no more 8.1?

hbroxxx · February 13, 2007

why would gm stop making the 8.1 avalible in a pickup? The only thing i could think of is that the duramax is more profitable than the 8.1. I was shocked to learn they did not offerit anymore. I was going to order a brand new truck because i wanted the 8.1 with the manual. Now I think im going to have to look around for a used 06 or something.

95Sierra2500 · February 13, 2007

GM isn't offering the manual with the 8.1 or the duramax for 07 in their full-size trucks. If you really want a manual you're pretty much gonna have to go with something 06 or older.

THE BIGPUNN · February 13, 2007

what happened to the allison tranny as well?

GeoHawk · February 13, 2007

what happened to the allison tranny as well?

The Allison 1000 trans is still there for the Duramax engines. The gassers get a GM Hydra-matic 6L90 6-speed in the HD trucks.

HDdave · February 13, 2007

I wonder if that will bolt up to older motors with the 4l80e...

davefr · February 13, 2007

GM shot themselves in the foot for ending the 8.1. The LMM Duramax is nearly a $10k option and the new emission technology is unproven at this point. In addition there's large price premium for diesel fuel.

The 6.0 is just not enough engine in a HD truck. Besides it has to work so hard that there's no meaningful MPG difference between it and the 8.1.

The 8.1 was the best gas engine GM ever offered in HD trucks. It would run circles around the Duramax and was much more fun to drive. I hope GM reconsiders and brings it back for '08.

The Ford V10 is the only large gas engine left in HD trucks.

s-ten · February 13, 2007

I agree that it was a misake to get rid of the 8.1, it was a great motor that even the newer higher output 6.0 probably won't be able to match. When it came to pulling my dad has a 05 3500 with the 8.1 and a friend has a 04 6.0 2500HD, they both had Slide in Pick-up campers and 18' fishing boats; we could run at 70 mph the whole trip whereas the 6.0 could not handle running at that speed with that load.

dewfpo · February 13, 2007

I just posted this on another thread by Mervz....

"If they say, they didn't sell enough 8.1's to justify keeping it in the lineup, educate them on how the $*&%)'ing dealers never ordered them. You couldn't find an 8.1 on the dealer lots, only 6.0's and DM's. I had to special order mine and wait for months. How many folks on this forum said they went to look at them and couldn't find any, especially on the east cost. It was a sales gimmick by the dealers...... Have only the 6.0's and if folks wanted/needed more power ..... then they had to buy the $6K upgrade to the DM. All consumers aren't as stupid as they think"

DEWFPO

hbroxxx · February 13, 2007

you think it was hard to find an 8.1 try finding one with the 8.1 and a manual tranny. The other thing that i dont understand is that gm still makes the 8.1, they use it int the medium duty trucks, and the 496 is one of the most popular engines in the marine industry. I'm thinkin that chevy and gmc are doing the same thing that the dealers were doing and that is forcing people that need the power to go to the much more expencive deasel.

Draenor · February 13, 2007

I just posted this on another thread by Mervz....

"If they say, they didn't sell enough 8.1's to justify keeping it in the lineup, educate them on how the $*&%)'ing dealers never ordered them. You couldn't find an 8.1 on the dealer lots, only 6.0's and DM's. I had to special order mine and wait for months. How many folks on this forum said they went to look at them and couldn't find any, especially on the east cost. It was a sales gimmick by the dealers...... Have only the 6.0's and if folks wanted/needed more power ..... then they had to buy the $6K upgrade to the DM. All consumers aren't as stupid as they think"

DEWFPO

So true, I would of taken one, but all they had were a couple 6.0L and a every DM optioned truck on the lot, you could ask for. I didnt want to spend the $6k+ for the DM and didnt have the patience to wait for them to find a 8.1L. They had one in the entire state, but was an E-cab, I wanted the Crew cab.

thecraft · February 13, 2007

I believe they had to get rid of the 8.1L because of the EPA's fuel economy restrictions.

C/K Man · February 14, 2007

I believe they had to get rid of the 8.1L because of the EPA's fuel economy restrictions.

No, the 8.1L was only available in trucks with a GVW over 8,501 lbs., which are exempt from fuel economy standards. The 8.1L was dropped simply due to lack of sales. Last year, when gasoline got so expensive, 8.1L sales dropped to very low levels. I was told this by a GMC factory rep.. The 8.1L was actually discontinued last summer, and almost no one noticed. BTW- the new 6L with the 6L90 transmission actually puts as much power to the ground as the 8.1L/Allison did!

hbroxxx · February 14, 2007

I believe they had to get rid of the 8.1L because of the EPA's fuel economy restrictions.

I didint think there was any fuel restrictions for trucks bigger than half ton, or is it just they dont have to list it? Im dont give a hoot about horse power, I need some freaking torque and no 6.0 is going to give me 400 lbs/ft from 1k rpm up to 5k rpm. Im still convinced it was a way to sell more duramax