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Bought New Truck! Go IFS Lift or SAS, Tow Rig!

Have you considered regearing? I think you mentioned you got 4.10s And I noticed you got 33-35s. Wouldnt that be like trying to tow with stock tires and 3.42s? Just and idea. If you put 5.13s in it I think it would be night and day difference. Just suggestion
 
I'm only running 32" tires, and it towed crappy with stock tires, prior to the lift. A gear adjustment may help, but not enough overall. I'm not looking at getting a new Cummins, unless I where to make it my dd as well, but I'm happy with my Tacoma as a dd. I was actually looking at late 90's 2500 trucks with 7.4, and early 2000's with 6.0, or maybe 8.1 if I go newer.
 
Yes and you can build a 500lbft sbc no problem.. And if you fuel inject it or tune the carb well the mileage should be better, bbc costs twice as much to build, you already have this engine and even if you just refresh it with Rings and bearings it's still cheaper. If you want I can post the parts you need to make that 500lb ft. I have a hotrod builders book with the combos to do this
 
My stock 350 is a dog also but my mild sbc in my 72 only put down 238/289 whp/tq and it felt like twice the truck, that's a stock block with stock heads a comp cam, roller rockers. An intake carb and headers. Stock hei also. That's at the wheels through a th350 and eaton rear end with 31s. That truck would do donuts on drive pavement and sounded like hell.
 
I love the old six packs as much as anyone on here, but I absolutely love my duramax. Its not brand new, but it will tow anything I put behind it. Only thing I would change is a sas swap, but probably never will. Cruise, cold A/C, good stereo and seats are comfortable. Eventually I may buy a six pack and swap the dmax stuff into it.
 
Honestly why is mileage even a consideration? We're talking about a giant squarebody truck pulling a camper. No matter how you slice it, you be lucky if you hit double digits no matter the size the of the engine.

That said, you can't beat the ease, convenience, and reliability of the newer trucks. Late '90s with a 7.4L or an early '00s with either the 6.0 or 8.1 will be a hell of a lot better platform to tow with. Depending on the setup, you might actually hit double digit mpgs with them too.
 
sreidmx said:
Yes and you can build a 500lbft sbc no problem.. And if you fuel inject it or tune the carb well the mileage should be better, bbc costs twice as much to build, you already have this engine and even if you just refresh it with Rings and bearings it's still cheaper. If you want I can post the parts you need to make that 500lb ft. I have a hotrod builders book with the combos to do this
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I wanna see
 
When I get home Ill see if I can find it.

I gotta ask what the budget is.. if you cant afford heads then entertaining this is a waste of time. Heads cam and compression ratio all have to match.
 
My budget is open to a certain point, doing g a conversion I would like to stay in the 3k range.
 
K5-CJ5 said:
Thanks for the input! The only upgrades, mechanically, needed would be the 454, and smog stuff for it. The TH40o is new along with the 4.10 gears.
Money wise, I do not want to go buy a newer diesel at this time, maybe down the road but not now. I have been looking at different trucks online and found a 97 k2500 ext cab, vortec 7.4 with 120k miles. How well do the 97 7.4 do power wise compared to an 8.1 or an older 454?
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I have a 96 K2500 with the 7.4 liter with +170K on it. I love mine. I have an air-aid intake and a magnaflow cat back exhaust on it and I think it tows really well. Obviously when you compare it to the newer diesel's, it doesn't really compare, but I think mine still tows really well. I use it to tow my K5 around (and DD right now, but that will change shortly). I also have a full float 14 bolt with 4.10 gears. I get anywhere from 12-13 mpg highway and city. And pretty much 10 mpg towing (no matter the load). Just thought I would give you my experince since I pretty much have that exact truck

chevysmithz71 said:
The 7.4's are dogs. I towed for a few Years with a 95 and man what a slug. Go for the next gen with a 6.0 or 8.1. I wouldnt hesitate towing with a 6.0 because they love high rpm's. The 8.1 guzzle gas but can feel more torque off lines in heavy towes.
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The 7.4 you had is the last year of the TBI 454, and yes, in stock form they were a bit of a dog for towing. But the vortec generation 454 was a much better motor that produced better numbers in stock form
 
How many miles on this engine? That's about the range for a good set of heads and cam combo. You could wake up what you currently have.. If you don't over am the engine you might pickup some mpg.
 
These combos should with your stock block make almost 300hp. If you get more wild and decide you want a roller cam that would be a very wise investment and will make significantly more low end torque. These heads are 180cc intake and should flow good enough up to 5-6k but still have enough port velocity to not kill the low end.
 
With these upgrades etc, I would be in the same range as doing a 454, it would seem that I am pushing a SB to do what a BB can do with ease. Also all these upgrades etc, will they even pass smog?
 
BB torque makes a SB look like a squirrel cage...
 
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