Bought this beast today

[65standard]

I bought this ugly beast of a truck today for $2000. Has the 8.1 LS with 91,000 miles, the rust and dent free truck came with it. It's a 2003 Chevy 3500HD. It sat forgotten and neglected at the concrete companies yard since 2008.

I've been hoping to find one of these 496 cubic inch motors for a little while.

[indymachinist]

I don't think it's an LS engine. Let's see a pic of it.

Just looked it up. The 8.1 is not an LS engine though it does seem to share most of the same ideas as LS engines.

I'd stI'll say it sounds like a screamin deal to get that whole truck for 2k. What does it have for a transmission? 4l80e?

[ls1nova71]

2003? I thought they stopped that body style in 2000 on the larger trucks?

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by indymachinist

Just looked it up. The 8.1 is not an LS engine though it does seem to share most of the same ideas as LS engines.

The 8.1 is the "last" of the bigblocks. The base engineering is the oldschool BBC, but it runs a more modern set of heads, intake, etc. Its not an LS engine of any sort, just runs the late model injection and engine control (the 8.1 injectors WILL interchange with the early truck MultecII injectors, or the marine 8.1's).

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

2003? I thought they stopped that body style in 2000 on the larger trucks?

Best I know they stopped that body style between 2000 and 2001. Don't remember if they called them "classic" or not, but you know how chevy likes to sell "last years truck" as a classic model in the beginning phase of the next gen. Either way, I really don't think its a 2003. I guess if it was a special order chassis-cab situation maybe, but I'd raise an eyebrow still.

Even so, for 2k (if its got a 4l80e), its probably still worth more in parts, so not really any way to lose.

[65standard]

Correction, the truck is a 2002. Built 8-02.

[65standard]

The 8.1 is a big block Chevy, but it look like an LSx with the valve cover mounted coils, structural oil pan, and fuel injection system. Basically, all of the changes on the gen III small block are on this gen III big block.

Everything is very dusty as it sat for over 6 years.

Trans is an Allison. I don't know yet if it is a 4 or 5-speed??

[95 S_Trucker]

The trans is not an Alison, it's a 4l80e. 4 speed.

Those 3500hd trucks were made until 2002. The 8.1 was the gas motor offered in 01 and 02. Definitely not an ls engine.

[aknovaman]

Prepare yourself for some wonderful gas mileage.

[65standard]

Engine is L18
Trans is M74

The truck hadn't been started in 6 years. I'm going to check all the fluids and prime it before I try to fire it. It was a perfectly running truck when replaced with a new truck.

[67swb72klb]

Great deal! Should be a good swap

[65standard]

why would you say that the 8.1 is no LS motor of any sort?

Everything about it is the same, from the oil pan, to the main caps, to the symmetrical cylinder heads, fireing order, and fuel injection system. Nothing from a 454 or 502 is the same as the 8.1. Not the oil pan, not the block, not the heads, not even the intake.

Everything is like an LSx except the canted valves. That is the only part like the traditional big block.

[65standard]

Sorry guys, I came off sounding like a snob.

I see everyone's point now. Nothing from an LSx will fit the 8.1. I'm still going to use it in a swap. I'll have to double check the trans. I may have misread the code on the glovebox door.

[LockDoc]

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I have one I got out of a motor home. It has an Allison 6 speed auto behind it. I did some checking on it and it looks like all of the 454 manual transmission stuff will bolt right on it...

LockDoc

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by 65standard

Engine is L18
Trans is M74.

That's the code for a 5 speed Allison 1000, 4L80E=MT1, 4L85E=MN8.

I have never seen a Allison in a GMT400 3500HD cab & chassis before, But I like seeing things I've never seen before....

[qwik]

I had a 2002 8.1/Allison, smoking deal there.