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Motor Decision

An aftermarket ignition won't do much for you on a FI engine. The coil on the other hand will help.
 
SO: Verdict is this.

I need gears. 4.56's woudl be ideal for towing, but don't want that high of an RPM on the freeway.

Looking to upgrade to 4.10's. Have a hard time spending $1000 on my current axles, so trying to find at least a 14ff that is rebuilt and setup wiht teh gears i need.

Really, been towing with this setup for a while, so i can wait a couple months to try and find the right deal. Also, not getting an open rear end, so need to find one with at least a gov lock.

Installing headers in teh next couple weeks to fix exhaust leak issue.

Thanks guys!
 
I am looking forward to your feeling on the 4.10 gears. I was thinking about the same swap and my set-up is identical to your except I have a 383.
If it comes to a motor, go with a nice 383ci. Whatever you do it will be better with a new chip, so don't rule that out.

good luck,
 
We'll see. Really, should verify my gearing before i go any further....instead of relying on the RPO codes.
 
Changing your gears will definitely help with the towing, but if you're only going 15 mph up a hill towing only a ski boat, something is wrong. You need to fix the problem too.
 
That's what I was thinking too. My tired old 90 Burb could still pull our 32' TT up a grade at 40mph. The engine was lugging real bad, but it would do it. And my engine is stock besides a cold air intake, duals with no cats, and bosch platinum 4's. Just like you I have a 350 with 3.73's and 33's, but my trans is a SM465. So it sounds like you might have other issues going on that gears arent going to fix.

Another thing you might want to consider is slowing down a bit on the freeway. I know, I know, you'd get run over in traffic, but at 80mph, you're trying to smash a brick through a keyhole when it comes to aerodynamics in a Burb. It might take you longer to get where you're going, but if you plan for it, it really isnt an issue. And I bet you'd make your tank go a bit further which could save you $$$ in the long run. Just sayin............
 
That's what I was thinking too. My tired old 90 Burb could still pull our 32' TT up a grade at 40mph. The engine was lugging real bad, but it would do it. And my engine is stock besides a cold air intake, duals with no cats, and bosch platinum 4's. Just like you I have a 350 with 3.73's and 33's, but my trans is a SM465. So it sounds like you might have other issues going on that gears arent going to fix.

Another thing you might want to consider is slowing down a bit on the freeway. I know, I know, you'd get run over in traffic, but at 80mph, you're trying to smash a brick through a keyhole when it comes to aerodynamics in a Burb. It might take you longer to get where you're going, but if you plan for it, it really isnt an issue. And I bet you'd make your tank go a bit further which could save you $$$ in the long run. Just sayin............

When we hit 15mph, it was wiht a heavier boat (probably 4500-5000lbs), and at close to 7000ft of elevation.

Also, I agree on the high speed thing. I don't drive this thing at those speeds all the time, but want to be able to when i need to. The difference between 65 and 80 (say, in a 70 zone) is a lot on a 5 or 600 mile trip.

EDIT: Also, i am surprised at my lack of power. Hopefully fixing this massive exhaust leak with headers (that are sitting on my kitchen table:D) will help. Need to pull a plug and check their condition, but its only been 30k since i did a full tuneup (Cap, rotor, Plugs, wires, fuel filter, timing), and have definitely replaced the cap/rotor since then, and retimed it.
 
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What has your milage been like?

Stopped calculating it.

But with stock tires, at 75-80, flat ground, cruise set, i was getting 15-16mpg. Remember, its a 4l80e truck with overdrive.

Torque peak at 22-2300 RPM is at about 75-80.

More like 12-13 with 33's.


Speedo is DEAD on with the 33's, think it was a little off with stock tires. Verified by gps, then didn't mod drac when it was correct already.
 
Not bad MPG. An exhaust leak could cause your motor to run rich, thats why I ask. An exhaust leak could pull air into the exhaust system and O2 sensor will read that as a lean condition and cause the BLM's to rise and richen up the mixture - leading to poor MPG.
 
Not bad MPG. An exhaust leak could cause your motor to run rich, thats why I ask. An exhaust leak could pull air into the exhaust system and O2 sensor will read that as a lean condition and cause the BLM's to rise and richen up the mixture - leading to poor MPG.

I've been towing with it so much, that i wouldn't notice an decrease i mpg
 
4.56's and a gear vendors o/d unit then you could have both worlds!!!

I agree with 4x4high on the 383, that and gears would make your truck badass-er
 
4.56's and a gear vendors o/d unit then you could have both worlds!!!

I agree with 4x4high on the 383, that and gears would make your truck badass-er


Haha, yep. Gonna get the exhaust fixed, then try and find the right swap axle for the rear. Really have no need for a 60 front, so not holding my breath there.....but reallly don't want to spend money on gears/install on a 14sf, when i can probably get a deal on a FF. We'll see.
 
Yeah I would ditch the SF too not that theres anything "bad" about them just the FF is better
 
Make up your mind, you can't have your cake and eat it to. Everything is a compromise, gearing is where it's at for torque and torque is what you need for towing. Do you want to pull the Reno/Tahoe grade while towing alot faster than 15 MPH or would you rather cruise down the freeway unloaded doing 80 MPH? Take your pick because you AREN'T going to have both. :deal:

Umm I beg to differ im running 3.73's and 37's and I could pull all your turcks in this post at once up a hill at 90 w the ac on and my feet up :D
and then cruise unloaded 75 mph @ 1600 rpm
Heh but it helps that I make 1109 Ft LBS RWTQ @ 2200 rpm ish

tune it up fix the exhaust leaks cause they are killing your milage by causing a rich condition in closed loop and FFS change the gears.
or umm put a dmax in it :haha:
 
Umm I beg to differ im running 3.73's and 37's and I could pull all your turcks in this post at once up a hill at 90 w the ac on and my feet up :D
and then cruise unloaded 75 mph @ 1600 rpm
Heh but it helps that I make 1109 Ft LBS RWTQ @ 2200 rpm ish

tune it up fix the exhaust leaks cause they are killing your milage by causing a rich condition in closed loop and FFS change the gears.
or umm put a dmax in it :haha:

:bow:
 

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