Unless you want to run a divorced T-case, the tail housing will be different. But that can't be news to you, right? You've done this stuff before, I'm sure you can do it again if you want to head down this path.
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Considering a Suburban Tow Rig
- Thread starter Richcz28
- Start date
Unless you want to run a divorced T-case, the tail housing will be different. But that can't be news to you, right? You've done this stuff before, I'm sure you can do it again if you want to head down this path.
The tail housing just unbolts. It doesn't use a different tail housing. Then you install a 4x4 output shaft.
The transfer case adapter bolts on where the tail housing used too.
The transfer case adapter bolts on where the tail housing used too.
Lol.... I take it you still use a "flip" cell phone, regular old rotary thermo stat controller for the house, and an am/fm radio in your vehicle(s). Technology moves right along friend. Touch screen units are the standard for controlling all audio functions and even climate control in some vehicles. It's fast, simple, and safer. Not to mention much more user friendly. If you're sportin' a smart phone, you should "get it." Not to mention, it's what 95%+ of the consumer base wants.
Might as well just go diesel.... I know you like big blocks, but again.... that whole "technology" thing... Today's small block can put a woopin' on yesterday's big block towing. As I said, we will never see a big block gas engine again. 95%+ of the consumer base does NOT want it and buying trends show people wanting gas will stick with a small block and the people needing that torque to move weight just go strait to diesel. It's why the 8.1L went bye bye in the first place.
Mmmmm... touch screens, leather seats, and a butt cooler that is built in. Paradise on wheels.... The manufacturers make all that stuff, because it's what 95%+ of the consumer base wants, and is willing to get their check book out for. Not even everyone on the "4x4" sites even agree with you. Lots of guys use old trucks and like that, and many buy newer stuff with those features too. The few that make up your crowd of thought on what a manu should build is not even worth it for the manufacturer to draw up.The true reality that most of us have to live with now, is truck manufactures are not making vehicle to accommodate most of the people like us on sites like CK5. They are accommodating to the people who do care about stupid touch screens and fancy leather seats. I have just accepted the fact that nobody is going to make a truck that really suits my individual needs anymore. And if I did buy a new truck (which I will never do cause I think it's a stupid financial decision) I would have to give something up to get something else in the purchase. Hence, why I said screw it and decided to build a tow rig exactly how I wanted it, to suit my exact needs. It's kind of a metaphorical "middle finger" I'm giving to the vehicle manufactures
But seriously, I have a buddy that last year bought a brand new 2015 Dodge cummins 2500 4x4 6spd. It's just like you like for the most part. Cloth seats, rubber mat flooring, no frills for about $40K IIRC. Thats cheap for a brand new truck. That is basically what I want when I get two 4th gen 4500 Dodges soon to replace my Fords. They are perfect for my work needs, cloth seats, rubber floors, but still have power windows/locks and a simple touch screen to manage my calls/audio.
I personally don't make payments like that. I buy 2-3 years old usually and either just pay cash or finance some of it to keep me under $400 a month. I mean really, everything is expensive today. Houses, cars, food, you name it. It's no surprise what stuff goes for and every year inflation drives everything up.
Even if you could get GM to "reissue" your dream truck and kick out a brand spankin' new 80's K30 3+3 with that 8.1L, you'd still be looking at a $35K price tag for that truck, almost guaranteed.
You are missing my point. The Sub with 176k on it is close to the life expectancy on paper, but given the light use compared to a truck, RV or Medium duty truck with the same engine, this one probably didn't get worked that hard. So it's probably got a lot more left in it than 24,000 miles. But it's your money I respect your need to have something you feel is more reliable.
On the Express van side of things, you don't have to look about sending one to Quigley. Just look for a Factory AWD passenger van. GM built them for a few years. I think they stopped in 2014. Only problem there is, they were 1/2 ton only. That's going to limit the powertrain to a 5.3 at the biggest. Due to the low production you'll have a hell of time finding one meeting your low mileage and price requirements and not be rotten with rust.
I'm with this. The OP clearly wants a clean low miles truck that needs little done to it. Problem is, sounds like the "going" rate is out of his budget for that caliber of Suburban. If you hunt long enough, you'll get your burb that you want. Watch out west.... rust/rot is not an issue here and there are TONS of vehicles that fit what you are looking for and because of that deals come up. While you guys out east hunt for stuff that isn't rusty, we hunt for stuff that is garaged. Lots of 10 year old vehicles for sale that have been baking in the sun since day one. Garaged crew cabs and burbs are not so easy to find.
There's a decent amount of those awd vans up here, but I wouldn't tow with a half ton and a 5.3.
Sounds like the response from someone who live in Commifornia
I was trying to find a kind way to say that, but the words wouldn't come to me. @rjfguitar's good points kinda got lost in the attitude of the post. There is no reason to assume that someone who doesn't prefer touch screens is anti-technology. Some folks prefer knobs to screens.
Personally, for the VERY LITTLE that it's worth, I enjoy the benefits of using a screen, but I'm not convinced it's either simpler or safer. A knob I can always access without taking my eyes off the road, if I hafta scroll through different screens to find my feature I find my eyes can easily get distracted.
To each his own...
I still use a loin cloth, and a flip phone. I finally just got electricity to my cave last year. Maybe cable in the next year or so. Maybe not...
I don't even have the Internet, cable, or home access to a computer anymore. It's so much more relaxing. I go home and spend time cooking, cleaning, and sitting outside.
I have no need for most of the stuff in a new vehicle but it's all packaged. I'd love a backup camera, cruise control, and safety. Besides that my only true concerns are mechanical.
I was playing with building the vans online and they actually have an old style breakdown of options.
Funny you posted cause I was just about to say, "Excluding skunked" in my post...figured you would post and we would have this back and forth, hahaHey hey now
Obviously not a lot of research happening here....if you have you will see that the 8.1 has kinda "come back" but this time it's been stroked to an 8.8 liter with a different injection on top, and they are putting them in brand new school bus's as we speak right now. Maybe, just maybe, people are starting to see that there is something to be said for a good old trusty big block that has little to no maintenance to them, but will pull the house down. Sure you sacrifice some gas mileage, but IMHO the gas mileage talk when looking at big rigs and the towing game is probably the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Diesels are fantastic and have proven themselves, but they are not the answer to everyone's towing problems...in fact they usually create new problems for some people.
But hey, maybe ignorance is bliss for some people when thinking big blocks are the thing of the past...maybe, just maybe
It's not what someone prefers or doesn't. It's what is becoming standard equipment. It's like taking the stance that power steering and brakes is a frills option that no one actually needs. Today, a manufaturer wouldn't even consider leaving out those two items. I realize that is an extreme, but you get my point. In today's world with the devices we carry daily, a system in our vehicle that integrates with that technology is what people asked for 10 years ago, and is basically standard today. With many states that have passed laws of no driving while talking without hands free, the use of Pandora, Amazon Prime, and internal storage... people want the ability to safely use these things without having to go aftermarket. If someone prefers knobs, fine...have at it. I just can't understand why someone would prefer that, that also has an I phone 7 or Note 5 in their pocket at the same time.I was trying to find a kind way to say that, but the words wouldn't come to me. @rjfguitar's good points kinda got lost in the attitude of the post. There is no reason to assume that someone who doesn't prefer touch screens is anti-technology. Some folks prefer knobs to screens.
Personally, for the VERY LITTLE that it's worth, I enjoy the benefits of using a screen, but I'm not convinced it's either simpler or safer. A knob I can always access without taking my eyes off the road, if I hafta scroll through different screens to find my feature I find my eyes can easily get distracted.
To each his own...
I think we're close to agreeing on these points, I just got turned off by condescending the way you put it forward.
Although P/S is probably a bad example, as the industry is moving toward fly by wire (ditching the hydraulics altogether). Not sure I've heard anyone asking for it, but lots of new ideas are implemented in anticipation of demand rather than waiting for a need to present itself and then reacting to it.
The 8.1 and Ford V10 is also alive and well in the Moter home arena too. Why? Old retired people don't like the "smell" or "noise" that diesel comes with is my guess. I still stand by what I said and would bet the farm that we will never, ever, ever see a big block in a light duty vehicle again. The fuel mileage issue on it's own scares almost all buyers away from them. Most people don't care about details like you might, they just want the best mileage and/or the most power.
This isn't the first time in a thread you and I have bumped heads over the same exact thing and where does it get us? No where..... Good luck building your perfect classic truck that has a blend of new technology that you want for it. You are putting a fuel injection computer controlled 8.1L in it and ditching the old tech carbed engine, right? Sounds good.
You are right, new technology right there. New tech results in sales numbers, no matter what it is that is for sale. But, that is a good thing, as the manufacturers pursue better ways of building things with new ideas, the end results are better products for us consumers.
@rjfguitar, I could see some resurgence of gasoline-based tow rigs for 2 reasons.
1.) There are now a bunch of Dmax and 6.7 engines that have hit the end of their lifespans, leaving owners with an expensive pill to swallow when it comes to rebuild costs. I'm skipping over Ford as many of their diesel owners have already discovered the costs of rebuilding their engines (
). In either case, some of the folks get nostalgic for engines that could be purchased and rebuilt cheaply. 6.5, 5.9, 7.3 and 6.2 engines weren't that expensive to rebuild, so this wider price gap is somewhat new. Will this drive a big block resurgence? No. But it is something that will be rattling around in the minds of folks who balk at spending $30k for a truck that requires a rebuild.
2.) The EPA has promised stricter diesel regulations. Diesels are already suffering efficiency losses (and maintenance headaches) under the current regulations. If new regulations continue to nibble away at efficiency faster than engine design is improving it, and if the price gap between gasoline and diesel fuel widens out, I could see a business case made for reviving gasoline tow rigs. Will this actually happen? IDK, it's all speculation on my part. But it doesn't seem too far-fetched to me. Time will tell.
Although, as noted before, "gasoline tow rig" doesn't necessarily mean big block. Given the movement toward smaller forced-induction engines, we're already seeing the 5.3 being on the larger end of the displacement spectrum. How times change.
1.) There are now a bunch of Dmax and 6.7 engines that have hit the end of their lifespans, leaving owners with an expensive pill to swallow when it comes to rebuild costs. I'm skipping over Ford as many of their diesel owners have already discovered the costs of rebuilding their engines (
). In either case, some of the folks get nostalgic for engines that could be purchased and rebuilt cheaply. 6.5, 5.9, 7.3 and 6.2 engines weren't that expensive to rebuild, so this wider price gap is somewhat new. Will this drive a big block resurgence? No. But it is something that will be rattling around in the minds of folks who balk at spending $30k for a truck that requires a rebuild.2.) The EPA has promised stricter diesel regulations. Diesels are already suffering efficiency losses (and maintenance headaches) under the current regulations. If new regulations continue to nibble away at efficiency faster than engine design is improving it, and if the price gap between gasoline and diesel fuel widens out, I could see a business case made for reviving gasoline tow rigs. Will this actually happen? IDK, it's all speculation on my part. But it doesn't seem too far-fetched to me. Time will tell.
Although, as noted before, "gasoline tow rig" doesn't necessarily mean big block. Given the movement toward smaller forced-induction engines, we're already seeing the 5.3 being on the larger end of the displacement spectrum. How times change.
