Replacement Engines?

[Passage0ftime]

Has anyone had any experience with upgrading their engines in a 1500 Silverado WT? I am pulling with a 5.3 now with airbags and am very happy with the vehicle overall, but would like a little more power. New fifth wheel has a dry weight of about 7600 # (yep, I know not to count on the mfg. specs but all I have at the moment) I am considering dropping in a refurbished 6.2. Open to opinions. Don't really want to go truck shopping, but that is plan B.

[Gdetrailer]

drsteve wrote:

Hybridhunter wrote:

Passage0ftime wrote:
Has anyone had any experience with upgrading their engines in a 1500 Silverado WT? I am pulling with a 5.3 now with airbags and am very happy with the vehicle overall, but would like a little more power. New fifth wheel has a dry weight of about 7600 # (yep, I know not to count on the mfg. specs but all I have at the moment) I am considering dropping in a refurbished 6.2. Open to opinions. Don't really want to go truck shopping, but that is plan B.

The chevy's aren't really built with a lot of headroom for mods, but a whipple blower is a solution to your power problems.....

Bolting a $7000 blower kit onto a truck with a well used drivetrain seems like a recipe for costly repairs.

Correct.

When in doubt, reread my post above, perhaps print and frame it.. And every time you are tempted to over mod you might think twice.

My Dad COULD have bought at least TWO BRAND NEW TRUCKS with the money he sunk into that junker.

Besides, dumping $7K into a truck that is worth a little more than a blower cost you may as well just light your hard earned money and burn it on the spot..

Mods can be cool, but only up to the point of tipping into unreliable and wasting money territory..

If you were planning a show dragster it might make sense but I don't think that was the plan the OP had..

The engines and transmissions in todays vehicles are head and shoulders better in power and reliability. Granted, the electronics can be a bit sketchy at times but you can't beat the power right off the dealer's show room floor..

[drsteve]

Hybridhunter wrote:

Passage0ftime wrote:
Has anyone had any experience with upgrading their engines in a 1500 Silverado WT? I am pulling with a 5.3 now with airbags and am very happy with the vehicle overall, but would like a little more power. New fifth wheel has a dry weight of about 7600 # (yep, I know not to count on the mfg. specs but all I have at the moment) I am considering dropping in a refurbished 6.2. Open to opinions. Don't really want to go truck shopping, but that is plan B.

The chevy's aren't really built with a lot of headroom for mods, but a whipple blower is a solution to your power problems.....

Bolting a $7000 blower kit onto a truck with a well used drivetrain seems like a recipe for costly repairs.

[Hybridhunter]

Passage0ftime wrote:
Has anyone had any experience with upgrading their engines in a 1500 Silverado WT? I am pulling with a 5.3 now with airbags and am very happy with the vehicle overall, but would like a little more power. New fifth wheel has a dry weight of about 7600 # (yep, I know not to count on the mfg. specs but all I have at the moment) I am considering dropping in a refurbished 6.2. Open to opinions. Don't really want to go truck shopping, but that is plan B.

The chevy's aren't really built with a lot of headroom for mods, but a whipple blower is a solution to your power problems.....

[Gdetrailer]

kw/00 wrote:
I'm a supporter of staying out of debt and making a truck work for you. So my comments next will not support the previous statement but I really think you need to look at a 3/4 ton gas job if anything. After reading the comments again and all are really trying to help you, I think I would just bite the bulet and upgrade. So here's my story: I had a 2000 Chevy 1500 with 5.3 and 3.42 gears. Was pulling a 6500 lb fifth wheel and it did ok. I pulled around Florida and Goergia with occasional NC. I had the truck paid for and upgrading was just not my deal. But we needed a slightly larger fifth wheel cause my daughter was born. My aunt had a 26-28 footer that fit that bill nicely and within our budget so we sold ours and purchased hers. Wieght was around 7600 dry so wet was over 8k easy. Well after looking at the gear upgrade, suspension upgrade, tire upgrade, programmer upgrade, transmission clutch pack upgrade, and. cooler upgrades, ect.... I realized that I just needed to go to a heavier truck that had it all from the get go. That's why a lot of people on here advise to just upgrade to a larger truck. We all have been there and done that. The cost of adding to a truck to make it what you want may not be always the wisest financal decision, when a larger truck can be purchased used with good service. I'm not by any means knocking 1/2 ton trucks at all... That's not my point and won't be, just my thoughts and experiences. I have a gas 3/4 ton now, handles the loads oh so easy. There's so much more then just an simple engine upgrade at stake. I just think that a simple gas or if you feel diesel 3/4 ton would work much better for you in the long run. Diesel not needed for the wieght that your pulling for sure... Gas would be more then good for that wieght. I'm trying to give you my experience since I have been down the same road. I hate to poor money into a truck when I should have just bought the right one for the job to begin with. Hope this helps, Keep us updated and good luck, a lot of good people here trying to help u out for sure.

^^^THIS^^^

Over the years I watched my Dad spend TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON ONE TRUCK to make it tow more and go faster.

The money he wasted on multiple engine rebuilds, carburetors, an aftermarket EFI system, camshafts, pistons, intakes, ignition systems, transmission rebuilds, Gear Vendors Over/Under drive unit, special built drive shaft for said Over/Under drive, springs and on and on was just plain stupid..

The wiring harness was a massive bunch of cut and splices under the dash, under the hood and pretty much every part of the truck.

He broke down ALL THE TIME EVERYWHERE HE WENT!

Each time he tweaked something, something else down the chain broke which then required additional beefing up..

His vehicle was totally unreliable..

He could have easily bought and paid for several NEW trucks.

Honestly, the newer engines in all the manufacturers trucks are heads and shoulders BETTER than they were, providing more HP and torque than previous years..

I get it, you love your current truck but..

Sometimes it is more cost effective overall to use the correct tools for the job instead of attempting to cobble and re engineer and FORCE the wrong tools..

You might find out that upgrading to the right size tool that it is a much more comfortable tow..

[Passage0ftime]

kw/00 wrote:
I'm a supporter of staying out of debt and making a truck work for you. So my comments next will not support the previous statement but I really think you need to look at a 3/4 ton gas job if anything. After reading the comments again and all are really trying to help you, I think I would just bite the bulet and upgrade. So here's my story: I had a 2000 Chevy 1500 with 5.3 and 3.42 gears. Was pulling a 6500 lb fifth wheel and it did ok. I pulled around Florida and Goergia with occasional NC. I had the truck paid for and upgrading was just not my deal. But we needed a slightly larger fifth wheel cause my daughter was born. My aunt had a 26-28 footer that fit that bill nicely and within our budget so we sold ours and purchased hers. Wieght was around 7600 dry so wet was over 8k easy. Well after looking at the gear upgrade, suspension upgrade, tire upgrade, programmer upgrade, transmission clutch pack upgrade, and. cooler upgrades, ect.... I realized that I just needed to go to a heavier truck that had it all from the get go. That's why a lot of people on here advise to just upgrade to a larger truck. We all have been there and done that. The cost of adding to a truck to make it what you want may not be always the wisest financal decision, when a larger truck can be purchased used with good service. I'm not by any means knocking 1/2 ton trucks at all... That's not my point and won't be, just my thoughts and experiences. I have a gas 3/4 ton now, handles the loads oh so easy. There's so much more then just an simple engine upgrade at stake. I just think that a simple gas or if you feel diesel 3/4 ton would work much better for you in the long run. Diesel not needed for the wieght that your pulling for sure... Gas would be more then good for that wieght. I'm trying to give you my experience since I have been down the same road. I hate to poor money into a truck when I should have just bought the right one for the job to begin with. Hope this helps, Keep us updated and good luck, a lot of good people here trying to help u out for sure.

I appreciate the sentiment of staying at the low range of debt load, way more freedom there. I love my 1500 and it has served us very well to date. I have hauled horses for my daughter for years and it did great, but my needs have changed now, so my tow vehicle needs to as well. All this feedback has pretty much boiled down to what you have said. Smarter to buy the truck to fill the need than overspend on dressing up the old one and only having part of what I need. Likely in the spring, if the market keeps climbing I will skim a little off the top and take the plunge to upgrade. BTW, I am practical about my vehicles and pass on frivolous bells and whistles. It has a job to do and it docent have to be wrapped in mink and leather to get the job done.

[kw_00]

I'm a supporter of staying out of debt and making a truck work for you. So my comments next will not support the previous statement but I really think you need to look at a 3/4 ton gas job if anything. After reading the comments again and all are really trying to help you, I think I would just bite the bulet and upgrade. So here's my story: I had a 2000 Chevy 1500 with 5.3 and 3.42 gears. Was pulling a 6500 lb fifth wheel and it did ok. I pulled around Florida and Goergia with occasional NC. I had the truck paid for and upgrading was just not my deal. But we needed a slightly larger fifth wheel cause my daughter was born. My aunt had a 26-28 footer that fit that bill nicely and within our budget so we sold ours and purchased hers. Wieght was around 7600 dry so wet was over 8k easy. Well after looking at the gear upgrade, suspension upgrade, tire upgrade, programmer upgrade, transmission clutch pack upgrade, and. cooler upgrades, ect.... I realized that I just needed to go to a heavier truck that had it all from the get go. That's why a lot of people on here advise to just upgrade to a larger truck. We all have been there and done that. The cost of adding to a truck to make it what you want may not be always the wisest financal decision, when a larger truck can be purchased used with good service. I'm not by any means knocking 1/2 ton trucks at all... That's not my point and won't be, just my thoughts and experiences. I have a gas 3/4 ton now, handles the loads oh so easy. There's so much more then just an simple engine upgrade at stake. I just think that a simple gas or if you feel diesel 3/4 ton would work much better for you in the long run. Diesel not needed for the wieght that your pulling for sure... Gas would be more then good for that wieght. I'm trying to give you my experience since I have been down the same road. I hate to poor money into a truck when I should have just bought the right one for the job to begin with. Hope this helps, Keep us updated and good luck, a lot of good people here trying to help u out for sure.

[PDX_Zs]

BurbMan wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
With all that being said going from 3.42 to 3.73 will be the best bang for the buck!

x1000 on this...

I would make this job #1 before you spend $$ on a cold air intake or tune. If you want stump-pulling power go to 4.10's, you have the 6 speed trans....

Rear axles are a weak spot for the 1500 series trucks when towing at/near the limits. Adding more power to the 3.42's will just accelerate its grenade party. Better to change the ratio and use the power you have with a better mechanical advantage to tow the load.

I strongly recommend you look at a real gear chart before thinking about making any gear changes.

Going one (and frequently) even two ratios rarely changes things significantly.

3.42 to 3.73 is nothing.

[goducks10]

Passage0ftime wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
With all that being said going from 3.42 to 3.73 will be the best bang for the buck!

Do I gather though that with a 4x4 this would also require front transaxle change?

Front axle. Yes.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Passage0ftime wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
With all that being said going from 3.42 to 3.73 will be the best bang for the buck!

Do I gather though that with a 4x4 this would also require front transaxle change?

Yes

[Passage0ftime]

dodge guy wrote:
With all that being said going from 3.42 to 3.73 will be the best bang for the buck!

Do I gather though that with a 4x4 this would also require front transaxle change?

[BurbMan]

dodge guy wrote:
With all that being said going from 3.42 to 3.73 will be the best bang for the buck!

x1000 on this...

I would make this job #1 before you spend $$ on a cold air intake or tune. If you want stump-pulling power go to 4.10's, you have the 6 speed trans....

Rear axles are a weak spot for the 1500 series trucks when towing at/near the limits. Adding more power to the 3.42's will just accelerate its grenade party. Better to change the ratio and use the power you have with a better mechanical advantage to tow the load.

[Passage0ftime]

gmcsmoke wrote:
all this to pull a f'ver with 1500 work truck?

Interestingly enough, I had my answer a couple of pages ago. I think it speaks well that so many folks are willing to share their opinions. I like to watch a lively discussion though, and some good information is being exchanged that may help the next guy. Me? I'm going to chill, enjoy what I got, not push too hard and when the spirit strikes me to hit every National Park before the bug guy takes me, I'll upgrade.

[gmcsmoke]

all this to pull a f'ver with 1500 work truck?

[PDX_Zs]

So Ben brings some good points to the table.

The LS swaps normally go as an engine / trans unit. Old in. New out. This is good and easy as it ensures a matched tranny. With the 6.0 or 6.2, will come the HD 6speed 80 or 90 auto. Usually the 90 if I recall. Good stuff.

This brings out the potential need for a tcase adapter and driveshaft changes. See? Nothing is easy.

Even when it is.

Cooling comments are right on too. And the large LS swaps usually take the radiator from the donor vehicle as well. Otherwise premium custom rads get expensive fast.

🙂