Keep it LS or BBC in truck for towing
10-07-2019, 08:11 PM
#1
Keep it LS or BBC in truck for towing Possible not the best forum, but it is an LS I would build if not a BBC for the truck.
Cost aside (BBC parts are expensive too), Imaging you are pulling 7k-10k up western mountains in your truck. Its 97 degrees, and you have been going up the side of the hill for 10 minutes and so you don't get run over, you are at 4k rpm in 2nd gear. That may be 3k if it was a BBC.
Do you want the BBC in the truck at this point or do you want an LS with turbos on it making the torque?
Cost aside (BBC parts are expensive too), Imaging you are pulling 7k-10k up western mountains in your truck. Its 97 degrees, and you have been going up the side of the hill for 10 minutes and so you don't get run over, you are at 4k rpm in 2nd gear. That may be 3k if it was a BBC.
Do you want the BBC in the truck at this point or do you want an LS with turbos on it making the torque?
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10-07-2019, 08:33 PM
#4
ModSquad
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As much as an LS guy that I am, I second this. Get a Dirtymax. That’s a bunch of weight.
I have a good friend here in Ga who went elk hunting out west many years ago (and still does) quite often. He had a early 80’s Chevy 4wd one ton dually with a 454 and a 3 speed trans with granny gear. He told the story a million times on how the truck had to be in granny low, 4 low on the transfer case, and hold it wide open to climb some mountain in Colorado. This is on the interstate mind you. The truck was obviously loaded with enough crap to live a couple weeks on and he was pulling a trailer loaded as well. Same trip today, same load today, but with a 2014 4wd duramax dually, he can climb the same mountain going 60 mph.
For pulling weight, you can’t beat a diesel.
I have a good friend here in Ga who went elk hunting out west many years ago (and still does) quite often. He had a early 80’s Chevy 4wd one ton dually with a 454 and a 3 speed trans with granny gear. He told the story a million times on how the truck had to be in granny low, 4 low on the transfer case, and hold it wide open to climb some mountain in Colorado. This is on the interstate mind you. The truck was obviously loaded with enough crap to live a couple weeks on and he was pulling a trailer loaded as well. Same trip today, same load today, but with a 2014 4wd duramax dually, he can climb the same mountain going 60 mph.
For pulling weight, you can’t beat a diesel.
10-07-2019, 10:24 PM
#5
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I run an LS in my 86 GMC 1 ton dually...as much as I love this combo for what I do. I agree with Che70velle, in your situation, I would definitely go with a Duramax. I own a 2011 2500 D-Max. It's a FREAKIN' beast.
10-07-2019, 10:42 PM
#6
I think your friend was stretching the truth a bit there. I had a 1986 dually big block and only used the low side on the trans to pull stumps and bushes out of the ground, Top speed was literally 20mph and that's revving the **** out of it. In 1st gear on the low side you could side step the clutch at idle and it would barely move, It just crept away. I can't say how well it would pull in the mountains but the guy I bought from hauled heavy equipment with it all over the state and was happy with it, It got 10mpg loaded or unloaded in town or on the freeway. I used to drive a 2005 Duramax with a bullydog kit, It got damn near 20mpg loaded and would out pull that old dually anytime.
10-07-2019, 11:55 PM
#7
Thanks guys. This is for a swap into 2007 2500 suburban. They don’t make them in 2500 any more. Love these trucks. I have thought about putting diesel in. Quite a big job. Larger than shoving a well build BBC in or even the turbo LS.
So with all the turbo experience, we are stating that its just too much heat to run hard. I suppose I was exaggerating a bit. But I do have video of the dash when I’m crawling up the grapevine (I tow from SoCal to NorCal to get to tracks like laguna and Simi Valley, etc) where I am with the semi tractors just trying to keep it from... melting something. Trans or engine. And that is the N/A lq4 that came stock.
I was getting parts for the BBC (gen 7) from dart but took a pause.
So with all the turbo experience, we are stating that its just too much heat to run hard. I suppose I was exaggerating a bit. But I do have video of the dash when I’m crawling up the grapevine (I tow from SoCal to NorCal to get to tracks like laguna and Simi Valley, etc) where I am with the semi tractors just trying to keep it from... melting something. Trans or engine. And that is the N/A lq4 that came stock.
I was getting parts for the BBC (gen 7) from dart but took a pause.
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10-08-2019, 06:32 AM
#8
ModSquad
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I think your friend was stretching the truth a bit there. I had a 1986 dually big block and only used the low side on the trans to pull stumps and bushes out of the ground, Top speed was literally 20mph and that's revving the **** out of it. In 1st gear on the low side you could side step the clutch at idle and it would barely move, It just crept away. I can't say how well it would pull in the mountains but the guy I bought from hauled heavy equipment with it all over the state and was happy with it, It got 10mpg loaded or unloaded in town or on the freeway. I used to drive a 2005 Duramax with a bullydog kit, It got damn near 20mpg loaded and would out pull that old dually anytime.
10-08-2019, 07:23 AM
#9
TECH Veteran
I like diesels as well but those repair bills are unreal.
10-08-2019, 09:09 AM
#11
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Man, I'd almost be thinking 502 BBC, but I agree if you can work in a Dmax, that's your best bet. I used to always want to diesel suburban, but people that have them won't sell them. Wonder why...?
10-08-2019, 09:39 AM
#12
Possible not the best forum, but it is an LS I would build if not a BBC for the truck.
Cost aside (BBC parts are expensive too), Imaging you are pulling 7k-10k up western mountains in your truck. Its 97 degrees, and you have been going up the side of the hill for 10 minutes and so you don't get run over, you are at 4k rpm in 2nd gear. That may be 3k if it was a BBC.
Do you want the BBC in the truck at this point or do you want an LS with turbos on it making the torque?
Cost aside (BBC parts are expensive too), Imaging you are pulling 7k-10k up western mountains in your truck. Its 97 degrees, and you have been going up the side of the hill for 10 minutes and so you don't get run over, you are at 4k rpm in 2nd gear. That may be 3k if it was a BBC.
Do you want the BBC in the truck at this point or do you want an LS with turbos on it making the torque?
Another cam option is the Cam Motion Torquer cam.....which may shine well in an unloaded truck, but I don't know how it'll do towing 7K loads up mountains.
Final option would be to have Cam Motion grind you a custom cam......
You might also want to consider gears in the 4.10 range if you're not already there.
KW
Last edited by KW Baraka; 10-08-2019 at 09:52 AM.
10-08-2019, 09:58 AM
#13
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I would either buy a diesel truck.....OR.....I'd drop in a 440+ LS with LS3 heads and a Cam Motion stage 2 truck cam......keeping static compression in the 10:1 range. This is a small cam, but it's a very solid 'purpose built' low RPM shaft.
Another cam option is the Cam Motion Torquer cam.....which may shine well in an unloaded truck, but I don't know how it'll do towing 7K loads up mountains.
Final option would be to have Cam Motion grind you a custom cam......
You might also want to consider gears in the 4.10 range if you're not already there.
KW
Another cam option is the Cam Motion Torquer cam.....which may shine well in an unloaded truck, but I don't know how it'll do towing 7K loads up mountains.
Final option would be to have Cam Motion grind you a custom cam......
You might also want to consider gears in the 4.10 range if you're not already there.
KW
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KW Baraka (10-10-2019)
10-08-2019, 09:58 AM
#14
Big block all day long all day strong. Ls motors are **** for towing. I load up my 2000lb camper and way too much other shut to go camping and my 5.3 is hurting. I have 4.88s btw. Pushing close to 9k pounds...truck, trailer, people, dog, and the aforementioned waaaay too much other ****. And then on hills i play the game called "give it as much throttle as you can in third without making it downshift into second on hills on the highway." Fun game and I'm pretty good at it, but I still lose and the truck pops into second sometimes. Resulting in instant 4,700 rpm and a look from my wife that says are you fng retarded. She won't be my wife anymore in a month or so.
10-08-2019, 10:01 AM
#15
Oh....but yeah. Have 2 family members that tow giant trailers with duramax. Made the switch from BBC dome years back and have nothing but amazing things to say about diesel. I hate diesels but spose there is a reason everyone that owns one loves pulling with them.
10-08-2019, 10:16 AM
#16
TECH Veteran
Harr to beat the price delivery from a big block. A 496ci motor with oval port heads can easily make 600 ftlb at 3300 RPM or so.
10-08-2019, 04:32 PM
#17
1999 K2500 4WD 4.10 gears 5 speed manual originally Vortec 454. 5 years ago went to a 540 using a 502 block Edelbrock oval port heads hyd roller 212/220 cam with 1.8 rockers. Using factory intake and injection, shortly headers it pulls great. I run with others that have diesels and I can keep up but mine does work harder in the mountains. No issues so far
10-08-2019, 04:54 PM
#18
TECH Veteran
1999 K2500 4WD 4.10 gears 5 speed manual originally Vortec 454. 5 years ago went to a 540 using a 502 block Edelbrock oval port heads hyd roller 212/220 cam with 1.8 rockers. Using factory intake and injection, shortly headers it pulls great. I run with others that have diesels and I can keep up but mine does work harder in the mountains. No issues so far
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Tuskyz28 (10-08-2019)
