2005 V8's - stock 5.3L or 'chipped' 4.8L?

Moon · May 4, 2005

Re: 2005 V8\'s - stock 5.3L or \'chipped\' 4.8L?

Congrats! Sounds like a GREAT deal on your new truck. I haven't priced them so I can't offer up comparison prices.

OT - from this thread it appears the auto industry is slowly converting us all to 5.7 or 5.3 vs 350 or 327. They warned us about this back in the 70's, they've just been breaking us in slow.

Question for other 4wd owners: How fast do you drive in 4wd? Is there a limit where if you go to fast it can cause problems with the 4wd componets? Someone tried to tell me that you should not drive over 50mph in 4wd ...just wondering if there is anything to that.

Thanks,
Moon of Ohio

dholly · May 4, 2005

Re: 2005 V8\'s - stock 5.3L or \'chipped\' 4.8L?

Coveredbridge - you can decode VIN's at http://www.vehicleidentificationnumber.com/

Also, thanks Moon. The manual says the only limit is to keep it under 55mph in 4wd Lo Range (IIRC, maybe it was 50mph). Attached is a pic of the new ride. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[edit] -the sticker on this this truck says 15/19mpg city/highway, we'll see

Jimbrown · May 4, 2005

Re: 2005 V8\'s - stock 5.3L or \'chipped\' 4.8L?

I am a little late on this but. I have one of each. An 01 4.8 4X4 373 gears and an 03 5.3 4X4 with 373 gears. gas milage is so close I could not tell you the difference. I tow with both of them and there is not a lot if any difference. Neither is good for heavy loads at high speeds or long diatance. If you are going to tow locally the 4.8 is just fine. I regulalry tow a three horse trailer with one or two horses in it. Nether one will stay in 4th gear and I almost always tow in 3d just to keep it from shifting itself to death. Neither will run the Arizona speed limit on I-10 75mph with out running 3d and fairly high rpm. I actually like the 4.8 better it seems to run smoother does not rev as high between shifts. I think the 5.3 has a hotter cam and it likes to run 500 rpm or so faster than the 4.8. Both make plenty of horspower but are torquless wonders you got to keep in the 3000 rpm range or higher to make any power. Someone ask about high fast I run in 4x4. The answer is as fast as I need to. I live at the end of 13 miles of dirt road and I often run 4x4 in the 50 to 60 mph range because the truck tracks straighter and does not jump around on the stutter bumps as bad whe it is 4x4 mode.

Jagmandave · May 4, 2005

Re: 2005 V8\'s - stock 5.3L or \'chipped\' 4.8L?

You know, back in the days when these trucks only had 3 spd tranny's (3 speed + granny low in a stick shift) 3,000 rpm was pretty much normal at hiway speeds. We've gotten used to super low rpm engines with big overdrive gears because they found turning 'em slower improves the mileage. But running those tall gears you can't run in OD while pulling a load, so I wouldn't worry about using up an engine turning it at 3k on the hiway under load, just get it in the "sweet spot" and let her run. Probably will kill the mileage tho......

sneaky_pete · May 4, 2005

Re: 2005 V8\'s - stock 5.3L or \'chipped\' 4.8L?

( Question for other 4wd owners: How fast do you drive in 4wd? Is there a limit where if you go to fast it can cause problems with the 4wd componets? Someone tried to tell me that you should not drive over 50mph in 4wd ...just wondering if there is anything to that.)

My Land Cruiser is always in 4WD; you can't unlock the front hubs or otherwise disengage it, so in high range it goes 70-80 mph all the time. The only times I've ever needed to put it in low range, speed was not an option. I do know that you can't make many turns in low range with the differential lock engaged before it winds up pretty tight and needs to be disengaged.

Moon · May 4, 2005

Re: 2005 V8\'s - stock 5.3L or \'chipped\' 4.8L?

I can't imagine going 30 in 4wd Lo. But sounds like in 4wd High you can go as fast as you dare.

Thanks for the replies. Glad it didn't take us to far off topic.

Moon of Ohio

dholly · May 4, 2005

Re: 2005 V8\'s - stock 5.3L or \'chipped\' 4.8L?

Do the guys showing better fuel economy have a covered bed??

[copy n' paste]

Western New England College performed an in-depth study on the effect of airflow once it passes the truck’s cab. The flow separates behind the cab and enters the truck bed resulting in a drag coefficient (Cd) of Cd = .432 if the bed is not covered. When a square truck cap is added, the drag coefficient increases to Cd =.480, or an 11.11% increase in drag. When a tonneau cover is used, the drag coefficient decreases to Cd =.381, or an 11.81% decrease in drag. Additional comparisons were made in the study by changing the tailgate. Replacing the tailgate with a cargo net resulted in Cd =.461, a 6.71% increase in drag compared to removing the tailgate which resulted in a C d=.447, a 3.47% increase in drag. Also, lowering the tailgate resulted in Cd =.414, a 4.17% decrease in drag. The results of this study concluded that the best method of decreasing the drag coefficient, thus increasing fuel economy, is to install a tonneau cover over the truck bed.

If you drive 18,000 miles per year, at 15 mpg that comes to 1,200 gallons of gas. At a minimum 10% savings you would save around 120 gallons a year… /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Boondox · May 4, 2005

Re: 2005 V8\'s - stock 5.3L or \'chipped\' 4.8L?

Tonneau covers get in the way of the sheep and firewood! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Egon · May 4, 2005

Re: 2005 V8\'s - stock 5.3L or \'chipped\' 4.8L?

Tonneau covers

Them's are like making the truck usless for hauling but may look good in the parking lot.

Egon

dholly · May 4, 2005

Re: 2005 V8\'s - stock 5.3L or \'chipped\' 4.8L?

( Tonneau covers

Them's are like making the truck usless for hauling but may look good in the parking lot.

Egon)

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Useless, how's that? Seems like a soft roll-up cover would still allow for quick, full bed access. And, if it keeps prying eyes out and increases mileage too... well, what's not to like? Maybe you are referring to the hard tonneau covers or fiberglass caps, I dunno? Agreed, those kind of defeat the purpose but the soft tonneau sounds like something for me to check into, especially if it offers a 10% increase in fuel economy.