supercharged 6.0 vs 8.1 vs D-max

[BBC+T56]

I need more pulling power out of my 2004 2500 GMC, 6.0. I first looked at supercharger kits assuming they would be around $2500-3000. They aren't that cheap.. Then thought about switching to an 8.1. That would be more work but total cost wise may end up about the same if I found a good used 8.1. I dirive a 2010 D-max at work. It pulls great. How would a supercharged 6.0 or 8.1 pull compaired to a D-max. I always heard how aswome the 6.0's were for pulling. Then I bought one and now I don't think it is much of an improvement over my 98 350 vortec.

[smokinsilverado]

Personally I would just sell the truck and find a Dmax even if you put a supercharger on a 6.0 it will pull great but your gas mileage is going to die you might as well follow some tanker trucks around because your going to have to fill up all the time

[WildChevys]

the dmax is a torque monster and you will usually always be able to get more power out of the dmax

[4doormonster]

dmax sounds like the best option here. is it worth messing around and dumping piles of money into a truck that "might" pull as good as a dmax and get horrible gas mileage. if you NEED to tow get a diesel, thats why they put em in these little trucks

[BBC+T56]

Yea,, very true. I just can't get myself to liking the thought of owning a deisel. I like old hot rod GASSERS!! To me deisels just don't sound cool at all, except the old 2 stroke detroits. I could see myself putting one of those motors in a pickup. Not sure how I would get it to fit though....

[rebelbowtie]

Sadly the best bet is too get a diesel. For what it's worth I've never had a problem towing anything with my 6.0 I've had up to 12,000lbs behind it and towed like a champ. Just have to spin the RPMs it's a little more rev happy than your old 350

[4doormonster]

You seem to be the opposite of most people. There are lots of people out there that will fork over the 10 grand just to have the sound of the diesel (me included) and never need to tow or haul things jst drive around town

[Jeepplr]

I have a supercharged 6.0 2500HD 4X4. When I pull my 12,000lbs horse trailer across the plains I get between 10 and 11 MPG. I was able to pass several diesels with smaller loads climbing up to the Eisenhower Tunnel on I70, but I don't want to talk about my mileage.
My truck does what I need it to do but if it is heavy it just does it at 3500RPM.

[2500ak]

I would say if you're just looking for more towing power on the 6.0 just get 4.56 gears. It mileage doesn't bother you get 5.13's or something like that. That's how they made those huge old trucks move with little 200 something cid i6's.

With an SC or turbo, yes you'll get more power but when an engine is going to be under heavy load you're upping the IAT's and the compression which could lead to engine knock and reduced engine life. You can only squeeze so much power out of a given displacement, octane, and engine design. At the very least you'll be retarding timing and having to use high octane, and maybe some supplement to it.

If you have to have more engine power you might look into just stroking and boring it to around 408, bumping up the compression a little bit, and running a healthy RV cam.

The 496 is a cool engine, its very undersquare which of course makes it a good towing engine. That size the mileage will never be good but surprisingly its not much worse than the LQ4.

The duramax is expensive. I've never towed with one, I don't really like short powerbands I like engine's that can wind out and scream. It's probably the best bet though.

That's just my take on it.

[BBC+T56]

I kinda like that idea of a stroker crank.. Doubt I ever do that though, unless for some reason the motor goes bad. When I got this pickup I thought I would have good pulling power for a camper. Once I got the camper I found out otherwise. My pickup could go 70 mph but I don't want to because it is working it too hard to do it. A guy I know with a 6.0 older than mine and a similar size camper says he can go 70 no problem. My pickup has headers, electric fan, and hypertec tune. His is stock. What's the deal?? I just wonder if those headers are killing my torque. The 285/75 tires aren't doing it any good either. Once they are wore out I will be getting a shorter tire.

[rebelbowtie]

You aren't over working your engine the 6.0 is just a higher reving motor by nature. You can run at 4,000rpm all day if you wanted, you're still in the peak torque range.

[BBC+T56]

To get 70 I would almost have to hold the throttle on the floor. At 65 the RPM is at 3300.

[2500ak]

I kinda like that idea of a stroker crank.. Doubt I ever do that though, unless for some reason the motor goes bad. When I got this pickup I thought I would have good pulling power for a camper. Once I got the camper I found out otherwise. My pickup could go 70 mph but I don't want to because it is working it too hard to do it. A guy I know with a 6.0 older than mine and a similar size camper says he can go 70 no problem. My pickup has headers, electric fan, and hypertec tune. His is stock. What's the deal?? I just wonder if those headers are killing my torque. The 285/75 tires aren't doing it any good either. Once they are wore out I will be getting a shorter tire.

Hypertech tune may be part of it, they tend to advance the timing across the board which means you're more likely to knock under load. Getting a custom tune written may be worth a shot, headers won't do anything on a stock cam with MPFI. The stock cam has no overlap (a brief interval where both intake and exhaust valve are open), and MPFI doesn't need signal to properly distribute fuel to the chambers anyways. The e-fans are good though.

I'm leaning towards gears as being the solution, these engines just like to rev. Only way to change that is to increase displacement (stroke especially), change the cam (which will only yield marginal improvements in the given powerband), add forced induction, or switch to a different engine.

[ZF6LLY]

a blown 6.0 would be cool as hell but get bad milage
there was a guy on here selling a used but recently rebuild weiland blower i thought about but dont have the funds ill try to find it for you he wanted 2600$
but i think the easiest most economical thing is to buy a duri

[ZF6LLY]

sry it was a whipple but here it is
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/showthread.php?436104-Whipple-Supercharger

[marcusmiller360]

Hypertech tune may be part of it.

Sounds like it. I have a neighbor who pulled a camper behind a stock 6.0 2500HD for years, and he never had any problem at 65-70 mph.

And I agree with gears being a viable solution.

[JimAckley]

The 8.1 hardly has any worse gas mileage over the 6.0, so if you're going to gas you almost might as well grab it. I have the 8.1 in my Yukon XL and I love the insane power I get, and that's despite needing my tranny rebuilt and my differentials regeared. I can only fathom how much more power I'll have when I put some 4.56s in the diffs and beef up the gearbox. It sounds absolutely amazing too. Now, I'll admit, if I had the extra dough, I'd have gone for a Sierra 2500HD w/ the Dura/Alli, but I found my Yukon for what was practically a steal of a deal. I plan on transplanting a Duramax/Allison into it at a later date, but that's a whole 'nother topic. You don't really need the forced induction unless you're making any trips through Colorado and are going through the mountains. With a few mods, you'll be more than happy with your truck's performance. Regear your diffs (especially if you plan on larger tires), get a custom exhaust made (prefab kits are ****), a CAI, a cam, and a custom tune, and maybe a transgo shift kit. I'm sure I left out a few other things, but those are a great starting point.

[BBC+T56]

I took the hypertech tune off and pulled the camper to the lake, no change. I think 4.10 gears would be the thing I need. I am able to go 65 mph as long as there is no head wind. With a 20 mph head wind it will only do 60. That loss of 5 mph only makes the trip take 8 minutes longer. I don't think I can justify spending the money for new gears if it will only save me 8 minutes per trip when the wind blows.... Superchager sure would be cool though........

[6.5canSURVIVE]

d-max all the way

[Koots]

Yea,, very true. I just can't get myself to liking the thought of owning a deisel. I like old hot rod GASSERS!! To me deisels just don't sound cool at all, except the old 2 stroke detroits. I could see myself putting one of those motors in a pickup. Not sure how I would get it to fit though....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0o1o5W_f6o&playnext_from=TL&videos=S5XkdXIx0qk

Here is a 2 stroke detroit in a pickup :D