My new (used) HD

Rippem · May 22, 2003

Drove my new truck home 175 miles last Sat. It's an '02 GMC 496/alli/3.73. 10K miles..very pampered, the guy about cried as I drove away it was his baby, but he wants to stick build a big house. The truck was completely detailed when I picked it up. The truck is absolutely perfect..not a flaw on it, stored last winter , and had Interglass (GM) painted boards, quality bedliner, and some other light accessories on it. Ran warranty check..never been in for anything. I came very close to ordering this truck in an '03 last month before I found this one. Said and done I saved 6K buying this mint '02. Within 48 hrs. I tinted the glass 5%, installed Extang Black Max tonneau, and put on 265 D Dueler Revos (48lbs front, 44lbs rear.... to soften the ride ). All I can say is I love it! I had no exposure to the 496/Alli, but was confident I would prefer it over the 6.0 trucks that I had driven. You bet I did the right thing! This thing rocks out on the road unloaded! I rodded it probably more that day than it had ever been...flyin' 75-80mph...hammerdown full throttle passes in the hot lane, passing 75 mph traffic like they were tied to a post (ran into the speed limiter at least a half a dozen times! ) Still got 13.2 MPG on this trip!! I don't drive like this all the time, and I did use the cruise some that day, but I wanted to see what she was made of, and the thruway is the place. More mods to come (maybe superchips and flowmaster stock replacement muff for some rumble. You fellas have any other suggestions? The Alli spin on has not been done yet, so I picked up 4 of those at Allison dealer 4 miles from my house ($8.75 apiece) also considering synthetic engine oil ect. I will be pulling my 8000lb. powerboat for the first time next week. It has the CSK...but I don't care...THIS THING ROCKS !!

BDBWTE · May 22, 2003

You sound pretty exited about getting your truck man. Anyways congrats on buy a HD and more importantly a Chevy. If I have any knowledge whatsoever to pass on from spending thousands and thousand of dollars for relatively no gains. I would put a flowmaster and a rhino liner and be done. All those other mods don't get you a resale value and they don't make the night/day difference they advertise. IE I have a Jet Stage II chip for sale, a Hypertech Programmer III for sale, KN FIPK 2 for sale all mods that I deem useless to my needs noticed very little actual gains and more of a pain in the ass to deal with. Flowmaster helped a little so it's staying. Straights will de-nut your truck so stay away and also stay away from glasspacks, cherry bombs in an fashion against flow or with flow direction. Ahhh.. Electric cooling fans helped the truck, keeps cooler and freed up so hp. Underdrive pulleys seemed to help a little. And that's about it. Of Course I have a dreaded 6.0 that you were talking about. The ole 6.0 has held dead even with my buddies 496 2500HD Alli/4.10 three times at field parties. he can't pull me. He gets pissed because on the road he can abuse the 6.0 but when you hook them together they fair pretty even. Helping me though is a stick shift tranny people say that's all bulls**t and their's no differece and that the Alli is better but a motor with 340hp/455lbs./ft. torque can't pull my 6.0 with 300hp/360lbs/ft. torque. He has BFG All-Terrians and I have junk Wild Countrys both 285's and factory locking rear ends so it isn't like I out tired him or he doesn't have a posi... Sorry for the speech just want to share with you so you don't get suprized in a pull one day.

Shaners · May 22, 2003

Sounds like a great truck!!! I'm sure you'll be even more thrilled with it when you hook up to your boat!!!

Rippem · May 22, 2003

Yea, I know it's hard to beat the torque multiplication of 4.10's w/ the 6.0 I know a couple of friends w/ 6.0's and they don't do any better on fuel than the big. I just didn't like the 2500 rpm @ 75-80 with that combo. That combo just doesn't have the legs upstairs like the 496/Alli...especially w/ the 3.73 and now with a 265 tire. As I'm unloaded most of the time, I appreciate that. Rippem

awdvkd · May 22, 2003

Figure a way to remove the torgue management system and the 8.1 will truly out perform the 6.0. Torgue mangement really destroys the 8.1 performance off the line. If you want to see the true power of the 8.1 load it down with some weight, get up to about 50-55 mph and hit the throttle. I had a fancy F**D PS play games with me on the highway the other day. He had a half load of hay (guessing 3500 lbs), I had a one truck 4X4 with 35's on the same size trailer. He jumped on the throttle and I smoked him. Needless to say he dropped way back never to be seen again. Life is good Only mods I have are Magnaflow duals, K& N filter and 265's GY MTRS.

antig24 · May 22, 2003

congrats, it should pull your boat good

BDBWTE · May 23, 2003

Yea, I know it's hard to beat the torque multiplication of 4.10's w/ the 6.0 I know a couple of friends w/ 6.0's and they don't do any better on fuel than the big. I just didn't like the 2500 rpm @ 75-80 with that combo. That combo just doesn't have the legs upstairs like the 496/Alli...especially w/ the 3.73 and now with a 265 tire. As I'm unloaded most of the time, I appreciate that. Rippem

The little 6.0 does alright but I would much rather have a 8.1 or a DMAX. It's okay though I'll beat the eyes out of this truck and then hopefully get another one. Yep the 8.1 is a beast of a motor. And if you don't like the 2500rpms at 70 then you should see me pulling a trailer at 70mph in 4th more around 3000rpms and I have to cruise at that rpm in order to not have to drop a gear at the approch of every hill. Welcome to the board.

'02 HD · May 23, 2003

Take a look at a Speedliner spray in liner before you make the spray-in decision. Best one out there in my opinion...

www.speedliner.com

Enjoy the new ride!!! They are the best truck on the road!!

HendyPhoto · May 28, 2003

SWEET! You would really like the K&N FIPK system, it helped my 8.1 breathe alot better. I was surprised to have that much NOTICEABLE difference! And you may as well do the exhaust too! You need output if you are increasing the input! LOL, (only money though)