454 vs 6.0

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1989GMCSIERRA

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Are you limited in what you can do smog wise? If you’re stuck to a TBI 454 for smog reasons I would go with the 6.0. Otherwise 454s can be built like anything else.
It’s just a matter of what you like.. old school carb/TBI or new age Fuel injection

That’s why I’m rethinking keeping the TBI 350 in my 89 gmc and thinking of swaping to a 6.0
I gotta pass smog anyway I might as well have a newer technology. I’m thinking of buying a Suburban and just yanking the powertrain dash and interior. The rest I’ll just junk it or give it away
 

L31MaxExpress

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Not a boat anchor, it can be built. All the traditional BBC speed parts are MK4. You want boat anchor find a 6.2L or 6.5L diesel.

The 6.0L LS engine of course makes more power stock.

Having towed with a 6.0L 1500HD they are unimpressive, they make alot of noise and do nothing. I have towed the same trailer with an 8.1 Suburban as well. 8.1 is rated 5 HP less than a LQ9 but 20-40 HP more than a LQ4. 8.1 has way more grunt EVERYWHERE. The 454 might have less HP but it will often be capable of dragging a truck especially towing uphill or into the wind without reving the snot out of it.

Truth be known both the LS engines and the newer Hemi engines are HORRIBLE truck engines in anything heavy. Its big block, stroked traditional small block, or Nissan VK56 for me when it comes to a truck and towing.
 

Supercharged111

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Without a tune my 454 was total garbage. It's still not great, but it is pushing a heavier truck. The 1500 holds OD better and climbs hills faster. I believe the 8.1 to be completely superior to the 454 especially when paired with an Allison transmission. We're talking a stock carb or TBI 454 vs a stock 6.0. The 6.0 can downshift and at least accomplish something. If the 454 won't grunt its way through then it simply gets its ass handed to it.
 

df2x4

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6.0 gets my vote for sure.
 

jdla140

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Not a boat anchor, it can be built. All the traditional BBC speed parts are MK4. You want boat anchor find a 6.2L or 6.5L diesel.

The 6.0L LS engine of course makes more power stock.

I guess my boat anchors have always treated me really good, better than any of the vortec trucks I've had anyway.

My vote is for the 6.0. My Sierra Denali has 311,400 miles as of today and is COMPLETELY unopened. The coolant has never been changed from the factory. It still runs awesome and pulls great. I've had about 6500 pounds behind it and it could very easily handle more, holding 65-70 was asking nothing of it.
 

454cid

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I guess my boat anchors have always treated me really good, better than any of the vortec trucks I've had anyway.

Well it looks like you've had 350s with the goofy spider injection system and the bad intake gaskets. 454s use regular injectors, and if the intake manifold leaks, it leaks to the outside, not into the oil. The 350's are fixable, and reliable. The diesels don't seem to be as fixable from what I hear from people that have had issues.

My vote is for the 6.0. My Sierra Denali has 311,400 miles as of today and is COMPLETELY unopened. The coolant has never been changed from the factory.

Why would you not change your coolant? It's rated for 5 years, not 16.
 
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Jared Jackson

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My vote is for the 6.0. My Sierra Denali has 311,400 miles as of today and is COMPLETELY unopened. The coolant has never been changed from the factory. It still runs awesome and pulls great. I've had about 6500 pounds behind it and it could very easily handle more, holding 65-70 was asking nothing of it.

Wow... I almost choked on my chips! I believe DEX had a service life recommendation of 5yr 100k mile, whichever came first. You are lucky if you haven't experienced any issues so far.
I don't think OAT coolants have the problem of becoming acidic as quickly as conventional as they break down, but I do believe the older stuff will start to lean that way pretty fast... I have never ran coolant that far though, so I have no experience to base that on.
 
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