Lets Debate a Little.... LSX vs Duramax for swap....

[71blksuper4x4]

Originally Posted by 062500hd

Where did you have emblem done?

There was a guy making emblems on Facebook.

[Madkidd007]

And my turn, 1st the intercooler I’m running is from a 2012 duramax van, if mine fits with a 70 grille the 72 should be even easier. The frame on our 157” chassis are 8” tall, sure is easy to put a lot of drivetrain under a truck with a tall frame and high hump. So that plan a duramax wouldn’t be too bad. On the flip side I just thought about when I mentioned rear shackle flips yesterday, what’s the true purpose, fun, pulling, both? If fun I say LS(with the shackle flip), pulling then duramax with your current suspension plans. Side note if diesel turned up combined with those long leaf springs I wouldn’t want a tall block due to axle wrap. Pulling with my 6.0 works just fine in my 5000 lb truck, pulling with my cummins in the 5500 lb truck works just as well but with less throttle. Just boils down to hotrod vs working truck. Lastly keep in mind my truck when it was a k20 with the cummins weighed only 5538 lbs so even a crew isn’t going to be anywhere near as heavy as a late model.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Slowguy

How common are the 8.1’s? In addition to my duramax (that I don’t think it would make sense to rip apart as a donor), I do actually have a 99 lift truck that has an 8.1 in it as well as a 99 3500 van with (I think it has) a 5.7. Other than the obvious popularity of the ls or duramax swap I don’t know how common or desireable it would be to swap in one of these other engines/trans

Nope if it’s a 99, that would be a vortec 7.4(454 as most people know it). There was No 8.1 until 2001. As for mike c on the 8.1/4l80, the only ones that got that combo are the 2500 suburbans and 2500 avalanches. And it’s actually a 4l85. All 2500/3500 trucks with the 8.1 got the Allison.

Although I love the LS platform, escpecially that L99 in my Camaro, I used to have an l5p duramax and for a stock truck that’s the best performing engine I’ve ever driven. All of the duramxes have been very very good engines in my experience. I’ve driven the 5.9 and 6.7 Cummins and and all the powerchokes, but there’s just something magical about the Duramax. I like the Cummins as well but it’s still a step below the Duramax. If your gonna spend the time and money to build the crew do it right with that lb7.

[Slowguy]

I drive a Ford 6.7 for work every day. It is a really powerful powerplant, especially with a tune. Unbelievable really. 10000 lb truck and it’ll outrun many cars. I completely agree with you on the lb7 though. That’s what my duramax is and there is something I just love about it. I think it’s one of my favorite trucks of all time. It’s just too bad the body can’t handle the salt. If I ever get a chance to get an lb7 donor for a really good price I’ll grab it up for sure. If I were doing a 4wd swap that would actually be my choice even though I previously said how it would be much less economical than an ls.

I do actually have a 7.3 ford sitting out back as well. That is one of the strongest engines I’ve ever seen. It has 500k on it and the engine purrs like the day it was new. The body rotted around the engine. If I ever get motivated for another project that can use that engine I’ll tear it all down and freshen it up. Just need a reason to.

[burnin oil]

Originally Posted by Madkidd007

Side note if diesel turned up combined with those long leaf springs I wouldn’t want a tall block due to axle wrap. Pulling with my 6.0 works just fine in my 5000 lb truck, pulling with my cummins in the 5500 lb truck works just as well but with less throttle. Just boils down to hotrod vs working truck. Lastly keep in mind my truck when it was a k20 with the cummins weighed only 5538 lbs so even a crew isn’t going to be anywhere near as heavy as a late model.

4wd drive Dodges have had leaves and lift blocks for years. Mine lived at 750 RWHP for years and are still in factory shape. Never even a wheel hop issue although traction was not the best at full throttle. Tires just lifted and lightly spun while taking off like a rocket. Both my 12v and the previous 04.5 saw duty with 18k pound 5th wheel loads. That said my 72 K20 with a 400sb, NV4500, and 4.10s has mutilated replacement springs that don't have lift blocks. They are actually "W" shaped!

[Madkidd007]

Originally Posted by burnin oil

4wd drive Dodges have had leaves and lift blocks for years. Mine lived at 750 RWHP for years and are still in factory shape. Never even a wheel hop issue although traction was not the best at full throttle. Tires just lifted and lightly spun while taking off like a rocket. Both my 12v and the previous 04.5 saw duty with 18k pound 5th wheel loads. That said my 72 K20 with a 400sb, NV4500, and 4.10s has mutilated replacement springs that don't have lift blocks. They are actually "W" shaped!

Promise I’m not trying to start a pissing contest, just thinking out loud so all possibilities are looked at. I worked at Chrysler for over six years and I know exactly what is under the cummins trucks. In this case he is going with a 63” rear spring and with a 4” block, not a 1” or 2”.

[berudd]

Sounds like the engines in question also serve different use cases. The Duramax obviously would be excellent with heavy loads. So, if it will be used like a truck it is a great option. But, is the rest of the truck capable towing of upwards of 15k lbs? If not, then that might just be wasted capability. And the LS motor a great engines, but probably don’t have low end grunt you may want in a truck. Of course, if this is just a toy that is all irrelevant. I like it like the Vortex 8100 (or 7400) option someone else mentioned. The donor would be be cheap to purchase and rebuild if needed. I’d probably pull all the factor EFI off of it and go with something like a Holley EFI Sniper and computer controlled distributor. You’d have the advantages of EFI but maintain a more period correct look.