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Stupid reliable

As far as Reliable/Easy to fix and maintain... I would think a Cummins? :dunno: :D


If you do it right, a Fuel-Injected engine, with an external pump/filter should really last.
I mean, Christ, some of these FI motors go for 450k miles.... With minimal work.

My friend has an old V6 Tacoma, that's pushing 400k.
Thing runs FANTASTIC. :D

The motor has nothing but proper maintenance performed.
 
So let's keep this stock Chevy engines

As for the 6.2 , I'd like this but isn't a new crate 6.2 super spendy? As is a rebuild vs a $1500 brand new crate 350... Also I hear a lot of broken starter bolts and head gasket issues with these...
 
From what I see in this area, tbi 350 no question. Anything that does fail is pretty easy to replace even on the road. Even replacing a fuel pump is pretty easy compared to say, an engine failure.

I would vote no to the 6.2, though they can be pretty dependable, the common stuff that DOES fail, is usually a big deal....
 
Such a toss up between the carbed 350,tbi350,and ls. With a carbed 350, the only problem you are likely to encounter are carb, distribution, and fuel pump failures. If you carried with you, a spare carb, dist, and fuel pump, you would virtually never be left stranded. With the tbi and ls, the main worry is the fuel pump. Easy enough to carry a spare and change out. My biggest worry for them is the computer itself. The tbi ones go bad from time to time. The ls ones seem to do a whole lot better.
 
I really want fuel injection but my biggest issue is the mystery sensor that goes out and leads to endless troubleshooting.

As for the lsx swaps, I'd have to buy software and such and learn how to manipulate the program to dumb it down to my rig. This may be much easier than I think. Its just an unknown plus an added expense to a motor swap. Otherwise I love the 5.3 in my Tahoe. But then again, nothing has gone wrong with it yet
 
I've brought up carbing an LS here before and was not received well. Lol! The drawback there is the speedy MSD components to make it work. However I still kinda think that would be cool....
 
Its all about what you're using it for. If you're talking day to day no external worries just do the efi. If you're talking middle of the desert for months or years with no support. Carb all the way. You want as much mechanical as possible.
 
I almost feel too late for my opinion to count here. :D

this is my order

q-jet 283-350 w/HEI
TBI 350 very close behind
ls sbc
vortec 350 or 305


454 and 6.2 don't make the cut.

im not sure why a carbed 350 wouldn't go 200k or more? mine went almost 300k with a minor overhaul at 230k. (cam,lifters,chain, carb and hei rebuild) it would have gone longer but I overheated it so bad it quit running. after that it had a little rod knock. still ran though.
 
COCHEV said:
Does that factor in the in-tank pump crapping out in the middle of nowhere?
Click to expand...

this is one of the two things that I worry about with my tbi stuff, and the reason that my burb has a removable piece to get to the pump without pulling the tank.

the other, is ignition module, so I just carry a spare dist. (or used to)
 
the carb ones only seem to average 100k before they have rod bearing failure. I blame emissions equipment for the failure.
they also seem to eat cams and wear out the valve guides long before a sbc would. their valvetrain geometry isn't the best.

I would almost put a tbi 454 in the lineup, but it would be down at the bottom.
 
I 2nd the 6.2 :pimp: Stupid reliable, stupid simple. You still get your X00,000 miles, no different than a cummins. Just not the power. Like with anything, keep it maintained.

Glow plugs - build your manual controller.
IP - keep some additive in there

I'm on 211k on this one. NO idea what care was taken of it before me, judging by what it was like when I got it, not much :D I may be loosing a crank soon, I may have another 100k :dunno:

I'm sure I could get 300-400k out of a brand new one, easy. If an IP goes out, save for it, you're getting 5+ mpg over a gasser.

OP said parts and ease of maintaining/troubleshooting. That's why I vote 6.2. Fouled plugs? Distributor? Sensors? What are those things :D Keep the oil changed, run it hard. Daz it. Oh, well, OP what type of driving do you do? I don't vote 6.2 if you do tons of 5 mile trips all day. Unless from time to time you take it out for a nice hard long run and get her nice and hot and clean her out. But that's the key to any diesel.

You're near portland, so don't have to worry about cold-related issues.
 
runamok151 said:
For the win. Plus you can run just about anything in it, from diesel to veggie oil.
Click to expand...


Though I own two 6.2 powered trucks,I am unsure if I'd reccomend one as "stupid reliable" for a few reasons...

One,they are known to snap cranks for whatever reason,with no warning..

Two,they often do have head gaskets fail after 100K miles..also without much warning..

Three,the injector pumps are expensive,and replacing one is beyond the ability of most guys who can fix a gas engine,especially on the side of the road..that goes for most of the other things on them like timing chains,water pumps,they are not as simple as doing one on a small block..

Four,they dont like short trips...diesels like to be run and worked fairly hard...

Five,fuel is at least 50 sents per gallon more than gas..

Six,they arent common around here any more,if they ever were,so few are available for parts at salvage yards...

Seven (yeah,I know I said a FEW reasons!)--a 6.2 might not want to start after an overnight camp out in winter ,no place to plug in the block heater!..

Eight,the starter bolts do often cause grief and damage the block,mostly due to not having the brace on the starter--not the engines fault,but still an expensive potential issue...

Nine,oil changes cost more and must be done more often than a gas engine--or else you'll encourage engine failure early..

Ten,you have 2 batteries to go dead instead of one...one fails,the remaining one usually dies too,or might not be enough alone,to get it to start..

They might be fine for those who want to go long distance on highways and drive many miles daily,dont do a lot of short trips,and dont mind the noise and stinky diesel smell,or shelling out big bucks when the injectors or pump go south...but the average joe would probably be better off staying with a gas engine..


I liked having a small block or straight six,carbed,mechanical fuel pump,with a fresh timing chain and gears (or metal cam gear on the sixes,those fiber cam gears were the only thing that let me down twice on two straight sixes I had,the 235,and a 250,but both had 150+K on them too)...HEI ignition is OK,as long as you keep a spare distributor ready to plop in "just in case" a module or pick up coil,etc croaks..

I liked points,easy to diagnose if anything went wrong,and like the 6.2,they'll keep the engine running if we ever had an EMP pulse,where anything computerized will likely be dead as a doornail...
 
Its funny, cause i have thought about a carbed 350 vs a ls motor for a fire wood/hunting truck. And i just dont know if i can give the edge to the 350.
 
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