I am looking to purchase a dedicated tow rig and really like the idea of a big block gas motor vs a diesel. But I have never owned one and don't know how well it will really tow. Can I expect a 460 / 4.10 /5speed combo to tow noticeably better than my current 2008 chevy 5.3 / 3.73 / 4sp auto? I know it will use a lot of fuel, but as long as my tank is big enough to get to the next gas station, that is really not an issue for me.

It will primarily be used to tow my 7500lb travel trailer around. I tow at 65mph, and don't really care if it takes a while to get there, but once at 65mph, I don't want to constantly have to downshift at every small hill and turn 4000 rpms just to make it to the top.

Last thing, for this application, should I avoid an automatic? I have an unrealistic fear of towing with an auto and think I will be doomed to have to rebuild it, or be stranded, not so much with a standard.

 

460s are towing animals. And Yes HARD on fuel
245hp/400tq for the later 94-97 trucks

Figure your 5.3 is 315hp/383tq So these is NOT going to be that much difference there

But the 4.10s from the 3.73 and the 5 speed from the power robbing auto is where you will notice the biggest difference

I love my 2 big block trucks(96 F350 460/5spd & 80 F350 429 C6) but when it comes to towing the 2 7.3 powerstroke trucks get the nod.

7500lbs is NOT a lot of weight, especially for a 460 truck. They are typically rated to gross out at 16,000lbs with 4.10s and a stick. the auto is rated at 18,5k. So that means it is good for 10,5k and 12,5k trailers respectively

I have never really been a fan of the E4OD that was available in these trucks, so every one of mine has a 5 speed. But E4ODs can be built to take serious amounts of power, just be prepared to spend about 3500-4000 to do it correctly

 

Now I've never driven a chevy with a 5.3L, but I assume that it's comparable to Ford's 5.4L which is what I have to drive most of the time for work. Our F-350 CCLB 5.4L will usually hit 45 going uphill at about 3,000 rpm by the time I reach the top of the hill, where as my F-250 RCLB 460 with a 4.10 LS will walk up the same hill just at about 2,000 rpm and be around 55-60 mph at the top.

Now keep in mind this is with both trucks running with about 1,000 lbs in the bed, which puts the 5.4L at a total of 8,500 lbs and the 460 at about 7,000 lbs.
I can't really compare them at any higher weights since we never tow anything with the 5.4L, it's just way too slow.

But with that being said I've run the 460 with 3,000 lbs in the bed which puts it at around 9,000 lbs including the weight of the truck, and she still pulls up hills effortlessly.

 

Like Fastback460, my only experience with newer motors has been with Fords, so I don't know if the Chevy is similar or not. But the 5.4L and 6.8L Ford Tritons make their power at higher revs than the 460 (or 351W). The newer motors make a ton of power and generally will move more weight faster than the older motors, but only if you rev them high enough. If you don't like listening to an engine scream at 5000 rpm you need to lift your foot with the Triton engines. Then the 460 will definitely out-pull it. But the V-10 at least, and maybe even the 5.4L might do better if you're willing to spin them enough (I'm not willing, one of the reasons I have a 460).

 

I ran my truck for over two years at 10k lbs, and never had a problem with hills, or passing. For as much hate as the E4OD gets mine also leaked at the front seal, the torque converter was going out, and the internals were on their last legs. All I did was feed it lots of tranny fluid, and I was able to milk it for those two years before the front seal blew out entirely. New tranny, bigger cooler, and labor cost about $3600 installed.

Mileage is the only problem. I averaged about 6 mpg city/10 mpg hwy loaded, and only 12 mpg hwy unloaded.

 

The problem with the 5.3, while a good engine for the lighter trucks, is it's torque curve. 325 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM is peak torque. 4000! I don't want to be riding the throttle like that to pull a hill.
The 460 is 400 @ 2200 or so. Lug that thing up the hill. Now I know there is 135 cubic inch difference, but that's why it's not offered in anything over a half ton. It's like a 302, should not really be in a truck.

 

I agree that most newer engines are going to make more power then the ones in our old trucks. But I drive an 05 5.4L almost on a daily basis and even at 4,000 rpms I don't see it being able to go toe-to-toe with the old 460. Now I'm sure the newer ones are even better, but I personally haven't driven one newer then our 05.

But the 6.8L v-10 will definitely give me a run for my money, they have a ton of power.

 

I had an '08 F-250 CCSB with the 5.4L. I HATED that truck. Absolutely gutless below 3000 rpm.

Now I have a '15 E-450 motorhome with the V-10. Also pretty gutless below 3000 rpm, but starting to get there at 4000 rpm and pretty incredible if I keep my foot in it and let it get to 5000 rpm.

So a 5.4L probably won't impress too much at 4000 rpm, but I'm pretty sure if I had let mine wind out to 5000 it would have at least put a 351W to shame if not given a 460 a solid run for its money.

That said, I agree with Mudsport, I really don't like listening to an engine scream at 5000 rpm while I'm pulling a long hill either, so I really don't like the 5.4L or the V-10 as truck engines, and would rather have a 460 in my motorhome (but probably not the mileage!). But if people are willing to drive the Tritons like they were designed to be driven, they do have a ton of power, and as much as us old-schoolers say it's not where we want it, it's still right there.

 

The 3V 5.4 and 6.8 will walk all over a 460. Simple fact is old school tech vs new
And as for the RPMs, yes the 5.4 and 6.8make their HP and Tq at ahigher RPM, but their redline is higher too

96 460 Peak hp is 245 @ 3200rpm/ peak TQ is 400 @ 1700rpm Redline @4500
05+ 5.4 peak HP is 300 @ 5000rpm/ peak TQ is 365 @ 3750rpm Redline @5500
05+ 6.8 peak HP is 365 @ 4750rpm/ peak TQ is 457 @ 3250rpm Redline @5500

 

The 3 valves a decent engies, it's too bad they didn't produce them right out of the gate.
We have an 02 250 2wd 4.30 geared truck at work with the 2 valve v10... I hate that thing. Loaded to rating at 8800 it's more sluggish than the 01 3500 GM with the 6.0 and 4.10s loaded to its rating 12000. The 2 valve engines were fine for luxury Lincoln's and Mercs but should have had better designs for the trucks

 

I've had 2 big block Fords, a 429 insanity build that would pull my 6000 lb F-350 fast enough to race Cameros and win. It was useless as a trailer puller, it would do it, but its heart was never in it. No prob once @ cruising speed= above 2500 RPM, hard to pull it down, but it wasn't a torque motor. The second build in the same F350, was a 460 .060 over bore, late small port heads w/tripple valve grind, all balanced and blueprinted, RV cam, tiny 650 CFM Vacuum secondary carb. Now that one would pull. It was pretty well all in by 4500, but it would pull a house. Hard to take off without spinning a wheel. 8-10 MPG was about it though, loaded unloaded, whatever.

 

Did all 05 5.4's come with a 3V? Because our 5.4L doesn't even come close to keeping up with my 460.

Even with 3k in the bed I will still leave the 5.4 in the dust.
But according to everyone else here it should be able to out pull my 460 without even trying.

 

I use my 92 F250 460 4x4 to pull a 10K+ lb boat, and a lighter car hauler on occasion. Truck has over 270K on untouched engine, 3rd E4OD. It was an oilfield and later farm truck prior to me, I bought it when the 2nd trans was out.
It seems to pull best and be happiest in the 1500-2500 rpm range, which I like. Neighbor pulls a 7-8K boat to same location with an 06 GM 6.0. Loves the truck but hates the high rpm powerband.

 

I've used 2 '97s here on my farm for close to 20 years. Tow nothing with any weight with the e40d. You'll buy a lot transmissions. I pull my goose regularly with hay/farm epqt etc. I have Banks complete exhaust systems + a couple of other mods on both trucks. Empty (trl), with the 410 gears I'll get 12 to 13 mpg @ 70. The goose weighs close to 6000# With just the truck at 70, I'll get in the 15 range. I just returned from Colorado, driving straight thru to west central MN, around 950 miles with one stop for fuel. Headers seem to make the difference with real loads hard to feel a difference running empty, and being able to rev quickly to 4000rpm is sweet. With stock ex, good luck. Drove them that way for to long. One truck has 490,000 miles on it. On 250,000 I pulled it for a timing chain and was going to replace bearings. They were fine. I've run synthetic Mobil 1 all the time I've owned them. Gearboxes, rear end too, and all 4 corners are packed with synthetic grease. I've pulled my goose at 6000#, and an ag tractor with liquid filled duals, which probably weighed close to 14,000# nicely, It was a grunt, and certainly not legal but the point being, that truck/engine/trans with 4:10 gears really will work!

 

Yes any triton 05+ was 3valve and if the 5.4 could not keep up with the 460 then there is something seriously wrong with it