What engine should i put in my 82 crew?

[86c20]

the new trucks are so over priced its not funny. but i know that some of the guys on 4btswaps.com are getting 25+ mpg with a cummins and same with the detroits. its all in the gearing. i am finding that alot of the diesel trucks are geared wrong for where we drive them now. they are to low in the rpm band to make good power so they use more fuel or they are geard to low and are to high. meaning that at 75 instead of will say1800 rpm its at 2200 and vis versa for the low side

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by 86c20

the new trucks are so over priced its not funny. but i know that some of the guys on 4btswaps.com are getting 25+ mpg with a cummins and same with the detroits. its all in the gearing. i am finding that alot of the diesel trucks are geared wrong for where we drive them now. they are to low in the rpm band to make good power so they use more fuel or they are geard to low and are to high. meaning that at 75 instead of will say1800 rpm its at 2200 and vis versa for the low side

I really like the newer trucks. You are right, if they weren't so darn expensive I'd have a new Duramax in the driveway. My neighbors 04 duramax is old by todays standards and is actually only rated around 500 ft lbs. where as the new ones are reaching 800 ft lbs.

I fealt his was geared very nice, at 70 mph he's only turning 2,000 to 2,200 rpms. Seemed about right to me. (I'm spinning 2800 with my 502 at that speed hence the reason I'm doing a gear vendor) Cruising at 70 he gets about 17 mpg with it empty. I thought that was pretty darn respectable for a 4 door long bed 3/4 ton truck. It yanks my 28' trailer around pretty nice, his only complaint is that there is a delay of power when you mash the throttle,,,,the turbo has to spool and then it starts to get up and go.
I told him tinkering with the tune would solve alot of that, but adding much over 100hp and you start having transmission issues with those things, so he just elects to leave it stock. It's a really nice truck though. I'll see if I can find a pic. I think I have one hooked to my trailer.
We were hauling alot of cars around with my trailer and we traided off towing duties between his truck and mine, so I got a real world comparison (about as real world as it gets) on fuel mileage.

[Firebirdjones]

If not interested in this, pay no mind, photobucket usually deletes my pics after a day or so

That's my trailer and his duramax. Although a duramax isn't in the original posters plans for a swap, and in my opinion aren't that pretty to look at, they do make a pretty neat swap in an older truck. I've seen quite a few diesel swaps done arond here in older dodges and chevys. I just couldn't bare to do it in my ole truck. Seems the factory BBC trucks are getting scarce and I wanted to leave mine as is. Now if I started with a SBC truck a diesel swap would be a serious consideration.

[manimal]

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

The difference in mileage is actually much closer than that.

My 502 with no overdrive gets 14 mpg highway and my neighbors 04 duramax with only 20k miles on it gets about 17 mpg highway with it's 5 speed allison trans.....Not enough to persuade me. I'm actually in the process of a GV for my truck that should gain me another 2-3 mpg,,,right on par with my neighbors duramax,,,so for me it's a toss up.

When we both towed my 28 foot enclosed trailer he was getting 13 mpg and I get about 10.

Granted his duramax is bone stock and there is some tweaking that can be done in the tune, namely cranking up the boost for stupid power. Currently we are both making the same power but he is paying 40 cents more per gallon for gas.


I have seen some of the smaller diesels that are respectable on mileage however. I wouldn't mind owning a new diesel as the duramax is now making silly power in stock form,,,,but the price of the truck,,,and the price of the diesel fuel persuaded me to just keep my ole' 502 pickup

I agree with what you are saying, BUT he is looking for 750+ HP...not gonna see those #'s and MPG together....UNLESS he goes diesel.

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by manimal

I agree with what you are saying, BUT he is looking for 750+ HP...not gonna see those #'s and MPG together....UNLESS he goes diesel.

Is he looking for MPG? I thought it was just a show truck looking for eye appeal, maybe I missed that part.

[82ccshorty]

Nah mpgs don't matter it won't get drove enough to make a difference
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[86c20]

if mpg dont matter then any large gas motor will do. if it where me and i was doing a gasser i would look at a 582 stroker from a comp down in sc i think? it is where my dads motor for is 67 ss chevelle came from 700 hp and 700 ftlbs with 9 to 1 compression and on pump gas. motor can do 780hp but has a carb and intake to keep it under the hood at this time. but with the gas prices here on the vineyard being 4.69 for reg and 4.25 for diesel and i am a diesel guy thats where i would go. i have cars to be loud and suck gas. but thats just me