Hot ticket for the 7.4 G.M. TBI tow rig

[rev.ronnie]

I have a 86,000 mile 1988 GMC 1 ton crew cab duallie that I tow my 9000# race trailer with. I installed a Edelbrock Performer TBI intake with a Helix spacer, disconnected the water to the throttle body, advanced the timing to 8 degrees and installed the Edelbrock tubular exhaust system (409 stainless) with a 3" single exhaust and a Dynomax turbo muffler ( the big round one). I removed the cat and air pump and run it with Redline Water Wetter. The truck GOES LIKE A MONSTER!!!! I am going to re-program a new chip for it and install a new high flow air intake from Performance Automotive Electronics soon. I'll post again. It gets 7.5 mpg towing at 65-70 mph now at 16,000# with the cruise on and the air-a-blowin. I can run it up to 75+ mph but the milage drops to 6 or worse. I'm hoping to improve milage next. It has a TH 400 and 3.73 gears It will get 11 mpg unloaded or with a light trailer. One more thing, all Synergen lubes used. Magnum engine oil, synthetic trans and diff, fluids.

[LaserModVee]

That's impressive!
You need to swap that TH400 for a 4L80E overdrive!!
Not really, you're towing 9000#, I guess you wouldn't be in OD anyway!

I have a 93 with the 454 TBI and a 4.10 gear.
It guzzles the gas too!
Luckily it has the 4L80E OD trans.
It's 4 wheel drive which doesn't help the fuel either.
I tow a little less than you. 4500# 28' trailer + 3000# car + tools, supplies, etc. I'd say a shade over 8000# loaded.

Don't know what mpg it makes yet, haven't towed that far to look. Was towing with a 2wd 2500 350 Chevy and made 9-10 MPG.

[lilabner]

I was a Chevy man..owned 5 454 rigs..the last one a 93 454ss..towed 8500 lbs with it..engine was fine, just ran hot all the time with extra fans and external oil coolers..had a 4:10 gear with a 4L80E...went through 5 trans..5 radiators..5 alternators in 185k miles and 10 years...I just ended my problems with an 03 Dodge Hemi...(so far I hope) pulls better..better mileage..temp guage never moves..brakes twice as good and I had rear discs on the Chevy..the Dodge short bed single cab tows 9200 lbs...find a Ford or Chevy that will do the same for the same price...
I'm not bashing anything..but have been towing for 43 years...

[rev.ronnie]

My last truck was a 01 Dodge 3/4 ton ex-cab longbox diesel. power was ok but my trailer threw it around like a rag doll.