The 4.8 has no where near the torque curve the 5.3 has. The 4.8 required much higher RPM to get comparable acceleration. The 4.8 was really just a dumb motor IMO, it was gutless under 2500RPM. The 4.3 V6 had much more useable torque at lower RPM. Heck even the 3800 V6 feels like it has more usable low rpm torque than the 4.8. I’ve known quite a few people who’ve had the 4.8 and they couldn’t stand it. Sure, it got 1mpg better EPA rating than the 5.3, but in the real world the 4.8 gets less MPG trying to keep up.
Swapping in 40k 4.8 in Moms '05 Z71 Tahoe
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Interesting you would say that. Within the next month or so I’m taking my 2013 4.8 silverado 4 speed 3.42 in to get 3.73 gears. Because its four wheel drive it wont be cheap (about 5k), but it gets me another 1000 lbs GCWR for towing and 5000 bucks is a heck of a lot cheaper than a new or used truck. The prices for trucks right now are awful for buyers. When I got my 2013 new GM was still in the early stages of getting that cylinder deactivation system working right on the 5.3. I wanted to avoid that. From what I remember at the time (all the griping and people getting tunes to shut it off) I’m glad I did. Also, the six speed was still relatively new at the time and I had had good luck with the 4L60E in the past. Mileage does suck on this unit though. 13 in the city.
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Buy a used 3.73 front diff, They're labor intensive & you're not gaining anything over a good used one. A used 3.73 gov-loc rear diff would also be worth considering unless you want some other type traction device?
Here are the torque curves of the 5.3 and 4.8. Their differences in torque pretty much follow along proportionally with their differences in displacement, except the peak torque for the 4. 8 is at a higher RPM than the 5.3. Certainly 3.73 gears will help wake up a 4.8. The torque curves are also for two different model years, so some differences. Is one a dog and the other not a dog? I don’t think so. I have a 6.0 with 3.73 gears.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
Please stop posting actual data … That’s mean.
That is a ridiculous price! Shop around, I hate seeing anyone ripped off. I had a 4x4 shop change out rear gears in a Mustang I had. It was under $500
My Coworker had a 4.8 in his pickup. He changed out the gears to 3.73 and it woke up.
There is no way it should be anywhere near $5k. Parts and labor you should be around $1k and that's being generous. I've never paid more than $250 to have some gears setup.
Calls for 6.2 Hours to swap gears in the front differential, Ain't gettin' that done for $250! A Yukon YG GM8.25-373R gear set runs @ $433, Yukon master overhaul kit runs @ $275 which doesn't include the axle roller bearings & seals which can easily cost $200.
$620 in labor
$433 in gears
$475 in small parts
$20 in lube
$1548 in the front diff alone
Rear diff
Yukon gears...$300
Master Overhaul....$253
Axle Bearings & Seals....$60
Lube......$30
Labor.....4.8 Hours @$100.....$480
$1,093
Didn't add any sales tax as it varies.....But roughly $2,650 before tax, A FAR cry from $5,000 though.
$620 in labor
$433 in gears
$475 in small parts
$20 in lube
$1548 in the front diff alone
Rear diff
Yukon gears...$300
Master Overhaul....$253
Axle Bearings & Seals....$60
Lube......$30
Labor.....4.8 Hours @$100.....$480
$1,093
Didn't add any sales tax as it varies.....But roughly $2,650 before tax, A FAR cry from $5,000 though.
Thanks a lot man for the heads up. I really appreciate the time taken to break all that down.
Summit has the front gear set alone for $180. The prices you quote are pretty high. Also you are quoting replacing every single part which we both know probably wont happen.
Agree. My 2006 Sierra Denali with the 345hp LQ9 6.0L and AWD gets 13.5 combined mileage with a few bursts to 14-14.4 with more highway use. I only got 9-10 mpg when towing my RV (30' long).
Hey, thanks a lot for the heads up. I went to Yukon gears website, found a distributor, and it looks much better. This is after two shops quoted me 5000 bucks (though that did include an extra 500 for limited slip install). Check out the itemized estimate...much better!
I do more differential builds than most Mechanics.....You may have been given the "Go Away" price
I replace ALL bearings & seals with top shelf stuff, Again.....My name is going on it & that means a lot more to me than being the cheapest guy in town.
If you want to run cheap parts....Go for it. I use & stand behind Yukon & OE only.
I replace ALL bearings & seals with top shelf stuff, Again.....My name is going on it & that means a lot more to me than being the cheapest guy in town.
Im not disagreeing with you just stating that most mechanics out there wont be as thorough as you. Or use the best parts. I chose to go to a 4x4 shop due to the fact they do gear swaps all the time and are used to setting them up right.
When it was new, I had the front and rear gears swapped out on my 2005 Z71. Went with Yukon 456 both ends, I was afraid the 4L60 wasn't going to last long with all that gear hunting. Also swapped out the servo with the corvette one. I am running a 32 inch tire so I believe it's geared more like 390. Cost me $1500 back in 2005.
I think that’s exactly what it was...the go away price. I am now toying with 3.73 vs 4.11. One of my questions would be if the trucks comp can even be programmed for the 4.11 since it wasnt a factory option (3.73 was). 4.10 used to be a standard GM option, just not for the half tons in 2013.
HP-Tuners or EFI Live would have no issue programming for 4.11 gears
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After looking through GCWR and seeing that the 4.10 had a 2000 lbs capacity increase over my 3.42 I decided to go with the 4.11. When trying to load conservatively we were 300 pounds over the 11,000 GCWR of my current 3.42s. The 4.10 13,000 GCWR rating will give me some extra cushion. It will allow truck and trailer to (if desired, but not happening) be loaded to full GVWR and still 500lbs left over. Thanks for heads up on speedo calibration.
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