03 GMC 3500 with 8.1L

[Pipeliner200-4Ever]

Im tired of my diesel and looking at buying a 03 GMC 3500 DRW 4x4 with a 8.1L with only 35000 Kms on it. The truck is fully loaded with everything and in really good shape. Does anybody know of any problems with the engine or know of its gas mileage etc, or should i just get a 6.0L. I will be rigging it up with my skid and sooner or later a deck. Any info would be great.

[MicroZone]

No problems with the GM truck engines or transmissions. They all do have the common front hub/ABS sensor issue in states that have snow and salt. I have the 2500HD with 6.0L motor and it tows just about everything that will fit on my trailer. The nature of an engine dictates your mileage, the more C.I., the more gas it will take. The 6.0L vs. the 8.1L was only a marginal difference in HP and TQ. I'll try to find numbers for you.

I'm 99% sure my 2001 6.0L is 300hp and 360 ft.lbs. I think the '01 8.1L was 330hp and 420 ft. lbs.?

[MicroZone]

The Vortec 6000, or LQ4, is a V8 truck engine. Displacement is 6.0 L (364 in³) from 101.6 mm bore and 92 mm stroke. It is an iron/aluminum (note that 2000 model year engines had cast iron heads) design and produces 300-325 hp (224-242 kW) and 360-370 ft·lbf .

The Vortec 8100 (RPO L18) is a V8 truck engine. It is a redesigned Chevrolet Big-Block engine and was introduced with the 2001 full-size pickup trucks. It is an all-iron engine (block and heads) with two valves per cylinder. Power output ranges from 225 hp to 340 hp (168 kW to 254 kW) and torque from 350 ft·lbf to 455 ft·lbf.

[Pipeliner200-4Ever]

so with that said the 6.0 with some exhaust and intake upgrades will make about the same power and burn less fuel. Can you get a 6.0 in a 3500 drw Ive never seen one here in Canada. Does anybody know of the 2500HD weight ratings,is there much diffrence between the 3500 and 2500HD,I like a single rear wheel 2.

[Pipeliner200-4Ever]

What would a deck look Like on a single rear wheel anyways, any pics of any.

[MicroZone]

I think the base engine in the 3500's is the 6.0L. I could be wrong.

The 2500HD ratings are 16,100 lb (7,303 kg) with the 8.1 litre engine or 10,600 lb (4808 kg) with the 6.0 litre engine, and 4,058 lb (1,841 kg), while the 3500 can tow 16,700 lb (7,575 kg) and haul 5,511 lb (2,500 kg). The addition of 4 wheel drive tends to reduce the towing and carrying capacity by 200 to 400 lb (181 kg), depending upon year and model.

Yes - the 6.0L motor has more aftermarket stuff available for it and can be made equal with some simple upgrades.

[Pipeliner200-4Ever]

Here is a link to a site with a single wheel ford with a deck, just click on welding decks[URL="http://www.expresscustom.com"] just wonder what that would look like with a red face on the back?

[Pipeliner200-4Ever]

I wouldnt be doing any heavy towing with it maybe a 25' holiday trailer or quad trailer once in a while, it would just be my welding truck and have my skid in the back all the time so I should be ok with a 2500HD. what kind of aftermarket parts are there 4 the 6.0L and what about a lift kit.

[MicroZone]

Anything you can think of - they have for the 6.0L. I make truck specific turbo kits for the GM Trucks, so if you need more power, let me know. I can bolt on anything or outfit you with an additional 120-150 HP, on low boost, with my single turbo kit. I also do EFI tuning.

[TozziWelding]

Tired of a Diesel, blasphemy! If you are gonna go with a gas job, "there is no replacement for displacement". I don't wanna cost MZ a sale, but bigger is better in my book. Duals in the rear are mych better for towing, and stability, and no need to worry about overloading 1 tire.

[MicroZone]

"there is no replacement for displacement". I don't wanna cost MZ a sale, but bigger is better in my book.

I agree! It won't matter to me, I can modify anything or make a turbo kit for anything...it's just that the cost goes up exponentially with the size of the motor.

Tozz - i'll give you a shout in a little while, waiting on my pizza right now.

[tresi]

I have a 01 2500HD with the 6.0, 4.10 axle and a service body on the back. It runs ok once it gets some speed built up but from a dead stop it's a slug. Niether a 6.0 or the 8.1 are going to win any mpg contest. You're still pushing the same amount of air down the hiway. In my opinion you should either get the 8.1 or stick with the diesel.

[txfireguy2003]

My former boss had an 8.1 liter chevy 3500. 8 mile per gallon, uphill, downhill, headwind, tail wind, unloaded, pulling a trailer...made NO difference. BUT, once, while pulling a gooseneck dump trailer, I pulled into an intersection and saw a car top the hill coming towards me FAST! I thought I was gonna get hit, so I floored it to get across the intersection and smoked all 4 back tires. Nice big black marks on the pavement. That truck would spin the back wheels by accident!

[Pipeliner200-4Ever]

What about a 04 F250 4x4 Superduty with the 5.4 Triton, found one for what I think is a good deal.

[daddy]

My work truck is an '05 GMC 2500 HD 6.0 with 4.11 single rear wheel 2wd. I normally run around at 8500-9000 GVW. I get between 9 to 14 mpg. depending on how much highway driving. Most of the time It is 10 mpg. The engine is strong, and does fine for this, but if you need to tow alot or run heavier than this I would go diesel or bigger gas. It used to be that the diesel fuel economy would offset the additional expense, but anymore the diesel option is so much more it doesn't pay you back until the truck is shot. All of our crew trucks used to be diesel, but lately the boss has been buying gas jobs. He is a smart guy, so if it wasn't paying him back I know he wouldn't be doing it.All that being said, I still prefer the oil burners.

[Pipeliner200-4Ever]

Thats what Im wondering about because the price of gas in my area is 5 to 15 cents a liter cheaper than deisel, and the past week of -40C temps makes a gas a little more worthy I think.

[Black Wolf]

What about a 04 F250 4x4 Superduty with the 5.4 Triton, found one for what I think is a good deal.

I think that you will be greatly disappointed with the 5.4L Triton. It is just not BIG enough to move the Super Duty's very well. It works fine with the smaller F-150, F-250 trucks as an upgrade from the 4.6L, but nothing to scream about in the bigger Super Duty models.

Then again, it could just be me. I have a '99 F-250 S/C, S/B 4x4 with a V-10, and it still goes like a cut cat with the welder in.

The 5.4L might be okay if you were just putting around town to and from the jobsite.

[jeep4banger97]

My dad has a 05 2500HD with the 8.1L and he has over 100,000 miles on it ( he drives a lot for work) but i will tell you this that truck has as much balls as it did the day he brought it home, we put Hummer wheels and tires on it (roughly 35s) and the thing will smoke them all day on dry pavement. We put a predator chip on it and gained some MPG outa it and some more power. He gets about 12 mpg all day no matter how he drives. If your lookin at the 8.1 its a beast plain and simple. O yea and if you put a 3.5" exhaust on it the thing ROARS! its so loud and its got so much power, and it can tow anything and everything.

go for the 8.1 its a beast