I've cruised over 80mph in the crew cab loaded down for Blazer Bash. I'm sure I'll do it more when I get a Vortec swap done. Problem I have now is the lack of power so it really sucks down the gas.
CK5
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Can you cruise at 80+mph in your truck?
- Thread starter y5mgisi
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My old 79 f250 with 40" tires was very happy at 80, with highway speeds of 75 here I sure hope my burb will handle 80. My 07 duramax will cruise 80 all day and get 19 mpg. With any luck I'll find out on the way to BB this year.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
If you think about it trucks are a lot different today. Sure the frames are similar and the tires are round but engineering in the automotive industry has grown immensely. Materials are better, tolerances improved, and all of the features of a truck work far better together. Thats what seperates trucks from now and then.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
I think a solid axle does not necessarily equal a less than stellar driving truck like I was kinda thinking. I keep going back to the fact that big rigs seem to track and drive pretty damn good for millions of miles and they have straight axles. And if the alignment specs are basically the same between an ifs truck and a solid axle truck, there should be no difference. I also think that you guys are right on the having all the suspension stuff, tires, wheels, etc be of high quality are big deals. I really just want to at least be able to do 75mph all day and not get tired of it. I drove 3000 miles, 40+hours in 5 days and never felt uncomfortable in my new truck.
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You’re basically talking about NVH with body. That is where I bring up the wind noise of old trucks. From a high level view, trucks are not any different today than they have been for our life time. No reason a 70’s truck can’t roll down the highway just like a new one outside of the wind noise. My truck is a perfect example of that. Drives just as nice as my Silverado down the highway and the cab wind noise would be about the same too if the Silverado’s passenger's window was down
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Exactly! Ifs is no doubt smoother on these jacked up California roads.
I know in my case without adjusting my seat after a few hours id be in some discomfort. Lumbar is amazing if you have that! I think it just takes more awareness to drive an old truck down the road as opposed to the new stuff. I can be relaxed driving with one finger in the tundra, cant say that about my k5. I know it can be made better, which im working on lol.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
You’re basically talking about NVH with body. That is where I bring up the wind noise of old trucks. From a high level view, trucks are not any different today than they have been for our life time. No reason a 70’s truck can’t roll down the highway just like a new one outside of the wind noise. My truck is a perfect example of that. Drives just as nice as my Silverado down the highway and the cab wind noise would be about the same too if the Silverado’s passenger's window was down
Then how come there not still using square bodies? How come FEA is important if everything has been found with our old trucks? What's wind tunnel testing and where did my straight axle in the front go?
There different. In principal there very similar but as I already said engineering is far advanced since the 70s. A old truck will never be as smooth or stable as a new one period.
I see you have a 2500hd. now I understand. I had one too and it road like an old truck. I have a newer tundra now and in no way shape or form do they compare. I can barely hear anything outside it when driving and you dont have vertebrae to vertebrae contact when you go over a bump
I'll just echo the quality steering and suspension components. My '72 blazer was downright scary to drive at highway speed when I got it and I was kind of under the impression that it was just the way old trucks were.
Eventually I got around to rebuilding all of the front end components and the steering column and it was night and day. I can comfortably cruise at 75-80 without it being scary at all. Power was an issue before but hopefully I've solved that issue.
Wind noise will probably be the only issue you really can't solve.
Eventually I got around to rebuilding all of the front end components and the steering column and it was night and day. I can comfortably cruise at 75-80 without it being scary at all. Power was an issue before but hopefully I've solved that issue.
Wind noise will probably be the only issue you really can't solve.
The 2015 Dodge Ram I rented to pull the blazer would do 75 with the trailer all day. Felt good but would be better with the crappy factory tires replaced.
My Blazer will do 70 all day and feel great. It will do 80+ and feel very stable as well, but I'm pushing the engine a little more than I like. Not bad for what it does off road too.
My Blazer will do 70 all day and feel great. It will do 80+ and feel very stable as well, but I'm pushing the engine a little more than I like. Not bad for what it does off road too.
My Burb easily did 80 plus with 37's on it on the way to Moab numerous times. As well as up ID Falls with out any issues, except I was rather cold on the trip to ID.
Is that why were you grabbing onto the truck with your feet planted on the floor when I slammed on the brakes? It will do 80, but it may not stop?
You will never live that night down.
Really?
Not that I doubt you've passed a diesel truck before, but that mentality is asinine. 25 details on both trucks are more important than diesel vs. gas.
Wind and speed friction will pretty much affect any truck equally and it's exponential. New trucks are better in wind tunnels etc. but higher speed in a truck pretty much equals lower MPG.
I can run my K30 at 80+ easily but it's not worth the MPG loss to me (12V Cummins and 5 speed, 4.10's and 37's). If $$$ for fuel doesn't matter to you, do what you want. If it does, do the math. You lose a LOT of efficiency at higher speeds in a full size truck.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
In my particular case, my 80+ stints would be once a year at best. But i do do a lot of cruising at 70-75mph. It seems the general consensus is that these trucks can easily be made to do that all day, no problem.
Lets put it this way, It would seem that if these trucks were still produced as they were in the 70's, but rolled off the assembly line with today's engine and trans, they would be just as capable of any speed that is achieved by the actual new trucks of today. The solid front axle is not an all inclusive, bad driving recipe.
Lets put it this way, It would seem that if these trucks were still produced as they were in the 70's, but rolled off the assembly line with today's engine and trans, they would be just as capable of any speed that is achieved by the actual new trucks of today. The solid front axle is not an all inclusive, bad driving recipe.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
The solid axle isn't a hindrance in any way.
The limit is aerodynamics and transmissions that don't have overdrive. Lots of people swap in OD transmissions (or big tires) and many even came with them.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
If only the 6l80e/6l90e's weren't so expensive! My '12 has 3.42 gears and the 6l80e. It does great off the line due to the deep first gear, and at 80mph it does 2000 rpm even thanks to the double overdrive!
Here is a pic from when i found out these trucks have a speed limiter at about 98mph...
Here is a pic from when i found out these trucks have a speed limiter at about 98mph...
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Just did quick calcs. In my 78 with 4.10 gears and th400, 95mph would be about 4500rpm!
Over drive would be the biggest thing for high speed cruising followed quickly by tires/steering/suspension.
The problem is most of us build for off-road abikity not on road ability. Not many of us leave it on 33s with mild tread.
That said. My k20 with hydro assist and bias 40" tsls did 75 on the Gps down the freeway in the Bay Area every time I went wheeling. Those aren't exactly open roads and I felt fine.
The tires definitely pull you into grooves in the road tho so that was entertaining.
Another thing I've learned about increasing ride comfort is to use a mellowed exhaust. You don't realize how tiring it can be having a loud annoying droney exhaust until you don't have it anymore. Much better.
The problem is most of us build for off-road abikity not on road ability. Not many of us leave it on 33s with mild tread.
That said. My k20 with hydro assist and bias 40" tsls did 75 on the Gps down the freeway in the Bay Area every time I went wheeling. Those aren't exactly open roads and I felt fine.
The tires definitely pull you into grooves in the road tho so that was entertaining.
Another thing I've learned about increasing ride comfort is to use a mellowed exhaust. You don't realize how tiring it can be having a loud annoying droney exhaust until you don't have it anymore. Much better.
After driving my truck to Michigan the past two years in two different configurations I will say this.
Trip number 1 was with 35's, 10 bolts, 3.73's and a 700R4. My brother and I could easily do about 80 and not worry about it. It wasn't all that bad of a drive, and I would do it again.
Trip number 2 was this year. Only difference was 37's and a 14BSF. I got beat up on this trip. I would not, and could not, go above 75 due to the feeling that the truck would explode. Now, I think this has a lot to do with the tires I have, but still, I wouldn't be comfortable going much faster than 70.
Trip number 1 was with 35's, 10 bolts, 3.73's and a 700R4. My brother and I could easily do about 80 and not worry about it. It wasn't all that bad of a drive, and I would do it again.
Trip number 2 was this year. Only difference was 37's and a 14BSF. I got beat up on this trip. I would not, and could not, go above 75 due to the feeling that the truck would explode. Now, I think this has a lot to do with the tires I have, but still, I wouldn't be comfortable going much faster than 70.
I run my 79 at 75 mph and its comfortable. I get chatter under slight de-acceleration but that's a tranny issue.
I'm running 2" lift 52's up front, 3" lift 64's with 4" shackle flip out back. No sway bar, but that's in the works, I'm getting way to much roll. I'm also running crossover and hydro assist. She drives straight as an arrow. Drive train is 5.3/465/208/4.10 so i'm running 2950 at 75. A ranger overdrive is the plan for down the line. That would bring my rpms to 2125.
So overall I feel properly setup with new parts these trucks can do 80 all day long. Even the way shes set up now I get 13 mpg. Cant complain about that.
I'm running 2" lift 52's up front, 3" lift 64's with 4" shackle flip out back. No sway bar, but that's in the works, I'm getting way to much roll. I'm also running crossover and hydro assist. She drives straight as an arrow. Drive train is 5.3/465/208/4.10 so i'm running 2950 at 75. A ranger overdrive is the plan for down the line. That would bring my rpms to 2125.
So overall I feel properly setup with new parts these trucks can do 80 all day long. Even the way shes set up now I get 13 mpg. Cant complain about that.
