How much HP and Torque for Daily Driver

[Clayton Clark]

Hey guys, first post here. My question is what will be good hp/torque numbers for a 85 GMC Sierra1500 short bed 4x4. I want something that can be daily driven a few times a week, maybe a longer trip here and there. Will probably be running the Holley Sniper efi system but wanted some input for a reliable engine, but still have enough hp/torque to have a little fun sometimes. LS swap is not the route I’m going so it’s a no there. Truck has 33x12.50’s and 3.73 gears. Thanks in advance!!

 

[gmbellew]

I daily drive a 1990 suburban (TBI) with stock 350/700r4, 3.73, and 33x10.5 tires. It doesn't accelerate like an LS powered vehicle, but it is certainly adequate around town. And it cruises the HWY at 75+ with no issues. I put about 12k a year on it and routinely drive 4-5hr road trips.

 

[Clayton Clark]

I daily drive a 1990 suburban (TBI) with stock 350/700r4, 3.73, and 33x10.5 tires. It doesn't accelerate like an LS powered vehicle, but it is certainly adequate around town. And it cruises the HWY at 75+ with no issues. I put about 12k a year on it and routinely drive 4-5hr road trips.

I use to have a set up like that as well and it done fine too. The 85 I have now has a 700r with a stock 350 and qjet carb. Like 195hp. Just not pleased with it.

 

[gmbellew]

I use to have a set up like that as well and it done fine too. The 85 I have now has a 700r with a stock 350 and qjet carb. Like 195hp. Just not pleased with it.

yeah, they won't blow the doors off the cars you pass, that is for sure. good luck on the quest for power!

 

[shiftpro]

The more the better!

 

[RecklessWOT]

Well it's not a sports car by any means, but they sold these things brand new with about 160hp and people daily drove them for decades. My 87 has a stock TBI that made ~210hp and 300 ft lbs of torque brand new (so I'm sure it's much less after 30+ years) and I'm running 33s and 3.73s. Not a powerhouse by any means, I bought a set of 4.56s to re-gear it with when I get it back on the road, but I still daily drove it that way for years. So when you ask "what are good numbers to daily drive with" well you already have it.

If you want more power, then you want more power (which is understandable). Don't expect us to throw out some magic number that all the cool kids are running, for daily use a few times a week like you say then what you've got is fine. If you're asking what is enough power to make an average red blooded American adult man happy and stop seeking more (you know, just for daily use and all), well the answer is ten thousand horsepower, and I hear it costs a few bucks to get there...

 

[Frankenchevy]

What’s the budget?

 

[75gmck25]

Budget is definitely a key consideration. You are starting out with an engine that has lame smog heads and very low compression ratio (8.2-8.5?), so there are two general strategies.

Basic upgrades - You can get it into the upper 200 HP range with cam, headers and a good intake. However, an overly aggressive cam will trade off low end torque to get higher HP, and all that extra power usually needs RPM to get going. A good (or bad) example is the GMPP 350/290HP engine, which has a 222/222 @ .050 cam that is not suited to giving you the low end torque needed for a heavy vehicle with moderate gearing. Its a better match to a light vehicle with low gears and a 4 speed.

Start out with better heads - by swapping to Vortec heads or a good aftermarket 64cc head you can raise your compression about a point, and get much better flow. That means you can now use a cam in the 214-218 @ .050 range and really make use of the extra lift and duration. With a good dual plane intake and headers you could easily get into the 325- 350HP range and still have a very useful daily driver. More aggressive cams would also work fine, but would cut into gas mileage and low end torque.

 

[Paladin]

Geez, so simple! Just drop a Big Block in it and be done! Next...

 

[SquareRoot]

Will probably be running the Holley Sniper efi system but wanted some input for a reliable engine,/QUOTE]

That's gonna be a problem. Ask me how I know. My Sniper was the biggest POS ever. It should be illegal to even try to sell it. My .02c.

 

[Octane]

I'm a Cool Old Kid and I want my 77 K10 to have 10.000 hp and 20 mpg too.(and stay together).But I'm old enuff to be dilusionally happy as is with 200 hp.I would say 300 hp in a dd truck on the street would be acceptable tho.

 

[Frankenchevy]

Tell us how you really feel.

 

[RecklessWOT]

That's gonna be a problem. Ask me how I know. My Sniper was the biggest POS ever. It should be illegal to even try to sell it. My .02c.

That's strange. I think I've seen you post before about how unhappy you were with the Sniper. Out of curiosity, what did you hate about it so much? Most people I know IRL that are running a Sniper seem to LOVE them. Can't say I personally know any who runs one on a truck they're all on cars, so maybe weight has something to do with it? But yeah I haven't heard of any bad experiences with them in my circle

 

[Rusty Nail]

I use to have a set up like that as well and it done fine too. The 85 I have now has a 700r with a stock 350 and qjet carb. Like 195hp. Just not pleased with it.

Sure as heck wasnt no 195 horse in '85 ..i'm thinkin youre a lot closer to 165.
I'm on the same page as @75gmck25 ...it's really all about the cylinder heads. And cylinder head GASKETS.

Run some copper shims and 305 heads - spare yourself buying a new engine and marry 91 octane instead ... Same difference.
And if you went to 31s from 33s for example - that would make an additional world of difference.

Dont wanna run 305 heads? Fine but at least see what difference a different head gasket can make...it's so cheap and simple nobody believes me. Have the current anchors (191s or 193s u have) rebuilt and milled a little bit AND THEN you can run shorter pushrods.

If its not puffin ring smoke makin u choke - there is little reason to suffer an engine swap old boy but then again im honery.. Work with what ya got - run what ya brung. At least run Chevrolet parts..come on man! You could build it out of whatever you like, Camaro or Corvette parts..... GM parts interchangeability is unmatched across the globe..cop car or interceptor pieces will all bolt on. It's really fun!

 

[Clayton Clark]

Motor runs excellent, was replaced in early 2000s with a 350 crate engine 195hp. Was thinking about doing like Gmck25 said. Set of good heads/vortec, cam, intake, headers and maybe reuse qjet carb for now. What would be good cam specs for some low end torque and have a decent lope at idle?