Chevy 8.1 truck with low miles?

You guys are filled with nostalgia.
The 8.1 was a great engine, so was the 7.3 PSD and the LBZ Duramax. THey were very reliable platforms.
Nevertheless I don't think they compare to the current motors in terms of performance and towing experience. It's nice to reminisce, but when it comes time to buy give me a modern engine with all the power and the multi gear trannies. OEM exhaust brakes make a difference as well.
Those old engines you guys are remembering were mere stepping stone to today's monsters. ...and just when we want to complain about all the emissions stuff remember the air is a lot cleaner and we are RV'ing well into our 80's as a result of the cleaner air and the emissions standards and equipment.
For you football fans:
John Unitas was an immortal QB for the Baltimore Colts however he didn't possess the athleticism of Lamar Jackson. (GO Ravens)
I don't want John Unitas era players to face the Titans this weekend and I don't want to tow with a 4 speed drivetrain or use a truck without an exhaust brake either!

I was at an RV show some time ago looking at a very nice very large motor home. I mumbled something about gas mileage and the salesman summed it up quite nicely, he said it gets great mileage for a house...never gave towing mileage a second thought after that and, my 8.1 has 110k on the clock.

Bionic Man wrote:
I really don't understand what all the fuss is about.

A lot of love for the 8.1 is it was the only gasser GM offered with the Allison transmission. It's a coveted combo, just like the LBZ is the most coveted Duramax.

Sales guy that I've been dealing with for the last 10 years or so at a Chevy dealer says any LBZ they take on trade is gone within a week. He said people are on a waiting list to buy an LBZ trade-in.

I had a 8.1 in a 2500 Burb. I really don't understand what all the fuss is about. I wasn't in love my Yukon Denali XL, but the 6.2 in that seemed more powerful towing than the 8.1.

I found another one in Lynnwood with about 82k miles.

I didn't see that one but I saw an 06 8.1L with a 6 speed manual; wouldn't mind taking that one for a spin! :B

I'm still drooling over the 2002 F350 CC DRW 4x4 7.3L Lariat LE with 4,600 miles (yes not a typo) on Ebay the other day.....:(

Click For Full-Size Image.

^^^^...yes Grit has it and add that they didn't have the gearing available as does everything today

Approx 410 ft/lbs at about 1,300 RPM. Flat till about 3,200 RPM and drops off a cliff at about 3.6K RPM

Too high a 1st (low numeric), nor double OD

They have the torque and torque curve to get higher MPG with a double OD

My 7.4L big block with 4.1's used to get 12.X MPG on the highway and occasionally (often enough to claim it) got 15MPG. Not empty, but with the volleyball tournament team going from the SF Bayarea to Vegas (8 folks, from my 6'4" guy to the 4'10" gal...8 gym bags, team bag, ball bag, 2-3 ice chests, etc...includes my ~200 lb toolbox)

Beat the snot out if it and am down to a consistent 10MPG


{edit} The 8.1L has about 40 ft/lbs more than my 7.4L and red lines over 4k RPMs, while my 7.4L red lines around 3.8K RPMs

Devocamper wrote:
Had a GMC ext cab 3/4 with the 8.1 and it was a great motor, so strong but so thirsty we had to carry extra gas cans when towing the fifth wheel on long trips. You would have to stop for fuel long before a rest room stop but it was a strong motor and with the Allison transmission it was a great combo.
Mike

Yup, bout the same as any gasser once you hook a boat anchor to it.
I could make the 6.2l F 250's get 7-8 mpg all day long too. Heck, I even sucked the mighty fuel sippin Cummins down to 9mpg one time with a 3000lb trailer behind it. (85mph + into a 40-50mph headwind will do that. Felt like I was doing 130mph! lol But after about 20 hours straight at the wheel, I wasn't going to slow down to save a few buckaroos at the pump)

But I think the old 8.1 still has a stronger, flatter torque curve than any of the newer gassers.

^^^ Yeah great. Everyone knows what kind of mileage they get. Bout the same as the Dodge and Ford V10s and 454s/460s of the same era.

Yet it has more or less the same power as all the new/newer HD gas burners and very arguably a more durable transmission.
So while discussion the virtues of the truck is fun, I just figgered that there might be someone interested in a low mile example of what is still a very competitive gas towing rig, for, oh, about 25-30% the cost of a new truck.