Opinions on a truck

rpf500 · Apr 15, 2015

Guys,

Moneypityj's new post on "deesuls" has me thinking about a different truck. So, looking around last night I found this one. I really like old body chevy's. This truck is basically what I have now as far a drivetrain, so I'm really getting an old body truck if I go this route. I pretty much would only use this for towing and it will not be a DD.

https://evansville.craigslist.org/cto/4957878173.html

So, my current rig is pictured below. 106K. Good, clean, truck. No reason to sell. Little rusty on the frame but it's 15 years old and spent some of it's life in Michigan. Other than that, it's great. I am worried a little about power loss if I'd buy this other truck going from a vortec to non-vortec. I have never driven a non-vortec 454 so maybe it's not a big deal and it's just internet chatter I have been reading.

muddinmetal · Apr 15, 2015

The lack of overdrive will limit you to a safe highway speed of 65 :****:

B.DRAKE · Apr 15, 2015

Both are dang good lookin older trucks! :****:

clemsonjeep · Apr 15, 2015

muddinmetal is right. I had an 88 suburban with the 3 speed and 454. It'd pull anything you put behind it or drive you to the ABC store and get 8mpg either way. Sure, you can go faster than 65, but you won't for too long. They're great trucks and drive really well. The TBI system uses quite a few vacuum lines that I would have issues with every now and again which got to be a pain. When I sold it that's what the problem was...there's a line going into the back bottom of the TBI that you can't really see or get to without removing several pieces and I just got tired of messing with it.

onepieceatatime · Apr 15, 2015

Your truck is flashemifyougotem

I'd just keep it.

muddinmetal · Apr 15, 2015

clemsonjeep said:
muddinmetal is right. I had an 88 suburban with the 3 speed and 454. It'd pull anything you put behind it or drive you to the ABC store and get 8mpg either way. Sure, you can go faster than 65, but you won't for too long. They're great trucks and drive really well. The TBI system uses quite a few vacuum lines that I would have issues with every now and again which got to be a pain. When I sold it that's what the problem was...there's a line going into the back bottom of the TBI that you can't really see or get to without removing several pieces and I just got tired of messing with it.

The map sensor feed hose will get you every time :****:

untchabl · Apr 15, 2015

I'm guessing your current truck has the 5.7, rather than the 7.4.

That dually would be a solid setup but as everyone has said, the lack of overdrive would kill you on the highway. It's a good looking truck though.

Personally I really like your truck. Any idea how much your Jeep and trailer weigh? My 1500 Suburban tows my buggy and trailer pretty well (buggy is 2,940 and guessing the trailer is 2,000 or less). But I bought a 2500 454 Burban a couple weeks ago, looking forward to the extra torque and the stronger 4L80E trans.

TBItoy · Apr 15, 2015

untchabl said:
I'm guessing your current truck has the 5.7, rather than the 7.4.

That dually would be a solid setup but as everyone has said, the lack of overdrive would kill you on the highway. It's a good looking truck though.

Personally I really like your truck. Any idea how much your Jeep and trailer weigh? My 1500 Suburban tows my buggy and trailer pretty well (buggy is 2,940 and guessing the trailer is 2,000 or less). But I bought a 2500 454 Burban a couple weeks ago, looking forward to the extra torque and the stronger 4L80E trans.

current truck is a 7.4 also.

No way I'd get rid of the newer truck for the older one, especially if you are comfortable with the condition/maintenance of your current one. :dblthumb:

TheViking · Apr 15, 2015

Re:

That CL dually was nice not a big fan of GM but man that's nice and I would like to drive it.

SHELBS44 · Apr 15, 2015

there was one in Tennessee on craigslist just like that but had a 12 valve swap and was clean for 12000 if I ever decide to get another tow rig that's what I'm gonna do

rpf500 · Apr 15, 2015

Thanks for the replies fellas. I didn't even think about the transmission not being an OD. That makes a big difference. Ideally, as mentioned, this old truck with a cummins swap would be the ticket!!

Don't quote me here, but I think Jeep and trailer are 4500#. I weighed them but it was a while ago and I can't remember off the top of my head. That actually seems a little low to me though. Truck was 6,600# or 6,800# I THINK.

SHELBS44 · Apr 15, 2015

iv found a few of those trucks on craigslist. just type in cummins and search. found anything from duallys to swap k5 blazers. I have a dodge dually now love the engine hate the truck. I would go that route personally and it would pull that load easy

rpf500 · Apr 15, 2015

SHELBS44 said:
iv found a few of those trucks on craigslist. just type in cummins and search. found anything from duallys to swap k5 blazers. I have a dodge dually now love the engine hate the truck. I would go that route personally and it would pull that load easy

I can pull fine as I have the same drivetrain (minus the trans) and I'd be making the change solely for the fact that I like the old chevys and not many of them running around. I want something so I can be different in other words.