1998 1/2 ton vs. 3/4 ton both with 350cid
What is the difference (besides the obvious engine) between these two rigs? Assuming the same suspension, transmissions and gear ratios, are they rated the same or does the big block account for a lot...
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FishOnOne wrote:Hideout17 wrote:
Usually bigger brakes, heavier springs, full floating rear axle possibly a few other minor details....
Those Chevy 3/4 trucks didn't have a full floating axle. Also add in heavier frame.
You must be thinking of the LD2500 6-lug... They had the 14B SF axle (I had a '97 K15 with the Semi Floater 14). But a true 8-lug 2500 series does have the full floater.
I would wait for the big block. I drove a late 90's 1-ton (crew/dually) with the 350 and it flat out sucked, and I ran a '97 K1500 to 244k before I sold it. Sorry, the L31 350 just doesn't have the torque. If you could find one that was 4.10 gears AND was a 5spd manual AND was an absolute cream puff, then I might go for it. The extra gear and ability to hold a gear will help a bunch.
I pulled my sig trailer (6000lbs empty) with my K15 350/60E/3.73 and it was less than satisfying. I was right at my 12k GCWR. I was continually watching my throttle application in an effort to keep the torque convertor locked in 3rd in an effort to keep the transmission temperature at an acceptable level. The 80E wont make a difference here. I actually added a lock-up switch to force the TC to lock just to control transmission temps, and that was with the factory aux cooler plus a cooler that I added. The engine still had a little power available, but trans tuning and capacity was sub-par.
A 5spd stick running in 3rd and 4th, and a Blackbear tune on the engine, and it could work, as long as you don't try to go cross country with it.
