LS powered truck comparison

[STINEY]

We were robbed this weekend - at work. Again.

Major PIA for me to clean up and get things rolling again, not complaining just another day in the salt mines.

But I took my bosses truck to town to restock. Its a 2010 1/2 ton 4wd quad cab loaded with everything but leather.

And its fun to drive. It has a 5.3L (16v FFV, whatever FFV is?), the serial number has a "3" in the eighth position. It weighs 5600# as checked on the scales when I got back from town, they are certified and accurate to within 20#.

My butt dyno is comparing this to my 6000# van with 6.0L LS engine. The van just doesn't have the "peppy" feel the truck has.

I guess I'm just expecting 2 full frame vehicles with similar weights and the same basic engine and same transmission? (4l80E in van) to feel closer in performance. In fact, I'd expect the 2WD van to feel more responsive since it lacks the power robbing full-time 4WD system.

Comments gentlemen?

[BBR]

Huh. That's weird. I though our '09 5.3L 4x4 truck was a dog.

[STINEY]

This one sure isn't. We fight over getting to drive it.


And I have to correct myself, after researching the VIN to see if there was something special about this one, I see it is a 1500 Silverado. I'll edit the 3/4 ton error.

(and my buddy with a 2005 5.3 2WD is somewhat doggy too)

[200kss]

The way I read your post, the boss' ride is a 2010 1/2 ton compared to a 3/4 ton van with a 6.0 LS and a 4L80E? The 1/2 ton should have the 6 speed auto and probably 3.42 gears. The van has 3.73 or 4.10's? Either way the trans. gear ratios will help out the butt dyno feel. 1st gear on the 6psd auto is deep, compared to the 4L80E. The 2001 2500HD 6.0/4L80E/4.10 geared truck we had was a dog around town. Just my experience. Sorry about your place getting robbed, thieves suck.

[STINEY]

Oops, I was a little unclear.

Van is a 3500 1-ton Express with 3.73 gears.

Truck is a 1500 1/2 ton Silverado, not sure of the ratio....yet.....let me check. Can't find the tag on bosses truck, its very visible on my van. Truck likes to roll right along at 80-90 though, not even trying.

[SpiderGearsMan]

low drag drivetrain ..six speed is great

[kyhunter89]

Van has a low compression 6.0, horsepower robbing 80e, and 1ton drivetrain. Older 5.3s only made 10hp less. Newer one since 08 have 243(better) heads, and bigger throttle bodies.

[yellomalibu]

I took my '84 long bed C10 to the dump, drove it across the scales on the way in and out - it weighs 4050 lbs.

Man, luxury and safety sure are heavy.

[kyhunter89]

His is quad cab, extended car is 500 less, reg cab is another 500 less. My 2wd rcsb is 4500.

FFV, Flex fuel?

[kyhunter89]

His is quad cab, extended car is 500 less, reg cab is another 500 less. My 2wd rcsb is 4500.

FFV, Flex fuel?

[milner351]

Gear ratio difference? Does one have a towing package and the other not? Sure sounds like maybe the van has 3.42 and the truck that feels "peppy" has 3.73, 4.10...

[Russell]

Just put a Turbo on the van!

[STINEY]

Did more digging.........the truck has 3.42 - and is definitely the 6-speed.

That trans is surely the difference according to my butt. Slick piece........why don't we hear of those being swapped more often? Really impressive piece.

The way it feels John, you'd swear the gears were reversed as you described, other than top end not being limited. Weird how they behave exactly opposite.

And I have naughty dreams of that turbo van.........other than the color and AWD it is the evil twin of mine. Don't think I haven't strongly considered it - and I'm not ruling it out yet.