Your 454 should have around 240 HP with around450 lb ft of torque(don't quote me on the power nos) when it is running at its best. We now have new blended and oxygenated fuels that make carb'd engines run poor with less power and supposedly better emmissions.(???) The cummins will produce around 160 HP with around 600 lb ft of torque. The torque is what will get your load rolling and keep it going. There is a major difference in pulling power. The 454 has to run 5000 rpm to make its power where the cummins does it between 1600 to 2500 rpm. The diesel produces its power more efficiently and runs cooler, plus at 1/2 the rpm the efficiency really improves. The 454 you have is probably a 2 bolt main which makes it an automotive version and will not hold up to constant full throttle loads as well as the cummins which is a medium duty truck eng and can run full loads for long durations.
Make sure you keep your eye on the tranny oil and change it as soon as it turns dark. I don't know what the aux cooler's capacity is that you described, but the biggest cause of tranny failures are from overheating the oil. Best to put an oil temp guage in the pan to see if the cooler is adequate. If not add another one or a bigger one.
I think you should be able to turn up the power some and still be safe with the tranny issues, while useing it mainly for pulling those heavy loads.

Good luck, Howard

 

Thanks for all the info on this tread. I am going to buy a cummins and cant wait to get either the one i've already looked at, the 93 dually, or maybe another one. One last thing before i make a decision, I am willing to spend more money than what the 93 dodge will cost. After all the info i have read here i believe the $4500 price is a deal. My question is: in the second generation trucks i think i've read the the 2500 and 3500 series trucks are basically the same drive line with the exeption of the 3500 having dualls. maybe larger brakes??? some one correct me if i'm not correct. Ive read that if you are pulling heavy loads that the dually will make it much more stable going down the road. well I dont use my truck for highway ,65mph or better speads. I normally travel 35-45 mph around town. NOW, if the 2500 series truck was built in the back suspension to carry the 3500# pallet and pull the 13-16 thousand pound trailer, given the single axel tires were rated to hold that kind of weight would i be good with a 2500 series flatbed diesel? I ask because i have found many more 1995-1999 3/4 ton trucks for sale that are in a price range that i would be willing to spend and really i would prefer the looks and comfort of a second gen. truck. however the 93 is a clean truck and for $4500. i should buy it anyways and if i choose to get a 2nd gen then i could just list it on ebay i've seen trucks like this one go for way more. thanks for any thoughts in advance.

 

The way you described the use you intend to put it thru, I would reccommend the dually 1 ton. You will need the 4.11 gears to get your load moving and the duals for stability and load capacity. The $4500 price sounds pretty fair. Just check it over real good to make sure it is good. I've seen them around the same price down here too, and ours are mostly rust free.

 

I second Hemi Cat's reccomendation, but there's no reason you couldn't convert a 3/4 ton truck to a dually with a set of rims and adapters. You are correct that the axles are the same model and can carry the load, it's the tires that are the limiting factor.

 

My .02. I agree with the posters above on the truck choice. You won't be sorry. My only advice is that given the around town use, and what you are doing with it (lower speeds and soft ground) Get the biggest aux. tranny cooler you can get and a tranny temp guage. When you put ANY automatic in reverse, it will get warm. So backing into somewhere soft with a big load will spike your trans temps. My stock 93 250 has over 250,000 miles on the original tranny with no problems. Use quality filters, and change the oil regularly and you in all liklehood won't have any problems.

And as for towing that kind of load with it, the only problem will be that you'll have a grin on your face they can't knock off with a 4 foot length of 2X4 . It''s night and day compared to gas.

 

Haven't I read, at least for the earlier 1st and 2nd gens, that they use the same pigs, but the axles on the 3/4 are splined lighter, or smaller shaft size? I know that 3/4 conversions have and do hold up, though. Chaikwa has a conversion, but wasn't happy with the balancing of the after market spacers and made his own. It might be a good project if you already had a truck, but I'd lean toward getting what you want in the first place. Like Greatwhite said, reverse is the week link, particularly in 1st gens. The band gets hot quickly and comes apart. Then the debris starts plugging ports and your cooler. A deep pan is ok, but a large after market cooler is a must. The tranny temp should be monitored at the line from the pump outlet 1st, you can always add a switch and sensor to the pan later. Good luck, and like ANY vehicle, look at the cooling system 1st. That's where trouble with the truck will show 1st.

 

hey cc, noticed your in boise. i'm in bellevue. i head your direction pretty often and i would be more than happy to show you a couple things. WHEN (not if) you get the truck, send me a pm.

 

IMO, you won't have enough power in stock trim to properly motivate a GVW of 19,000lbs+ in stock trim. once you can bump the power up fairly easily and inexpensively, but the stock tranny won't hold up very well, especially in and around boise with all the hills.

a manual tranny with a 4.10 would be ideal if you could find one.


jeremiah

 

the 98 vortec 454 is 290 hp at 4500 rpm with 410 lbs tq i have one i also have a 90 cummins and it out pulls the chevy and...FYI my father in law has a 92 D350 with a 518
auto trans with a dealer installed under the bed aux trans cooler with twin electric fans and pulls a 40' 5th wheel all over the USA full time RVing with scale certificate of 22,450 lbs now has 237,000 miles on it and the only problem he has had with the 518 is the OD switch on top of the pump( i think its the TPS) like me he also runs amsoil atf and chances it often...Get gauges 1st thing!