Chevy 6.0 up grade for towing

[Joint Venture II]

That would be a good "work horse"

[DadsHemi]

Heads,cam and better exhaust, 6.0 is easy to get hp/tq out of it in moderation for what your looking to do.

[Randy E]

Look into a 2 speed differential, or somewhere I saw a separate 2 speed gearbox that fits on the drive line. I had one on a larger gas powered flatbed truck. We hauled very heavy loads with a 4 speed transmission and a 427 gas V8. At least look to see what is offered. The 2 speed will double the gears you have now. You will have a high and low in each gear selection.

https://dustrunnersauto.com/how-a-tw...rential-works/

[77cruiser]

Sounds like he can't or doesn't want to spend any $$$.

[Joint Venture II]

There are no 2 speed axles available for 3/4 or 1 ton trucks. There used to be a 2 speed gearbox built by US Gear but they were bought out and production ceased with all spare parts destroyed. I had one behind a 454 and Turbo 400 3 speed transmission. It was really a robust gearbox and was electrically shifted allowing overdrive in all 3 forward gears. IMHO the US Gear was far superior to the present day Gear Venders. The only available 2 speed now is a Gear Venders over/under drive and they are available for 99% of all transmissions and engines. Modern day 6 - 10 speed auto transmissions and high torque diesel engines have killed the need for 2 speed axles or gearboxes.
https://www.gearvendors.com/index.html

[DadsHemi]

Originally Posted by 77cruiser

Sounds like he can't or doesn't want to spend any $$$.

Yup…Sometime you just have to deal with what you have and call it a day.

[DmaxDually]

Does not justify the 100% of listening to the rattle and having the stench of the diesel?
I agree with you, but that is the diesels of the past.
Have you driven or seen new diesel truck in the past 10 years? The "rattling" has been reduced substantially and there is no stench of diesel or billowing of black smoke. I have a 2012 and I can barely hear the engine when sitting in the cab and that a 2012. I've had old diesel guys tell me they can't believe how quiet mine is. I'm guessing the 2022's might be quieter.

[sourdough]

There is no "good" way to make that 6.0 into something it isn't. Some "from the gitgo" problems; 4 speed tranny, wrong axle ratios and an engine with fairly low power for towing heavy loads.

Tranny; don't even know if they make anything compatible with more speeds. I do know there were big gains going from 4 to 6 speeds and much greater gains going to 8 and 10 speeds.

Axle ratios; you have 2 differentials so they both have to be done. Probably something like a 3.73 now which is marginal in the best of circumstances, with the 2 issues listed above it's a real performance killer. OP is concerned about daily drivability and going to 4.56 or above is going to make that 4 speed really howl at highway speeds (btdt). 4.10/4.11 will help but not enough to make it a "towing machine".

Just to get started on those is a chunk of money which OP doesn't seem to want to spend. Trying to offset those negatives by simply increasing HP and torque, on an engine not designed for it, is just going to cause expensive problems down the road. Sometimes the best answer for a situation like this is a truck that was meant to tow that much weight....JMO.

[432bartman]

I'd just leave the truck alone if it's good for 99% of the time. Let's face it, the truck is 22 years old and I'm sure the motor/drivetrain's days are numbered without adding more power to it.

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by 432bartman

I'd just leave the truck alone if it's good for 99% of the time. Let's face it, the truck is 22 years old and I'm sure the motor/drivetrain's days are numbered without adding more power to it.

Yep, pretty much the plan for now.


Been gone for a week, thanks to everyone who added helpful comments.