2017 Gas 2500 Changes

GMHD1980 · December 22, 2015

Bringing back the 8.1 would be an instant buy for me. As far as GM going to aluminum bodies; I thought that was only in the lighter trucks (1500 and colorado)? And do we know if that is for sure what will happen.

Cowpie · December 23, 2015

I thought I had read somewhere that Cummins was using CGI blocks for the 5.0. I know Navistar and Paccar (Kenworth & Peterbuilt) are building their engines now with CGI blocks. It's time has come. The old iron and aluminum blocks are just that... old school. CGI is a much better method of making strong, light blocks.

I don't have any problem with aluminum bodies. More resistant to corrosion and lighter. It works for semi truck (except fiberglass hoods) to use prodigious amounts of aluminum throughout the truck. One can even spec full aluminum frames and drive axles to go along with stock aluminum bodies. Trailers that are totally made of aluminum throughout. Actually, in some respects, it has been lame of pickup OEM's to wait so long in adopting more aluminum bodies. You take a commercial semi truck that spends 10 years running around in the rust belt all year round, racking up an average 120,000 miles a year doing so, and it usually looks better than the typical pickup that spends 10 years in the rust belt only racking up 15-20,000 miles a year. There are exceptions. Just like with personal vehicles, there are commercial users that don't wash or take care of their trucks.

mike221 · December 24, 2015

Bringing back the 8.1 would be an instant buy for me. As far as GM going to aluminum bodies; I thought that was only in the lighter trucks (1500 and colorado)? And do we know if that is for sure what will happen.

Because who needs decent fuel economy and a quiet engine when you can have POWAAA.

Last I heard, the aluminum body thing is still a rumor. With how much GM has been making fun of Ford for their aluminum bodies, I don't see it happening. Not that they really need to make the switch. Ford did it to improve fuel economy, and the steel-body GM 1500 V8s are still getting better fuel economy than the equivalent aluminum-body F150s.

Sent from my Vortec-powered Droid Turbo using Tapatalk

StinkyCheese · December 24, 2015

Me, I'll take the power. If I wanted mpg I'd get a car or a half ton not a 2500/3500.

Because who needs decent fuel economy and a quiet engine when you can have POWAAA.
Last I heard, the aluminum body thing is still a rumor. With how much GM has been making fun of Ford for their aluminum bodies, I don't see it happening. Not that they really need to make the switch. Ford did it to improve fuel economy, and the steel-body GM 1500 V8s are still getting better fuel economy than the equivalent aluminum-body F150s.

Sent from my Vortec-powered Droid Turbo using Tapatalk

robvas · December 24, 2015

I thought I had read somewhere that Cummins was using CGI blocks for the 5.0. I know Navistar and Paccar (Kenworth & Peterbuilt) are building their engines now with CGI blocks. It's time has come. The old iron and aluminum blocks are just that... old school. CGI is a much better method of making strong, light blocks.

Probably because of cost. Takes longer to machine those blocks, too.

The EcoBoost V6 uses a 2-piece engine block with CGI on the top.

The aren't any iron block Gen V engines yet...

GMHD1980 · December 24, 2015

Maybe I'm just old school but I view a turbo on a gas motor just one more thing to have problems with. GM makes great V8 engines, I hope they dont start that turbochaging V6 crap that ford did.

SMiller · December 24, 2015

Maybe I'm just old school but I view a turbo on a gas motor just one more thing to have problems with. GM makes great V8 engines, I hope they dont start that turbochaging V6 crap that ford did.

GM already has a line of turbo gas motors, they just haven't made it over to the 1/2tons yet.

Aluminum body's are coming, the proof is out there, I am not going to waste my time showing links.

GMHD1980 · December 24, 2015

How can you argue the fact that forced induction motor have less problems than naturally aspirated ones, especially pushrod V8s. If GM goes to aluminum bodies it will most likely only be 1500's, it is not a smart move to make a vehicle that used to haul serious weight and make it from aluminum. It will be d and twist.

SMiller · December 25, 2015

How can you argue the fact that forced induction motor have less problems than naturally aspirated ones, especially pushrod V8s. If GM goes to aluminum bodies it will most likely only be 1500's, it is not a smart move to make a vehicle that used to haul serious weight and make it from aluminum. It will be d and twist.

You can't be serious? Every semi and big truck on the road is aluminum...

Seems how the sheetmetal is the same between the half ton and HD trucks I assure you they will be aluminum as well.

Ford Super Duty's will be aluminum next year as well.

As far as turbos go I will take a reliable naturally aspirated gas motor over a turbo as I don't like 2000* egt's and the issues that go with it.

GMHD1980 · December 25, 2015

Okay, your right about semi's I didn't even think of that. Do you think GM would just make aluminum bodies or would the frame be aluminum as well?

Hockeylover86 · December 25, 2015

How can you argue the fact that forced induction motor have less problems than naturally aspirated ones, especially pushrod V8s. If GM goes to aluminum bodies it will most likely only be 1500's, it is not a smart move to make a vehicle that used to haul serious weight and make it from aluminum. It will be d and twist.

So you tell me a 5.9 Cummins is less reliable than a GM gas 6.0?

Its ALL in the engineering and design...

SMiller · December 25, 2015

Okay, your right about semi's I didn't even think of that. Do you think GM would just make aluminum bodies or would the frame be aluminum as well?

The frames will never be aluminum.

SMiller · December 25, 2015

So you tell me a 5.9 Cummins is less reliable than a GM gas 6.0?

Its ALL in the engineering and design...

Sticking with gas motors I will put a 6.0 up against a 3.5 Ecoboost any day, I assure you the 6.0 can be abused, lugged, pulled heavy, and have horrible maintenance and still be going like its nothing at 300,000 miles, I do not believe the same to be true for a Ecoboost.

GMHD1980 · December 25, 2015

So you tell me a 5.9 Cummins is less reliable than a GM gas 6.0?

Its ALL in the engineering and design...

It's hard to compare, unless you are pulling a ton of weight you really don't need a diesel in a pickup. Friend of mine had a 2014 duramax that he used to haul large trailers of logs and firewood. He had several problems with the diesel motor and decided to trade it in for a brand new 6.0 gas. While it does not haul as fast as the diesel it gets the job done fine. The 6.0 vortec V8 is about the best gas 8 cylinder truck motor out there right now. The design is simple and cost effective; GM also had refined thr hell out of that motor in 15 years. So is it more reliable than a 5.9 cummins, in some cases it may be and others not.

Cowpie · December 25, 2015

The frames will never be aluminum.

I agree. The frames will remain steel. While a heavy commercial truck, one can option a aluminum frame, not many do so, except on trailers where it is the norm to do so. For the light truck market, that won't likely happen.