford 7.3 IDI turbo - it handles the pull nicer than my 6.2 Suburban - but it's murder on fuel-mileage overall. When worked hard, the Ford IH diesel isn't too bad -but empty?? It's has 4.10 gears with overdrive and turns 2000 RPM at 65 and only gets 13.5 MPG empty. My non-overdrive Suburban with 3.73s - which turns around 2550 RPM at 65 MPH gets up to 19 MPG, and my Blazers (I've got four) with 6.2 diesels, 3.08 gears, and 700R4 get up to 22 MPG. Better yet, my 82 Chevy truck, 1/2 ton, 4WD, 6.2 diesel, 3.08 gears, and four-speed manual trans. with overdrive has gotten 24 MPG empty - but it's not much of a tower. And good thing it's 4WD so it's got a low-range.
I'm building an 83 K5 diesel Blazer - or I should say converting - for use as a small motorhome - so I've been thinking about trans and axle options. It's an 83 Silverado 4WD 6.2 diesel - I've had it for 15 years - but due to rust it's been mostly a snow-plow vehicle lately. I'm going to install a Blazer-Chalet motorhome camper-body on to it. So, I'm trying to figure what changes to make. It presently has 3.08 gears and a T-400 trans. with a mechancial governor shift (convertered years ago from a bad 700R4). It gets around 20 MPG tops. Now - with the added weight - probably an extra 1200 - 1500 lbs. when I get done, and some added wind resistance - I'm trying to guess at changes. I have an 89 GMC diesel Suburban up in my field. I'm thinking of putting the springs and axles from it, into my 83 Blazer. That will give me 16" load-range E tires, 3.73 axles and heavier springs - along with a larger u-joint at the rear-axle hookup. But - the trans choice? I'm still up in the air. At first I was thinking a 700R4 built as heavy as possible - but I don't now if I trust it. I also have a New Process 833 overdrive manaul 4 speed setup. I've also been thinking about a 4L80E if it can be done - but I know little about it. I love the T-400s - great transmissions - but I want some-sort of overdrive - and I dont' want to spend $3000 for a Gear-Vendors unit. And besides, even if I had a Gear-Vendors overdrive - I still would not have a lockup converter.
So far - this is what I've figured.
3.73 axle with 16" tires and 700R4 overdrive results in 2000 RPM at 65 MPH.
3.73 axle with 16" tires and T-400 trans results in 2550 RPM at 65 MPH
3.73 axle with 16" tires and 4spd OD trans results in 1876 RPM at 65 MPH

I haven't accounted for torque-converter slippage with the T-400, but the figures are close enough. The 700R4 has a .78 overdrive, whereas the New Process 833 four-speed overdrive has .73 overdrive. 16" tires are standard
235/85-16" tires with 31.7" diam.
 
I put 500,000 miles on my 87 3/4 ton 4WD Surburban with 6.2 diesel - many of those miles pulling a 4000 - 6000 lbs. trailer. It had the T-400 trans and 3.73 axles. Pulling power was fine except for steep-hills. When pulling a long steep hill, besides a 35-45 MPH top speed - you really have to watch the engine temp. I had a few occasions over the years that I got worried - and pulled off to the side for a few minutes before finishing a long hill. So, I don't know for sure what WOULD of happened. If you've got restrictive aftermarket mufflers the heat problem gets worse with heavy towing. The engine finally seized going down the highway - and I later found the crankshaft broken into three pieces and two main-bearing webs tore off the engine-block. Seems to be from metal-fatigue of some sort. So, my son put another engine in it and took it home to Colorado (I live in New York).
If you want to use a 700R4 with 3.73 gears, you'll be fine - but don't even think about using overdrive on hills. For general highway driving, 2000 RPM at 65 MPH is a good target for a diesel. After 2000 RPM, fuel mileage takes a nose-dive. I've got a K5 4WD diesel Blazer with 3.08 gears and the 700R4. It will not tow anywhere near as nice as my Suburban - and I put a shut-off switch on the lockup torque-converter which does help. When climbing a hill with a trailer behind, even when in third gear (not overdrive) - the thing pulls too hard with the converter locked up - runs much nicer with it unlocked and slipping a bit. I've had it that way for 70,000 miles (since the last trans rebuild) and it's been fine.
When I need to pull something heavy, i.e. over 5000 lbs., and I know there will be a lot of hills, I use my 94 Ford 7.3 IDI turbo - it handles the pull nicer than my 6.2 Suburban - but it's murder on fuel-mileage overall. When worked hard, the Ford IH diesel isn't too bad -but empty?? It's has 4.10 gears with overdrive and turns 2000 RPM at 65 and only gets 13.5 MPG empty. My non-overdrive Suburban with 3.73s - which turns around 2550 RPM at 65 MPH gets up to 19 MPG, and my Blazers (I've got four) with 6.2 diesels, 3.08 gears, and 700R4 get up to 22 MPG. Better yet, my 82 Chevy truck, 1/2 ton, 4WD, 6.2 diesel, 3.08 gears, and four-speed manual trans. with overdrive has gotten 24 MPG empty - but it's not much of a tower. And good thing it's 4WD so it's got a low-range.
I'm building an 83 K5 diesel Blazer - or I should say converting - for use as a small motorhome - so I've been thinking about trans and axle options. It's an 83 Silverado 4WD 6.2 diesel - I've had it for 15 years - but due to rust it's been mostly a snow-plow vehicle lately. I'm going to install a Blazer-Chalet motorhome camper-body on to it. So, I'm trying to figure what changes to make. It presently has 3.08 gears and a T-400 trans. with a mechancial governor shift (convertered years ago from a bad 700R4). It gets around 20 MPG tops. Now - with the added weight - probably an extra 1200 - 1500 lbs. when I get done, and some added wind resistance - I'm trying to guess at changes. I have an 89 GMC diesel Suburban up in my field. I'm thinking of putting the springs and axles from it, into my 83 Blazer. That will give me 16" load-range E tires, 3.73 axles and heavier springs - along with a larger u-joint at the rear-axle hookup. But - the trans choice? I'm still up in the air. At first I was thinking a 700R4 built as heavy as possible - but I don't now if I trust it. I also have a New Process 833 overdrive manaul 4 speed setup. I've also been thinking about a 4L80E if it can be done - but I know little about it. I love the T-400s - great transmissions - but I want some-sort of overdrive - and I dont' want to spend $3000 for a Gear-Vendors unit. And besides, even if I had a Gear-Vendors overdrive - I still would not have a lockup converter.
So far - this is what I've figured.
3.73 axle with 16" tires and 700R4 overdrive results in 2000 RPM at 65 MPH.
3.73 axle with 16" tires and T-400 trans results in 2550 RPM at 65 MPH
3.73 axle with 16" tires and 4spd OD trans results in 1876 RPM at 65 MPH

I haven't accounted for torque-converter slippage with the T-400, but the figures are close enough. The 700R4 has a .78 overdrive, whereas the New Process 833 four-speed overdrive has .73 overdrive. 16" tires are standard
235/85-16" tires with 31.7" diam.
 
I put 500,000 miles on my 87 3/4 ton 4WD Surburban with 6.2 diesel - many of those miles pulling a 4000 - 6000 lbs. trailer. It had the T-400 trans and 3.73 axles. Pulling power was fine except for steep-hills. When pulling a long steep hill, besides a 35-45 MPH top speed - you really have to watch the engine temp. I had a few occasions over the years that I got worried - and pulled off to the side for a few minutes before finishing a long hill. So, I don't know for sure what WOULD of happened. If you've got restrictive aftermarket mufflers the heat problem gets worse with heavy towing. The engine finally seized going down the highway - and I later found the crankshaft broken into three pieces and two main-bearing webs tore off the engine-block. Seems to be from metal-fatigue of some sort. So, my son put another engine in it and took it home to Colorado (I live in New York).
If you want to use a 700R4 with 3.73 gears, you'll be fine - but don't even think about using overdrive on hills. For general highway driving, 2000 RPM at 65 MPH is a good target for a diesel. After 2000 RPM, fuel mileage takes a nose-dive. I've got a K5 4WD diesel Blazer with 3.08 gears and the 700R4. It will not tow anywhere near as nice as my Suburban - and I put a shut-off switch on the lockup torque-converter which does help. When climbing a hill with a trailer behind, even when in third gear (not overdrive) - the thing pulls too hard with the converter locked up - runs much nicer with it unlocked and slipping a bit. I've had it that way for 70,000 miles (since the last trans rebuild) and it's been fine.
When I need to pull something heavy, i.e. over 5000 lbs., and I know there will be a lot of hills, I use my 94 Ford 7.3 IDI turbo - it handles the pull nicer than my 6.2 Suburban - but it's murder on fuel-mileage overall. When worked hard, the Ford IH diesel isn't too bad -but empty?? It's has 4.10 gears with overdrive and turns 2000 RPM at 65 and only gets 13.5 MPG empty. My non-overdrive Suburban with 3.73s - which turns around 2550 RPM at 65 MPH gets up to 19 MPG, and my Blazers (I've got four) with 6.2 diesels, 3.08 gears, and 700R4 get up to 22 MPG. Better yet, my 82 Chevy truck, 1/2 ton, 4WD, 6.2 diesel, 3.08 gears, and four-speed manual trans. with overdrive has gotten 24 MPG empty - but it's not much of a tower. And good thing it's 4WD so it's got a low-range.
I'm building an 83 K5 diesel Blazer - or I should say converting - for use as a small motorhome - so I've been thinking about trans and axle options. It's an 83 Silverado 4WD 6.2 diesel - I've had it for 15 years - but due to rust it's been mostly a snow-plow vehicle lately. I'm going to install a Blazer-Chalet motorhome camper-body on to it. So, I'm trying to figure what changes to make. It presently has 3.08 gears and a T-400 trans. with a mechancial governor shift (convertered years ago from a bad 700R4). It gets around 20 MPG tops. Now - with the added weight - probably an extra 1200 - 1500 lbs. when I get done, and some added wind resistance - I'm trying to guess at changes. I have an 89 GMC diesel Suburban up in my field. I'm thinking of putting the springs and axles from it, into my 83 Blazer. That will give me 16" load-range E tires, 3.73 axles and heavier springs - along with a larger u-joint at the rear-axle hookup. But - the trans choice? I'm still up in the air. At first I was thinking a 700R4 built as heavy as possible - but I don't now if I trust it. I also have a New Process 833 overdrive manaul 4 speed setup. I've also been thinking about a 4L80E if it can be done - but I know little about it. I love the T-400s - great transmissions - but I want some-sort of overdrive - and I dont' want to spend $3000 for a Gear-Vendors unit. And besides, even if I had a Gear-Vendors overdrive - I still would not have a lockup converter.
So far - this is what I've figured.
3.73 axle with 16" tires and 700R4 overdrive results in 2000 RPM at 65 MPH.
3.73 axle with 16" tires and T-400 trans results in 2550 RPM at 65 MPH
3.73 axle with 16" tires and 4spd OD trans results in 1876 RPM at 65 MPH

I haven't accounted for torque-converter slippage with the T-400, but the figures are close enough. The 700R4 has a .78 overdrive, whereas the New Process 833 four-speed overdrive has .73 overdrive. 16" tires are standard
235/85-16" tires with 31.7" diam.
 
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