Big block or small block? 38's or 44's?

[Hazieview]

Hey guys I'm trying to get me a 4x4 suburban. I've seen a few for sale. Basically I dont know if I want to go with a 6" life on 38's or 15" on 44's.

I will be running a sb400 with around 580lbs of torque and possibley a 350th transmission.

I think the sb400 will do fine with 38's. But what about with 44's?\


thanks guys!

[BigBlocksRule]

More info on a 400 that'll make 580 ft.lbs of torque!
I'm building a pretty nasty one and don't expect more than about 525 or so!
That said, there's no replacement for displacement, cubes are where torque come from!

[Hazieview]

Not sure what info your looking for...?

yeah I'm pretty familiar with the fact that the big block will produce more torque. Kind of a no brainer.

What I'm wondering is if the sb400 will be enough to do the job running 44s or should I stick with 38s

[BigBlocksRule]

I'd like some details of your engine. A 400 with that much torque is high compression with trick heads and strong cam. I don't see how a race engine is gonna work in a heavy Suburban.
Even a 400 with strong street heads and a streetable hydraulic cam with make about the same as a decent 454, but of course the big block would pull away with a cam that's comparable to the one in the 400.

[Hazieview]

Just because it has a lot of torque does not make it a 'race' motor.....? Guys run small blocks in 4x4s everyday...? I dont get your point. A sb400 is not a high reving race motor. It is a high torque low rev Small Block.....? Like I already said no doubt the 454 has potential to make more power. Like I said it's a no brainer.

I just want to know if my small block will work with 44s or do I need to stay with 38s.

NOW DOES ANYONE RUN A SMALLBLOCK WITH 44s HERE THAT IS MY MAIN QUESTION. THANKS!

(I can throw numbers of my engine all day long. PM me for more info. Kind of off topic here)

[Mkcustums]

Originally Posted by Hazieview

Just because it has a lot of torque does not make it a 'race' motor.....? Guys run small blocks in 4x4s everyday...? I dont get your point. A sb400 is not a high reving race motor. It is a high torque low rev Small Block.....? Like I already said no doubt the 454 has potential to make more power. Like I said it's a no brainer.

I just want to know if my small block will work with 44s or do I need to stay with 38s.

NOW DOES ANYONE RUN A SMALLBLOCK WITH 44s HERE THAT IS MY MAIN QUESTION. THANKS!

(I can throw numbers of my engine all day long. PM me for more info. Kind of off topic here)

For starters you need to give more info on what you are trying to accomplish. Is it gonna be used for street, mild trail, rough trail, dunes, crawling? But posting up and then when someone asks a simple question and responding back with what looks to read like a lot of attitude, won't get you far on here.

I don't really think anyone that frequents this site runs 44's on their Suburban at all. You will have to hit up Pirate for real world trail answers to stuff like that. I've seen and known guys running factory 350's with 44's and bigger, it just all depends on what you are gonna use it for. Since you wrote 6" lift with 38's I assume you are using this for the street or a really flat dirt road. "Basically I dont know if I want to go with a 6" life on 38's or 15" on 44's". 15" lift, by that I assume you mean 12" springs and a 3" body, on 44's is a usually a mud truck or a mall cruiser.

Just taking a few minutes and explaining yourself with a bit of detail will get you a lot farther and better answers.

[blazinzuk]

Dead bone stock TBI small block and 44" Pitbull Rockers. I know run 42s because they work better in rocks.

I never had a problem turning them. Of course I almost always ran low range in my t-case. Most thought I was running a big block or had NOS.

Gearing is what its about, you have a 500 hp motor with 3.08 gears and it won't do crap. Same motor with 5.13 will do unreal.

I was running 4.56s (still am) when I get in mud I just put the 205 in low range. Works well for me

[russgt]

If I had the option, I would run a 454 so that you could mud in 4 high, then when your axles break, step up to 4.56 or higher numerically gears in 1 ton axles. But remember, when you then sink that big block in a deep pond, the replacement cost over a small block will be higher. That makes the stock 350 with low gears very desireable in my eyes. As stated before, it really depends on the trucks intended use and your wallet.

[babyJay]

What is the trucks intended purpose? You will need some salty insurance to drive a truck on the street with 15" of lift.