SirRobyn0
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2019
- Posts
- 6,746
- Reaction score
- 11,347
- Location
- In the woods in Western Washington
- First Name
- Rob
- Truck Year
- 1984
- Truck Model
- C20
- Engine Size
- 305
Well that's disappointing now isn't it... Ok, so my 1984 C-20 passed along to me last November after a good friend passed away. I've known this truck for a lot of years. I knew that when he got the truck it had a blown engine, and bad rear end. He had just wrecked a late 70's C-20, that had great running gear. The 84 had a great body and interior and still does for being unrestored. So this happened before
I knew him in the 90's, he swapped the engine, trans, and rear end out of the wrecked truck into the 84. He always referred to it as having a 350. (I'm sure you already know where this is going).
When I got it I was reminded of this story when I first opened the hood and remembered the engine is blue (84 would have been black). Later on after towing my 18 foot trailer over the pass with a small tractor on it I would discover it has a 3.41 rear end in it not a 3.73 as the RPO code indicates. Still later on last month we were having a discussion at work on how to identify a 305 vs a 350. As we had a truck there with an unknown small block. I had to replace the oil pressure sending unit last night on my truck and while I was back there I thought I'd see if there was a casting number or liter stamp back by the firewall because I don't know for sure, just know what I've been told. Well guess what's back there... Yup that's right clear as day GM 5.0 LG Ok, well this combination explains why when driven moderately and empty on the highway I can hit 17MPG which is nice I will admit that, but otherwise it's disappointing to say the least. I still haven't re-geared the rear end and now I'm hesitating simply because I'm not sure a 305 even with say 4.56 gears will be enough.
I'm now considering if my 1996 grand cherokee would be a better choice when I need to use the trailer. The 5.2 magnum there makes 208HP and 295Lb ft Torque and has the 3.73 gears, ( for reference more torque and horsepower than the 1984 350 would have had). Only thing about the Jeep is I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that large of a trailer behind that small of an SUV.....
I knew him in the 90's, he swapped the engine, trans, and rear end out of the wrecked truck into the 84. He always referred to it as having a 350. (I'm sure you already know where this is going).
When I got it I was reminded of this story when I first opened the hood and remembered the engine is blue (84 would have been black). Later on after towing my 18 foot trailer over the pass with a small tractor on it I would discover it has a 3.41 rear end in it not a 3.73 as the RPO code indicates. Still later on last month we were having a discussion at work on how to identify a 305 vs a 350. As we had a truck there with an unknown small block. I had to replace the oil pressure sending unit last night on my truck and while I was back there I thought I'd see if there was a casting number or liter stamp back by the firewall because I don't know for sure, just know what I've been told. Well guess what's back there... Yup that's right clear as day GM 5.0 LG Ok, well this combination explains why when driven moderately and empty on the highway I can hit 17MPG which is nice I will admit that, but otherwise it's disappointing to say the least. I still haven't re-geared the rear end and now I'm hesitating simply because I'm not sure a 305 even with say 4.56 gears will be enough.
I'm now considering if my 1996 grand cherokee would be a better choice when I need to use the trailer. The 5.2 magnum there makes 208HP and 295Lb ft Torque and has the 3.73 gears, ( for reference more torque and horsepower than the 1984 350 would have had). Only thing about the Jeep is I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that large of a trailer behind that small of an SUV.....
lol.
