Regret your 3/4?

[revrnd]

For those of you pining for the 454s from the 70s here are the specs from the '79 Chev pickup brochure:

 

454 RPO LF8

 

(LD emissions)

SAE Net HP: 205 @ 3600 RPM

SAE Net Torque (LB-FT): 335 @ 2800 RPM

8.0:1 CR

 

(HD emissions)

SAE Net HP: 210 @ 3800 RPM

SAE Net Torque (LB-FT): 340 @ 2800 RPM

7.9:1 CR

 

Two other motors from that year, both HD emissions 8501 GVW+

 

400 RPO LF4

SAE Net HP:180 @ 3600 RPM

SAE Net Torque (LB-FT): 310 @ 2400

8.3:1 CR

 

350 RPO LS9

SAE Net HP:165 @ 3800 RPM

SAE Net Torque (LB-FT): 255 @ 2800 RPM

8.3:1 CR

[4x4Pete]

The only regret I have is not getting a 2500hd when I bought my 1500. All is good now though

[i82much]

For those of you pining for the 454s from the 70s here are the specs from the '79 Chev pickup brochure:

 

454 RPO LF8

 

(LD emissions)

SAE Net HP: 205 @ 3600 RPM

SAE Net Torque (LB-FT): 335 @ 2800 RPM

8.0:1 CR

 

(HD emissions)

SAE Net HP: 210 @ 3800 RPM

SAE Net Torque (LB-FT): 340 @ 2800 RPM

7.9:1 CR

 

Two other motors from that year, both HD emissions 8501 GVW+

 

400 RPO LF4

SAE Net HP:180 @ 3600 RPM

SAE Net Torque (LB-FT): 310 @ 2400

8.3:1 CR

 

350 RPO LS9

SAE Net HP:165 @ 3800 RPM

SAE Net Torque (LB-FT): 255 @ 2800 RPM

8.3:1 CR

Sure, but a 10:1 454, something like an LS5, would hang pretty well with the 6.0. Wouldn't beat it, I don't think, but it would do alright. I have an oval port 396 in a 72 K10 and I'd say it would run about even with my 6.0, but the 6.0 is pulling 2k more weight.

[doverarjim]

I left the 1500 world in 1986 and have not looked back!!! Each one of my 2500's has been better that the one before it. Started with regular cab long bed 350 with 4 speed, the last year you could get a truck that took leaded gas!! (But I could not find any) Next came my LD 99 Ext cab short bed with the 6.0 and auto, it was a great truck and would pull just as good as the 86, it got better unloaded mileage than the 86 but when it was loaded it did not do as well. Then came the mack daddy my 11 Duramax, why did I wait so long to get this truck? It may cost a little more now that it would have years ago but I love it even at 120,000 miles!!!

[Cowpie]

It was the great low end grunt of the 454 in my '98 that I liked. Great for work around the property. But I have no regrets about the 6.0L. Pulled a pair of high volume grain wagons with that 454 and would put it up against the 6.0L. There really was no tongue weight. Just the wagons themselves. And combined, they were well over anything that even the new 6.0L pickups are rated for. Best guess is that the trailers combined came in at around 18K lb. And no trailer brakes on grain wagons! But by their very nature, you don't pull these fast down the road. Things rural folks will do with their pickups that GM never envisioned.

[revrnd]

Things rural folks will do with their pickups that GM never envisioned.

Back in the late 80s I read an internal article about the daily (24 hour) testing schedule the pickups saw at the Milford Proving Grounds. The "rural" driving cycle saw the truck overloaded and driven mostly on gravel roads and "worn" paved highway surfaces.

 

Truck was pretty much moving all day long & only stopped during fueling and whenever maintenance intervals were attained.