Thread: SBC torque

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My 93 GMC has a 350 with 4l60E I wanted to use it for pulling our 5th wheel trailer. It has 280K on it. It pulled it good on flat ground but a hill was a real experience. from 55 down to around 30 on a good day. SO I talked to a couple guys and what I wound up with was a set of 305 heads ( had to be right numbers) thy opened them up to 202s added RV cam now were talking. It pulls like I wanted it to .. Just a note that was on the second rebuild the first one I got a set of 305 head gaskets by mistake They don't work on 350s. it has the Performer intake with the adapter for TBI. It pulls that 30 foot trailer all over the place. BUT its more trailer than the truck can handle I think.

Good deal on the upgrade. But it sounds like you might not be done?!?!?

I was told that a 30 foot fifth wheel was the absolute max for any half ton pickup, and a few would be overtaxed as far as braking and curving roads were concerned, regardless of what the vehicle weight labels say; as I am sure you probably know, the "pull" is only pat of whole equasion. My Tundra is rated for 7,200 +/-, and it doesn't like anything much over that; it will pull a lot more, but stopping and going around corners are a whole other thing. I understand the HD versions of the big three's half tons are closer to a three quarter ton, and can handle the extra weight, but in reality, a three quarter or one ton is the deal for towing of any significant weight. I had Chevy "work" trucks in the 70s and 80s that I hauled tool trailers and shop trailers with; the three quarter tons would reliably handle trailer on frame hitch that scaled at ten thousand pounds, and the dually 3500 would tow up to twenty thousand, but it was getting a bit chancy in mountains.

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Force equals mass times acceleration.

That means the force either exerted by or exerted upon is directly proportional to the mass.

If you want a truck to handle a greater load, it needs to be heavier.

Heavirt truck means a stronger engine.

A stronger engine in a lighter truck is only half the solution.

Well after all the building and rebuilding we got the 93 to do the job. I just didn't care for the handling part of it. We bought a 77 C20 Camper Special it pulls and handles the trailer like its not there. It has a 454 with TH400. Great combo. The truck has been in storage for 20+ years. NO rust it was bought in Cal. in 77 and Z barted there. The original owner used it to tow campers from IN. to New York and to Cal. It has 99788 miles on it. I'm loosing the 16.5 tires and going with 16" just for availability. We plan on keeping the 77 just for the camper and storing it in the shop when not in use.

Nice looking truck Charlie, good find!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Nice looking truck Charlie, good find!

Yes it even came with a spare hood as this one got bent from someone closing it when hinges needed oil. I leaned the new hood against a cabinet in the shop and Chris told me it was to big for her truck. (Yes her truck) So I got out the tape and showed her it is right almost 6' across. Just needs paint.

If it doesn't have one, consider a trans cooler.

Great truck.

Charlie, that is a very nice truck! Make sure you put the braces under the hood to help keep it from bowing. Even when the hinges are oiled it can still happen.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Charlie, that is a very nice truck! Make sure you put the braces under the hood to help keep it from bowing. Even when the hinges are oiled it can still happen.

I know they made them but haven't located them yet. I put a brace on the existing hood as it is bent now. If I can't find them I'll use 1x1 l iron. Thanks. and yes it is a nice truck one heck of a find and only 2K.
OH yes trans cooler comes stock with Camper Special

Here are 2 places I have seen that offer them Charlie.
https://www.brotherstrucks.com/73-91...tinfo/HBK7387/

1973-80 Fullsize Chevy & GMC Truck Hood Brace Kit - Chevy Truck Parts

2k$ is almost a steal.

Push in on the hood, rather than pull straight down. That'll help.

2K for that ??!! I hope you didn't sleep for at least 3 days, Nice find!

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

2k$ is almost a steal.

Push in on the hood, rather than pull straight down. That'll help.

Pushing in can do it too because GM engineered a crash bend point in the middle of the hood. When the vehicle is impacted the hood is supposed to bend in the middle to not get shoved into the cab/windshield.

Can't beat that! My two 3/4 tons were '79s with 400s, and the one ton dually was an '88 with a 454; I ran the heck out of all of them, and they seldom gave me any grief.