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Ryoken's 89 Crew Cab Tubebed build... aka Mutt....

I want to say I read somewhere that the Suburbans and Avalanches didnt have room for the Allison and had to stick with the '80e; maybe those 8.1's had more torque management to save the weaker transmission?
 
I want to say I read somewhere that the Suburbans and Avalanches didnt have room for the Allison and had to stick with the '80e; maybe those 8.1's had more torque management to save the weaker transmission?


Thats a good possibility. The Allison is an excellent transmission. Happens to be one of my favorite automatics after dealing with this truck.

I can only speak from experience. 7000lb truck + 2500lb 45ft trailer + 2x 4000lb car = 17,500lb going up and down back mountain roads of upstate new york like its nothing.
 
Dig it...I heard the same thing about the floorpan of the burbs, that also being the reason they never recieved the Duramax...that would have been a big seller I think.
 
Yes it was all about it fit in there.
I had an '01 HD 2500 4x4 CC with an 8.1 and an allison. It could pull anything, but at 9 MPG it sure did go thru the gas.
 
I think Mayor Vaughn's Cadillac had a 500 cubic inch 8.2....:whistle:
 
I towed a loaded hay wagon with 200 bales with an 8.1 and an Allison, and it didn't feel like it was there...

You guys must use smaller balers out there then cause I bet any pickup would notice 20k pounds. Our smallest bales are 100 lb bales.

Like everyone has said the 8.1 seems pretty dang stout but you rarely hear bout anyone even getting into the 10s with mileage on em.

I have read tons about the cummins swaps a little about 8.1 swaps but it seems if you are buying x members to swap em in, it would really be about the same amount of effort. Just an observation
 
As far as the trans goes the 4500 shares the same problem as the good old 465 even the 6 speed dodges i have driiven have the same issue almost, you need another gear between the 1:1 ratio and the gear that precedes it.

So in my mind a gear vendors wins evertime over just about any trans swap.

I've never towed in overdrive fully loaded now that I think of it.

I towed my trailer empty with is about 5100 pounds and it wasn't a big deal. Haven't been on the highway yet with my truck and trailer. I think I'll be fine, probably just have to rev to about 2400-2500 and it will drop down to about 1600. Which is fine for my diesel, not sure how the spread would be on a gas truck
 
You guys must use smaller balers out there then cause I bet any pickup would notice 20k pounds. Our smallest bales are 100 lb bales.

Like everyone has said the 8.1 seems pretty dang stout but you rarely hear bout anyone even getting into the 10s with mileage on em.

I have read tons about the cummins swaps a little about 8.1 swaps but it seems if you are buying x members to swap em in, it would really be about the same amount of effort. Just an observation

Yep, you're right. Our bales are about 40 pounds depending on who bales it. I was just throwing it out there for a little bit of experience :waytogo:
 
I've never towed in overdrive fully loaded now that I think of it.

I towed my trailer empty with is about 5100 pounds and it wasn't a big deal. Haven't been on the highway yet with my truck and trailer. I think I'll be fine, probably just have to rev to about 2400-2500 and it will drop down to about 1600. Which is fine for my diesel, not sure how the spread would be on a gas truck

Most diesels will have the power to pull through the gear, gassers not so much you need to keep em revved, but even towing with diesels on a steep long hill ( we have plenty of em) that split between the 1:1 gear and the next one down is too wide.
 
that's the thing about the 465, it practically lives in 3 and 4.... the only time I'm in second is a complete stop.. but your in 3rd pretty quick...

to be honest, I didn't notate what rpm's I was running at on the highway with the 4:10's and 33's at 65, I suspect it was around 2500.. I'll have to remember to spy that next time on the highway... too lazy to go look on a calculator...

a quickie, off the top of head guesstimate says I was getting around 12, 13 mpg... which, considering this motors issues and throwing an EGR code, I was fine with... if I can see a consistent 15 at some point, I'd be happy as a pig in poo.....
 
ryoken;3122835 a quickie said:
dude if you can get a solid 15 out of it color me impressed.

I am shooting for a solid 12 out of mine given past experiences not towing. I think I am shooting high. But if you can get 15 fuel injection just may be worth it
 
grrrrr.... someone put an EGR in at some point, and of course didn't write the number on the sticker OR use ANY of the indexed washers.....

grrrrr..... now I'm guessing, hate that sh*t.... guess I'll run a medium hole size washer... :angry1:
 
dude if you can get a solid 15 out of it color me impressed.

I am shooting for a solid 12 out of mine given past experiences not towing. I think I am shooting high. But if you can get 15 fuel injection just may be worth it

well, I did get 17 out of the K5's 350 tbi... but honestly, I do sooooooo little driving these days, it doesn't matter much right now...
 
oh, and I was almost on the money....

gen VI roller 502 long block for MPFI.... $3520 to me....

I can see me doing one next spring... I'll see how this one holds up...
 
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that's the thing about the 465, it practically lives in 3 and 4.... the only time I'm in second is a complete stop.. but your in 3rd pretty quick...

to be honest, I didn't notate what rpm's I was running at on the highway with the 4:10's and 33's at 65, I suspect it was around 2500.. I'll have to remember to spy that next time on the highway... too lazy to go look on a calculator...

a quickie, off the top of head guesstimate says I was getting around 12, 13 mpg... which, considering this motors issues and throwing an EGR code, I was fine with... if I can see a consistent 15 at some point, I'd be happy as a pig in poo.....

Wow:eek1:
I only drove this truck one time for a 250 mile trip, but I got about 8mpg, it did have the heavy stake bed on it and a blazer tub and frame, plus a few parts, but man that is a big difference.
:doah:
 
WORLD of difference in how it runs now too... I can't believe it didn't break down on ya... :eek1:


stoked, should have a good sticker on it by din din tomorrow...
 

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