Looking at buying a new truck and need help

[Tucker943]

7.3 Powerstroke got excellent fuel mileage and thats a fact. Low rear ends really caused those trucks to suck fuel but low rear ends cause anything to suck fuel. I've seen 7.3 single cab trucks hitting 22-23 mpgs very often.

 

[stehansen]

My cousin has a manual tranny and clutch that's on a 7.3 now in his wrecked truck. Maybe you could throw that in there?

 

[Tree Guy's Wife]

Hey - read all this out to Tree Guy. He says the one he's most interested in is a GMC Topkick C7500 and a GMC C6500 - we don't know what engines are in them - we'll be looking into that when we're there.

 

[Dave Shepard]

Unless he has specific experience with todays gas engines, they are as much, or more, of a mystery as the diesels. A cheap code reader from an auto parts store is a must have for any shade tree mechanic these days.

 

[stehansen]

On the other hand the electronics make today's gasoline engines much more efficient than those of pre 1988.

 

[JIML]

Dt 466 ....

....is a gutless turd...

 

[brendonv]

My cousin has a manual tranny and clutch that's on a 7.3 now in his wrecked truck. Maybe you could throw that in there?

That's an idea for them. I really like my 7.3 coupled with the 6sp trans.

I don't calculate fuel mileage for my truck, but I probably don't reach over 10. A friend of mine had a reg. cab pickup w/4:10, he got about 15 and he drives like a baby. Another truck he had has 3:73, got 18 at best. NO load, single rear wheel, and grandpa driving skills. I know of a 2wd reg. cab that gets mid 20's, but it's def. not a tree truck.

A simple air filter mod, and straight through exhaust with no kitty will get you better MPG's and be better for the truck TGW.

 

[lumberjack]

The only issue I have had with my 1993 GMC Topkick 5500 366/Allison is a fuel pump that went out. Otherwise it has been a good truck. It gets crap milage (6mpg) and wouldn't like living in the mountains, but the brakes on it are fantastic.

 

[sotc]

....is a gutless turd...

If it's in a typical class A situation, I think it's a great engine in a medium duty truck

 

[Dave Shepard]

The 466 comes in a number of ratings. Our silage truck has a DTA466@250 with a 7 speed. It will haul a full load of wet silage, 28 yards, with ease. A friend of mine has an '82 with a 180 hp version, not earth shaking, but it does pretty good for an old beast. They are also fuel misers, that thing probably gets better mileage than my pickup.

 

[stehansen]

I thought they were one of the best medium duty truck motors.

 

[Ridgey]

Buy japanese and cut them costs 1/4th

 

[MasterBlaster]

Frig that. Our economy needs all the support we can give it, at the moment. Buy American!

 

[woodworkingboy]

Buy japanese and cut them costs 1/4th

I appreciate the sentiment, at least.

 

[Ridgey]

Frig that. Our economy needs all the support we can give it, at the moment. Buy American!

Thats true god bless America and my mormon brothers over there.

Damian