So I am sure ill get ripped apart on my goals for my next truck and viewed as a total NewB, but crazy goals are part of the challenge, Currently I am driving an LBZ duramax, love it to death, but I have been wanting out of the diesel game for quite some time and finally pulled myself to do it. The truck made 515/983 and has run a best time of 13 flat without any weight reduction and on 33s. I no longer have the need for a 3/4 ton besides a couple 5-8 hour long tows a year hauling a Land Rover (which Im sure a half ton can do). My question for you is do I shoot for a normal 2005-07 GMC 1500 with a 5.3 or a Denali truck. Either one would be 4L80 swapped, cammed, supercharged etc all that jazz. I drive roughly 250-400 miles a week, fuel mileage on the highway is a slight concern, being able to pull 15-18mpg would be nice but i know thats where the challenge lies, but we will have to see. Couple things I like about the denali over the 1500, Rear Disc brakes, 6.0 motor, interior, nose clip, and its subtle GMT800 'flash', things Im concerned about, Fuel mileage differences between the 6.0 and 5.3 as well as part time 4wd vs AWD.

Please feel free to express your opinions, even if you think this is a stupid idea lol

Thanks guys

 

104 views... people are afraid to voice opinions.

 

All time AWD will get less mpg, so part time 4x4 is what I'd go with personally.

The modded 6.0 is going to get less mpg than the 5.3 in just about all cases. Though I'm sure someone will come in here and say they got better mpg ONE time or maybe 2-3 times when I was being nice on the freeway while going to my mother in laws house with my ultra modded 6.0 with fuzzy dice on the mirror.

But overall it's likely to get worse mpg and your foot is a huge factor. I'd say a supercharged 5.3 with hopefully 3.73's from the factory can still easliy get 18-20mpg if you drive the speed limit.

 

Welcome! Agree with FFDP but if you're going with a ec or cc may as well get the Denali. Think about gas mileage as fuel consumption per litre... would be in the ballpark anyway and you could gear it or put on a taller tire(s) hopefully not heavier, to run a lower rpm on the hwy to make up the difference in mpg. You would still have more power in a roll race just a little slower out of the hole but probably just as strong as the 5.3 with better gears. I like rc's 4x4s so I would have that and a 5.3 for myself (and I do). Just MHO.

 

...not so much. I lost "maybe" 0.5 MPG from swapping in my full time AWD.

 

I have a HCI 6.0 right now.
Had a ls3 with a maggie before that.
Had a lm4? Ssr al 5.3 with nitrous before that.

The gassed 5.3 had the most $/fun factor. But id tell you to go for a supercharged 5.3. The 6.0 i have does t get pissy mpg.

 

Does or doesn't?

I appreciate the responses. The more I look into it the more I'm leaning towards a denali, and now after some research I'm even looking into the GMT900 Denalis, not the biggest fan of the body but the 6.2 with a 6l80 sounds like it would be nice. Still need to sell my duramax first though so this leaves me plenty of time to shop about the country.

 

The 6.0 with the 4L65E in the classic body style gets pretty **** MPG. I get 12 around town and 16 on the highway assuming outside of rush hour.

 

My buddy had a with a FBO and tuned 6.2 Denali bring in 18 MPG on the hwy. IMO I would at least get a truck with the 6 speed. To ME they are much more reliable in stock form than a 4l60e and to ME they are better for daily driving than the 4l80e because of the gearing. There is a guy running around my area with a turbo'd Denali on a stock 6l80e.