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I was counting the time since your avatar changed; once you picked it I figured you were set on course. Ah, heck, I was counting tramsission too. I just assumed it was all out; didn't realize you were still driving it.


Nope, I had the tranny in with plenty of time to spare for Moab (1.5 days...) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I've been driving it, but broke reverse in Moab so it's only been to the office and back since then.

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You mention HP being more important to your designs than Torque (within reason, of course). Why is your focus on HP? Just a personal preference? Or do you figure with the gearing you have (including the Klune-V) that you have all the low-end torque you need?


Nope, never said HP was MORE important to me than torque, just that I want more of it than the 4.9 has and there's not a lot of upgrade options for that motor. The 3800 is a very torquey motor. It's 240 hp and 280 lb-ft is a better balance I'm looking for, and has huge potential for upgrades. I mention HP numbers for the upgraded 3800 as those are usually what's used for comparison and what I remember. Torque will go up at about the same rate as well, unless you change the cam. A 300 hp 3800sc (done with just an IC and pulley change) is still putting out probably at least 350 lb-ft of torque.

Lack of torque was actually a strike against the twin-turbo 3400. I could make 300 hp with it, but it's questionable if the stock block could handle that for long, and it's torque curve wouldn't be that great for a heavy truck. Nowhere near as flat or high as the 3800sc curve is anyways.

In low range a stock 2.6 is plenty of motor except for the occasional sand hill, or if you like muddin'. This swap is more for all the other time I'm not in low range.


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I know I'm bugging you, but I'm trying to learn the the "why's" behind the "what's done."


No, not bugging me, and asking "why" is cool. It gets everything out there and may help others decide for themselves what's best for them.

--Dan