04-18-2018, 10:08 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: New Sharon iowa
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best engine route
Im going to drop a ls in my 65 c10. its gonna be daily driver but haul a camper on the weekends. trips with the camper pry no more then 1 hour away. my dilemma is power and gas mileage. I want to have descent fuel mileage daily but I want enough power and torque to pull this camper. I don't have curb weight but its a 1972 16-18 foot and not on the light side. I been looking at 5.3 and 6.0. I plan on cam and tune for sure to get most out of it. I pulled the camper home with a 2006 gmc 5.3 (all stock) with a 10-15mph head wind and up larger hills it wasn't happy but it did the job fine.
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04-18-2018, 10:46 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alabama
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Re: best engine route
the differences between a 5.3 and a 6.0 are not huge....roughly 295-300/315 to 322-344/360 on hp and tq....gearing is a big thing....these new trucks have higher gears in them than they need for towing...
my 81 has a lq9 with nv4500 and 4.10 gears....I regularly pull a 9500# loaded trailer with it..its almost like it isn't back there....mpg is not great with the trailer (around 10)...unloaded it gets around 16......5.3s can get over 20mpgs mine dynoed at 344/399 on hp/t I think a 5.3 that's setup good would be fine.....the asking price for 6.0 engines is more than twice that of a 5.3 which also makes the 5.3 a better choice... but if you've never pulled a camper before its like pulling a house...they don't like wind and hills....
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Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver Last edited by mongocanfly; 04-18-2018 at 11:06 AM. |
04-18-2018, 11:28 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Bigfork, Montana
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Re: best engine route
If my math is correct, the difference between a 5.3 and a 6.0 is exactly 0.7! (just messing with you Greg)
I agree with Greg, If I had my choice I'd go 6.0 but the 5.3 is a great motor & more cost effective. |
04-18-2018, 12:31 PM | #4 |
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Location: Campbellsville, KY
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Re: best engine route
Your '65 is substantially lighter than the vehicle you towed the camper home with - the same engine, geared and tuned properly, shouldn't have a problem with it.
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Alex V. ------ 1967 C10 Suburban, 350/NP435, Green/Green, PS, PB, HD cooling, charging, shocks, and springs. 1985 GMC C3500 SRW, Sierra Classic, 454/TH400, white/blue. |
04-18-2018, 01:09 PM | #5 | |
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Location: New Sharon iowa
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Re: best engine route
Quote:
10mpg isn't too bad. my 2004 Nissan titan and 2009 chevy 3/4 6.0l both got around 11 unloaded. Im going to back the motor with a 4l80e. I can find a low mile 5.3 for $500 complete but I seen a early 2000 2500hd 6.0/4l80e 4wd for 1000obo. which is cheap because you cant find a 6.0l under $1200 alone around here. |
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04-18-2018, 01:38 PM | #6 |
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Location: Alabama
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Re: best engine route
1000 obo sounds like a steal on the 6.0 combo....buy it..keep the engine..sell the trans/t-case...
even 1200 for the 6.0 isn't bad...they're usually higher than that....the higher the mileage the cheaper they get though. ..
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Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver |
04-18-2018, 01:41 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: New Sharon iowa
Posts: 75
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Re: best engine route
I just emailed the guy. the truck has after market wheels so I can get more out of the truck.
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