should i go with a 454 2wd or a 6.2 4wd

[munger]

i can get the 83 454 2wd for 300 and the 85 diesel for 1000 but ill split it with my dad then pay him ater which one should i get

[flamingbig10]

the 2wd, theres a lot less moving parts to worry about

[munger]

eveN though its nose heavy and only 2wd and DRINKS GAS!!!

[Matt Man]

my personal preference is 4wd i really regret buying a 2wd truck but i still love it to death! but it really depends on what you want to do with your truck? do you want to lower one? or lift one? And also the diesel will get good mpg if you can keep it running right. my .2 cents

[munger]

it will just be a school pickup

[68 TT]

Go with the 2wd for $300. The $700 savings will go a long way towards cleaning up the truck and giving it a tune up.

I got 14 mpg out of my old 81 K20 with a bone stock 454 & T-400 out of a friends 78 farm truck.

Do a trans swap to a 700R4 from an 87 to 92/93 and you can bump your MPG a decent amount. The lower first gear will help it get moving easier too.

If you end up not liking it you can sell the engine & trans for more than you paid for the whole truck. Around here 454 cores sell for $600.

[Russell]

I get just over 20 mpg with my turbo 6.2L with a full size Jimmy lifted 4" on 34s, running 1 ton axles with 4.56 gears and a 5 speed manual transmission.

The diesel may not be as powerful as a 454 is, but the fuel economy and the cool factor of that diesel rattle does well to offset the lower levels of power. Mine is turbocharged, so it will out-run a bone stock carbed 350 from the same era, probably the 454 too actually, but naturally aspirated they are nothing even close to being considered fast.

[ElGracho]

First off, I'd stay away from the 454. Unless that truck is really nice, they just use too much fuel to own and drive on a regular basis anymore... If it were a weekend only hotrod it would be a different story.

If you don't want or need 4x4, hold out for a different 2wd truck. The extra expense of operating and maintaining a 4x4 is only worth it if you really use it.

Russell: Do you have a buildup post of this truck anywhere? CK5?

Joe

Originally Posted by Russell

I get just over 20 mpg with my turbo 6.2L with a full size Jimmy lifted 4" on 34s, running 1 ton axles with 4.56 gears and a 5 speed manual transmission.
...

[Pyrotechnic]

Just depends on your area and what you like to do. Growing up in Austin there was no need for 4x4 so 2WD was the natural choice for me. When I moved to South Texas for school, everyone native to the area had lifted 4x4 because there's a lot of land out there to use it.

Go with what suits your driving style best.

454's are a great engine. In a 2WD you could probably get 12 MPG on average. As said above, 454's hold their value well. You could sell it and swap to a 350 while breaking even on cash or even making some.

[andrewmp6]

Yeah if you don't want or need a 4x4 get the 2wd and swap a overdrive in later when you get the cash.

[ghettoluxury]

The 454 is worth $1000 if it is in good running condition that is more than enough for a small block mated to a 700R4. 4x4's are great but remember that you will be borrowing from your pops.

[thirdstreettito]

I'd go with diesel any day over gas. Its better all around.

[munger]

i found a 81 3/4 ton 4x4 at my uncles farm i can get cheap and it runs good i will have to talk to him i change my mind to much

[Russell]

Originally Posted by ElGracho

Russell: Do you have a buildup post of this truck anywhere? CK5?

Joe

Sorry Joe! I don't have anything of a build thread, or even any pictures posted of it.

I only really put it together within the last two months or so, still working out all the bugs (dually hubs up front, needs more lift out back, shocks are too short etc etc).

I've driven it out to a local trail a few times, and have been very impressed with the mileage the engine offers. Even back when I had it in my old 80 3/4 ton longbox with 4.56 3/4 ton diffs and 32.5" tires it would still get better than 19 mpg at 65 mph (revved a bit high with that combo, the 34s are much better!)

[capev86]

i'd get the 2wd truck and put a diesel in it! 2wd rides far better and has less mechanical headaches to worry about. plus, there is something hot rod like about having rear wheel drive. unless its a porsche or a subaru, 4wd just doesn't seem enticing to me.

[PlowBoy98]

get the 4x4 so when the time comes that you need it its there and you arent kicking yourself in the butt for not having. made the mistake a few times in my short 21 yrs of life

[capev86]

funny.....never had a need for 4 wheel drive up here in maine.....just put a little weight in the bed and have good tires. i drove all last winter in an 87 ram 50 short bed 2wd 5spd. had 6 cement blocks in the back (a wood rig holds them) and i went everywhere in the heavy snow and ice....on all season tires (not snow tires). you just have to have a knack for driving. the extra equipment is a waste for a vehicle that is used primarily on the road and gets in the way for routine work like oil changes. i have seen plenty of 4x4's spin one wheel at each and not get anywhere. mud bogging and rock climbing...thats where 4x4's shine, otherwise they are one step up from a horse drawn carraige in terms of suspension design.

[Stitch]

look at my signature and you'll see where I stand on it...

[capev86]

so you need a helicopter drop to get in and out of your place? or do you use a snowmobile? i have seen the track conversions that bolt onto trucks.....now that is a cool way to get around in bad weather!

[munger]

no i live in town but i do have a snowmobile and we might be moving to a place in the country so i am just looking for one since mine right now is 4x4 and its a pos 86 nissan

[thirdstreettito]

Originally Posted by Fat Hoe

look at my signature and you'll see where I stand on it...

LOL, me too!