Janurary 2007,

Big blocks vs diesels pg 168.

ARE THEY KIDDING??

If my 3500 were not capeable of maintaining 60mph with only 6k lbs behind me up ANY grade I'd have never bought it!!!

They recommend a 454 Big block gasser (POS) over a Duramax for "heavy" towing. I'm just stunned!! What exactly is "Heavy" towing?

I ran my 3500 (4.10 equipped), 6k trailer in tow, up to Truckee over the 8900ft pass with the ac blowing, cruise control set, and it never shifted out of overdrive!!

Rick

 

LOL not saying much for d max is it.

 

I'd have to agree with that....here is the proof>>>

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=132131

 

In that article there comparing the 454 to the 6.5 diesel, not the d-max. The 454 will run circles around the 6.5.

 

Pretty irrelevant in this day in age then ? Why would they bother to print old news then?? Unless they were Chevy biased or somthing .

Rick

 

those are BOTH dinosaurs

 

My friends you are not getting the whole story. The 454 had 4.10 gears where as the diesel was cripled with 3.73 or 3.58 gears. ( I'd have to read the article again) However it was comparing apples to oranges. With the gearing advantage given to the 454.

 

The 6.5s are dogs! I don't even know how they even got that much weight moving without the thing overheating.

 

My 6.5 is no cummins, but it has had 16Klbs behind it. Still running at 300K+ miles and getting 20mpg on the highway. But what a article on a 454 verses a 6.5? One more reason I don't but the mag.

 

This is the first and last time I'll buy it. Just wondered what the fuss was all about! Now I know better!

Rick

 

i had a 97 454 and it was a pos. all it did good was drink gas at 10 mpg unloaded and 5 loaded. it was a gutless wonder. we also had a 98 6.5 and when it wanted to it would run pretty dang good compared to my old gasser. but those were before i saw the light and converted to a real motor.

brett

it was a 97 k3500 5 speed w/ 4.10s. i had a 24' gooseneck and it wouldnt even pull it 60 when empty. that thing made me sick. a buddy had a 00 6.0 gasser and it would pull circles around me

 

My old work had a 97' chevy 3500 box van with a fuel injected 454 and auto trans {huge 16 ft box on it}..got 10-12 mpg loaded or unloaded and had gobs of power to spare..they aren't as bad as you make them out to be.However that 6.5 is a boat anchor..anyone can agree to that! lol

 

That article was an old reprint from 4Wheel and Offroad. Pretty irrelevant today, considering neither engine is available in a new vehicle. Also if you look closely the diesel is actually a 1/2 ton 1500 Suburban, while the gasser was a true 3/4 ton 2500 Suburban.

 

Either way, if you figure that some people who read that magazine are looking for a cheap tow rig to pull their Jeep or car or something, the article could be a big hit for people "uneducated" in the ways of diesel power!

Remember, not everyone is as learned and biased towards our trucks as us!
Calm down!
Chris

BTW, if anyone wants to see something that will help our diesel performance world, buy this month's and check out "Diesel vs Muscle Car"