im wanting to get a superduty 4x4 reg cab lwb as a project. i know im going to be lifting it with either 6" or 8" suspension, 3" body, and probably 40x17 ground hawgs. with 4.88 or 5.13 gears. the real question is 5.4 or V10. i cant afford a diesel. for the price difference i can get a gas, lift it, gear it and buy tires. help me decide on what gas engine to get. oh ps. it has to be 5 spd

 

the v10 is going to give you more power with little difference in MPG...but then again, the 40" tires and at least 4.88 gears is going to make single digits in mpg anyways, no matter what engine you have...the v10 will just work less...i would say definatley try and get a 2000-2004, since they have the PI (performance improved) heads...here are the numbers for the trucks you are looking at

1999 5.4- 235 hp and 335 ft/lbs
2000-2004 5.4 - 260 hp and 350 ft/lbs

1999 v10- 275 hp and 410 ft/lbs
2000-2004 v10- 310 hp and 425 ft/lbs

 

no doubt v10

 

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what if i come across a good deal on a 5.4... what would i be tossing up?

 

the 5.4 is a great motor, but 40" tires is alot of rubber to turn...are you going to make this your everyday driver...do you plan on towing with it....if you come acrrooss a deal that is great, i would say grab it up, the 5.4 is a great motor...just a little under powered to be moving such a large tire

 

i have a 2004 s10 blazer with 40k mi thats my DD. this is a weekend, party, play and beach toy. maybe 500 mi a month it would be driven if that. ive always wanted something big. with the smaller engine should i gear it even lower?

 

The V-10 is the way to go. The 5.4 has to work harder to move the mass of the truck let alone the tires you plan to use. The 5.4 can be livened up with aftermarket mods but the V-10 has the power already there. It better be a very good deal to get the 5.4. BTW... welcome to FTE isenegger.

 

just from my personall expirience...everyone on here who has a v10 will say the v10 is the way to go and most with the 5.4 will back up the 5.4...if you are only doing 500 miles a month, i would say it would be fine...as long as you arent planning on towing with it,....if i did my calcuations correct ...4.88 gears would bring you back to the equivelant of stock 3.73 gears and 31.5 tires...(265/70/17) i think i read the table right....lol...and 5.13 would be like having 4.10's...i think again!!!

 

i wont tow much with it....probably not at all. i only have a jet ski and it would be towed by my blazer. so is 5.13 too low or not?

 

im not familiar with gears...since im only going with 35's i will probably only gear to 4.3 or 4.56...someone will chime in...

 

hi, i love my v10's but 500 miles a month ,heck i would'nt even regear ,just put it in 4 low!!!! v10 or v8 won't matter much. bseg barry

 

with like an 8" lift do i have to modify the driveshaft at all?

 

When you go from a 6" to a 8" I know you have to make the brake lines longer, but I don't think you need to lengthen the driveshafts until after you go past 8".

The SD did not get the DANA 60 up front until 2002, so I would shorten your list to 2002-2004.

I think a 5.4L with the right aftermarket mods will out perform a stock V10. The buffed up 5.4L will then still get better gas milage. If you are going to use it as little as you say and not planning on racing anyone the 5.4 will work great. But with a stock 5.4L I would consider 5.13 gears with that big a tire. Ground Hawgs that wide would weight a ton!

 

the problem is now ur talking a new truck...2004 is way too new. im looking at 99-00 at the most. its a project not a new truck. what axle did the 99 or so have in the front. the groundhawgs weigh 99 a piece compared to 39.5 bogger at 119.