Jump to content

Love my 8.1

Bart2500HD

Recommended Posts

Bart2500HD Enthusiast

Bart2500HD

Posted
Posted

Went snowmobiling this weekend and my buddy drove his truck, a 2004 F250 crew cab Super Duty with the Triton 6.8L V10. I got to drive it on the way home. I would much rather have my 8.1L hooked to the hitch of my 4-place trailer. The Ford is a nice truck, but I feel it lacks a little in the power dept. :seeya:

vhato Enthusiast

vhato

Posted
Posted
Went snowmobiling this weekend and my buddy drove his truck, a 2004 F250 crew cab Super Duty with the Triton 6.8L V10.  I got to drive it on the way home.  I would much rather have my 8.1L hooked to the hitch of my 4-place trailer.  The Ford is a nice truck, but I feel it lacks a little in the power dept.  :seeya:

 

 

 

 

The Ford V-10 was a turd, however it has been refreshed for 2005...so look out.

 

 

O/T, So am I correct in thinking the color of your truck is red??

Bud Enthusiast

Bud

Posted
Posted
Went snowmobiling this weekend and my buddy drove his truck, a 2004 F250 crew cab Super Duty with the Triton 6.8L V10.  I got to drive it on the way home.  I would much rather have my 8.1L hooked to the hitch of my 4-place trailer.  The Ford is a nice truck, but I feel it lacks a little in the power dept.  :seeya:

 

 

 

 

If you want to love it even more,

Wester's!!

HillHound Senior Enthusiast

HillHound

Posted
Posted
The Ford V-10 was a turd, however it has been refreshed for 2005...so look out.

 

Ouch! I can take a little ribbing for owning a Ford on a GM board but now I have to get off the barstool and spit out my chew! :seeya: . I know the big GM pulls a little harder but that hardly makes my engine a turd. By your your logic what do you call a GM 6.0L?

 

The 8.1L has, for the past few years, had the benefit of a good 5-speed transmission behind it whereas Ford just made a 5-speed available for the V10 with the 2005. That extra gear makes a hell of a difference when the engine's under any kind of load.

 

Even the 2000 to 2004 V10s were only rated at 5% less torque and 6% less HP than the current 8.1L. That series of V10s makes 400lb-ft at 1900rpm and the 8.1L hit 400lb-ft at around 1600rpm so there's really only a little bit of difference in the low rpm power. In any case, I don't remember ever holding up traffic with mine.

 

I towed a smallish trailer a short distance with an 8.1L reg cab several months ago but it was a 2wd 6-speed. I remember it having a load of punch in the first few gears but it didn't hold the top gear much if any longer than my Ford held OD on the highway. Kind of hard to compare those two setups.

 

Truck Trend did a shootout with the 2001s with a Ford V10, Chevy 8.1L and a Dodge 8.0L V10-think they were all 4x4 CCs or ECs but the 8.1L beat the Ford by a hair towing a certain # trailer 0-60 and 1/4m and the Ford beat the Chevy unloaded 0-60 and 1/4m by an equally small margin. The Dodge wasn't even competetive. :) Truck Trend did have it on their site archive, it's worth reading.

 

Anyway Bart, I am glad you like your truck. Sounds like you're having fun with it there! :seeya: I'll be real interested to see what GM does with their large gas engine in the next year or two. I know their not going to stay where they're at long, meaning they will bump up the 8.1L or release a new engine. There are some rumors of a 7.?L GM V10, which is intersting becuase if you've followed the progression of the 8.1L you know GM derated the output for the '04 model year. I never did get a good answer as to why that happened but it makes me wonder if there's some other reason why we won't see a beefed up 8.1L.

Daubs Enthusiast

Daubs

Posted
Posted
I heard it was de-rated because GM had to install some new Pre-cats for emission standards.

 

 

 

 

I heard the same thing...emissions caused the drop in ratings.

 

But that doesn't change the fact that I'm very happy with my 8.1! And I'm thinking the Westers / Volant is finally meshing with my 8.1/Allison. DIC says I'm getting 11.0 MPG on this tank of fuel. That's warm-up-in-the-20-degree-morning, city driving, stop-n-go type stuff.

 

I hope this holds...my 6.0 buddies are really going to hate me :seeya:

vhato Enthusiast

vhato

Posted
Posted
The Ford V-10 was a turd, however it has been refreshed for 2005...so look out.

 

Ouch! I can take a little ribbing for owning a Ford on a GM board but now I have to get off the barstool and spit out my chew! :seeya: . I know the big GM pulls a little harder but that hardly makes my engine a turd. By your your logic what do you call a GM 6.0L?

 

 

 

 

 

Hehehehe,

You make it no fun for the Die-Hard GM Fans. I forget sometimes we support owners with both trucks. Sorry.

 

Anyway,

Fords original 6.8 V-10 had the low end power to pull from a dead stop, but I expected much more in terms of Horse Power. I drove a friends 2WD F-250 Crew Cab w/V-10 for a weekend and the lack of Horse Power was definately there once you got up to speed. Wasn't it rated at 268 HP? Remember the 3-valve heads are a recent upgrade.

 

You asked about the Vortec 6000, well if you compare it to Fords Triton 5.4 from years backs all the way to 2004 you will find it lacks MUCH more than the Vortec 6000. The Triton 5.4 was available in the Super Duty's at 260 HP. 40 Less HP than the Vortec 6000 and the Vortec 6000 is chocked by "extreme" amounts of Torque Management. Sure the Triton 5.4 possessed the Torque to get the load moving, but a heavy load entering the Interstate was better left up to the PowerStroke.

HillHound Senior Enthusiast

HillHound

Posted
Posted
You make it no fun for the Die-Hard GM Fans.  I forget sometimes we support owners with both trucks.  Sorry.

Anyway,

Fords original 6.8 V-10 had the low end power to pull from a dead stop, but I expected much more in terms of Horse Power.  I drove a friends 2WD F-250 Crew Cab w/V-10 for a weekend and the lack of Horse Power was definately there once you got up to speed.  Wasn't it rated at 268 HP?  Remember the 3-valve heads are a recent upgrade.

 

Nah I'm just jerking your chain Vhato! :devil: No need to apologize, everybody has an opinion. I like the 6.0L just fine-like it even better if GM will put it in a 1500. Imagine a short bed 1500 reg cab 4x4 with a 6.0L and some 4.10s!! :crackup:

 

The 2 valve 2000 to 2004 V10s are rated at 310HP/425lb-ft. The gearing seems to make a huge difference in how this engine responds. I have the 3.73 and the low speed power is nothing great, but after you hit 30mph or so it will really throw you back in the seat if you punch it all the way up to the rpm cutoff. The 4.30s are just oppposite-lots of punch from a dead stop but more sluggish at highway speeds. For 05 Ford did away with the 3.73s and you get 4.10s or 4.30s. The 4.10s sounds like a good compromise. Later.

502Python Enthusiast

502Python

Posted
Posted

I have a 2000 Excursion V-10 w/ 3.73's. I also have a 2002 3500 with the 8.1/ally. The 8.1 does have more power and a much better trans but the Excursion hauls the 7000lb trailer and 5 passengers excellent on the interstates. It doesn't have the "seat of the pants" power feel of the 8.1 but it is not a dog by any means.

Bart2500HD Enthusiast

Bart2500HD

Posted
  • Author
Posted
The Ford V-10 was a turd, however it has been refreshed for 2005...so look out.

 

Ouch! I can take a little ribbing for owning a Ford on a GM board but now I have to get off the barstool and spit out my chew! :D . I know the big GM pulls a little harder but that hardly makes my engine a turd. By your your logic what do you call a GM 6.0L?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I woulnd't say it is a turd, but a V10 with only 6.8L? Hardly seems worth it to me.

My guess is that they came up with that driven by emissions issues. As far as the 6.0L, it is a fine engine, but from the people I know that have them, my 8.1L gets just as good MPG and I have power to spare. To each his own I guess. Truthfully, I was a Dodge guy before my HD and I would have bought another Dodge, but I didn't like the current power choices. The Hemi is a good motor, but not made for towing and I am not a diesel guy. I ficured I would try a Chevy again and so far I am glad I did. :D

dewfpo Senior Enthusiast

dewfpo

Posted
Posted

Don't forget.... a V10 sounds very different than V8. It sounds like it is struggling more because you are hearing MORE exhaust pulses per engine revolution. In fact 25% more pulses, so it sounds like it is revving 25% faster than really is. You have to compare tach readings to be apples to apples.

 

What I am trying to say is....

 

A V10 running at 2,000rpm "sounds" like a V8 running at 2,500 rpm.

 

DEWFPO

502Python Enthusiast

502Python

Posted
Posted
A buddy of mine has a Ford 3/4 ton cargo van with the V10.  It is a big steamy turd.  Seems to struggle with a little 3500 lb. ski boat.

 

 

 

Tell him to plug in the other 5 spark plug wires. My big steamy turd pulls our Sport Nautique 75-80 mph on the interstate and gets there pretty darn quick. His is a van though....I hate vans.......

HillHound Senior Enthusiast

HillHound

Posted
Posted
Don't forget.... a V10 sounds very different than V8.  It sounds like it is struggling more because you are hearing MORE exhaust pulses per engine revolution.   In fact 25% more pulses, so it sounds like it is revving 25% faster than really is.  You have to compare tach readings to be apples to apples.

 

What I am trying to say is....

 

A V10 running at 2,000rpm "sounds" like a V8 running at 2,500 rpm.

 

DEWFPO

 

 

 

 

That's good info. I know alot of guys complain becuase they can't get the big V8 sound out of a V10 even with aftermarket exhaust systems. V8s sound better-my V10 really just makes a dull thrumming noise rather than the rumble you get with a big V8.

 

The fact is GM and Ford both got some awesome large gas engines. You can take your pick and if you use them for work or towing you won't go wrong with either. The 8100 has brute power down low where it counts and the 6.8L has good even power across the rpm band and revs up super quick. The 6.8L seems to get slightly better mpg but the 8.1L is looking to me to be a little more durable over time.

 

To me, it's a wash overall. If I was towing most of the time the 8.1L would be best but I think the 6.8L makes a better daily driver that will pull hard when you need it to. I hang around Ford boards too so I hear both sides of it-same with the various diesels. The trash talk on both sides is plentiful & I can tell who knows what their talking about & use their trucks for hauling/towing versus the pavement queen/mall cruiser crowd.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • 2017Z
      2020 Trailboss 6.2 replacement

      By 2017Z · Posted

      Looking for advice from this group. Took my flawless 2020 6.2 TB to an unnamed shop for routine rear brakes and oil change. Tech forgot to put oil back in after the full service and needles to say, destroyed my engine.  It’s all on their shop video so they are responsible.   I had my Chevy dealer do the analysis and they confirmed its compromised and said engine replacement. The manager said they only get GM reman engines from GM with full 3 yr warranty and the one they would put in is not same as what’s they are swapping out on 21-25 for recall.    I am looking for advice why that would be a different engine because obviously I had the good 6.2 year and replacing it has my concerns with that recall for 21-15   Also what’s the pros and cons of accepting the engine swap vs telling the shop that bricked the truck to pay up so I buy a new truck. I’m concerned about stigma resale eventually if I just decide to get rid of it after the swap or other issues showing up after the swap out.  
    • GN2018
      AFM Disabler Question

      By GN2018 · Posted

      Just looked up my records.  I've never gone over 5000 miles between oil changes.  At 46K miles, I have 10 oil changes.  I hope that will help.  I also installed the disabler last year.  I've still had a few times when it didn't seem to engage (which I can tell because the start stop feature kicks in), but for the most part, I think it's working.  For some reason, GM did not include the number of cylinders running in the information screen like I had on other models.  In my Cadillac, it shows me when it's running on 4 cylinders on the fuel milage screen.  I can't find that on my '21 Denali.
    • davester
      Wiring Help, Please

      By davester · Posted

      you might read through the info on gmupfitter.com for your truck, to find a good power source.
    • Grumpy Bear
      AFM Disabler Question

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      Melling I believe is/was the OEM on the lifters who explored this problem some years ago. The white paper they generated on the topic indicated two items of note when I read it. 1.) They only fail on the switch. Prevent the switch, prevent the failure. 2.) The majority fail due to deposits messing up the timing of that switch. Anyway that's what I got from it.    Mine have always been active, 195K+ now, and my oil maintenance is surgically clean.    Of course this assumes good parts. That is no heat treat issue or machining flaws. I get comfortable that these issues are in the rearview mirror by about 30K. IMHO naturally. 
    • Chuck FB
      2 speed transfer case optional now?

      By Chuck FB · Posted

      Yes, the key seems to be with the half tons that if it has the Z71, then it definitely has the two speed. What got me was that the two speed AND the lower geared towing package option could not be chosen together the last few years unless it was mated up to the 6.2. Want the 3.0 duramax and 3.73 tow gears ... nope, can't get the two speed transfer case ( neighbor son realized that after he had bought his used 3.0 half ton .. where the frick is the low range ? ! ).    I am still unsure which truck series, the half ton or the HD truck that the original poster is referring to for sure other than yes his question is in the HD section of this forum but that doesn't guarantee the question got asked in the right section.  

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...