Truck

[papa_smurf49319]

Get a 88-98 chevy pickup, there is so much aftermarket out there for small block chevys its insane and you can basically swap any motor and setup right in. Plus there 1500 frames are plenty stout and strong enough for anything you want to due because many of them came with 454's in them. My 90 had 300,000 + miles of hard driven and hard workin on it before the 700r4 went out and the motor started havin some spark knock. Since then ive dropped in a stroked 350 (383) 1.94 heads many many perfromence parts, keith black flatop pistons, 6 inch rods, aggresive elgin cam, and to back that up i built a turbo 350 with a b&M transpack with all the hardened parts and extra clutches and i just purchased a 11" torque convertor. doesnt do very good on gas, runnin premium, but what can you expect when your makin 450 horses and around 500 ftpds of torque.

[boonman]

My truck runs about 375-400 horsies and about 800 lb./ft. of torque, and I can run it on vegetable oil. It runs pretty good on #2 diesel, but oh well. Food for thought, just because something comes with a big block doesn't mean it's stout.... Economy is in the mindset here, and I think a Toyota is a good start. I loved my '82. Used to beat the balls off of it. It loved every minute of it. In the end however, it was burning about a quart of oil every 120 miles. And I still sold it for $700.

[rjvoight]

I would not be afraid of the Chevy 1500 series trucks for what you are looking to do. Stay away from the 6.0L and try to find a 5 speed. You won't get 17-20 like you probabally will get with a Toy but you will get 14-17 maybe a little better if you keep your foot out of it, definately a little less if you bury the pedal every time you pull of the line. In addition, the 5 speed usually knocks anywhere from 1000 to 1500 off the price of the truck. Plus if you get an extended cab and a standard or long box you will have more room by far than a toyota. JMO.

 

RJV

[.]

dont get a dakota....I have a 99 and regret having it almost every day......its a decent truck....I just wouldnt buy another one.....

[01bansheefox]

If you wanted something for gas then chevy=no, toyota=yes also it seems maintance is alot less on the jap cars. But then again they are more expensive to fix, IMO