72 Chevy 4x4? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

McNugget · 10-04-2011, 07:17 PM

I have my eye on a 1972 Chevy Cheyenne 4x4 and I would love to buy it and it has a 454 with 400 turbo transmission and 4:11 gears. AWESOME! but not for a daily driver. He says he will sell it for less without the 454 in it, but what motor could I run in it with the 400 turbo? I don't know very much about transmissions or anything so someone please help a damsel in distress!

**special-K** · 10-04-2011, 07:24 PM

Any Chevy V8 will work,BBC or SBC. Do you have another engine or a line on a good deal? Why not just get it as is?

McNugget · 10-04-2011, 10:43 PM

The only thing is I was thinking if I get a smaller v8 like a small block it could help with gas mileage? Is this true I mean I no they don't get good gas mileage but could a 454 help? Probably not
Posted via Mobile Device

Your41Plague12 · 10-05-2011, 12:30 AM

A well-tuned BBC won't be great on gas, but manageable. I would get it with the 454. The Turbo 400 transmission uses up a lot of power in its process of putting power to the ground, so if you want enough to get your truck to really move, stick with the big block. That's my two cents ( 3.5 with inflation).

Steve

72chevyk10 · 10-08-2011, 05:15 PM

my 350 never got more then 4mpg. the week i got the 454 in and tuned right i got 12. i tried just about everything to tune the 350 and drive diffrent but it never made any diffrence

Mike C · 10-09-2011, 07:20 PM

Buy it with the motor in it, or find a different truck. Based on the questions you are asking, you will be WAY ahead buying a running/driving truck and learning as you go what you have and what you may want to change. Truck is WAY more fun to own if you can drive it.

**Yukon Jack** · 10-10-2011, 05:15 PM

My 69 K20 had a 307 SBC in it from the factory. I swapped in a 454 BBC - mileage is about the same. These are heavy trucks with poor aerodynamics. Mileage is not that good either way. Might as well have the big engine and enjoy the extra power.

Raider Rudy · 10-10-2011, 10:09 PM

My 69 4x4 has a 350/350 combo & at best it gets about 9 mpg!

Rdrdave · 10-12-2011, 07:09 PM

If you wanted gas mileage you'd look at a Prius. The benefits of the entire truck will come to you some day. Stump pulling that damn tree out of the way, taking all that concrete out of the drive, or just stomping on it as you spin 4 tires. BBC are fun, you'll learn to stay out of it all the way. You also can oversize the tires that it'll run at a lower rpm. I have 3:73s with 35s and run around 2400rpms when I'm not sitting in traffic. Have fun. You only live once!

Raider Rudy · 10-12-2011, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rdrdave

If you wanted gas mileage you'd look at a Prius. The benefits of the entire truck will come to you some day. Stump pulling that damn tree out of the way, taking all that concrete out of the drive, or just stomping on it as you spin 4 tires. BBC are fun, you'll learn to stay out of it all the way. You also can oversize the tires that it'll run at a lower rpm. I have 3:73s with 35s and run around 2400rpms when I'm not sitting in traffic. Have fun. You only live once!

I completely agree

**special-K** · 10-13-2011, 08:54 AM

Good advise here and that's what I was getting at,mileage is what it is on these trucks...never that great and that's with about any motor. Figure a 250 6cyl won't even get much better mileage,if any at all. It's a toss up between power to weight ratio,wind & rolling resistance,and drivetrain. There is a sweet spot with power to gearing,but with lower gearing comes higher rpms. Your best mileage comes with a manual transmission and,as stated before,a TH400 will take horsepower right off the top...like around 18hp. I get 12.5 mpg consistantly from my '72 K2500 350/TH350/3.54s/12.50/33 tires. I got the same mileage from a '72 K/20 400SBC/4spd/4.10s/12.50/35s. Figure the 35s got me to about 3.73s and with the 400 it had great torque. So,I could run that thing with barely any throttle. The 33s raise the gearing a touch,but rpm control isn't as good with the automatic and the free rolling isn't there that is with the manual. The 400 was stock and the 350 is slightly warmed up.

10-04-2011, 07:17 PM	#1
McNugget Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 42	72 Chevy 4x4? I have my eye on a 1972 Chevy Cheyenne 4x4 and I would love to buy it and it has a 454 with 400 turbo transmission and 4:11 gears. AWESOME! but not for a daily driver. He says he will sell it for less without the 454 in it, but what motor could I run in it with the 400 turbo? I don't know very much about transmissions or anything so someone please help a damsel in distress! __________________ 1971 Chevy Cheyenne 1972 Chevy Cheyenne 4x4

10-04-2011, 07:24 PM	#2
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: 72 Chevy 4x4? Any Chevy V8 will work,BBC or SBC. Do you have another engine or a line on a good deal? Why not just get it as is? __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

10-04-2011, 10:43 PM	#3
McNugget Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 42	Re: 72 Chevy 4x4? The only thing is I was thinking if I get a smaller v8 like a small block it could help with gas mileage? Is this true I mean I no they don't get good gas mileage but could a 454 help? Probably not Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1971 Chevy Cheyenne 1972 Chevy Cheyenne 4x4

10-05-2011, 12:30 AM	#4
Your41Plague12 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,009	Re: 72 Chevy 4x4? A well-tuned BBC won't be great on gas, but manageable. I would get it with the 454. The Turbo 400 transmission uses up a lot of power in its process of putting power to the ground, so if you want enough to get your truck to really move, stick with the big block. That's my two cents ( 3.5 with inflation). Steve __________________ Steve Member of the Foot Pedal Club '83 Chevy K20: 6" Rough Country, 3" Performance Accessories BL, Bushwacker Cutouts, 38x15.50 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws, 350 HP 350 crate engine from Jegs, Turbo 400

10-09-2011, 07:20 PM	#6
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,738	Re: 72 Chevy 4x4? Buy it with the motor in it, or find a different truck. Based on the questions you are asking, you will be WAY ahead buying a running/driving truck and learning as you go what you have and what you may want to change. Truck is WAY more fun to own if you can drive it. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

10-10-2011, 05:15 PM	#7
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,689	Re: 72 Chevy 4x4? My 69 K20 had a 307 SBC in it from the factory. I swapped in a 454 BBC - mileage is about the same. These are heavy trucks with poor aerodynamics. Mileage is not that good either way. Might as well have the big engine and enjoy the extra power. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

10-10-2011, 10:09 PM	#8
Raider Rudy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Riverside, Ca. Posts: 241	Re: 72 Chevy 4x4? My 69 4x4 has a 350/350 combo & at best it gets about 9 mpg! __________________ 1969 Chevy Long Fleet Custom C/10 (2nd owner) 1971 Chevy Short Fleet Custom C/10 (2nd owner) 2001 Chevy Silverado Ext Cab

10-12-2011, 07:09 PM	#9
Rdrdave Broke and still trying Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 562	Re: 72 Chevy 4x4? If you wanted gas mileage you'd look at a Prius. The benefits of the entire truck will come to you some day. Stump pulling that damn tree out of the way, taking all that concrete out of the drive, or just stomping on it as you spin 4 tires. BBC are fun, you'll learn to stay out of it all the way. You also can oversize the tires that it'll run at a lower rpm. I have 3:73s with 35s and run around 2400rpms when I'm not sitting in traffic. Have fun. You only live once!

10-13-2011, 08:54 AM	#11
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: 72 Chevy 4x4? Good advise here and that's what I was getting at,mileage is what it is on these trucks...never that great and that's with about any motor. Figure a 250 6cyl won't even get much better mileage,if any at all. It's a toss up between power to weight ratio,wind & rolling resistance,and drivetrain. There is a sweet spot with power to gearing,but with lower gearing comes higher rpms. Your best mileage comes with a manual transmission and,as stated before,a TH400 will take horsepower right off the top...like around 18hp. I get 12.5 mpg consistantly from my '72 K2500 350/TH350/3.54s/12.50/33 tires. I got the same mileage from a '72 K/20 400SBC/4spd/4.10s/12.50/35s. Figure the 35s got me to about 3.73s and with the 400 it had great torque. So,I could run that thing with barely any throttle. The 33s raise the gearing a touch,but rpm control isn't as good with the automatic and the free rolling isn't there that is with the manual. The 400 was stock and the 350 is slightly warmed up. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~



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