When my GMT400 isn't enough...

[rcm9364]

I didn’t read all the replies so pardon any redundancy. I agree though with something I read: being a ‘95 it’s power is trash compared with the vortec. My ‘96 350 has more power than my grandad’s ‘95 454. And the vortec’s are ridiculously reliable. The 8.1’s in the gmt800 are awesome but have little aftermarket support.
In short, try to mod your engine a bit, upgrade to a vortec equipped vehicle, or yeah, the gmt800’s are great too.

 

[Jermaine Smith]

Im a LS guy at heart and my street/strip car is LS powered. With that said, the 6.0 motors are weak TOWING VS a Vortec 454.... I have a 97 model 3/4 ton 454 truck. It snatches my camaro around with ease.

Im not sure what GM was thinking about on the 6.0 powered trucks.....

 

[BNielsen]

You'd need the matching set--IF they fit your exhaust manifolds.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mpe-95470/overview/year/1996/make/chevrolet/model/c2500-suburban
and
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mpe-95471/overview/year/1996/make/chevrolet/model/c2500-suburban
~$900 for cats is outrageous, and I own a '97 Vortec 7.4 that probably needs that pair. At whatever point I stuff new cats in place, they'll be "universals" welded into the stock pipes at ~$200.

Maybe you find a Treasure Yard set, I bet you could get 'em for $100.

I'm told that the OEM muffler for the Vortec is very restrictive. Friend of mine said that scrapping the OEM muffler on his '97 7.4 in favor of a pair of aftermarket mufflers made MORE difference than the Gale Banks headers he installed previously.

I can get Magnaflow cats for $70 a piece from Advance, which is what I'll be welding in once I redo the exhaust for headers.
Most salvage yards I go to cut the cats of before the car/truck even hits the lot, so finding a good pair in the bone yard would probably wind up costing about the same as ordering a couple of cheapies from Summit or JEGS.

I'd kill for a set of Banks headers, all I can find are for the Motorhome chassis, so I guess JBA shorties will have to do.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

I can get Magnaflow cats for $70 a piece from Advance, which is what I'll be welding in once I redo the exhaust for headers.
Most salvage yards I go to cut the cats of before the car/truck even hits the lot, so finding a good pair in the bone yard would probably wind up costing about the same as ordering a couple of cheapies from Summit or JEGS.

I'd kill for a set of Banks headers, all I can find are for the Motorhome chassis, so I guess JBA shorties will have to do.

Thorley still makes tri-ys for these trucks. I have them on my G20 van and on my Express van. Definately give a noticeable difference in both torque and hp.

 

[884x4310ci]

A gen 4 big block can tow what you need. You just have to decide what your budget is and then what you want to do.

 

[Supercharged111]

My 3500 has a little more cam than stock, Walker 4" bus muffler, 411 swap, and a blower and it tows my ~5,000# slide in camper and ~9,000# 24' enclosed trailer in CO locked up in OD when it's flatish. With just the trailer all the way back in MI it yanks hard enough to still knock stuff off the dash from a dig. There are lots of options, boost is arguably the easiest. I still need to get some shorties and replace that 2.5" choked down front section of exhaust pipe just aft of the manifolds. And pulley down 1 more.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

My 3500 has a little more cam than stock, Walker 4" bus muffler, 411 swap, and a blower and it tows my ~5,000# slide in camper and ~9,000# 24' enclosed trailer in CO locked up in OD when it's flatish. With just the trailer all the way back in MI it yanks hard enough to still knock stuff off the dash from a dig. There are lots of options, boost is arguably the easiest. I still need to get some shorties and replace that 2.5" choked down front section of exhaust pipe just aft of the manifolds. And pulley down 1 more.

Hahaha! Sounds like my aluminun head 350 Vortec after the 5.13 gear swap. The new 383 might even just spin the tires on a WOT romp from a stop.

 

[Hellested]

I have a 1998 k3500 crewcab long bed, 140k miles. it has the vortec 454, 4l80e trans with 410 gears. Engine only has a cold air intake other than that it’s stock. It struggles to tow my 32’ travel trailer that’s weighs 9k lbs. It is a dog up hills. I live in Nevada which has tons of hills. I was tired of shifting down to 2nd gear up hills and going 40-50mph( depending on grade) . Needless to say, Last month I bought a 2006 Chevy 2500hd duramax 150k miles and it is night and day. It has a tow mode programmed in. I set the cruise control at 70mph and climb hills with ease. If you want power then get a diesel. If you don’t mind going slow then stick with what you have. The 454 will handle the abuse and last forever but it does it slowly. I’ll be selling my gmt400 soon.

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[489burb]

as a guy with a way way over built 454 TBI burb I say swap a junk yard L94 out of an escalade including the whole computer and wiring harness, few grand and a few hard weekends work plus time messing with wiring =403hp & 417ft-lbs, or to get any power out of the TBI the motor needs to be pulled and rebuilt, shaved deck, new full performance heads, cam, push rods, rockers at the least, the throttle body and ignition really limit any top end and the CPU's are untunable so getting a chip burnt is just guess work on how the motor will function but it would do fine for towing, you'll get ~350hp ~400ft-lbs for $4000 as a guess but won't have to mess with wiring

Also a few tips if you do rebuild the 454 in your burb:

1.)don't try and fit long-tube headers on, I have them on mine, not worth it, had to drop the engine in without them, unbolt the passenger side motor mount, hoist the truck, hoist the motor to sit on an angle then pass the passenger header from below. Then had to do it all over again cause their isn't enough room to get a mini-hi torque starter in with them in & its hard to not burn through plug wires

2.)don't put tall valve covers on, they rub the passenger side firewall, I took a hammer drill to a small area on my firewall to give it clearance so it wouldn't pop the valve cover bolts out when I floor it, looks ugly but works

 

[Supercharged111]

Hahaha! Sounds like my aluminun head 350 Vortec after the 5.13 gear swap. The new 383 might even just spin the tires on a WOT romp from a stop.

Dude back in MI this dually will literally blow donuts on concrete. It's enough to make you laugh out loud.