Bench Build: Modern Street Truck

I've been thinking about this one for awhile, as I would love an old C10 as a weekend toy but presently can only have one vehicle (blasphemy, I know). Seeing as a C10 wouldn't be the best for DD duty down here in sunny FL (need a/c, idling in traffic daily in 90+ temps, low mpg, etc.) I have been thinking about doing something similar but with a modern truck.

It would only need to be 2WD (FL is flat, but bed would be good for fishing stuff, triathlon stuff, furniture, lawn stuff, etc.), crew cab would be great (extended cab okay, single cab looks best but less practical).

The "street truck" part would be a simple 2/3 or 3/5 drop, nice but not huge wheels/tires and a boost in HP (think high 12's/low 13's in the 1/4 with modifications). Also, probably auto (would need to be strong) and keep it getting ~20 mpg highway.

So, given those ideas, what would you start with and why? GM's have the 4.8 and 5.3 with the 4L80 trans. I like the 07+ interior WAY more than the previous model. Can the EcoBoost be modified to be that quick? Sounds like the hemi's get horrible mpgs. Tundra maybe?

Or possibly mid-size? Do they still make superchargers for the V-6 in the Taco/4Runner? I know they had the option to add a 5.3 to a Colorado crew cab, but don't think I've ever seen one. Anything I am missing?

I would love to purchase for $15k or under and then build it up over time, curious to see how others would go about it. I'm biased with GM, as I previously put an LQ9/T-56 in an S10, but would prefer to stay away from full-on swaps for something that would be a DD (also had a TBSS but it also got horrible mpg).

F100 with a 2.3L ecoboost swap. It'd be tough to manage under $15k though, and of course would involve a full on swap. Without a full on swap a late 5.3L Silverado 2WD would be the way to go.

GMT800 extended cab, 4.8, 2 snails?
Subaru Baja w/ STi swap?
Tacoma X-Runner?

Those should all do better than 20mpg highway.

The GM's definitely seem to like boost, so that has been my thinking. Did they make an extended cab with the 4.8 and the stout 4L80E trans (as opposed to the 4L60E)? Would a 2WD come with a posi unit?

I like the X-Runner idea, are those more than just a manual and a body kit? Those things command crazy money in the used market.

A stock 2015 6.2 Chevy 1500 Reg cab short bed will run a 14.4 in the 1/4 stock. So a turbo and a good tune + maybe gears will get you in the 12's

For the 4L80E in a 1500, your only option is a 1500HD w/ the 6.0 I think. Z71 2wds got the posi, maybe some other packages did as well.

I think the X-Runner also has suspension goodies- but if you're messing with that anyway then you might be better off starting with a regular Tacoma (which also commands stupid used prices).

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: For the 4L80E in a 1500, your only option is a 1500HD w/ the 6.0 I think. Z71 2wds got the posi, maybe some other packages did as well.

Correct. The 4L80E was primarily only used in the 2500's, which is likely a heavier duty truck than you're looking for since a sport/street truck is your target.

Personally I'd go '01 or newer GM since all have LS derived V8's. Since you like the '07+ body style interior, no harm going there.

2WD with a 5.3. You can always upgrade trans, or add snails. LS power mods are virtually infinite.

For turn key, Chevy did make an "SS" version of the fullsize in the body style prior to what you seem to want. From wiki:

"Launched in early 2003, the Silverado SS is a high-performance pickup truck built by Chevrolet. It is based on the 1500 Silverado with upgrades in drive train and both exterior and interior appearance. It was equipped standard with the 6.0 liter Vortec High-Output V8 rated at 345 hp (257 kW) at 5200 rpm and 380 lb·ft (515 N·m) of torque at 4000 rpm coupled to a 4L65E four speed automatic transmission. ... The SS debuted in 2003 with a standard All Wheel Drive setup with a 4.10 final drive gear ratio and 4 wheel disc brakes. In 2005, in an attempt to increase sales, a 2-wheel drive version became available (the 2WD SS also lost its rear disc brakes in favor of drums, as did the rest of the 1/2-ton GMT800s). 2005 was also the first year the sun roof was available in the SS line up. In 2006, the AWD variant was dropped and the rear wheel drive was the only driveline layout available. In a further effort to reduce cost, you could also get cloth interior and/ or bench seat. The Silverado SS also comes with the Z60 performance suspension and 20 inch aluminum wheels. All the SS trucks in both 2 wheel drive and AWD used the torsion bar style front suspension for better handling. It should also be noted the SS themed trucks were only available from the factory in Black Onyx, Victory Red, and Arrival Blue Metallic from 2003 to 2004. In 2005 Arrival Blue Metallic was dropped from the color choice and replaced with Silver Birch Metallic."

You can find them under $15K: https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/4989871000.html (NMNA)

Find a Joe Gibbs Silverado, the extended cabs are the rarest, most were regular cabs. Passengers are extra weight anyway, so just get the regular cab, then if you've got more than one passenger that just has to ride with you, they can hop in the bed.

Would a GMT400 be a possibility? Not sure if it would tick all the boxes or not, but I'm thinking giving the small block some help and adding a Gear Vendors OD, not sure if there are any cons to that platform.

I've been keeping an eye on the GMT800's, but the recent drop in gas prices seems to have increased their value around here. The SS and Gibbs are interesting "out of the box" options. Why did they stop making the Lightning again???

Is there any GMT400 variant that can get 20mpg highway? That's the main reason I didn't suggest one.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Is there any GMT400 variant that can get 20mpg highway? That's the main reason I didn't suggest one.

Still blows my mind that new trucks are that bad

In reply to tuna55:

Right? And here I am with my '84 Toyota getting nearly 30mpg!

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Is there any GMT400 variant that can get 20mpg highway? That's the main reason I didn't suggest one.

I was thinking something like this: Gear Vendors OD

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Is there any GMT400 variant that can get 20mpg highway? That's the main reason I didn't suggest one.

Absolutely. With such a steep 1st gear in the 4L60E compared to any other 4 speed auto on the face of the planet, you can run much milder gears.

In a lighter 2wd truck, I see no reason you couldn't have a 14s flat, 20usmpg highway gmt400. Run 3.42's, start with a vortec truck, do every single bolt on, make it hook, and you should get there.

http://tbichips.com/?page_id=141

He did it with the crappy 5 speed.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: In reply to tuna55: Right? And here I am with my '84 Toyota getting nearly 30mpg!

I've said this a bunch of times here and it has to be getting old, but my TH350, V8 carburated full sized 84 truck with a cap got upwards (don't remember exactly) of 19 on the highway routinely. Now obviously it had less power and was smaller and such but still. No OD, no fuel injection, no fancy tires, lousy aero, I don't get it.

Anyway, I am sorry for the hijack, I am interested.

In reply to CobraSpdRH:

At that price I'd be looking at a t56 swap instead... or a commuter car for when I need better economy.

the ecoboosts can be tuned to ~400 rwhp/420 rwftlbs of torque w/o changing a part... and the torque is down LOW...

http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/engine/1213tr-ford-f-150-boosting-the-ecoboost/

http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/engine/1213tr-ford-f-150-boosting-the-ecoboost/

good luck finding an ecoboost truck for $15K though.

It's even semi local to me. $14.5K, 126K miles, of supercharged 5.3l extended cab awesomeness.
http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/631163269/overview/

tuna55 wrote:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Is there any GMT400 variant that can get 20mpg highway? That's the main reason I didn't suggest one.

Still blows my mind that new trucks are that bad

It's because they are getting bigger just as fast as they are getting more efficient. Full size is more like extra full size these days, a "mid size" Colorado is about the same size as a 73-87 C/K, and only a few inches smaller than a GMT400.

In reply to bigdaddylee82:

I am glad that is far away.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Is there any GMT400 variant that can get 20mpg highway? That's the main reason I didn't suggest one.

Yes, but it'll be a 4.3 V6 5-spd manual with the 3.08 rear end. It won't exactly be fast but it'll get you mid 20's on the highway (I had 2 of those, an 89 and a 93).

I'm partial to my GMT800 CC 4.8. IMO it needs 3.42 gears with an LSD (over my 3.23 open), a 2/4 drop, rear sway bar and done. The 17" denali wheels hold a lot of tire (I was running 265/65's)and look clean. The cloth interior trucks held up MUCH better than the leather clad trucks. IT's a dated design, but you get 13" x 1.25" front rotors, 13" x 3" rear drums that adjust pretty well for a drum set up, good suspension up front, rack and pinion and LSx power.

Something like this:

I used to know a guy with a lwb chevy 2wd work truck (actual work truck) that had the 6.0 and he threw on an sts kit when they first came out, was 12s all day with lumber and plumbing E36 M3 in the bed yet still got a sqeak over 20mpg highway. And years ago there was a 1500 z71 on stock firestones that ran a 10 et with a huge snail...Chevy truck and turbo all the way

Had an extended cab, long bed 89 gmc1500 work truck package. Ac would freeze you out. Comfortable. 21 mpg consistently with my driving habits (rural area, some city, some interstate, lots of highway). Wife and 3 adults across the back seat. Dropped 3/5 and tint/two tone. Added suburban sway bars and a big stereo. Stopped good handled ok for a berkeleying land yacht.

It was a 4.3 5 speed 3.08 truck with a 3 inch single exhaust, ultimate tbi mods, electric fan. Was not fast. But plenty for everything I ever needed it to do.

The drivabeater and drivabeater 2.0 aee also a modern sport trucks. but pprobably not what you are looking for.

In reply to Dusterbd13:

Same setup I had on the last one. My 89 was a reg cab shortbed, 2/4 with hotchkis springs, Dynomax 3" single exhaust, all the TBI mods except the elec fans. At 70mph it would average 25mpg. at 80 it would average 23. The 1993 was an ext cab, same eng/trans/rearend. Stock height, all the tbi mods minus elec fans, 2.25" duals split off the Y with dual cats and dual glasspacks. Loud as hell. 24mpg at 70mph all day long.

The 89 handled fantastic for a 4500lb truck. I ran 255/70/15's on stock aluminum wheels, PFC pads, new sway bar bushings and all new balljoints/bushings up front and rear (stock stuff had 215k miles on them). Looked like hell but damn did it handle, stop and cruise.

This was it from when I sold it:

I had upgraded to some newer tahoe seats and a console, added a subwoofer and cd-changer to the stock stereo and replaced the 4x6's with pioneers.