stutaeng
I'm Awesome
Yes
Yes, the 8.1 vans seem like beasts. 10,000 lb towing capacity with the 4.10s. I saw a really nice one recently, but again, a LWB.
I DD an LQ4/4L80/4.10 in a suburban and have no complaints. I don't really even push it over 2500 RPM getting on the highway. Only once I towed one of those 6x12 U haul trailers around here. Probably was no more than 4,000# load though. My previous DD was an C1500 ECSB 4.3/4L60e/3.42 and I also have a K3500 CCLB 5.7/4L80e/4.10. I drove the 4.3 for like 10 years, so both the 5.7 and 6.0 are nicer to drive, even though they are heavier vehicles.
As to why the 6.2 was not offered on the Vans...My theory is that the aluminum block would have not stood up to the rigors of a heavy vehicle. Likewise, the 6.2L was not offered in the HD trucks. The power is there, but durability would of have suffered, in my opinion. Cast iron I believe is the material of choice for heavy GVWR. Note the 6.6 GM gas engine is iron block.
Just not a big fan of the 6.0L here, especially with those torque robbing rectangle ports on it. If I had a heavy truck or van with the rectangle port 6.0L in it like a LY6, my first swap would be a set of 862 heads ported by Lloyd Elliot with 2.00 intake valves and a Trailblazer SS or NBS 5.3 cathederal port manifold. Give it a nice shot in the arm in the low-midrange where you actually run 95% of the time. Why GM never put the 6.2L in the vans always baffled me. I always liked the 96-02 vans best, atleast in 96-2000 you could get the 454 and 01-02 you could get the 8.1. With those big blocks you could get 3.42 gears behind the 4L80E. GM had a higher tow rating on the 3.42 geared big block than the 4.10 geared small block. In the real world fuel economy was about the same but the big block had alot more get up and go.
Yes, the 8.1 vans seem like beasts. 10,000 lb towing capacity with the 4.10s. I saw a really nice one recently, but again, a LWB.
I DD an LQ4/4L80/4.10 in a suburban and have no complaints. I don't really even push it over 2500 RPM getting on the highway. Only once I towed one of those 6x12 U haul trailers around here. Probably was no more than 4,000# load though. My previous DD was an C1500 ECSB 4.3/4L60e/3.42 and I also have a K3500 CCLB 5.7/4L80e/4.10. I drove the 4.3 for like 10 years, so both the 5.7 and 6.0 are nicer to drive, even though they are heavier vehicles.
As to why the 6.2 was not offered on the Vans...My theory is that the aluminum block would have not stood up to the rigors of a heavy vehicle. Likewise, the 6.2L was not offered in the HD trucks. The power is there, but durability would of have suffered, in my opinion. Cast iron I believe is the material of choice for heavy GVWR. Note the 6.6 GM gas engine is iron block.
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