C3500 diesel vs 454… towing

[TCBRacer77]

So, with the way things have been looking the past several years, I’m starting to lean towards a C3500 454 4x4 truck for a future build, and slowly starting to dislike the idea of a duramax swap or even a stock 6.5 diesel truck. A big reason is for the price of diesel sky-rocketing as well as the common consensus that the 454s were awesome if you didn’t mind the gas mileage. I would like to have one of these trucks simply for towing a race car trailer, not frequent use and definitely not a daily. Keeping it put away and keeping miles off of it. I was also looking at Chevrolet performance HT502 crate engine and wondered if it would be an easy drop in to a tired 454 truck?

Just curious what you guys think if a diesel is worth the hype if the 454 is sufficient? Even compared to a duramax swap??

 

[someotherguy]

I think you'd be way ahead of the game to start with a 454 that isn't tired and just use it as-is. Do you really have a need for an HT502 or a Duramax swap?

BTW C3500 would be 2WD. K3500 is 4WD. That's how the nomenclature works

Richard

 

[618 Syndicate]

@Supercharged111

 

[TCBRacer77]

I think you'd be way ahead of the game to start with a 454 that isn't tired and just use it as-is. Do you really have a need for an HT502 or a Duramax swap?

BTW C3500 would be 2WD. K3500 is 4WD. That's how the nomenclature works

Richard

Yea My bad I knew that the 4WD trucks are the K series I was just in a hurry while posting this lol. But no you don’t “need” a HT502 but I’m talking about a full build I would like to do and just something I thought would be cool. It’s not a very expensive crate engine just wondered how “plug and play” it is (or maybe isn’t) lol.

 

[Supercharged111]

First question is what will you be towing? If it's 5,000# open deck you may be able to eek out better economy with a 6.5. Will it be worth it? Good question, plus the 6.5 has its share of issues. All a 454 does is pound gas and sometimes eat a cam. Stock, at least crew cab dually, is a nutless turd. Funny thing though, put a modest trailer behind it and not much changes. A free flowing exhaust and a tune is a must for the 454. I've been blown away by the stock cooling system for such an old truck. Mine gets warm, but it never gets hot, and I run it heavy.

 

[TCBRacer77]

First question is what will you be towing? If it's 5,000# open deck you may be able to eek out better economy with a 6.5. Will it be worth it? Good question, plus the 6.5 has its share of issues. All a 454 does is pound gas and sometimes eat a cam. Stock, at least crew cab dually, is a nutless turd. Funny thing though, put a modest trailer behind it and not much changes. A free flowing exhaust and a tune is a must for the 454. I've been blown away by the stock cooling system for such an old truck. Mine gets warm, but it never gets hot, and I run it heavy.

I would plan on using this for a 32-38 foot enclosed trailer with racecar and pit cart, or a large 5th wheel camper.. this is all just hypothetical and for sake of conversation. I find myself falling down many rabbit holes thinking “what would be really cool” so this is me validating my thoughts with experts lol

 

[Supercharged111]

I would plan on using this for a 32-38 foot enclosed trailer with racecar and pit cart, or a large 5th wheel camper.. this is all just hypothetical and for sake of conversation. I find myself falling down many rabbit holes thinking “what would be really cool” so this is me validating my thoughts with experts lol

You're gonna want headers and maybe a little cam. Where do you live? Any hills, wind, or elevation?

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

See pics on post #4484, daily truck pics. This dually is a 93 with 454 and according to the owner/driver, he's hauled this trailer all over the country with it for several years. Didn't get to ask him about any mods or look under the hood ( he was moving in for a week and by the time we got caught up with work after our Austin trip/long weekend, he'd moved on). He did tell me it was a very capable truck,on flat ground he hardly knows the trailer is there. Said it got up the big bridges on I 10 well, he'd come from Florida.

 

[Supercharged111]

See pics on post #4484, daily truck pics. This dually is a 93 with 454 and according to the owner/driver, he's hauled this trailer all over the country with it for several years. Didn't get to ask him about any mods or look under the hood ( he was moving in for a week and by the time we got caught up with work after our Austin trip/long weekend, he'd moved on). He did tell me it was a very capable truck,on flat ground he hardly knows the trailer is there. Said it got up the big bridges on I 10 well, he'd come from Florida.

Which brings up another good question: what are OP's expectations when towing? 80mph on the interstate all the time? Or go with what the truck wants to do? I will say in the flatter bits of CA I was basically free to pick a speed with the 24' enclosed but through the wind and hills I kept it at 70 to have enough to maintain speed without a downshift.

 

[yevgenievich]

I am working on a 488 build with similar objectives. I know it will drink fuel, but should have good torque and move things well. 502 crate is a good starting point. I went with a build that cost about the same but better heads/cam/lifters for a close enough size. Stock intake is going to take a lot of the gains away and will need work to get at least some out of it. Boost is the answer then