Yes, I like the truck a lot, so I plan to keep it and would love to have it drive well while towing and while not towing.
Unless I'm missing something, I feel like a 4l80e could actually be cheaper than a gear vendors, and have a few advantages over the gear vendors (i don't have to flip a switch to shift to overdrive, lock up torque converter, more of a percent overdrive compared to gear vendors unit).
The 454 is newly rebuilt but basically stock. Currently has headers and an Edelbrock carb, but might need to put it all back to stock to pass California emissions.
Hmm, I wonder if California emissions cares what transmission is in it?
Maybe the answer is like you say, 4l80e to start, then maybe diff gears if it needs still lower rpm's for highway driving and can give a little without losing towing power.
Any thoughts on how many rpm's is too many in a stock 454 in good shape for long highway hours?
Thanks,
I appreciate you sharing