Hay Haul'in Honey?

[Stocker Steve]

After a failed relationship with a Ford diesel, and well over 200K on my K1500, I am starting to lust after used 3/4 ton gassers. Any tips on a good value? Reliability and torque are much more important than age and mpg.

 

[JHH]

After a failed relationship with a Ford diesel, and well over 200K on my K1500, I am starting to lust after used 3/4 ton gassers. Any tips on a good value? Reliability and torque are much more important than age and mpg.

Guess it depends on how much and if you want another chevy. If I was looking for one I would buy a 8100 gas with allison trans IF I WASNT WORRIED ABOUT FUEL MPG. They will pull about anything and have given very little trouble. But they are gas hogs.

If you want to go cheaper I use an old 3/4 ton 79 chevy with a 400 and a 400 automatic trans. It pulls about anything but it is worse on gas than anything else. I am all about cheap and what works.

 

[Stocker Steve]

An 8100 is a lot of truck.
When did Chev stop making the 400 automatic tranny?

 

[Kingfisher]

After a failed relationship with a Ford diesel, and well over 200K on my K1500, I am starting to lust after used 3/4 ton gassers. Any tips on a good value? Reliability and torque are much more important than age and mpg.

8.2 litre GMC with an Allison.

 

[Jogeephus]

Before you look to hard put your feelers out for a coca cola truck. You can get them cheap and they have been well maintained. JMO

 

[novatech]

Before you look to hard put your feelers out for a coca cola truck. You can get them cheap and they have been well maintained. JMO

Cut down an old school bus with a DT 466 or cummins and an allison behind it. I picked up an old military bus with only 64 thousand miles for dirt cheap.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

An 8100 is a lot of truck.
When did Chev stop making the 400 automatic tranny?

8.1,, a 496 big block.. gas sucking mother scratcher.... the 400 auto went out in the early 90's.... personally id look for a old dodge cummins :cowboy:

 

[Angus Cowman]

An 8100 is a lot of truck.
When did Chev stop making the 400 automatic tranny?

Chevy stopped using the 400 turbo back in the 80s
the over drive trannys they used in the late 90s and the 2000 model 3/4 and 1tons with the 454 were good transmissions
I never had a problem with them at all and I abused the he77 out of them
I had 285,000 on one when it was traded and the truck was hooked to a 30ft tandem dual gooseneck most of them miles and would load it with 20-25000lbs alot of the times
hauled a Cat 4x4 backhoe with it for 2 yrs

 

[Stocker Steve]

I am looking around for a 454. I see a lot of 2 wd SS models but they will have a hard time making it to the field approach...

 

[john250]

If you really prefer gas, I'll recommend the Ford V10.
I love the way mine pulls and the mileage is better than my previous Ford 460, which seemed to get 9 mpg loaded or empty.
You'll have to find a used one, since they've been pulled from the lineup for 2011.
Mine has 130K miles of hard use with one repair for an air valve leak. $175
My prosperous neighbors buy whatever they want in machinery and they have 3 or 4 of these V10's.

 

[Stocker Steve]

If you really prefer gas, I'll recommend the Ford V10.
I love the way mine pulls and the mileage is better than my previous Ford 460, which seemed to get 9 mpg loaded or empty.

I have seen a few contractors driving V10s. Is there any downside or reliability areas to look for?