I got a 84 k10 with a 350 with 35's. I want to stick 44's underneath it but I want better mileage (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3734271#) then 3mpg from a gasser. Would I be best to go with 6.2 with a turbo, a 6.5 with a turbo, or a 4bt swap. The 6.2 and 6.5 should just bolt up where the 350 is right?

Put a Duramax in it, alot of work but but would be cool as hell, but if your gonna put 44's on it you better put a 14 bolt FF in the rear and a Dana 60 in the front if you are still running the stock 10 bolts. The 8.5 10 bolts will take some abuse, but not with that much tire. Some will disagree with me about the 10 bolts but we ran them in are mud truck with a 700+ HP small block and a TH 350 with a trans brake and never had any problems with cut 38.5 boggers. We had aftermarket axles in the rear end with a mini spool and the frontend was completely stock other than the u-joints.

I have thought of a duramax but I have never seen anyone do a conversion to that. I am just a newb to all this so if they made a conversion for motor mounts and stuff for a duramax you know of any?

DURAMAX is ALOT of time and money to do, I can speak first hand on this. A 6.2 or 6.5 turbo'd would get you better milage, but I wouldn't expect it o be a speed demon with 44's on it. Definately upgrade your axles and get some 6:1 or so gears for it. Put a 6.5 with an *** in there and a marine DB2 IP and she would probably run pretty stout.

How big of tires can the stock axles handle?

If it's the stock 10 bolt, then the reccomended max tire height is 35's as the c-clips are known to break very easily with bigger tires than that. Also I know the steering is pretty weak on the half tons from that era.

I don't expect it to be way fast I just want the tires to be able to turn without the motor dying. Am I better to swap in a vortec or something?

I got a 84 k10 with a 350 with 35's. I want to stick 44's underneath it but I want better mileage (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3734271#) then 3mpg from a gasser. Would I be best to go with 6.2 with a turbo, a 6.5 with a turbo, or a 4bt swap. The 6.2 and 6.5 should just bolt up where the 350 is right?

Yes a 6.2 and 6.5 will bolt right in to your car. You just need one wire for ignition, a switch for your glow plugs and you are good to go. Cheaper, simpler, and gets better mileage than a duramax. Just have a bit less power, but a 6.2 and 6.5 with a turbo will have around the same horsepower and a bit more torque than a good running stock 350.

Yes a 6.2 and 6.5 will bolt right in to your car. You just need one wire for ignition, a switch for your glow plugs and you are good to go. Cheaper, simpler, and gets better mileage than a duramax. Just have a bit less power, but a 6.2 and 6.5 with a turbo will have around the same horsepower and a bit more torque than a good running stock 350.

more like ALOT less....... :lol:

more like ALOT less....... :lol:


Thats what i was thinking.

Yes a 6.2 and 6.5 will bolt right in to your car. You just need one wire for ignition, a switch for your glow plugs and you are good to go. Cheaper, simpler, and gets better mileage than a duramax. Just have a bit less power, but a 6.2 and 6.5 with a turbo will have around the same horsepower and a bit more torque than a good running stock 350.

I can say that this is false as I get better milage with the DMAX empty and towing.

more like ALOT less....... :lol:

What he said. There is no comparison of a stock DURAMAX to my slightly modded 6.5 turbo I had.