Hey guys,
Im putting a LT4 & 8L90 into my work truck. Currently my work truck has a cammed BTR stage 2 with 3/8 chromoly push rods and BTR dual valve springs. I have a 70mm Chinese turbo on it with a 3” IC and injectors. I’m running the stock flex fuel pump. Tuned with HPT. Dyno’d at 410 horse to the wheels at 5 psi.

I wanted to ask ask a few questions before I buy the drive train.

Obviously it would be cool as ****. A brand new LT4 in a RCSB 1500 2wd.

Now the question is, can I make it reliable. I drive about 40,000 miles a year. I know this Chinese turbo could start billowing smoke at any minute, or the cheap deka 80’s stop working and fry some pistons.

The drivetrain comes with 50,000/2yr warranty.

I bought the truck used last August for 17,000 with 22,000 Miles. If I put a precision 7075 and IC 1050’s with a solid intercooler and a 4L80 with a hd2 kid and converter I could probably make it last. But that’s a solid amount of time and effort. And would I get 50k / 2 yrs out of it?

The key here is reliability. I own my business and I need to run and do sales/service with my truck on a daily basis.

I will be adding about 1500-2000 lbs of weight to the stock truck. Maybe more...

ladder racks, tool boxes, ladders, parts, and towing a 14’ dump trailer loaded with 4 tons of scrap on a regular basis.

I need the power in order to tow to tow the trailer, my 2015 2500 6.0 could barely do it. I will be putting firestone air springs in the back and possibly converting to 8 lug. The 2015 2500 6.0 was a company vehicle from my peevious company and I gave it back. So my only option now is to convert my street truck to a work truck. The 27,000 for the LT4 drivetrain is a company write off. All in all I would be tied up for just under 50 grand.

The motor comes with a full rotating assembly with ac and FPCM, I just need a ZL1 fuel pump. The crate motor also doesn’t come with DOD so that’s a plus.


What hat do you guys think?

Yes mine would be strictly work also. So my main concern is, is it worth 10 grand more to do a LT4 with the 8 speed and 2 year warranty compared to a reliable turbo build with a 4L80. How much fuel would I save by adding 4 more gears? That’s one of chevys big selling points with the 8 speed v8’s - that they provide much better fuel economy. Can the 8L90 hold together when I’m towing heavy loads? I’m sure it probably can considering they’re probably going to be putting that tranny in Escalades, 2500 suburbans, 3/4 Ton trucks, etc. I feel like chevy is pushing for the 8 speed platform. And who doesn’t want 450 horse at 1500 rpm cruising speeds..

well here’s what I’ve ran into with a turbo work truck, you need weight(load on motor) if you have enough load on the truck it’ll spool up. My truck is a 1500 2wd. I take scrap metal from my business once a month (roughly 6,000 lbs) plus the weight of a 14k gvw dump trailer. I think dry you won’t notice much because you won’t be into boost at all unless going up a hill. That’s a major plus to me in itself alone, not having the truck downshift going up inclines, there’s a lot of hills up here in New England so it’s important to me to muscle up the hills with or without a load. My biggest concern is will the 1500 frame be strong enough to pull that kind of weight even after I fully do the suspension and motor/tranny to handle it..

Some guys on YouTube got a new 1500 with the 5th gen ecotec 5.3 with the 8 speed. They did hill climbs while towing the max trailer weight rated for the 1500 and it ripped right up the hills better than dodge. So that was reassuring..