oh joy...........

The big question is do you dump $2500 and your time on a truck that is worth about the same after you get it running again, comb the want ads or junk yards for a used engine of unknown condition, but cheaper, or resign yourself to the unfortunate failure and remove on.

A 20+ year old bare bones, beat up , rode hard, 2wd pickup ain’t really worth putting a lot of $ into IMO.

blt2ski wrote:
Jerry,

So far every 2.7 I can come across used, has a 6500 gvw, with 3300 springs etc on the front and rear. Yes I know for ALL that have them, them 3.5 has mucho power. I drive a detuned on at work in a 250 transit van. I know of no one that gets above 18 mpg with it! The 3.5's or 5.0 motors do have higher spring packs. For what I do, I dont really need more than 300hp, I'll take a bit underpowered, go a bit slower loaded, and get low 20s unloaded, I'll be a happy camper vs the 11-13 I get now with current truck. ALtho new, I did get 17 on the freeway a few times. Most of these heavier 15's should carry a ton with out too many worries. If I need more, I have my IHC which can carry 6 happy, 7 not as happy, 8 becomes squirrelly and I'm over my registered 26K gvw.

marty

If you’re upgrading, you may have to come to the realization that power and gvwr generally come in the same package.
No one wants a 292, 3 on the tree with low gears and extra leaf springs anymore.

My 86 C20 with Turbo400 shifted like new even with well over 400k. bought the truck with 30k and had the torque converter tapped. Full fluid change every service.

If someone is going through T-400's they are doing something wrong. Towing overloaded and generating high heat, not running a large enough trans cooler or are not keeping up on filter and fluid changes. I've pulled many loaded miles with T-400 and never had one go bad. As routine maintenance I changed fluid and filter every spring plus I ran a large aftermarket trans cooler. One rig was a crew cab, 454, carrying an 11 1/2 ft camper pulling a heavy 4 horse trailer, 18K weight and one trip was 2 laneing it through the hills/mts of West Virginia

Jerry,

So far every 2.7 I can come across used, has a 6500 gvw, with 3300 springs etc on the front and rear. Yes I know for ALL that have them, them 3.5 has mucho power. I drive a detuned on at work in a 250 transit van. I know of no one that gets above 18 mpg with it! The 3.5's or 5.0 motors do have higher spring packs. For what I do, I dont really need more than 300hp, I'll take a bit underpowered, go a bit slower loaded, and get low 20s unloaded, I'll be a happy camper vs the 11-13 I get now with current truck. ALtho new, I did get 17 on the freeway a few times. Most of these heavier 15's should carry a ton with out too many worries. If I need more, I have my IHC which can carry 6 happy, 7 not as happy, 8 becomes squirrelly and I'm over my registered 26K gvw.

marty

kellem wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
Unlike Ron's Tahoe, mines run down the road in the 13-15k gcw from frequently over it's 21 year life span. A lot of short hops too.

What I'm surprised about, is not having to replace the 4l80 trans. IMHO the weak spit of the truck.

Marty

Was reluctant to post this as I feel product or manufacture bashing is against the grain of etiquettcy but WTH.
I've been through (4) 4l80 transmissions in 2 different trucks over a span of 10 years.
Can't imagine a weaker link to an otherwise great truck....feel better now.

this trans and its predecessor, TH400 are BIG weak links in this truck model. Not sure how many I have gone thru. With the rest of the truck being just fine.
Probably one of the reasons looking at newer trucks. THen again, this has three chargeable options, tow hitch, trim rings and the auto and optional NC cloth bench seat. NO AC, Cruise, etc that makes driving a truck enjoyable. Wife will not ride in it, as she has AC on in anything above 32F.....
Otherwise, in general terms, a good truck for what it was bought for 21 years ago. Trans gears are too tall, hence why many of us blow them up with higher loads. ALso why in 96, with the 6.5TD I had, went with the NV4500. 2 clutches at best in 200K miles. vs an auto every 30-50K miles on two other trucks with BB 454's.

Marty

blt2ski wrote:
Unlike Ron's Tahoe, mines run down the road in the 13-15k gcw from frequently over it's 21 year life span. A lot of short hops too.

What I'm surprised about, is not having to replace the 4l80 trans. IMHO the weak spit of the truck.

Marty

Was reluctant to post this as I feel product or manufacture bashing is against the grain of etiquettcy but WTH.
I've been through (4) 4l80 transmissions in 2 different trucks over a span of 10 years.
Can't imagine a weaker link to an otherwise great truck....feel better now.

TurnThePage wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
Have 153000 on it.

Jerry,
Both ecobosts will work. Looking at used vs new. Most of the 2.7s have 3300 lb ra. Gm come std with a 3900.

Marty

I always wonder about that. Do they really have a lighter duty rear axle? Or is it the same axle with lighter springs, etc?

I wonder, but not enough to actually look into it. :B

I also am not sure on the 150, with 2.7, as to RAWR? It seems I can remember reading about a lighter duty frame, on the 2.7 equipped models. Surely a member more familiar will know.

I think the lowest axle rating on a 3.5 equipped 150 was 3,800?

I have driven both trucks, a 3.5 eco, and a 2.7 eco, both very impressive power!

Anyway, a man in the hauling business can't have too many trucks! My thought... Marty and boys put an engine in the old GM, when time warrants, but get a late model truck to use asap.

Jerry

blt2ski wrote:
Have 153000 on it.

Jerry,
Both ecobosts will work. Looking at used vs new. Most of the 2.7s have 3300 lb ra. Gm come std with a 3900.

Marty

I always wonder about that. Do they really have a lighter duty rear axle? Or is it the same axle with lighter springs, etc?

I wonder, but not enough to actually look into it. :B

Well Marty, fixing vs new certainly has its merits.

When I blew a head gasket on my Dmax towing through the mountains that hot August day in 2018, I very seriously looked at replacing the truck.

I was absolutely mortified to see the prices for late model used trucks, even those with 150K on them (K or miles). Absurd, in my mind.

Certainly nice to have a newer ride with less miles and more foofoo and fluff, but unless we have a huge income or well padded wallet, this is just not an option. It wasn't for me.

I chose to repair mine, but being a Dmax it obviously cost a bunch more to do. By the time I had it towed home, and the TT towed home, bought a pair of used heads, full top end teardown and rebuild etc, I was out 10 grand Cdn.... Made my south exposure pucker, but it was my cheapest choice. I'm getting too old to take on years of high payments, and I am not willing to settle for a half ton gasser to do the job of a dually diesel. Personal choice, I know what I want and like. I don't have the resources to just do the old one easy payment plan, write a cheque.

I am not sorry I chose to repair instead of replace. Truck is paid for a long time ago, and I paid the repair when it was done. Onward and upward. There was 373,724K on it when it broke. I am now at 414,107K. It runs absolutely perfect since the repair.

Your truck is virtually worthless with a blown engine, you'd get little for it selling for parts. Couple grand to do a long block IMO is well worth it. The truck will again have resale value and should you choose to upgrade later, the sale of this one will yield a far greater return to go towards the newer truck. After a rod coming loose and ventilating the crankcase, I would not consider fixing it. Who knows what else is bent in there....

Just for ships and giggles I went to GMs site a couple days ago and built myself a nice new fully decked out Dmax dually Denali. US vs Canada pricing is vastly different, even with the dollar difference. The sticker on my nice new dream ride was $97,157.00 Cdn. Gulp!