1998 1/2 ton vs. 3/4 ton both with 350cid

I have a 2000 C2500 with a vortec 350, 4.10 rear end, and the 4l80E trans. I've pulled upwards of 12K with mine. Te 12K day I was quite surprised at how well it did. OTHER THAN it did not have a WD, which would have helped from a how much wt was pulled off the FE. other than that, really no issues. I have pulled in the 6-8k range. It does every bit as well as the 4bbl/TBI 454's I have had, probably better with equal total loads. IMHO, the rating is a bit on the low side. The vortec is 255hp / 335 ft lbs of torque IIRC.
The BIG issue in my mind and past history, IS the blanky blank blank 4L80E trans. Behind the BB's I got if lucky 40K out of it. The 200 has 94K and still has the original 4l80e in it. Not sure it frankly is up to the task of BB torque, and still surviving. Then again, it has the tallest 1st gear ratio at 2.48 vs the dodge and ford 4 sp offerings at 2.7-2.9, and the GM 4l60e at 3.08. I barely like the low end on a 4.10 geared rig, would not want a taller RA of any sort! 4.33 or 4.56 would be better, but with out a DOD, that makes too many R's are 60-70 mph.

marty

marty

Just pay attention to the axle ratio... The 350 with the 3.73 gears in the 2500 is only rated at 6,000 lbs. the 4:10 get 7,500 worth of trailer weight rating.

IMHO... Wait for the 454...expand your search area and be ready to travel to find that gem... It's out there...and a few months waiting for the right truck more than offsets months to years of wondering if you should have bought the 454.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

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.

Hemling wrote:
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 of the towing capacity? The reason is ask is that I cannot find a decent 3/4 ton 454/4L80/4.10 suburban that isn't already trashed. I have a line on a really nice 350 3/4 ton sub., (don't know the year ratio). I have a vortec 350 in another truck, and don't doubt its ability to pull a decent weight, and maybe with a 4L80 and decent gears it could manage 8,000-8,500 in a 3/4 ton chassis?

The main difference is that the 3/4 ton will usually have a higher payload, somewhere around 2500lbs, while the 1/2 ton will have payload around 1500lbs.
Anything of that vintage will be pretty "long in the tooth". I would probably try for something in the 2002-2005 range. If you are lucky you might actually find something with less than 100000 miles.

Usually bigger brakes, heavier springs, full floating rear axle possibly a few other minor details....