Yeah that kills your mileage.
My van normally gets 20-21mpg on long trips but this time I got 17mpg running 80mph with some traffic driving in L A
CK5
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76 CCDRW...Cummins noises
- Thread starter 76zimmer
- Start date
Yeah that kills your mileage.
My van normally gets 20-21mpg on long trips but this time I got 17mpg running 80mph with some traffic driving in L A
This truck is a 2WD because it will never see the winter as long as I own it...That was the purpose of intentionally not getting a 4x4 version...this thing rides like a limo!
The 454 is all original numbers matching engine, and the clock says 85K on it now...I believe that to be original and consistent with wear on the rest of the truck.
It takes a qt every 250mi towing this load, so the plan for now is to ring and bearing rebuild the shortblock, open up the heads and cam it up a bit for better breathing, and torque. right now 65mph is about 2800 rpm.
It is a tow only vehicle and will only see 2000mi/yr on average so yeah a 10K Cummins and OD trans swap will take a while to recover, but still not completely out of the question....but finding a good donor vehicle (ready to run engine and trans) is 5K and up around here, and most are 4wd units. I understand some bread truck type came with the 6BT and T400 combo which would suit me to a TEE, but again, next to impossible to find in ready to run (reliably) condition.
That 7.5mpg the 6.0 pulled was average for the trip to Moab a couple years ago, and it was generally flat and 70-75 until we got going up in WY....then we were down as low as 5 and struggling to make some of the tough climbs (Rifle, CO north to WY comes to mind right now)
The only 8.1 I've experienced was in an Avalanche with the Allison...gave us 8.5-9.0 towing 8500lbs to Florida and back. I would be extatic with that!
The 454 is all original numbers matching engine, and the clock says 85K on it now...I believe that to be original and consistent with wear on the rest of the truck.
It takes a qt every 250mi towing this load, so the plan for now is to ring and bearing rebuild the shortblock, open up the heads and cam it up a bit for better breathing, and torque. right now 65mph is about 2800 rpm.
It is a tow only vehicle and will only see 2000mi/yr on average so yeah a 10K Cummins and OD trans swap will take a while to recover, but still not completely out of the question....but finding a good donor vehicle (ready to run engine and trans) is 5K and up around here, and most are 4wd units. I understand some bread truck type came with the 6BT and T400 combo which would suit me to a TEE, but again, next to impossible to find in ready to run (reliably) condition.
That 7.5mpg the 6.0 pulled was average for the trip to Moab a couple years ago, and it was generally flat and 70-75 until we got going up in WY....then we were down as low as 5 and struggling to make some of the tough climbs (Rifle, CO north to WY comes to mind right now)
The only 8.1 I've experienced was in an Avalanche with the Allison...gave us 8.5-9.0 towing 8500lbs to Florida and back. I would be extatic with that!
Have you looked into a Gear Vendors Overdrive? That would be easier to recoup the cost on.
Martin
Martin
I think your best bet is just to freshen up the 454, add an overdrive transmission and go. It seems you know the old school chevys the best and that would be helpful incase of a break down. Plus I think your mileage would come up considerably with that little bit of work, compared to swapping in a cummins that would take way more time and money. Thats my opinion 
I think your best bet is just to freshen up the 454, add an overdrive transmission and go. It seems you know the old school chevys the best and that would be helpful incase of a break down. Plus I think your mileage would come up considerably with that little bit of work, compared to swapping in a cummins that would take way more time and money. Thats my opinion
I have a 4L80 sitting on the shelf to go into it or the Vette, either one.
I think the CC will be first candidate, and Heath has a wiring drawing up his sleeve for manual control, or I may push button it with a stand alone.
Familiarity is a plus with the OEM stuff...still plentiful and nothing custom to the BBC. And I have the same stuff on the Maiden.
That was my thought exactly. Something breaks you could just take it off the maiden to get you where you're going.
Yah that truck needs overdrive so bad.
So here is a comparision.
Buddies truck, think it is a 93 or maybe a 94 still old school 454 bone stock with factory fuel injection and a 4l80, he gets around 14 to 15 just driving it around, has gotten nearly that towing a smaller load. But you can pretty much count on 10 with his truck towing. He hauled his Dads gooseneck with his toyota and a camp trailer on it a couple hundred miles and averged nearly 9, I think it was 8.8. That was a 7k lb triple axle gooseneck with a 4500 lb Toyota and a 1500 lb camp trailer so around 13k, plus all the stuff you need for 4 days of camping with a family of 6.
I think rebuilding the 454 adding an overdrive to it and eventually putting injection on it would be the way to go.
The cummins swap would be truly truly awesome in your truck but the cost coupled with how much you are planning on using it just doesn't add up.
Unless you can find the motor for cheap.
So here is a comparision.
Buddies truck, think it is a 93 or maybe a 94 still old school 454 bone stock with factory fuel injection and a 4l80, he gets around 14 to 15 just driving it around, has gotten nearly that towing a smaller load. But you can pretty much count on 10 with his truck towing. He hauled his Dads gooseneck with his toyota and a camp trailer on it a couple hundred miles and averged nearly 9, I think it was 8.8. That was a 7k lb triple axle gooseneck with a 4500 lb Toyota and a 1500 lb camp trailer so around 13k, plus all the stuff you need for 4 days of camping with a family of 6.
I think rebuilding the 454 adding an overdrive to it and eventually putting injection on it would be the way to go.
The cummins swap would be truly truly awesome in your truck but the cost coupled with how much you are planning on using it just doesn't add up.
Unless you can find the motor for cheap.
Nailed it! and you can sell your bbc to me when you decide to go to a cummins!
I'd be willing to pay a decent price for a decent piece too. but paying 2K for a 6BT, then having to piece together everything to make it work don't appeal to me either.
My 96 Vortec 7.4 was good for 8 towing this 10K kind of load...it was a C3500 w single cab, power was good, but never got into the mountains with it either. It was able to pull in OD on the flats too.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Wont one of the fast systems control a 4l80e?
I have an 8.1L with 90K on it sitting around doing nothing...
I have the whole set up ready to go and not sure it would be worth it. For all the same reasons rarely drive it, runs fine, it would take a long time to recoup the $1000 it may take me to do the swap.
I have an 8.1L with 90K on it sitting around doing nothing...
Dibs
I'll meet you at the border with it! 2004 engine, as complete as they come. Only needs just the harness between the included throttle pedal and TAC module. Even has the air filter box, fuse block etc. EGR and rear O2 sensors already deleted. Comes with a 4l85e transmission and NP241 transfer case.
Sell it to a CK5er for 3k delivered to the border and programmed to run stand alone!
I'm headed south this winter, AK to TN to MN to AK could be persuaded to haul it down.
I would only do the cummins swap for the power . A cummins will own ANY bigblock when comes to USABLE towing power.
I vote for keep a BBC but Fuel injection and O/D are a must
I vote for keep a BBC but Fuel injection and O/D are a must
http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/pts/3920655439.html
cept I don' think this is a P pump engine right?
Response from seller to a few questions I had:
Yes, it is an auto trans.
I don't know if it is a p pump. All I know is that It's a 12 valve. My dad might know more about that. You can call the number on the ad to reach him. His name is Kendall.
The engine has all accessory drives and equipment, however the alternator, fan, and oil pan were damaged in the wreck. The engine itself still starts and runs fine.
No mods to the engine.
cept I don' think this is a P pump engine right?
Response from seller to a few questions I had:
Yes, it is an auto trans.
I don't know if it is a p pump. All I know is that It's a 12 valve. My dad might know more about that. You can call the number on the ad to reach him. His name is Kendall.
The engine has all accessory drives and equipment, however the alternator, fan, and oil pan were damaged in the wreck. The engine itself still starts and runs fine.
No mods to the engine.
