'01 GMC Sierra 1500 is worthless

[darcane]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

I agree with what you posted, GMs big boys always have done better than ford or dodge. I just wish more people would buy manual transmissions so I could end up with one some day.

Heh... I spent over two months trying to find my same truck ('99-06 GM) with a manual. I found 3 for sale... in the entire US. And none worth buying. After that I resigned myself to an auto.

They have gotten so rare that GM (Ford too) has just completely discontinued manual transmissions in 1500 series trucks. Toyota did a couple years ago and Nissan never had one.

Mike

[Big Dave]

It has gotten to the point that if you want the truly hot MPG setup of diesel, manual transmission, 2wd, you have to buy a 3/4 ton truck.

Hot rodders know how to convert automatic cars and truck to manuals. The Tremec T-56 family is one of the best manuals ever built.

Believe it or not GM built a Suburban that was good for 30 MPG. 6.2 NA diesel, 5-speed manual, 4x2, 2.73:1 gearing. Obviously not real quick but it got the big MPG.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Believe it or not GM built a Suburban that was good for 30 MPG. 6.2 NA diesel, 5-speed manual, 4x2, 2.73:1 gearing. Obviously not real quick but it got the big MPG.

Sadly though the 6.2 suburban didn't come that way, I have been trying to find the bellhousing and NV-3500 5speed to get my old 89 diesel sub on the road for some time. I also find that no one seems to be willing to install a manual in an auto. Right now it has 2.73 rear gears but the blasted 700r4 can't deal with it. So out at the repair shop it sits

My dream machine would be my 6.2 in a newer less rusty 6.5burb body with a blown out motor but I can't seem to find any vehicles with a bad motor for sale in any type of reasonable price, heck I can't even find the diesel bell housing in a junkyard

I honestly think I might be able to beat 30 by a hair with the 6.2 and a proper manual transmission, after all the cars got about 34 with the 5.7 diesel & 4sp auto and weighed about the same. So a little hypermiling should get me up there. I was getting 26mpg when the 89 was running with just a crappy 700r4, so long as I kept speed in check.

Cheers
Ryan

[Frank Lee]

I propose that we come together to devise a plan for all-out maximum ecomodding of full-size trucks to make them suitable daily commuter vehicles. If there is anything that should incite all Ecomodders to band together and pool our collective resources, it is this.

So Team A can work on that.

Team B can devote their energies to devising methods of increasing the hauling capacity of little Honda cars, so that those cars can render full-size pickups obsolete- for hauling anyway. We are going to need all those trucks for commuting now.

[The Atomic Ass]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I propose that we come together to devise a plan for all-out maximum ecomodding of full-size trucks to make them suitable daily commuter vehicles. If there is anything that should incite all Ecomodders to band together and pool our collective resources, it is this.

So Team A can work on that.

Team B can devote their energies to devising methods of increasing the hauling capacity of little Honda cars, so that those cars can render full-size pickups obsolete- for hauling anyway. We are going to need all those trucks for commuting now.

Having carried cargo in excess of both the size and weight limits of my 2-wheeled mule, I offer my services to Team B.

Also partly because I absolutely hate truck suspensions, and prefer the smooth ride of even the smallest of compact cars.

[2000mc]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

......Team B can devote their energies to devising methods of increasing the hauling capacity of little Honda cars, so that those cars can render full-size pickups obsolete- for hauling anyway. We are going to need all those trucks for commuting now.

i'm thinkin the key would be a scaffolding type attachment....

[RobertSmalls]

While I know that Mr. Lee is joking, I can't help but solve the problems he posed.

Team B can fit a trailer hitch to any Honda larger than an Insight, and easily tow a 4'x8' trailer of 1000 lbs. The only larger thing I've ever needed to tow was my Insight, which, at 1800lbs, could probably have been pulled by a new Fit or HCH. Team B wins.

Team A has their work cut out for them, but again a Honda is the answer.

Truck aerodynamics are completely laughable. Team A needs a body kit to make an F150 or a Silverado shaped just like a gigantic Honda Insight (first-gen). This involves taking a sawzall to the fenders, a hammer to round out the hood, and a removable hard-shell tonneau cover that looks like a Honda hatch back. Reduce the width of the rear of the vehicle by cutting off the sidewalls of the bed and tapering them inward. There's no need for a tailgate any wider than the narrowest part of the bed, between the wheel wells. Relocate the turn signals to below the bumper to conserve precious width. The tailgate can be made of polycarbonate to conform to the Honda design language, if desired.

+


The lower half of the truck's rear should be a little wider than the upper half, to accomodate a full-size rear axle. You'll need rear wheel skirts, smooth wheel covers, and no mudflaps. Underneath, the truck must be as smooth, and as tapered, as the top of the truck. Exterior mirrors can be replaced with rearview cameras, which could be mounted on an extendable boom for seeing around a trailer.

The result: With any luck, Cd around 0.28, smoother (but much larger) than most cars.

The better aerodynamics will allow you to fit a smaller, lighter engine and correspondingly smaller radiator and exhaust. If only there were more weight-reduction opportunities, people would snap up 2WD, 4cyl trucks with fuel economy gearing. Actually, I think dual-range would be a great thing in a full sized truck with a 4cyl. If a major carmaker picks up this idea, it would certainly benefit from the massive torque at 0RPM of an electric motor, which would also enable engine stop/start and regenerative braking.

There you go, truck guys. I replaced all the macho of your truck with aero and hybrid, and left you with 99% of the hauling and towing capability you had before, but about double the emm pee gees Detroit's thirstiest trucks.

[pgfpro]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

While I know that Mr. Lee is joking, I can't help but solve the problems he posed.

Team B can fit a trailer hitch to any Honda larger than an Insight, and easily tow a 4'x8' trailer of 1000 lbs. The only larger thing I've ever needed to tow was my Insight, which, at 1800lbs, could probably have been pulled by a new Fit or HCH. Team B wins.

Team A has their work cut out for them, but again a Honda is the answer.

Truck aerodynamics are completely laughable. Team A needs a body kit to make an F150 or a Silverado shaped just like a gigantic Honda Insight (first-gen). This involves taking a sawzall to the fenders, a hammer to round out the hood, and a removable hard-shell tonneau cover that looks like a Honda hatch back. Reduce the width of the rear of the vehicle by cutting off the sidewalls of the bed and tapering them inward. There's no need for a tailgate any wider than the narrowest part of the bed, between the wheel wells. Relocate the turn signals to below the bumper to conserve precious width. The tailgate can be made of polycarbonate to conform to the Honda design language, if desired.

+


The lower half of the truck's rear should be a little wider than the upper half, to accomodate a full-size rear axle. You'll need rear wheel skirts, smooth wheel covers, and no mudflaps. Underneath, the truck must be as smooth, and as tapered, as the top of the truck. Exterior mirrors can be replaced with rearview cameras, which could be mounted on an extendable boom for seeing around a trailer.

The result: With any luck, Cd around 0.28, smoother (but much larger) than most cars.

The better aerodynamics will allow you to fit a smaller, lighter engine and correspondingly smaller radiator and exhaust. If only there were more weight-reduction opportunities, people would snap up 2WD, 4cyl trucks with fuel economy gearing. Actually, I think dual-range would be a great thing in a full sized truck with a 4cyl. If a major carmaker picks up this idea, it would certainly benefit from the massive torque at 0RPM of an electric motor, which would also enable engine stop/start and regenerative braking.

There you go, truck guys. I replaced all the macho of your truck with aero and hybrid, and left you with 99% of the hauling and towing capability you had before, but about double the emm pee gees Detroit's thirstiest trucks.

I like the look of the canopy I wish they mass produced one. I would make my company buy one of they did.

By the way my last log the truck got a whole whoopping 15mpg

[Frank Lee]

I don't have quite the confidence Bob does.

If a truck has to pull and haul it can only go so small-engined and light weight.

A stout CVT or trans with many gears would help the little engine cope but still a person should resign themselves to Microbus-like performance with load.

A little engine working hard still needs an adequate radiator. I suspect we won't see any pickup 1/2 radiators.

A towing vehicle needs a certain amount of bulk itself so the trailer doesn't push it around. That or design it with superior balance and control when loaded i.e. like a mini-semi.

Can't speak for everybody but I'd destroy a polycarb tailgate the first day. In fact factory steel tailgates are only marginally strong enough.

Truck aero: even if you did recreate a giant Insight or EV-1, it is still... giant. It would be awesome but it wouldn't be the equal of those cars.

Call me crazy... I say if you are doing a lot of truck work you should use a truck and if you aren't you should use a car or bike or whatever. I don't know why people insist on being so contrary (like my aerial city traffic observation: everyone on n end goes s, s goes n, e goes w, w goes e. ).

[Big Dave]

I am researching custom bellhousing sources, to make unusual engine swaps more viable. That how the 6.2 GM diesel did it - a custom-made bellhousing.

For the truck group I think the only way for a high-MPG truck to go is diesel. Not only is it more efficient and its high torque allows long-legged gearing, but a fairlt strong diesel pays no penalty (beyond its weight) for low-load operations.