I drove a new Tundra yesterday... [Archive] - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums

: I drove a new Tundra yesterday...


Manic Mechanic
01-22-2008, 07:49 AM
Don't worry it was a freinds. Nice truck, kinda ugly, but nice. The interior is better than the usual Japanese truck plasticave. I was more quirious on how it ran an unloaded WOT sprint compaired to my 8.1, Allison, 3.73, with 265/70-16 tires, 4x4, 2500HD. I've yet to have a Tundra challenge me to sprint race but realize they would give me a better run than the usual Hemi or 6.0 (I can't tell if a Ford is racing me because I don't drive that slow when I'm not racing). Well the Tundra is a CCSB RWD with stock 17" rubber so it already has a wieght advantge over my 4x4 HD. An interesting note is that while Toyota markets them as a 1500 they title them as a 2500 and are built with 2500 equivalent drivetrains, brakes, etc. When floored at a stop you have two options in the Toyota as it has a traction assist system. With it on it will squeal one tire for a moment then just grip by braking itself and motor away. With it off some light comes on that says "Auto LSD" which I assume means a "limited slip differential" and not a drug induced exageration of speed. Then it will lay dual rubber for about 10 feet but that's it. Maybe you could make it do more but it wasn't my truck to rip up. Even with torque managment my 496 will spin'em until I get tired of it, found that out one time and had to laugh. The Toyota engine doesn't have near the low RPM torque of the GM V8's but the wide ratio trans makes up for it and once it's up on the cams it pulls like my big block does in the power band but the Toyota never runs out of breath and shifts at 7,000 RPM. I won't mince words, the truck is fast. 100 MPH will show up rather quickly from a dead stop. It's not going to treaten an LS1 car but many "fast" cars had better run one seriously or be humbled. My well calibrated butt dyno says that in a sprint race between my damn good running 8.1 and this Tundra it would play out like this. The 8.1 with traction would be able to put a couple of trucks on the Toyota right away and hold it to about 50 when the Tundra would really start building speed and start to catch up. By 65 or 70 the Tundra would jog right by the 8.1 and easily have a few trucks on the 8.1 by a quarter mile. This is based on this truck against mine, and my truck fears no one. Well now I know what I'm up against in a sprint race. For my fellow truck guys who think that this kind of information is irrelevent to real trucking, I'm sorry I wasn't able to pull 20,000 lbs. of hay or anything, I got the opportunity to drive it empty and alone dropped into my lap unexpectidly so I did what I could.

I'm kinda exicited that the Toyota is so fast because I just recieved my final hard speed part for my engine, a custom ground Compition Cam and spring set. So now I only need to round up gaskets and bolts etc. and I'll be able to tear down my engine and put together something really mean with all the parts listed in my signature that'll make Tundras look silly and leave them dumbfounded should they dare to show me somethin'. The guys with the newest and fastest are always out there looking to prove it. Nobody expects a 2500HD with Votech High Output on the hood scoop to do anything but catch hell. I'm educating the rest of the world about 8.1's one stop light derby at a time and it's time to step up my game.

Vernon

Manic Mechanic
01-22-2008, 09:55 AM
Oops, I guess I should have titled it "I got a chace to compare my GM Gasser to the Tundra". Sorry.

Vernon

John DiMartino
01-22-2008, 06:29 PM
Nice evaluation Vernon. I cant believe an 8.1 would even have a chance against a 1/2 ton with 50 more hp and 1000lbs less weight.WOuld have never though to try racing much with it. I know better than to challenge any 1/2 ton with my 8.1,even a 4800 will beat mine til 50-60.Maybe somethings wrong with my 8.1,or im used to my 600 rwhp Cummins,but my 8.1 CC pickup can barley beat my beater car,a 97 4 cyl stratus (140Hp 2.4 liter) all out,the girlfriends 97 Jeep grand cherokee will blow the 8.1 in the weeds,with its chest thumping 318 cu in only having 3700 lbs to move.Towing is a different story,but empty,you guys let me know how it goes racing the 8.1:o:. I'll use the old Dodge when i need quick.

malibu795
01-22-2008, 06:40 PM
Nice evaluation Vernon. I cant believe an 8.1 would even have a chance against a 1/2 ton with 50 more hp and 1000lbs less weight.WOuld have never though to try racing much with it. I know better than to challenge any 1/2 ton with my 8.1,even a 4800 will beat mine til 50-60.Maybe somethings wrong with my 8.1,or im used to my 600 rwhp Cummins,but my 8.1 CC pickup can barley beat my beater car,a 97 4 cyl stratus (140Hp 2.4 liter) all out,the girlfriends 97 Jeep grand cherokee will blow the 8.1 in the weeds,with its chest thumping 318 cu in only having 3700 lbs to move.Towing is a different story,but empty,you guys let me know how it goes racing the 8.1:o:. I'll use the old Dodge when i need quick.
get a tune and get ride of most of the tq mangment out and it will become another truck:D

graystonelbz
01-22-2008, 06:46 PM
Nice evaluation Vernon. I cant believe an 8.1 would even have a chance against a 1/2 ton with 50 more hp and 1000lbs less weight.WOuld have never though to try racing much with it. I know better than to challenge any 1/2 ton with my 8.1,even a 4800 will beat mine til 50-60.Maybe somethings wrong with my 8.1,or im used to my 600 rwhp Cummins,but my 8.1 CC pickup can barley beat my beater car,a 97 4 cyl stratus (140Hp 2.4 liter) all out,the girlfriends 97 Jeep grand cherokee will blow the 8.1 in the weeds,with its chest thumping 318 cu in only having 3700 lbs to move.Towing is a different story,but empty,you guys let me know how it goes racing the 8.1:o:. I'll use the old Dodge when i need quick.

There must be something wrong with yours...I had 2 of them with minor mods and they were a blast to drive.


Vernon: Sounds like you have a mean 8.1, keep us updated with your rebuild.

NorthlandBuilders
01-22-2008, 08:37 PM
I agree, she must have something wrong. The 2 8.1's Ive owned have been screamers, and one some mods are thrown at them those trucks wake right up.

Manic Mechanic
01-22-2008, 09:54 PM
Thanks guys, everyone on Diesel Place will be the first to know about it when I rebuild my truck. I'm holding out on a tune until after it's modded to get a real dyno tune. Considering all of the crazy stuff done at one time I don't think a mail order tune will cut it.

Vernon

Manic Mechanic
01-22-2008, 10:05 PM
John I can tell you that the 8.1 needs a ton of fuel and a strong spark to run at full potential. Each one of our cylinders displaces more volume than the whole engine in a Suzuki Swift. I don't know what's your engines state of tune but don't think that a 8.1 will keep a fuel filter clean for more than 40K or a set of plugs for more than 50K. It still runs, but not as well as it can.

My slighlty modded, alternative fueled 8.1 truck runs a lot stronger than it did stock so the HP difference between mine and the Tundra are not as big as you're thinking and the torque curve is stronger in the Chevy. It's a 496 torque monster vs. a 350ish 32 valve screamer. I'll tell you this though I'm a lot heavier than that Tundra is.