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Help me decide - 8.1L or keep what I got

I swear I've been finding more lately on Craigslist in "parting out" posts versus transmissions for sale. I bought the one for my truck for 500 bucks for the complete setup, even a new clutch and pressure plate and they brought it to me. Market might be different where you are but you can usually find some yahoo that doesn't know what he has to buy one off of...LOL
 
Just my 2 cents on transmissions......
- I personally prefer automatics, especially for wheelin'.....but again that is personal preference. My argument is that you only have two legs and not three! The stipulation is that you need the correct gearing. The popular and old school TH400 and NP205 setups may be strong but the low range crawl ratio is crappy. A TH400/NP205/4.10 axle gear only gives you a 19:1 crawl ratio as compared to my 700r4/NP241/4.10 is 34:1......that makes a big difference in technical rockcrawling and engine braking going downhill.
- The 4L80E is nice and I have it in my 2500HD, but it adds complexity and cost when swapping into older trucks because of the computer control.
- Having overdrive, whether auto or manual, is really, really nice to have on anything that will spend anytime on the street. Allows a much lower crawl ratio by going to lower axle axle gears but still keep the highway rpm down.
- Newer manuals like the NV4500 are much nicer to drive, at least in my opinion, than the old granny 4 speeds like the SM465. Just shift nicer, don't have to move the shifter a mile between gears, gear splits are better.....and of course they have overdrive.
 
@6.2Blazer ... all good points

I dont crawl so no need to worry bout 3rd pedal. If i did thoigh... id of a hand throttle and have feet for brake and clutch.

Overdrive would be nice but my truck gets maybe 300 miles on it. Thats it but i figure i get the 8.1L installed first then worry later on OD...

Now i originally had
350/turbo 400/np203/d44-3.73st14bff-3.73 on 33s.

There was one hill that was a pita.. drit hill. Drove my buds ford on 36s and granny trans. Wow.. so nice. I converted and it was so much better.

But hey we all got preferences!!!
 
ZooMad75 said:
I've got an LS swap. Now that my sled has gained the aerodynamics of a barn door, I find myself wishing for more power. Sure, it can be made with a turbo or blower on the high end, or more tuning, cam and other bolt ons. But no matter what I do it won't make power down below 2,000 rpm's like a big block would. I've experienced 8.1's first hand from my days with Workhorse and of course Larry's 8.1 powered rides.
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@ZooMad75 do you think the 6.0ls would be better or a big block based on your experience? I'm in mid build of my one ton truck(4.56 gears and 37s) and am rethinking engine choices. Have a 5.3 that was recammed(not tuned yet), but was thinking that the down low torque of a big block would be better for the size/weight of the rig. Thanks
 
deadman said:
@ZooMad75 do you think the 6.0ls would be better or a big block based on your experience? I'm in mid build of my one ton truck(4.56 gears and 37s) and am rethinking engine choices. Have a 5.3 that was recammed(not tuned yet), but was thinking that the down low torque of a big block would be better for the size/weight of the rig. Thanks
Click to expand...

A big block is always going to out pull a small block at low rpms. Only a diesel would be better then the big block.
 
^^^^ that and the fact i found a running 8.1L for $1k made me go that route. Been raining so he hasnt pulled it yet but has to ship it. $1300 total to my door...motor/harness/pcm/pedal/ he is giving me almost everything to drop it in. Even manifolds with 02 sensors. Of course not gonna use manifolds.. got a friend digging out his 454 manifolds...for free
 
deadman said:
@ZooMad75 do you think the 6.0ls would be better or a big block based on your experience? I'm in mid build of my one ton truck(4.56 gears and 37s) and am rethinking engine choices. Have a 5.3 that was recammed(not tuned yet), but was thinking that the down low torque of a big block would be better for the size/weight of the rig. Thanks
Click to expand...

I'd say going the direction you are heading, a big block is the way to go, A 6.0 would be better than the 5.3 but you still have to whip that 6.0 like a rented mule to get the power out of it. Going forced induction, either turbo or supercharger would help but as the old saying goes there is no replacement for displacement.

Don't get me wrong I love my 5.3. I've said that before. It is so much better than a stock tbi 350. But pushing a 1 ton truck around with 37's and a small block will be working hard all the time. A well set up injected big block would do the work much easier. As far as fuel economy goes, the big block will probably get the same or better than 6.0 since it won't be working nearly as hard getting spun up to the moon and back.
 
I'm thinking either 454/502 base engine with ported injection from either Holley or Edelbrock OR a Ram Jet 502 from GM.
 
almost bought the holley sniper kit but guy came through...
I just paid $800 for motor that is running ... 2001 with 145k miles... $400 shipping... so still $1200!!!!! got to hear it run before he pulled it.. just been working on this deal since april
 
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