Hey, can someone tell me if the 6.0 and 8.1 liter engines are available in the half ton chevies, what year they became available and does the 5.4 even come close to competing with the 6.0? thanks!

 

No, the 6.0L and 8.1 ARE NOT available in half ton trucks. The 6.0L was available in the 1500HD back in 03/04. This truck was essentially a light-duty 2500 with a semi-floating rear axle. The reason for this truck was to get the 4 full-size doors in a "half ton" package since at the time, the regular "half tons" didn't come with 4 doors.

The 6.0 will pretty much blow away a 5.4 when performing roll-ons at 45-50 MPH (once you're already moving). However, from a standstill, it's kind of a toss-up.

 

Just to add on to that, the 6.0 is available in some 1/2 ton Chevy and GMC trucks as a special option. My buddy has one on his sale lot, it's a 05 GMC 1500 2wd. It was definatley quicker than a 5.4 accelerating, takes off like a rocket and a lot of fun with the traction control off. But for everyday use and towing/hauling I would rather have the 5.4 just because i'm a ford guy. And i think Chevy builds trucks to appeal to a younger crowd as opposed to focusing on a durable and usable piece of machinery.

 

Thanks guys. I an just trying to find a reason to buy the more truck looking chevy and a 6.0 in a half ton probably would have sealed the deal, but im not sure if i wanna go with the more truck looking chevy or more truck like ford. I dont care for the newer ford styling but im not sure i wanna take a chance with all the piston slap and weak frame issues. Thanks for your input.

 

The 5.4l is not a speedy engine in the 150, 250 or 350. It is however a solid motor that will last and will pull quite a heavy load. Will definatly outperform the older 351s. The 5.4l as well as other modulars will rev and like it. In an F-150 I would look at getting at least 3:73 gears. The biggest downfall to any of the modulars is the gearing is too tall. (Like with 3:55s) couple that with the 4spd auto which can lug the motor and performance can feel lackluster. A decnet tune which allows WOT fuel enrichment along with other tweaks can really help.

 

Yes, those earlier trucks that had the VORTEC MAX package had a 345hp 6.0L. It now has 367hp 375 lb ft. It is only offered with the LT or LTZ trim level.

The 6.2L offered with the LTZ trim level has 403 hp! Although that is probably running E85.

 

Piston slap is old news and weak frame? Ford may have a stronger frame but that doesn't make the chevy weak.

 

Piston slap doesn't really harm the engine anyways. The clearance its still pretty tight, and it goes away once the engine warms up.

 

I've driven em all and in my opinion in terms of performance the closest engine GM has to the 5.4 is the base 4.8L v8, Even the 5.3 leads the Triton around by the nose. It's desperately time for Ford to come up with a new engine

 

Pretty sure that's with premium as per the PUTCO test.

The only motor that could match the 5.7 Toyota even though the Toyota could run regular.

Only available with their Crew in a 1/2 ton I beleive.


Tim

 

Be careful, I recall a member who was saying that years ago. After enough crying from other members, he got booted.


Tim

 

Seems a lot of people think building new engine is always the way to go. I agree Ford needs to step up the power to compete with other makers but it doesn't mean a new engine is needed. There is a lot of power left in the modular platform. The HP increase on the 5.4l for 09' wasn't really acceptable to me, I thought they could have done more. Seems a lot of automakers want to start from scratch all the time and don't bother looking at how they can improve what they have. Retooling is expensive and complete redesigns always have bugs for the first couple years it seems.

 

It doesnt?

here I always thought it destroyed the piston skirts and ovaled the thrust side of the bore and stuck the rings....(none of which I particularly want in my engine! ;-)

 

Personally I think Ford went off a cliff with the OHC motors - the wrong direction for the truck motors. The increase in weight, size, complexity, noise (and problems) IMO is not worth any or all gains. GM took a proven design and fixed the short comings with a clean sheet of paper and has this compact little powerplant. Ford took a proven design and crapcanned it.

A basic tenet of engine engineering was ignored: valve actuation method has no effect on power. The obnly advantage would be to add valves, but adding valves to a truck motor where low end torque is supposed to be the #1 consideration - is foolish.

end result? a 6L+ gm motor can be put in the FWD cars. the 5.4/4.6 are bigger than the PSD. The PSD wont fit in the FWD ford cars. It kind limits your downrange possibilities and handicaps the front end design. If we are to believe that the makers are gonna need to REALLY pay attention to overall package size and front end shape (read: trucks sitting 1 ft lower with rakish hoods) - them GM has a clear advantage.

 

No there isn't, Ford's proven that over the years in that there hasn't been a N/A version of a Modular motor that competes with the new generation of v8's or hell even v6'es from other manufacturers. It seems like anytime ford wants to make more than 300hp with a modular they have to supercharge the damn thing or add cylinders.


Hell just look at the Mustang GT, I'm sorry but 300hp from a "performance oriented" 4.6 v8 in 2009 is a Joke. Heck you're about to have a v6 base model camaro come out with the same HP as the Mustang GT. The modular v8 was a dumb idea when it was introduced almost 20 years ago and it hasn't became any more of an intelligent move since.