305 in the 305..

[L31MaxExpress]

I know they’re different platforms but, when I drive my 12’ Tahoe (5.3 6l80e 4x4 on 33’s) I always find myself giving it more throttle input than my 97 c1500 (350 4l60e). I prefer the power band of the 350 over the 5.3. I also don’t see much difference if any as far as fuel consumption differences between the 2 trucks.

They are completely different engines and driving experiences.

I have always found the exact same thing to be true. I removed a 6.0L to put a similarly built L31 350 back into its place. The 6.0L was a gutless wonder until it was reved over 4,000-4,500 rpm. Give me a 383 or a 400 even a tall deck 366 or 427 over the garbage being built now. I have driven fully loaded C60s with the 366 TBI and I prefer that engine backed to the 4spd AT545 over a 6.0L/4L80E any day of the week. Plant your foot through the firewall on those 366s and they rev out and keep pulling on hills.

 

[Orpedcrow]

I have always found the exact same thing to be true. I removed a 6.0L to put a similarly built L31 350 back into its place. The 6.0L was a gutless wonder until it was reved over 4,000-4,500 rpm. Give me a 383 or a 400 even a tall deck 366 or 427 over the garbage being built now. I have driven fully loaded C60s with the 366 TBI and I prefer that engine backed to the 4spd AT545 over a 6.0L/4L80E any day of the week.

I towed a trencher on our 16’ pipe top with the Tahoe. It did it fine but it was screaming at me the whole time.

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I know it’s not much weight but still…

 

[L31MaxExpress]

I towed a trencher on our 16’ pipe top with the Tahoe. It did it fine but it was screaming at me the whole time.

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I know it’s not much weight but still…

About 5-6 years ago my brother, several friends and I were on a camping/ river floating trip 300 miles from home. One of our buddies had his 4.0L Cherokee overheat 100 miles from camp and had to limp it there. Block gas test said it had exhaust in the coolant. Rented a trailer, loaded the Cherokee up, moved most of the camping gear and luggage in the van to the Jeep. All 7 of us jumped in the van and hit the highway. I was uncomfortably sun burned and had the pedal down on I35 running with traffic at 70-75 even 80 at times. The old 350 loafed along in overdrive. 4L85E and 3.73 9.5 14-bolt. Still managed 14 mpg and the 350 never screamed at me, it just grunted along. A couple of long grades put it into 3rd, but I was easily rolling along over 14,000 lbs combined maybe closer to 15K. My tuning style also does not really lug an engine, I set tunes up to unlock the converter and downshift about the time the TPS opening makes the MAP go to atmospheric pressure. It could have used little more rise on the ball mount but towed well the way it was. The van was firmly into the 1-ton overloads I had in the 1500 leaf spring packs on it at that time.

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[jd33173]

My Dad snuck in and fixed my truck while i was at work (!). It was the ignition coil but i will claim a moral victory as I am fairly certain that I would not have just tie wrapped a new coil to the old coil. WTAF? I will clean up the aftermath this weekend if i dont have to run network cabling for a work project. I am loving all the info and different points of view - I am sure that many of these points have been made on other threads in many ways but am enjoying the discussions and how various individuals present their case (some quite amusingly). You guys ARE awesome.

 

[Orpedcrow]

My Dad snuck in and fixed my truck while i was at work (!).

Heck yea! As long as dad doesn’t MAKE more work for us it’s a win.

 

[Moofus02]

I have always found the exact same thing to be true. I removed a 6.0L to put a similarly built L31 350 back into its place. The 6.0L was a gutless wonder until it was reved over 4,000-4,500 rpm. Give me a 383 or a 400 even a tall deck 366 or 427 over the garbage being built now. I have driven fully loaded C60s with the 366 TBI and I prefer that engine backed to the 4spd AT545 over a 6.0L/4L80E any day of the week. Plant your foot through the firewall on those 366s and they rev out and keep pulling on hills.

I've got An 86 square cab and chassis 4x4. 350/th400/205. It's getting a carbed 77 366 tall deck converted to tbi and a 4l80 in front of the 205. Going to use it to pull a goose neck in summer and push an 8.5 foot snow plow in winter. I love the 366/427 as much as the 8.1

 

[L31MaxExpress]

I've got An 86 square cab and chassis 4x4. 350/th400/205. It's getting a carbed 77 366 tall deck converted to tbi and a 4l80 in front of the 205. Going to use it to pull a goose neck in summer and push an 8.5 foot snow plow in winter. I love the 366/427 as much as the 8.1

I do as well. The 366/427s are practically indestructible like the 8.1L. The 366 and 427s used some high quality materials. Forged and Tuftrided cranks, beefy rods, some had gear drives for timing sets and all had beefy 4 bolt main caps on every cap. Also the 4 ring pistons were great for longevity. The later 366 engines had more HP and a flatter power curve than the 454s with peanut ports. They were only down like 20 ft/lbs compared to a 454 at peak but had a flatter power curve overall and more HP. The later 366s had dome pistons to use the small valve, small port 427 heads rather than the 454s peanut port castings. GM put 350s in a lot of things that should have had 366s. The G30 cutaways being one and the dually 1-ton pickups being another. 350 never belonged in those kind of like the 327 and 350 never belonged in a 71 passenger bus either.

 

[KansasOBS]

I have always found the exact same thing to be true. I removed a 6.0L to put a similarly built L31 350 back into its place. The 6.0L was a gutless wonder until it was reved over 4,000-4,500 rpm.

You realize they are originally built to run higher in the rpm range, due to increased efficiency, also your single plane intake is hardly known for low rpm torque.

Aint nothing wrong with rpm's. In fact they hold it better than your old block, due to a better mains design.

 

[TonyM]

Well that’s enough internet for 2024 for me

 

[Scooterwrench]

350,700R4,injectors and a rebuilt ECM compatible for that setup and carry on. Will it make 300hp? Probably not but it will run circles around a 305 and be totally dependable. Later as your skills increase you can start bolting on go fast goodies.