1970 c20 engine options

[atkryder]

My father in law recently gave me a 1970 c20 arizona truck. The plan is to fix it up for a tow rig. I will be mostly pulling a 18ft bumper hitch trailer with my rock crawler on it but would like to have the option of a gooseneck to maybe haul a tractor. The question is what motor. It has to be fuel injected and auto tranny.The options i have looked at are:

FI454(almost as much as 6.0)
FI350( underpowered?)
5.3 (maybe underpowered?)
6.0 (expensive but maybe ideal)

What do you guys think?

Seth

[Chevy-Art]

I would do a 5.3 w/ a 4l80e, that would be a good setup. I don't think it will be too underpowered. Maybe I am wrong. A 6.0 would be nice but everyone wants one, that makes them expensive.

[atkryder]

The truck will also will be driven to work a couple times a week. I like the 5.3 idea but just worried that when i go to tow the power will be insufficient.


Seth

[eagleuh1]

5.3 has plenty of power in my opinion. I tow a 5500 lb travel trailer with mine in an S10 Blazer. Will accelerate pulling very well. 4l60e tranny with extra cooler, single 3 inch Flowmaster 50 series using 98 fbody manifolds. This is a 2005 5.3. I have 3.42 gears and tow in overdrive all the time. Its being pulled now to be put in my 68 C20 so I can take my motocycle with me too. I recommend it with no questions. Pricing is better on them as well, and you can get them tuned to put out even more power. Also,I will be going with modified truck exhaust manifolds or Doug Thorley tri-y headers and would hope for a little more power. Good luck with whatever you choose. also good gas milage from 5.3.