5.3l chevy to 6.0l chevy

You will like the increased torque with the 6.0 over the 5.3. They still rev higher but the gear changes with a six speed will be far less than with the smaller engine. Fuel mileage is still not great but you can live with it for towing under 10,000 lbs.

I bought a cooler and when I pulled the grill off saw a factory transmission cooler sitting there so I didn't install it. I may still do it as it's an easy job. I'll cut the return line and splice it in there.

It's turning 4500 or so at that speed. Just got a big ol transmission cooler this week that I will install soon.

LanceRKeys wrote:
Falconbrother, my 5.3 will drop down to 2nd at 55mph if on an incline. I have not weighed my trailer yet, but I would say 7,000. My suburban has 195,000 miles on it, maybe it is just tired...

2nd gear..! Holy cow.. It's screaming at 55 in 2nd. I don't suppose it hurts anything though. The 4.8/5.3s don't seem to mind. I figure it's two of the 4 cylinders that I had in my old Honda CRV. I would let it scream pulling mountains, like going up Black Mountain with the AC on. It did that more times than I can count. It had 200,000 on it when I sold it and was an awesome car. Didn't hurt that engine at all.

Actually, I worry more about the transmission than I do then engine. I drive easy to save the transmission, not the engine.

LanceRKeys wrote:
Falconbrother, my 5.3 will drop down to 2nd at 55mph if on an incline. I have not weighed my trailer yet, but I would say 7,000.

Heck, my 5.3L does that with 3500# behind it!

Falconbrother, my 5.3 will drop down to 2nd at 55mph if on an incline. I have not weighed my trailer yet, but I would say 7,000. My suburban has 195,000 miles on it, maybe it is just tired...

It was a night and day difference for me going from my 2004 Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi to a 2013 Ram 2500 5.7L Hemi. I loved driving the 1500 and still miss it, but the towing experience is way better with the 2500. I immediately noticed more power while towing and overall more solid platform. I think I have about 40 more HP with the newer 5.7L Hemi and 3.73 gear. Now comparing the two while not towing is quite the opposite. I could race around in the 1500 and it definitely was quicker, but obviously it was a lot smaller truck.

I luvs my 2500HD with the 6.0.

LanceRKeys wrote:
Thanks for your input bionic man. My suburban can't pull 4th (overdrive) on level ground, level ground is 3rd gear, anything more than a slight incline for more than a half mile or so will cause it to shift to second. I wouldn't mind running some higher RPMs if running in the mountains or something, but in the Texas panhandle it seems a little much. I would consider an ecoboost, but have never seen one in my price range ( less than $10,000). I am sure they are out there, just not real common.

I like the full size van idea, but my wife has vetoed that option.

I think I will keep looking for a v10 or 8.1 chevy, sounds like they may do better than the 6.0 or my current 5.3.

My 5.3 will stay in overdrive on flat level highway pulling a 27 foot TT that weighs about 6500 wet. On the long uphills I pull it down to 3rd unless it's real steep then I go down to 2nd, roughly 45MPH. It is good to know that all the 5.3s do about the same. I have a buddy that has an 8th gen Suburban with the 5.7 and it seems to tow better than the 5.3.

My buddy has a Ford Expedition EL with the 5.4. It "seems" to pull better than the 5.3.

LanceRKeys wrote:
Will a 6.0l be much of a jump in pulling power from my current 2008 5.3l suburban? (assuming the same 3.73 gears in both) I have been looking at buying a new tow vehicle and want to stay with a gas rig. The 6.0l 2500s seem to be more common in my price range (read low budget) than other gas 2500/3500 rigs. My concern is that it won't be much of in improvement in power from what I have. Has anyone else made a similar switch, and what were your thoughts? I also see several 5.7L hemi dodges out there, but have the same concerns.

How much does your camper weigh?? I pull with a 6.0 with the 4 spd. It's been a great truck, but pulling 8000lbs, it struggles in the hills, and on the flats if there are any little up slopes it drops to 3rd, and many times I'll just drop it to 3rd to have a little more throttle response, and reduce the number of shifts. Going to Smoky Mountain National Park last weekend, it got down to 1st and 30mph on one hill. But it has 210k miles.

Ram offers a 6.4l gasser that has the highest power ratings of the gassers.