Chevy Express 3500 tuning

[pdalach]

It took me some time to find my current Express V8 gasser. Lots of white cargo vans. Not as many passenger vans. And I lucked out that mine is NOT white.

Even fewer duramax non-shortbus passenger vans. Which I've considered.

At this point, I think I have a game plan for keeping this thing going. A factor (that sucks) is that I blew a tire last year, which did some solid body damage. I'd hate to think what the resale value is at this point of my current rig.

 

[Kensington]

If you're keeping it, who cares about resale, the vans don't have great resale anyways. Fix the body damage and get it running right. Looking at the towing guides, the 4 and 6 speed trucks don't seem to have much a difference in towing capacity, but the 6-speed might help going up grades, have a couple extra ratios.

Flush the coolant system...especially if you're towing on grades, it's going to tax the cooling system more than anything.

Change the plugs (check how the old ones looked)

Change the air filter (cheap and easy)

Maybe change the trans fluid and filter (don't flush it)

Change the fuel filter (again cheap and easy)

After those things, then start talking about tunes, radiators swaps, trans coolers, etc.

 

[Kensington]

Here's 110 non-white Express/Savanna 3500's passenger vans across the country.

https://www.cars.com/for-sale/searc...Id=58487&yrId=30031936&yrId=35797618&zc=60101

 

[pdalach]

Here's 110 non-white Express/Savanna 3500's passenger vans across the country.

https://www.cars.com/for-sale/searc...Id=58487&yrId=30031936&yrId=35797618&zc=60101

Yes yes...I should clarify. There weren't abundant choices in Chicago.

 

[boostedguy05]

The v10 actually has a torque curve.

A 6.0 has a torque curve comparable to a b16 Honda.

comparing numbers

06 6.0 in 3500 van has
300 hp 360 tq

04 excursion with v10 has
310 hp 425 tq

peak numbers, both when "new" v10 would be at least 2 years older, and I'd bet neither are seeing peak numbers anymore. 10hp wont be even noticed, and 60 tq would help get moving with load, but i wouldn't call it a major upgrade.

but

and sense when to LS motors not like boost.

 

[GTPpower]

Out of all of those, there is only one duramax, and it looks like a zombie crushing machine.

 

[GTPpower]

comparing numbers

06 6.0 in 3500 van has
300 hp 360 tq

04 excursion with v10 has
310 hp 425 tq

peak numbers, both when "new" v10 would be at least 2 years older, and I'd bet neither are seeing peak numbers anymore. 10hp wont be even noticed, and 60 tq would help get moving with load, but i wouldn't call it a major upgrade.

but

and sense when to LS motors not like boost.

You should research a torque curve.

It's too bad the excursions never had the 3v option.

 

[EmersonHart13]

So V10 Swap current van, perfect.

 

[Kensington]

The 6.0 torque curve looks very good...nearly 300 TQ at 1000 RPM and 320+ from around 1500 through redline...

 

[GTPpower]

It looks good if you never pull anything or drive into strong winds.

 

[Kensington]

K

 

[boostedguy05]

you don't want TQ to curve, you want it to hit early on, and grade up, almost linear.

 

[Kensington]

The V10 does have torque down low, no question, but drops off fairly significantly after 3000 RPM, to the point where the 6.0 is making more torque from 3000 RPM to redline (like where you'd be when trying to pull a trailer up a grade?...)

 

[EmersonHart13]

Post the curves!

 

[DEEZUZ]

Someone talk to [MENTION=4846]Zack[/MENTION] about v10s.

 

[Kensington]

Fail.

 

[EmersonHart13]

Can we talk about a 6.2 swap yet?

 

[Bub]

Tl;Dr is your trailer bearings seizing up or are you dragging your brakes??

 

[GTPpower]

The V10 does have torque down low, no question, but drops off fairly significantly after 3000 RPM, to the point where the 6.0 is making more torque from 3000 RPM to redline (like where you'd be when trying to pull a trailer up a grade?...)

No. It makes peak torque at 3250. It makes more torque than the 6.0 even at 4500 rpms.

 

[boostedguy05]

but what does it do after 3300 rpm? as the 6.0 hits almost peak number at 1k rpm, and climbs through 4k rpm...

 

[GTPpower]

1000/358, 1500/375, 2000/392, 2500/392, 3000/417, (3250/425), 3500/417, 4000/408, 4500/358, 5000/225

 

[1quick]

I can vouch that my excursion pulled 4k lbs like there was nothing behind the truck, a 2500 should also do that unless there's something wrong with it

 

[1quick]

I hated the way the excursion rode though Id rather pull that 4k lbs behind my f150

 

[GTPpower]

My 2500 pulled 4k without much of a problem either. This guy likely has an extra 6500lbs though with all the extras.

Plus, what's the profile of your travel trailer? I absolutely hated pulling my 5000 lb enclosed trailer with it. Even behind my powerstroke, it still pulls hard as hell due to the wind resistance.

 

[EmersonHart13]

Now we are getting somewhere! Wind Resistance can be more of a factor than weight in some cases.... Good point to bring up