Gear heads

[skeets]

A question, you helped me with the heater, and well that was my not understanding how the sensors worked. So I went for the state safety inspection and its all good. But a sales me at the dealer was trying to sell me a new Silverado. A pretty truck, not 80K worth of pretty, but still nice. And what struck me was the fact it had a 2.7 turbo with I think 8 speed. Im not interested as he wouldnt give me any solid numbers, but my curiosity was peaked by the little 4 cylinder motor in a truck. Over the years I owned a couple 4.3's and 5.3s and I so far Im real happy with them. So I read one thing about the 2.7 and it is the best thing since sliced bread, read the next and its to 100K and then self destructs. I know the EPA is screwing us over but I dont know about a tiny motor in a big truck. Anybody know anything about this motor ?

 

[Biker1mike]

Watched a you tube video awhile back. Everything was positive until they talked towing. 6,800 pound tow rating. No long term data on the 100K miles.

 

[DustyRusty]

A friend was looking at one but walked away because it can't tow very much. Great truck if you want a truck for looks, but forget about it as a work truck.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

curious...
1st hit...

2.7-Liter Turbo High-Output

• 310 Horsepower.
• 430 Pound-Feet of Torque.
• Up to 19/22 MPG City/Highway.
• Max Trailering Up to 9,500 Pounds.

I'm pretty sure there's no way you'll get 19 MPG pulling a 9500# trailer,unless you're always going downhill
A 9500# trailer here would be tandem axle, 6 bolt rims with small skidsteer on it....NOT 'fun' to pull behind any 1/2 ton.
As a reference, kid next door has '14 RAM, 3L diesel..claims he gets great mileage UNTIL he pulls his 7000# trailer, then he's quiet also in the super slow lane coming up our hill.....

 

[dlsmith]

2.7L is only 164 cu.in. That's pretty small motor to get 310hp and 430 ft. lbs. out of. I believe those have twin turbos, direct injection and other tricks to get that kind of power out of them. Unless that little gasser is built like a diesel, big bearings, stout block, beefy rods and forged pistons, it isn't going to live very long if you start pulling very big loads with it. Of course, as long as it makes it out of warranty, that's all that matters.

There's no substitute for cubic inches.

 

[jimh406]

The turbo gas engines are great until they aren't. Of course, they have an advantage at altitude which may or may not be worth it to you.

There's no replacement for displacement, but turbos help!

 

[mikester]

If the pickup truck doesn't have an 8 foot box then it isn't a work truck.

My observation is the vast majority of pickup truck owners have one person in the quad cab and an empty 4.5 foot bed. Basically a gas guzzling 4WD minivan with external storage principly designed for and used in suburbia.

If you are a member of the latter group the 2.7L still has 200HP more than you will ever use.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Try FINDING let alone BUYING a regular cab, 6.5 box 2WD pickup these dayze......... !!!!

In my previous line of work I didn't need an 8' box,or extended cab...

 

[Mark_BX25D]

It's not difficult to get big numbers out of a tiny engine by pushing it with a turbo.


Getting any longevity out of that kind of approach is not going to happen, no matter what games the EPA wants to play.

 

[Daren Todd]

I the pickup truck doesn't have an 8 foot box then it isn't a work truck.

My observation is the vast majority of pickup truck owners have one person in the quad cab and an empty 4.5 foot bed. Basically a gas guzzling 4WD minivan with external storage principly designed for and used in suburbia.

If you are a member of the latter group the 2.7L still has 200HP more than you will ever use.

Sometimes it comes down to economics. I have the smaller bed on my crew cab Sierra with the big V8. Most of the time it's used for my commute back and forth to work. But it's also big enough to load up the wife and grandkids. Hook up the camper and head out on a road trip as well. That little 200hp doesn't have the torque or pulling power I need on occasion.

The trucks versatile and meets my needs quite well. Tanno cover on the bed keeps whatever we need to haul dry. Can open it up if I need to haul larger items. But the beds perfect for hauling camping gear, and kids bicycles. I can put trash and sketchy stuff in the bed, that you wouldn't want to put in the back of an SUV.

But realistically I'm not any younger. I've given up on loading heavy items into the bed of the truck. I have a 16ft landscape trailer with tailgate ramp. It's much easier to roll heavy items up the ramp and strap it to the trailet. Then I don't have to worry about throwing out my back or popping a hip out.

 

[Daren Todd]

Try FINDING let alone BUYING a regular cab, 6.5 box 2WD pickup these dayze......... !!!!

In my previous line of work I didn't need an 8' box,or extended cab...

Most manufacturers are moving away from a regular cab pickup and within the next few years, you probably will be hard pressed to find a new one.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I've got 'dibs' on a near mint '81 Chevy pickup,short box from NC,USA in case my current ride ,'97 F150 has to be replaced.
Push come to shove, I'll buy back my combine and use it before buying a 4 door,4wd,sb 'truck'.

 

[dlsmith]

Try FINDING let alone BUYING a regular cab, 6.5 box 2WD pickup these dayze......... !!!!

In my previous line of work I didn't need an 8' box,or extended cab...

A couple of years ago I thought about replacing my '06 F150, but didn't feel like shelling out $40K+ for a standard cab F150, XLT trim, 5.0L V8, 2wd, 8 foot bed truck. I told three local Ford dealers I was interested in a used 2010 to 2017 model with those specs. All three said no such critter in the whole country. The only ones close are stripped down XL work trucks, usually fleet trucks that are beat up and run hard.
I always like antagonizing guys at Lowe's or Menards trying to secure 8 or 10 foot lumber in the back of their four door grocery getters with a 4, 5 or 6 1/2 foot bed, about getting a REAL pickup for that type of work. Most aren't amused.

 

[mikester]

Sometimes it comes down to economics. I have the smaller bed on my crew cab Sierra with the big V8. Most of the time it's used for my commute back and forth to work. But it's also big enough to load up the wife and grandkids. Hook up the camper and head out on a road trip as well. That little 200hp doesn't have the torque or pulling power I need on occasion.

The trucks versatile and meets my needs quite well. Tanno cover on the bed keeps whatever we need to haul dry. Can open it up if I need to haul larger items. But the beds perfect for hauling camping gear, and kids bicycles. I can put trash and sketchy stuff in the bed, that you wouldn't want to put in the back of an SUV.

But realistically I'm not any younger. I've given up on loading heavy items into the bed of the truck. I have a 16ft landscape trailer with tailgate ramp. It's much easier to roll heavy items up the ramp and strap it to the trailet. Then I don't have to worry about throwing out my back or popping a hip out.

I understand the economics point. When I traded my long box extended cab 200HP 6.5L Turbo diesel I ended up with a crew cab 300HP 6.7L Turbo diesel but with only a 6.5 foot box...it was all I could get. I hated trying to carry 12 foot boards.

Both towed great. I ended up selling the truck back in 08 when I realized it was cheaper to pay for deliveries then to keep spending $8K per year on fuel driving an empty truck 80% of the time. First world problems.

I think these new high HP vehicles are made for Tim The Toolman wannabes looking for bragging rights based on a paper spec. I also think it's funny to hear how a 310HP engine is now considered inadequate.

 

[Daren Todd]

I understand the economics point. When I traded my long box extended cab 200HP 6.5L Turbo diesel I ended up with a crew cab 300HP 6.7L Turbo diesel but with only a 6.5 foot box...it was all I could get. I hated trying to carry 12 foot boards.

Both towed great. I ended up selling the truck back in 08 when I realized it was cheaper to pay for deliveries then to keep spending $8K per year on fuel driving an empty truck 80% of the time. First world problems.

I think these new high HP vehicles are made for Tim The Toolman wannabes looking for bragging rights based on a paper spec. I also think it's funny to hear how a 310HP engine is now considered inadequate.

Mines pushing 360hp with the HD rear-end to get the max towing capacity. You never know what momma decides we need But in all honesty, I didn't know about the HD rear-end till after I bought the truck and checked the option codes. That was a nice added bonus. If I need to haul anything over 8ft, I take my trailer. Much easier to get something in and out of it. That and I hate having to wait for someone to get around to helping me get it unloaded. By taking the trailer, I can always dolly it down the tailgate if my help is a few hours away and I need to get it inside before a storm rolls through.

Crew Cab was a must with the amount of times we're hauling grandkids with us.

 

[RBsingl]

My crewcab Denali diesel with a 6.5 foot bed is much more city street and parking lot friendly than a prior setup with 8' bed I had and out of the four vehicles I own the pickup is the most comfortable for long trips with seats that are superior to those in my Cadillac. And I have a utility trailer that is much longer and roomier than any pickup bed when I need to haul long stuff and I don't have it tagging along when I don't need the extra length.

There is no one size fits all which is why all of those configurations are available.

Rodger

 

[Biker1mike]

I got rid of my gas guzzler ten years ago when I no longer needed the tow rating. Wife and grand kid came with me to truck shop. I had a checklist of what I needed and any truck that hit all my wants was looked at. The wife and kid went crazy over the Ridgeline.
If I want something that will not fit in the bed or in my little 5X8 trailer I will simply have it delivered or rent the home depot pickup.
I am sure the sharp pencil folks at Chevy know their potential market.
If they get the MPG up and get a ride close to my Honda I would look at the 2.7 .

Vinyl seats, manual tranny, crank windows, no radio, no AC and buck board ride. Been there, done that.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Vinyl seats, manual tranny, crank windows, no radio, no AC and buck board ride. Been there, done that.

'61 Chevy - manual choke, one mirror, no turn signals, one tail light, no oil filter.