Gm 8.1 liter (496) engine

[Kioti guy]

I Have been looking at a 2003 gm 3500 dually pickup that has the 8.1 w Alison auto. I was wondering if anybody had this combination, and what they thought about it. I was originally looking to get a diesel but came across this truck while searching.
The truck has 60,000 miles on it and is in beautiful condition. No Canadian winters ,absolutely no rust or marks.
Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks Craig

 

[devildog1]

Had one in a 2500HD Silverado 4X4, great power and lots of it. Good strong motor but not the best on fuel @ least for me towing a 12,000 lb. Holiday Rambler, about 8 towing, Hope this helps?
DevilDog

 

[Kioti guy]

Thank,that's about what I figured for mileage,Hopefully this truck wouldn't be my daily driver just my tow/ haul holiday vehicle...Craig

 

[dodge man]

I know they are common it boats also.

 

[mikehaugen]

Had one in a 2500HD Silverado 4X4, great power and lots of it. Good strong motor but not the best on fuel @ least for me towing a 12,000 lb. Holiday Rambler, about 8 towing, Hope this helps?
DevilDog

that is not that bad, it's about what I get pulling 8k with my ram 2500 with a 5.9 gas.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Its a good powerful motor. I have been around a lot of them, maybe 10 or so. They would be a good choice along with the Ford V10 for a guy who only pulls occasionally.

Most I have been around are in boats but they seem to like oil. Most use a qt to 1.5 qts every 50 hours in boats or about 3000 miles.

Chris

 

[scottie9]

I have that combo in a 2002 silverado 2500HD, works great, lots of torque and power, it does like its fuel, and uses some oil, but not a lot

Scottie

 

[tractorski]

I have an 8.1 with 338,000 miles,no joke! Great motor

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[HHR]

I have an 8.1 with 338,000 miles,no joke! Great motor

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How many hours?

 

[kansas john deere]

I dont have a 8.1 in a pickup but my motorhome has it along with the Allison 5 speed tranny. Like everyone say it likes the fuel but it pulls my 26,000 lb motorhome just fine in all sorts of hyway driving. I have to problem keeping up with my friends 40ft. 350HP Cummins in his motorhome. Actually when going up a long hill I usually pass him about half way up the hill...............KJD

 

[hosspuller]

I have a 2001 8.1L & Allison. Needed a driverside exhaust manifold gasket. Studs got loose and leaked when cold. Great power and will pass anything except a gas station. Used oil the first 20,000 miles. Then settled down at a qt every 3000.

 

[Kioti guy]

Thank's to all that responded to the thread. I picked up my new to me 2003 gmc 3500 dually yesterday. It was located 4 1/2 hours away from me so I drove my Suburban down to pick it up and towed the 'Burb back. First impression of the truck is "wow", the towing power is excellent and I think I am really going to like the Allison transmission, it is way smoother then the trans in my other trucks.
In the spirit of "without pics it didn't happen" I will attach a couple of pics............Craig

 

[crashz]

Beautiful truck!

That generation is one of my favorites, especially the GMC version. A couple things to watchout for:

- Keep an eye on oil usage. Its usually steady, but the early LS engines did generally use some.
- The gauge cluster in these years had poor quality stepper motors, leading to false readings and dead gauges.
- Keep the trailer hitch clear of corrosion, grounds clean (especially the one beneath the driver's seat) and replace (do not double) the small charge wire from the alternator to the battery.

Other than a few electrical glitches, these trucks were soem of the best GMs ever built. Have fun and enjoy that beast!

 

[Diamondpilot]

Nice find. I think in the long run you will be money ahead of a pre 06 dmax lbz motor if you are stuck on GM products.
Chris

 

[94BULLITT]

I have a couple of customers that have them. They both like them. I like that they have the Allison behind them. A BBC always burns oil. My one customer said he only gets 10mpg with his. A diesel would save some money on fuel.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Nice truck!

Congrats!

 

[RollingsFarms]

my mechanic has a 2002 dually with the 8.1 and swears they're going to have to put it in the grave with him when he dies. I always rib him about "when is he going to get a new truck?" and before I can even get the question out he comes back with "never! or if I do, I'm still keeping this one!" it even sits under the car port, while his wifes car and his other truck sit out in the weather.haha he puts STP oil treatment in his every oil change and says that cuts down on the oil consumption some. he doesn't seem too concerned about it using oil though. he knows a thing or two about engines, and I take everything he says about them to be gold since he worked in NASCAR back in the 80's and 90's building engines for one of the racing teams (wanna say Jack Rousch but could be wrong). he has TONS of pics in his office though. I always have to look at them everytime I take my truck over there for him to work on.