The frame of the El Camino is not the same one used in the station wagon. Rear air shocks were standard equipment so that the car-like ride would be preserved until hauling capability was needed, when the shocks could be aired up. The floorboard design is mostly shared with the wagon, up to the end of the cargo location. For the first time, though, the El Camino had a unique chassis shared with no other Chevrolet. The station wagon tailgate is roughly the same but has differences like an exterior latch, and no upper indented character line. The rear bumper was shared with the Malibu station wagon, although the tailgate was not, contrary to popular reporting. The front end sheet metal and doors (two door Malibus) were shared with the Malibu, although the window glass was different. My recommendation to the guy I sold it to was to get a 454 if you need to use it for anything heavy.The fifth generation El Camino started production in 1978, adopting the new Malibu styling, suspension parts, and a one-inch longer wheelbase of 117 in. The chevy never got over 10 mpg with the same trailer and lighter load (the trailer is an enclosed car hauler, big brick that is a wind sail). The dodge towing 11,000 Lbs gets 13-15 depending on hills, traffic and wind. The other major factor in this is fuel mileage, my dodge gets 20-22 empty driving 65 on the interstate, the chevy got 16. The second time pulling the same load I hit the top at 65 mph at 205 degrees and had more power/pedal but my EGT gauge was reading 1100 degrees so I let off from 70 mph. My dodge hooked to 11,000 Lbs topped the hill at 55 mph and temp gauge reading 205 degrees on the first trip, I got caught behind a semi on the way up. I didn't have a EGT gauge in that truck so not sure the status on that. Going uphill in the Chevy pulling 10,000 Lbs I topped the hill at 40 mph and temp gauge of 240 degrees and climbing. I have a few hills in the area that require run away truck ramps on the down hill side. The final blow to me was after driving my current Dodge ram 3500 2wd dually with a manual, there is no comparison. I purchased a kit to remote mount that turd and a relay to prime the fuel pump after a filter change and a few other options but still that thing hated me. Since I sold it more than 7 years ago my memory is fuzzy but it had fuel pump problems, hard to prime after swapping a fuel filter and there was some electronic module they placed directly over the motor that was fail due to heat (yeah let me put that in the "hot zone"). I had a 1994 Crew Cab dually 2wd (3500) with an auto tranny. I had that thing towed more than any other vehicle I have ever owned. Normally I am all about a diesel but based on experience I avoid the 6.5. What's about the diesel 6.5L Is it more efficient? Because I seen few of them and they aren't more expensive than gas model.Īre they as reliable as the good old SBC and BBC? This cool me a bit on this puppy!! An LS swap coud be great but my girl will kill me if I start an other project. OK, I talked with th guy (for the Suburban) yesterday and he told me that he replaced it for a 5.3 Silverado to save on gas.:cautious: He was using it only to pull his race car and he was making 28 L/100km (8.5mpg) on highway. I just think that I have more chance to find a good daily drive reliable SUV than an old full size!:) I currently found a nice unrusted black 1997 Yukon with a plow for only 3k but I don't want to afford the stupid big engine tax :mad: Blazer and Jimmy full size are very rare and Suburban are too long for my garageīut I'm not close to a good deal on a full size!!! Last year, I missed a nice 1990 350ci Suburban with a plow for 2k!! Many of SUVs are still family daily drive and well maintained (I don't want an other project.) Almost all 1994- FS truck are already work pig so they lack a lot of maintenance and many of them are very rusted / or over priced The big engine annual registration tax on 1995 and up cars (about 188$ more for a 5.7L) There is some reason why I prefer a SUV to a full size truck: could you just get a full-size truck to use as a tow pig? The load ranges your looking to pull are definitely full-size territory.
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