OK, this is basically a very specific 8.1L VS 6.0l post. Im thinking about adding a gasser to my "fleet" so i can hook stock gas classes at all the local truck pulls and have an extra vehicle around that my wife wont mind driving Its going to be a RCLB (with the exception of maybe a 1500hd) as ide like to be able to make weight in the lighter classes. If i buy a 6.0l it will prefereably be a light duty with the 9.5 rear. In my experience the 6.0L trucks typically outpull the 8.1 trucks. Smaller drivetrain=less hp loss and a turning higher RPMs= greater wheel speed. So what is the 8.1 missing when it comes to pulling? Does the ability to disable the torque management on the 6.0l with a handheld tuner give it that much of an edge over the 8.1? I do have EFI live now so i could disable the TM on a big block truck, where as before i couldn't with the diablo. So what direction should i go here guys? I can get a RCLB of either flavor for under $5000

8.1 all the way. A 6.0 wont come close... believe me. Disable TM, pull 4 lo 2nd.

8.1 all the way. A 6.0 wont come close... believe me. Disable TM, pull 4 lo 2nd.

Well, if i hadn't consistently seen the 6.0 trucks with the lighter rear diff and transfer case beat up on everything else in the class 8.1s included, i wouldnt be contemplating. And if i was strictly playing the odds of what ive seen at the pulls here ide be sold on a 6.0l truck. I figure a 3/4 ton avalanche sporting an 8.1l with the same running gear as a light duty 2500 pickup would probably lay it down, but there a bit on the tubby side and ide be limited to one weight class everywhere and excluded at some of the places around here. But, im pretty torn and unsure what i want to do. Whats the SAFE max RPMs an 8.1 will turn without tossing its cookies?

One thing you have to consider is setups, the trucks that won must have been set up better than the 8.1. I have done the math with gearing and tire speeds before for friends with 6.0l and it is not close to mine. The 8.1 is capable of turning alot higher than it will make power to. Its not the speed of the motor its wheel speed that matters.

One thing you have to consider is setups, the trucks that won must have been set up better than the 8.1. I have done the math with gearing and tire speeds before for friends with 6.0l and it is not close to mine. The 8.1 is capable of turning alot higher than it will make power to. Its not the speed of the motor its wheel speed that matters.


I understand that wheel speed is more relevant, but considering both trucks would have 4.11s the wheels speeds VS RPMs will be very similar. My experience with the 8.1, unless you can get it to take 3rd gear and scream, the 6.0l trucks that are wound up to 6000Rs are going to give you grief. The 8.1 truck i see consistently pull around here belongs to a guy who pulls a couple of his trucks, all his trucks pull well, and his 6.0l trucks usually do better. Even with the standard 2500hd trucks, 4l80e/10.5 rear = less parasitic HP loss than the allison/11.5 drivetrain. I guess what im looking for is some info on what to do to set the 8.1 up as i already know how to set the 6.0 to clean house. I have faith in the big block but need some hard info to re assure me my faith is not misguided.

Oh and anyone got an accurate source for curb weights on these trucks? I cant seem to find anything on the web that will let me select specific cab and engine configuration then give me specs.

OK, this is MY experience. I have a CCSB 8.1L 2500 HD, my father has a CCSB 1500HD 6.0L. BOTH 2002 models. My fathers truck would pull fairly well below 80k miles. It had super tall gears, didnt like to take off with a load but once going would pull really good. BUT after all those hi RPM pulls, it has taken its tool BAD! 3k oil changes and all good matinence and its a dog now. It wont pull a 6k lbs boat on the interstate without staying in 2nd gear. My 8.1L has 120K on it and still has NO problem pulling!! Seems to still grunt right up steep hills awseome. and as far as truck pull, Ive held a constant 2nd and 3rd place in Street, and Pro street pulls. Thats NO traction bars or anything special. And the Transfer Case exploded at 90K in the 1500HD. They are a bit weaker than the ones in the 2500HD's. OH!!! And with my programmer I can turn 6K rpm in my 8.1L. NOT good but I ONLY do that at the truck pulls when I really have to.

OK, this is MY experience. I have a CCSB 8.1L 2500 HD, my father has a CCSB 1500HD 6.0L. BOTH 2002 models. My fathers truck would pull fairly well below 80k miles. It had super tall gears, didnt like to take off with a load but once going would pull really good. BUT after all those hi RPM pulls, it has taken its tool BAD! 3k oil changes and all good matinence and its a dog now. It wont pull a 6k lbs boat on the interstate without staying in 2nd gear. My 8.1L has 120K on it and still has NO problem pulling!! Seems to still grunt right up steep hills awseome. and as far as truck pull, Ive held a constant 2nd and 3rd place in Street, and Pro street pulls. Thats NO traction bars or anything special. And the Transfer Case exploded at 90K in the 1500HD. They are a bit weaker than the ones in the 2500HD's. OH!!! And with my programmer I can turn 6K rpm in my 8.1L. NOT good but I ONLY do that at the truck pulls when I really have to.


Well, ide like to believe your 6.0l has another issue than having been worked to hard, because ive seen a TON of em that have had the cock worked right off em and still run well at 200k. But longevity is not my concern either and this will be a second truck so it probably wont get driven everyday unless my wifes car is down or my truck is down. The other concern i have is if i do puke a motor a 6.0l is easier and cheaper to come by than an 8.1.

What does your CCSB weigh? and whats does your fathers truck weigh? I dont want to drop the coin on a CC but im also thinking with the possibility of a baby in the next year or so a regular cab will be worthless and my extended cab is still not the most ideal.

Well, ide like to believe your 6.0l has another issue than having been worked to hard, because ive seen a TON of em that have had the cock worked right off em and still run well at 200k. But longevity is not my concern either and this will be a second truck so it probably wont get driven everyday unless my wifes car is down or my truck is down. The other concern i have is if i do puke a motor a 6.0l is easier and cheaper to come by than an 8.1.

What does your CCSB weigh? and whats does your fathers truck weigh? I dont want to drop the coin on a CC but im also thinking with the possibility of a baby in the next year or so a regular cab will be worthless and my extended cab is still not the most ideal.

Im sure the 6.0 might have some probs....but IDK what the hell they are. Just sluggish as hell now. I CANT STAND driving it. It is very reliable, but just weak. And I think the 8.1L weighed 6700 on the scales. NEVER wieghed the 6.0. So cant tell you there.
And as far as replacing the motor, you CAN find some good cheap 8.1L's out there, BUT they are few and far between. A 6.0 is tons cheaper and easier to find. Agreed on that. But its just preference. After ridong and driving many 6.0's im just outstanded with my 8.1L. Yes I can pass alota trucks out there, but I cant pass a gas station to save my life. She is THIRSTY, but thats the price of near 500c.i. On the other hand, towing, it drops 1 mpg usually. The 6.0 gets the same towing, with much less pep.

I can get my RCLB HD 8.1 down to 5970. But that is with half a tank of gas, no tailgate, spare tire,spare tire holder,rear bumper, tool box and nothing in the cab besides the seats and me. Before my truck lost weight, I could still get it to 6200.

Im sure the 6.0 might have some probs....but IDK what the hell they are. Just sluggish as hell now. I CANT STAND driving it. It is very reliable, but just weak. And I think the 8.1L weighed 6700 on the scales. NEVER wieghed the 6.0. So cant tell you there.
And as far as replacing the motor, you CAN find some good cheap 8.1L's out there, BUT they are few and far between. A 6.0 is tons cheaper and easier to find. Agreed on that. But its just preference. After ridong and driving many 6.0's im just outstanded with my 8.1L. Yes I can pass alota trucks out there, but I cant pass a gas station to save my life. She is THIRSTY, but thats the price of near 500c.i. On the other hand, towing, it drops 1 mpg usually. The 6.0 gets the same towing, with much less pep.

I have plenty of experience towing and driving with both motors, hell i towed ny big block truck home like 600 miles with my dads 05 6.0 rclb. I ditched my eclb 496 truck because it was such an ass ache to make weight and a duramax was what i really desired. So now i got my Dmax but im thinking i want a second truck for a variety of reasons.

I can get my RCLB HD 8.1 down to 5970. But that is with half a tank of gas, no tailgate, spare tire,spare tire holder,rear bumper, tool box and nothing in the cab besides the seats and me. Before my truck lost weight, I could still get it to 6200.

What it boils down to is ide really like to buy a big block truck, but i have a bad feeling ill be pulling my hair out on getting it set up, worse yet ill just never get her to run the way i want. Weight is a concern also, and the less it weighs the more you can hang at the pulls that allow it. Ide really like to see some dyno results on a light duty 2500 vs an 8.1l 2500hd vs a 3/4 ton avalanche.

Oh and BTW my truck pulls 2nd gear with 3.73's and 285 MT's. I have beat trucks with way more HP than mine. Pulling is about 50% setup 25% driver and 25% HP. I have pulled against a few SUPERCHARGED toyotas with expirenced drivers. Once on a very heavy sled (35-40,000 lb) and once on a lighter 20,000 lb sled. I won with the lighter sled. Ill have to put up a video. And last I knew with a charger toyotas put down 504HP. Just keep that in mind when you are worried about whose truck has the most power. How far away from VT are your pulls? I might be interested in comming over to one.

Oh and BTW my truck pulls 2nd gear with 3.73's and 285 MT's. I have beat trucks with way more HP than mine. Pulling is about 50% setup 25% driver and 25% HP. I have pulled against a few SUPERCHARGED toyotas with expirenced drivers. Once on a very heavy sled (35-40,000 lb) and once on a lighter 20,000 lb sled. I won with the lighter sled. Ill have to put up a video. And last I knew with a charger toyotas put down 504HP. Just keep that in mind when you are worried about whose truck has the most power. How far away from VT are your pulls? I might be interested in comming over to one.

Closest two I can think of to vermont are washington county in Greenwhich ny and saratoga county in balston spa. There are about 3 that are within 45 minutes of I90 exit 31, Brookfield ( 2 pulls a year), boonville( used to be 2 pulls a year, tough to say what will happen this upcoming year) , and herkimer is actually probably closer to exit 30. There is also fonda which is right on top of I90 exit 28, at least i think thats the exit number. I ran my dmax this year and did really well in all the stock classes. Im planning on running my Dmax stock class again this year and adding a little spray for the RWYB pulls. I want a spare truck thats capable of towing my truck if need be, im leaning more and more towards another big block truck but its probably going to boil down to what i find for what kind of coin.

I have been to Washington county a bunch of times to watch the mod tractors pull but never made it for trucks. Might have to make it over this year!

I have been to Washington county a bunch of times to watch the mod tractors pull but never made it for trucks. Might have to make it over this year!


I won the stock diesel class there this past summer. Long ass ride on a wed night and had to turn my truck down to not blow smoke. Probably wont venture out to that one again.