[Petrol Head]

My daily driver is a 2009 Accord EX-L V6 coupe 6 speed stick with 180,000 miles. I've owned it since new and it's very reliable. But owning a home and needing more room and easier ingress/egress for my Parents as I'm helping them more now, I am considering replacing it with a pickup.

But not just any pickup - I'd love an early-mid 2000s Silverado or Sierra HD 2500 with the 8.1 V8 and manual transmission if I could find one. I know the 8.1 is a rare breed but if I can find one that isn't completely roached out and has around 150,000 miles I'd love it. If not I'll settle for the 6.0 but man, that's almost 500 cubic inches!! Big block, old school muscle lol

Anyone familiar with those? Anyone know of anyone selling one?

[Realist]

GM put the same motor in the 2500 1st Gen Avalanches. I luv the versatility of Avalanches over pickups. I know they didn’t offer a manual trans in them and surprised to hear a manual was available in the 2500hd pickups with the 8.1. I have a 13 Sierra 2500HD with the 6.0 and a 13 Escalade EXT with full time 4wd and the 6.2, they are both averaging about 10.6mpg so expect to spend some time at the gas station. Go big or go home, good luck in your search.

[95 imp]

I have the 8.1/A5 in my stock 2003 work truck.

It LOVES the dinosaur juice.

I get 8-10 MPG being gentle. It has a service body and ladder rack, but I doubt you'll get much better mileage with a slick body.

I'm sure if you tuned it up the thing would fly.

[Petrol Head]

Yeah it should probably go without saying if I’m really looking for this bad boy I’m not concerned with fuel economy.

Also I’d wager with the 6 speed manual it might get a mpg or two better than with the Allison 5 speed lol

[Petrol Head]

Originally Posted by Realist

GM put the same motor in the 2500 1st Gen Avalanches. I luv the versatility of Avalanches over pickups. I know they didn’t offer a manual trans in them and surprised to hear a manual was available in the 2500hd pickups with the 8.1. I have a 13 Sierra 2500HD with the 6.0 and a 13 Escalade EXT with full time 4wd and the 6.2, they are both averaging about 10.6mpg so expect to spend some time at the gas station. Go big or go home, good luck in your search.

Just my personal opinion but I never cared for the styling of the Avalanche. Always thought they looked like overweight pickups but that’s just me.

[s346k]

you realize this is not an lsx motor and shares very little with one, correct? 340/450 power numbers from essentially a fuel injected, old school big block is rather weak. it has 4 bolt mains and old cylinder head technology that had been updated (by 2001 standards).

id take a 6.0 over this boat anchor any day.

[Petrol Head]

Originally Posted by s346k

you realize this is not an lsx motor and shares very little with one, correct? 340/450 power numbers from essentially a fuel injected, old school big block is rather weak. it has 4 bolt mains and old cylinder head technology that had been updated (by 2001 standards).

id take a 6.0 over this boat anchor any day.

Oh I know that, it’s an old school cast iron big block. That’s why I want one.

[Nitronut]

Originally Posted by Petrol Head

My daily driver is a 2009 Accord EX-L V6 coupe 6 speed stick with 180,000 miles. I've owned it since new and it's very reliable. But owning a home and needing more room and easier ingress/egress for my Parents as I'm helping them more now, I am considering replacing it with a pickup.

But not just any pickup - I'd love an early-mid 2000s Silverado or Sierra HD 2500 with the 8.1 V8 and manual transmission if I could find one. I know the 8.1 is a rare breed but if I can find one that isn't completely roached out and has around 150,000 miles I'd love it. If not I'll settle for the 6.0 but man, that's almost 500 cubic inches!! Big block, old school muscle lol

Anyone familiar with those? Anyone know of anyone selling one?

I had a 2002 8.1 with the Allison transmission, CC, long bed. . it was a work horse. Except for the gas mileage, it was one of the best trucks I ever owned. Towing wise........ it kicks ass on a 6.0 and I've had both.

[grntanoby]

I'm not really familiar with that Silverado model. One of my cousins owns a Silverado but it's a 2018 Silverado 3500HD that he's been using for towing his ATV. The last time I saw that was when he decided to install dually wheels to it about a year ago. It's a very reliable truck even for off-road use.

[Petrol Head]

Originally Posted by grntanoby

I'm not really familiar with that Silverado model. One of my cousins owns a Silverado but it's a 2018 Silverado 3500HD that he's been using for towing his ATV. The last time I saw that was when he decided to install dually wheels to it about a year ago. It's a very reliable truck even for off-road use.

It was offered from 2001-2007 I think. 2010 was the last year you could buy any Silverado with a manual transmission.

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

I’ve had a couple of them. They are certainly bad ass, tall deck big block with 375ish ftlbs of glorious torque at IDLE. I had a 2001 3/4 suburban with a 4l85(avalanches and suburbans didn’t get the Allison). I got 12-15 on the highway regularly if I drove it gentle. I also had a 2006 K3500 single wheel rclb for a while with the ally. Bothe trucks had way over 200 on them, actually the K3500 has close to 300,000 on it as my father in law bought it from me a few years ago and still has it. The suburban had 270xxx on it when I sold it to buy my Camaro. You won’t be disappointed. If you get an earlier 01-04(?) they have an adjustable fuel pressure regulator from the factory, these engines LOVE higher fuel psi but the trade off is even worse fuel mileage when you crank the psi up. They are animals as far as factory gas truck engines go.

[Petrol Head]

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

I’ve had a couple of them. They are certainly bad ass, tall deck big block with 375ish ftlbs of glorious torque at IDLE. I had a 2001 3/4 suburban with a 4l85(avalanches and suburbans didn’t get the Allison). I got 12-15 on the highway regularly if I drove it gentle. I also had a 2006 K3500 single wheel rclb for a while with the ally. Bothe trucks had way over 200 on them, actually the K3500 has close to 300,000 on it as my father in law bought it from me a few years ago and still has it. The suburban had 270xxx on it when I sold it to buy my Camaro. You won’t be disappointed. If you get an earlier 01-04(?) they have an adjustable fuel pressure regulator from the factory, these engines LOVE higher fuel psi but the trade off is even worse fuel mileage when you crank the psi up. They are animals as far as factory gas truck engines go.

Yeah that’s the thing - newer engines might have more torque but the 8100 has all its torque available down low - where you want it. Where it belongs.