Since we just got a big block powered square body dually, equipped with the venerable Big Block Chevrolet, we have of course been thinking about engine mods, swaps, etc. And the number of people that have very strong opinions on Big Block vs LS vs whatever is amazing. And the same goes for the Ford and Mopar camps. Both have great big blocks, and then they both have really good late model engines that make big power as well. Of course there is the “Put a diesel in it!” crowd as well, but that isn’t what this question is about. This one is about GASOLINE FUELED ENGINES!
With that said, what engine is the one for you? We’re looking at Chevrolets because, well, we have a Chevy. But Ford and Mopar answers are totally legit as well. For us, we have the aforementioned Big Block in the truck now and a bunch of people wanting us to do an LS Swap. We were not originally even considering that, but who knows what the future may hold. Of course there is a part of us that wants to do something with boost in a towing environment, but we’ll see. The big block makes great torque as is, and responds really well to the jillions of performance parts available. And that torque can be had really low in the rpm range which is nice in a truck.
The LS on the other hand makes big power really easily and for cheap in the grand scheme of things. It does not however make big torque down low. At least not typically. But could a combo be built that does? Or can you make enough down low that everything above it is a bonus?
The answer is, we don’t know until we test it.
But what engine would you go for in your tow rig truck project? Whether you dream of having a completely custom square body Chevy like we do, or a really bitchin Ford, there is an engine out there that you think is best.
Which one is it?
440 Mopar.
BBC FTW !! Stroker kit, built for torque !
turbocharged 500 Cadillac
8.1 gen 7 big block ( 496 )with the Dart carb intake. Getting pretty cheap and a nice powerhouse.
427/454. Dump Truck motors – when it just has to work.
BluePrint Engine’s 496 with the small, peanut port heads. More than 550 ft lbs of torque at 3200 rpm. Low compression so it will run on the crappiest gas known to man. The 440 hp comes in at 5200 rpm.
https://blueprintengines.com/products/gm-496-stroker10
My answer has to be “Cummins ISB” but I’m prejudiced.
Let me ask the obvious question: What’s up with the engine in the truck now? Is it healthy and ready to go? Building that engine might be the obvious and economical choice assuming all is well. Having gone from towing with a SBM in my Dakota to the Dodge/Cummins I know all too well that there’s no substitute for torque when towing so I’d slant whatever build you do toward torque and not even worry about RPM/HP.
Dan
5.7 Hemi.
429/460 Ford (I would love to do a Coyote though!)
I can tell you, the worst towing motor I’ve ever had was a early-nineties 454, a gutless overheating fantastically-thirsty p.o.s. that finally literally burned up. Next on the list was another smog-era 454, 7.9mpg hwy and less powerful than the 11mpg TBI 350K that replaced it, which was also overheating junk. I probably put 20k miles on each of those, starting fresh, before kicking-them-the-hell outta here in disgust.
My ’70 396 was better and a bud had a built 454 in a motor home that worked very well so we know Chevys have a chance, just not the smog-tuned ones!
A ’95 Dodge V10 motor/trans recently came home to live here and has me thinking, but I’ve no experience with them.
x
440 Mopar.330 hp with 420 tq stock .Add a little better cam,do a little porting on the intake.Maybe MSD ign,with after market FI. With some good headers.It would be 425 HP. and well over 500 TQ. With a Np 4500 5 spd.That there is a gas tow motor.
All you need to do is take a poll of gas powered RV owners. Ask them what’s the best engine they’ve ever traveled with. Nine out of ten will say the Ford V10 is the best balance of low end torque, fuel efficiency and ruggedness.
It’s not even close really. A hopped up hot rod engine is good for spinning tires but for an engine that can do the best job at towing and hauling you should take a hard look at a Ford V10.
Keeping it simple bore & stroke the motor you have to 496. Add aftermarket EFI ,some round port aluminum heads. Top off with an s366 Borg Warner turbo and call it a day. That is what mine will be eventually.
Small Block 400
Turbo 350
Np 203 transfer case.
12 bolt rear Dana 44 front 3:73 gears.
Quadrajet carburetor.
I\’ve got this combo in a 1976 k5 Blazer and it tows well.
Simple.
Engine compartment looks clean.
Parts are cheap and you can climb into the engine bay to work on it.
Tried and true.
Cadillac 500 maybe. Kinda hard to get parts for in the middle of nowhere, but was engineered to move weight. as for the Ford V10, isn’t that a spark plug spitter outer?
The early version of the 3 valve 5.4 V8 had that tendency. A company I worked for had 4, V10 F250’s in the fleet and we ran them issue-free for 300k each before going to the POS Powerstroke 6.0. Bad decision. As for the V10, I was impressed how it handled pulling a 3 ton generator up and over Eisenhower Pass. It almost felt like a diesel. Almost.
A stroker small block is where it\’s at! I have dreamed of the day this discussion came along and someone wanted to really take a long hard look of all facets that a tow rig engine should do well, fuel economy towing/empty and power in the useable RPM band. These are the judged areas of a good towing engine! Ford 393 w AFR 165 heads and a custom towing roller cam with the factory style long runner efi intake and twin throttle body setup with Doug Thorley tri-y or shorty headers. Chevrolet 383 wmall runner aluminum vortec heads no bigger than 170cc. HT 383 cam 9.75:1 compression 454 tbi setup. GM If you really want to get crazy, Turbo Buick 350 (stock) with a switch pitch TH-400 with gear vendors. Mopar has got to be a 408 with aluminum Edelbrock performer heads with roller cam from a 5.9 magmum 3/4 ton truck engine.
400 Small block Chev, turbo 400 with a gear vendors 4.1 rear end in a 79 Silverado. Love it, had it for 20 years and can’t see myself parting with it any time soon.
My requirements would be big, naturally aspirated, big, reliable, easy to get parts for, modern cylinder head design, big, fuel injected, and big. As a Mopar guy, the iron V10 seems to fit the bill pretty well, although an injected 440 Wedge would work great if built properly.
Vortec 454 L29 junkyard turbo motor. $500. 832 hp and 866 lb-ft.
http://www.powerperformancenews.com/tech-articles/the-500-question-budget-boosted-big-block/
V 10 Ford big torque mine has 245,000 and still pulling strong
GMC 366/10 speed
Ford V-10 with there new transmission
Pontiac power.
FFS, just put a diesel in it. Any gas pig will drink too much gas and make too little torque. Square bodies fit Cummins nicely and both 12v and 24v\’s are available for less cash than the other options except maybe the LS.
Whether big,or small block the “GVW” Gross Vehicle Weight rule still stands. So if say your Tow rig weighs in at say 6000 Lbs then at a minimum your powerplant will have to deal is 3 ton’s. add at least another 2 to 3 ton’s for the payload ,and that is what you will have to deal with. So even if you choose to go with a small displacement you will still be confronted with having to pull 10 to 12,000 lbs. However your MPG choices can be mitigated with the newer electronically controlled fuel managemennt systems paired with the more advanced offerings in transmissions,and a keen understanding of where to set your operating (Gearing) range so as to achieve maximum efficientcy. I would also pay extra attention to the tow rigs life support system ,such as increased capacity,and cooling of the oil,rear end,and engine coolant system
Chad
if LS needs torque use a older four speed Alison from School busses.
It had a 3.10 straight cut planets in it and used mostly TH400 parts.
Or 477/538 Ford engine
But I say use the V6 Isuzu Diesel
LOL
Ahh, but you CAN make big torque, down low, with a stroked 6.0. Make a 408, with GMPP CNC\’d LS3 heads, and cam around 232 duration, 109 LCA, ICL at 105, about .615 lift with 1.8 rockers, YEAH, she\’ll make torque….EVERYWHERE. CHP did it in Jun 2015, but with the expensive LS7 heads. And there was an Engine Masters built back a few years that did it as well, only carbed. Both motors make at least 400 ft/lbs at 1500
We pull a 34′ 10,000 lb race trailer with a F-350 DRW 460 gas. 64 MPH, 6.75 MPG
Pontiac
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/474-hp-594-tq-495-inch-pontiac/
Im currently in a project where im putting a 509 big block chevy inside a 2003 2500 silverado two wheel drive single plane oval port to rec port 215cc chambers 320 intake runners 230 duration 114 lobe sep .600 lift. 0 decked with 750 holley. th400 big torque converter 2500 stall stock cooler for oil and b@m trans cooler standard cab 8 foot bed not the hd frame 3.73 g80 road master on leafs 10.5 to 1 compression praying to god this bastard works long enough to be worth it oh and also cheetah shifter reverse pattern all on stock steel rims with herculies 12 ply tires inflated to 100 psi ranch hand bumper welded to hitch towing a 33 and 1/2 foot ultra light aluminum framed tow behind keystone outback. Also have a supersteer
Double roller bearing idler arm.