tow rigs !

I would think 4.56 and 37" would make it less then optimal as a tow rig... Make a great stump puller or mudder.

That's 2900 RPM at 70 MPH, depending on how heavily loaded it is that's not too bad with a 454, but a bit deep for the diesel.

1994 chebby Z71, tows my boat. I replaced the knocking swirl port turd with a 76 350 Olds with 5A 307 heads, 204/214 cam , Sanderson Shorty headers, 2.25" dual exhaust with Summit turbo mufflers and a 670 cfm TBI with the fuel pressure turned up to 14 psi. Pulls really hard to 4000 rpm, exact opposite of the similar geared LS powered trucks I have drove. Why GM used motors with no low end torque for truck motors is beyond me.

2008 GMC Sierra 1500 with a GMPP cold air kit, Borla proXS muffler and dual tips along with a Diablosport Trinity tuner with custom tune for the engine and trans.
The one thing I really dislike about the truck is this stupid 4L60E trans. I don't know why anyone would think it's a good idea to have a 3.06 first gear and a 1.5 x something second gear in a truck (or any vehicle for that matter). The 5.3 is a great engine but it's power band doesn't really hit until 2200-2500 rpm. With such a drop between first and second gear there is always a moment where you really need a gear in between the two. 2nd is on the lack luster side but if it drops to 1st then it sounds like your trying to drag race.
The new 6spd autos have really helped solve that problem.

I took the big grille guard off. Was tired of trying to keep the truck clean with it on there. Plus I gained back 1 mpg in mileage. Lol

Very cool oldschool truck for the price. Not seeing very many of those driving around anymore up here in the midwest. Didn't see any at the junkyard last time I went either

Tow Rig #1 was a 1982 Chevy C20 I bought for $200 in New Hampshire to haul the household goods the Navy would not pay to send home; named it Buford after a Burger joint off the interstate in Missouri. With 370,000 miles on the odometer, I lifted the cab off the frame (mounts rotted completely through) and cut in half and made into a trailer.

Tow Rig #2 was my first diesel - 1992 W250 Cummins - traded labor and $1000 - got a deal because I LIKED the stripes. Sold on EBay for $4500. Took the money and RAN.

Tow Rig #3 is a 2002 F350 with a ZF 6-speed, was for sale down the street when I needed another bench seat and two more doors for the growing family. Chevy had stopped offering a solid front axle and manual transmission; Dodge had stopped offering manual hubs. Last year of the International 7.3s.

Along the way were a few false starts. Had to upgrade the trailer with more steel and 7K axles to keep up with the project scope...

The 4L60E sucks behind the 5.3, OK behind my Olds 350. My bosses truck with 6 spd auto is massively better but it is a lot of gear changes in town.

On short trips I used to use dads 73 IH


The 89 6.9 diesel service truck for long trips/heavy loads.


And now this is fixed so I dont have to borrow something with a hitch. 5.3, posi 3.73 AWD.


Does this count?

You don't see many IH trucks around anymore. I have used my Cutlass to tow my boat but 4WD is a huge help with our boat launches around here.