So my recent adventure on ice got me thinking about what I really need my truck for. Honestly it sucks around town. I put in $20 this morning and just normal errands and I ended up putting in another $20 this afternoon. The Miata is much better for around town. So let's say I still need a truck type vehicle for stuff I need to do. Honestly the only things I need it for are towing and twice a year lumber pickups at Home Depot. Add road trips to that. I'm getting too old to drive 6 hours listening to a BP at 4000 rpm.
So basically I need a highway vehicle that can do truck things and get decent gas mileage.
Here's what I like about my last two trucks. They were standard cab short beds so I had a great turning radius with a trailer. What I don't like is I couldn't fit more than three people in. I once slept at a rest area in the front seat. Not good at my age. Knowing that GM is really like legos over decades how would you build a perfect truck thing.
I like GMT400 and GMT800. Could I start with a shell and mix and match what I want? Say a GMT400 Suburban. Live the Curtis lifestyle and 6.5TD it. 4L80E trans. Wheelbase is longer than I like but seems like a good tow vehicle. I don't like GMT400 Tahoes for looks but how about a GMT800 Tahoe with the same engine and trans swapped in. Hmmm that sounds nice.
Thoughts?
In reply to John Welsh :
11.5 is way above what I want to spend but hell if it gets people out of my way maybe it's worth it. I just spend way to long looking at BBC GMT400 and 800s because damn the gas mileage.
I'm sorry to hear you have to be shopping in this market! I didn't realize you had an ice accident.
How about pics of the damage?
In reply to John Welsh :
Honestly I'll probably do a buy back and maybe look for a deal afterwards. Here's the pictures. I drove it about 3k miles afterwards so not like it's GRM totaled.
Yeah, I see more than $8k damage there at insurance rates.
Lucky for you, other than white, that seems to have been the most popular GMT color of that era. Should be easy to find proper color fender if you'd like to replace that. Replacement bumper could be that color or black. I wouldn't fix any of the middle dent. Maybe a replacement tail lamp if things aren't so bent that a new/used one would fit.
Drive it longer and even in a few years, still wearing the damage, it will be worth a good price.
What kind of towing capacity do you need/want for when you tow?
Do you have a specific budget in mind?
Are the gmt 400's the late 90's years? If so and you have time I have seen some with minimal damage go pretty cheap on IAAI.
In reply to John Welsh :
Pretty much my thoughts but I'm wanting this opportunity to get a tow vehicle that suits my needs better. There's a 8.1 GMT800 Suburban about a block from me. I might go see if I can buy it.
I guess it depends on how heavy you want to tow. GMT400 half tons are not awesome over 5k lbs. That is my experience YMMV. It would be better if it had more engine. I haven't towed with a 96 and later GMT400 which may do much better power wise. It is super easy to work on and cheap to keep going. I just bought a GMT900 chassis truck and I am afraid it is neither easy to work on or cheap but we will see. If you are towing mostly cars on open trailers a GMT400 suburban would do great. Maybe with vortec heads and a Holly sniper or something. I may be heading there myself soon.
In reply to Somebeach (Forum Supporter) :
I don't need much. I have a 2k trailer and most of my towing is a sub 3k car. I'd jump on the right vehicle sub 8k I think. GMT400 is 88 to 99 and GMT800 is 99 to 06.
$4 gas might be a good time to get a "deal" on a big block.
If you don't need to tow over 6K, I wonder what the old Hybrid Silverados are going for. IIRC, they got 20 MPG around town.
You can definitely lego together whatever you want. GMs are fun like that. For a while I was looking for a GMT800 with a wrecked/rusted bed and I was going to scrap the bed and build a flatbed for it.
Anything in the LS family (and to some extent the 8.1L family) is as close to plug and play as you can get. Find a truck with a 4.8L, you can drop in a 6.0L, plug it in, and reflash the ECM for the proper fueling map. Same basic thing for the old-school SBC/BBC if you want to go that old. Mixing and matching between the two isn't hard either. You can drop an LS in where an older SBC or BBC was. There are some adaptation parts you'll need; flexplate and/or TC, motor mounts, and of course you'll have to retrofit the EFI if you start with something old. Two of the bellhousing bolts don't line up, but 4 is enough.
I would tell you to consider a Duramax because it will save you much dollarinos. Right now the national average for gas is 4.24 and diesel is 5.13. Seeing as how most LS options will net you 16 mpg empty and 12 towing, and a Dmax will net you 20 empty and 16 towing, diesel would have to cost $5.31 before you're no longer saving money. And to the rest of you getting ready to whine about the million-dollar oil changes, don't. You might spend $100/yr in oil instead of $60. Given the resale value, longevity, and proven track record of the Dmax, you kinda can't go wrong. Big caveat though... unless you have bigger capital up front to buy a decent one, you're looking at a clapped-out pile that could be a nightmare. That right there is the ONLY reason I'm driving a gas truck right now.
Diesel swaps (like a 6.5TD in a GMT400) sound so attractive, but they aren't really cost-effective. Even junkyard diesel assemblies seem to go for big bucks. I've started shopping for a Duramax for the 66 Bonneville and they're hard to find for under $3000. I've started scouring insurance auctions for rollover and T-boned trucks to see if I could get one cheaper.
But nearly any combo you want is out there already.
4.3L V6 + 4L60E (nearly everything)
4.3L V6 + 4L80E (2500 work vans)
4.8L LS + 4L60E (nearly everything)
5.3L LS + 4L60E (half ton trucks and vans)
6.0L LS + 4L60E (boutique half tons)
6.0L LS + 4L80E (some Escalades, 3/4 and 1-ton trucks)
8.1L BB + 4L80E (cutaway Express vans)
8.1L BB + Allison (nearly all 8.1L trucks)
Dmax + 4L80E (Express vans)
Dmax + Allison (all Dmax trucks)
Big question is how much do you realistically need to tow?
I think there are some unicorn type 1/2 tons out there with the Silverado SS, the Vortec Max trucks, and there was a 1500HD crew cab short bed model, as well. I can't remember what each truck had for a transmission, but I'm guessing at least some of them had the beefier transmission.
Also looks at the Escalade and Denali models, as they more commonly had the 6.0. Also there was a unicorn 2500 Avalanche.
Mr_Asa
PowerDork
3/25/22 8:10 p.m.
I spent a decent amount of time on GovDeals.com today. Saw several things on there that might catch your eye?
If you are looking primarily at towing I'd worry more about finding something with a 4L80e than a big engine. The 5 speed Alison behind the 8.1 in the HD trucks if very good also.
GMT800 HD truck is the sweet spot. You can get the 6.0 or 8.1, 4L80e or Alison, push button or manual transfer case.
+03 GM vans could be had with the 4L80e and pretty much any of LS engines.
dj06482 (Forum Supporter) said:
Also looks at the Escalade and Denali models, as they more commonly had the 6.0.
The only week point on these trucks is the 4L65e trans. I'm just waiting for my 218k 65e to turn into a bucket of neutrals.
I would really be looking at a four door, 8100 3/4 or 1 ton 2wd with a bad bed. Do a flatbed with underbody tool boxes and stake pockets.
For what you do with a truck, its perfect. Id also lower it a little for aero and loading, and add a good stereo for road trips.
I know its not as cool as a gmt40 suburban big block or the k30, but it would be bulletproof and essentially futureproof for you.
In reply to Stampie :
I have been watching the 01-06 Escalade's and Denali's ( looking for a AWD 6.0 swap. ) they have been going for 1,500 up to maybe 2,500 (with fees) some higher but a lot in that range on the salvage site. One I have been watching just needs a bumper. But they have relisted it about 3 times Bc it must not meet the insurance company's reserve.
It seems like gut feeling wise the denali's are the cheapest that I have been watching and then the Escalade's and then the 1500 pickups seem to be more than the Escalade's.
Somebeach (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to Stampie :
I have been watching the 01-06 Escalade's and Denali's ( looking for a AWD 6.0 swap. ) they have been going for 1,500 up to maybe 2,500 (with fees) some higher but a lot in that range on the salvage site. One I have been watching just needs a bumper. But they have relisted it about 3 times Bc it must not meet the insurance company's reserve.
It seems like gut feeling wise the denali's are the cheapest that I have been watching and then the Escalade's and then the 1500 pickups seem to be more than the Escalade's.
I'd love one of them if i can get a 4L80E or better trans. The other factor is that means doing a rebuild title on my current truck then another on the new vehicle. But I'm ok with that if it gets me what I want.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
Do you know if the Allison's bolt up to the same transfercases as the 4l80 or the 4l60 or are they there own bolt pattern and shaft splined?
In reply to Stampie :
I don't think any of the Escalade's or denali's came with the 4l80's. I will have to watch a few of the 2500 type truck and see what they are going for.
In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :
Does the 8.1 offer a much higher tow capacity vs the 6.0 in a 2500 truck? I just wonder if the mpg penalty is worth the extra displacement.
Do you require an auto trans? The 6.5 turbodiesel backed by a NV4500 is a really sweet combo. Great fuel economy empty and the stick makes the modest power of the 6.5 feel sportier.
In reply to newrider3 :
No and that is an option also. Is that trans reliable?
