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Supercharged111

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Ahh. It was a casual suggestion as it doesn't address your security concerns. Is a tune on the table?
 

DonF

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Not going to tune either one at the moment. Whichever one I keep may get more done to it. It's not a big priority as they both pull well as is. I like switching up vehicles, so they both could be gone tomorrow if I find something else I like better. I just messed with the 350 van a lot because it was so underpowered. With the big blocks they go from point a to b just fine and I am not holding up traffic.
 

DonF

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I figured out why the 8.1 felt so similar to the 7.4 when towing a trailer, power wise. The 8.1 has 3.73 and the 7.4 has 4.10. They are rated to pull the exact same weight trailer from the factory even. The 8.1 felt slightly better. I asked the seller before purchase and just assumed it was the 4.10 with the 8.1. The build code says different.
 

letitsnow

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That makes sense. From what I have read, the 8.1 suburbans typically got the 3.73.
 

Mark Gilbert

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Also sorry for the late reply, both my suburbans 99 454 and the 03 8.1 have 4.10 gears. I also forgot to mention I feel much safer with the later model brakes.
 

DonF

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Thanks, the 8.1L with 3.73 is close to the towing power of the Vortec 7.4L with 4.10's. Towing a 6000 lb enclosed trailer. Even after a few weeks of using both, its a roll of the dice, I could keep or sell either one and be very happy. One stops and goes a little better, the other is much cleaner and better taken care of. I put the 96 C2500 Silverado with 110,000 on eBay and Craigslist to try first. For some reason even though I have been here 6 months I still can not access the classifieds here on this forum to post a link to the ads.

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L31MaxExpress

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Also sorry for the late reply, both my suburbans 99 454 and the 03 8.1 have 4.10 gears. I also forgot to mention I feel much safer with the later model brakes.
Whats wrong with the older brakes? I have the wide 01-02 G3500 SRW rotors and matching larger calipers, stock rear drums for a G3500, a stock hydroboost setup and my brakes work like a dream even towing. I was actually never impressed driving the NBS as far as brakes go. Especially the vacuum boost ones.
 

Mark Gilbert

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Both vehicles are hydroboost, and pulling my trailer (around 5,500lbs to 6,500lbs) The brakes seem to be better on the later model.

I'm not saying you can't make the brakes work better on the older vehicle, but in my experience stock vs stock on both my 98 1500 vs my 2002 1500 and my 99 2500 vs 2003 2500 the newer brakes have a better feel and seem to stop better. All 4 vehicles have AC Delco pads rotors.
 
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