questions about which motor to use

[jp0863]

well the time has come to get rid of the k5 and get a burb. is the small block enough power? looking at a 1990 or 91 model. gonna swap in a dana 60/14 bolt with 4.56 gears, six inch lift and probably 35's. the small blocks are easier to find and much cheaper to replace than a big block, but do they have enough power?

 

[Muddytazz]

I never had an issue with the small block 350 I had in my old burb. Parts are like you said a dime a dozen and very easy to come by. And I pulled a 28ft travel trailer up and over the mountains all the time.

 

[blazerbones]

I like the 350... it does okay (especially with tbi). But mileage is an issue... diesel would be very nice. An overdrive trans (post 1990) would help alot too!

Uh... whatchya gonna do with the K5?

 

[jp0863]

selling it. i hate to, but got another kid on the way so i need something bigger. it will go on ebay tomorrow or saturday, hoping to get at least $4500 or so. what really sucks is i have a rebuilt 6.2 and a banks turbo kit just waiting to go in. i thought about looking for a diesel or swapping motors, but i just dont have the time anymore so the burb will be simple and overbuilt.

 

[blazerbones]

I'll check it out on ebay when it goes up.

 

[jp0863]

I like the 350... it does okay (especially with tbi). But mileage is an issue... diesel would be very nice. An overdrive trans (post 1990) would help alot too!

Uh... whatchya gonna do with the K5?

so will 1990 have an od trans? or does the od trans start in 91? and which tranny's came in the burbs? i'm holding out for a 91 3/4 ton, but there doesnt seem to be too many. mostly just finding 1988-90 burbs. i'm not opposed to a bit older, but wont go older than 88 for the fuel injection. basically what i'm wonting to know is which trans came in which model?

 

[GMCJason]

The 1/2 ton '90 and '91 will have the 700r4 which does have OD. They actually started the 700r4 years before, can't remember when, but for your purposes the 1/2 tons will be the 700r4. The '90 3/4 ton will have the Th400. The '91 3/4 ton could and should have the 4L80e but I think there may have been some with the Th400 so if you find a '91 just make sure it's the tranny you want.

As for your original question about the small block I have a '90 3/4 ton with the TBI 350, Th400, 4.10 gears and 35" tires and it does OK around town. When I get into the mountains things get a bit more difficult. It'll still pull the passes but at not much more than 55 mph between 2nd and 3rd gears. 4.56s would help that.

In your first post I'm not sure what you mean by the small blocks are easier to find. If you mean a Sub with a small block that's all you'll find in that body style and 4 wheel drive. You could get a big block in the 2 wheel drive versions. The big block and 4 wheel drive appeared in the '92 3/4 ton model.

 

[blazerbones]

What GMCJason said. Oh, and I'm almost positive that TBI started in '87.

 

[jp0863]

yeah i wasnt sure on the motor cuz i see big blocks in some of the adds i look at, but i think they were all two wheel drive now that i think about it. i would like to have a th400 rather than an od trans.

 

[ryoken]

wheren't 91 burbs available in a diesel version?

 

[Slapperbar]

weren't 91 burbs available in a diesel version?

'91 V2500's had two engine choices... 5.7 TBI and 6.2 Diesel.

 

[Avery4jc]

Sorry to hear you have to sell the k5... it looked like a sweet rig that night I was there to pick up the axles...

 

[blazerbones]

JP0863... did your K5 ever go up on ebay?