GM Begins Shipping 6.2-Liter V-8 Half-Ton Pickups With 3.73 Rear Axles

Posted by Mike Levine | February 17, 2009

6.2-liter V-8 Silverado

Good news for Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra half-ton buyers looking for improved performance when towing trailers with GM's new 6.2-liter V-8: A new 3.73 rear axle option is available.

"The first GM full-size pickups with 6.2-liter V-8 engines and 3.73 rear axles started shipping from the factory in late January," said GM full-size truck spokesperson Kelly Wysocki. "They should start arriving at dealers very soon. The 3.73 can be ordered as part of the Max Trailering Package option."

The 6.2-liter V-8 is only available for crew cab Silverado and Sierra light-duty pickups. It's rated at 403 horsepower and 417 pounds-feet of torque and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The 3.73 rear axle supplements the standard 3.42 rear axle that was previously the only ring-and-pinion set available. It shifts the truck's balance from optimal fuel economy to optimal performance. Still, we expect either version to be among the best-performing light-duty trucks on the road, as we found out during our 2008 Light-Duty Shootout when we tested the 3.42 equipped model.

Rear axles are rated with a number to describe how many rotations the driveshaft must make to turn the rear axle (and rear wheels) once. The rear axle ratio can make a big difference in towing performance. The higher the ratio, the faster the driveshaft turns and the sooner the driveshaft can transfer peak horsepower and torque from the engine to the rear wheels. The result, generally, is faster acceleration and higher towing capacity than a rear axle with a lower ratio. However, if the engine is working harder, fuel economy may fall.

The maximum towing ratings for 6.2-liter V-8 Silverado and Sierra crew cab 4x4s with 3.73 rear axles rises to 10,400 pounds, up from 9,300 pounds in the 3.42 version. Two-wheel-drive crew cabs jump to 10,600 pounds from 9,600 pounds.

The highest tow rating for the Silverado and Sierra remains the extended cab 6.0-liter V-8 pickup with a 3.73 rear axle. Two-wheel-drive versions tow 10,700 pounds, and four-wheel-drive trucks manage 10,400 pounds.

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Comments

I went onto GMs site to build one. Basically now if you want the 6.2L /6speed/3.73 combo its also the max trailer tow pkg. You can have 6.0L or 6.2L w/3.73 and both ways its the max tow. But 6.2 no matter how equiped only available on high end SLT or LTZ.

Posted by: Power Kid | Feb 17, 2009 6:48:13 PM

Too bad you need supreme gas for that engine.

Posted by: 93pickup | Feb 17, 2009 7:18:10 PM

You don't need it, its recommended... not required.

Posted by: Power Kid | Feb 17, 2009 7:46:54 PM

Now need to change the body styles. Heard that it will be redsigned in 2010.. If true I hope it look awhole lot better than the 2007 -2009 models.. Should make the side more like on the early 70,71 and 72 models. Good Luck GM......

Posted by: Ryan | Feb 17, 2009 10:45:02 PM

Not sure where you get your info, but these trucks are only on their 3rd model year and GM will be lucky to survive and if they are being run with any gov't assistance I doubt they'll be spending $$$ on truck redesign, at least not these...
They don't have any obvious weakness, although crew seems a touch small now, but otherwise they are fine. Based on the figures the new 4.5L diesel should be class leading. Assuming they make em. I personally feel most Silverados are fugly, but I really like the Sierras looks.

Posted by: Power Kid | Feb 18, 2009 12:44:49 AM

My guess is that 2010 may be a mild refresh on the nose and maybe some on the interior, but nothing earth shattering. I would not be surprise that next year the 6.2 will be offered with AFM. This is all speculation on my part though. For example 1999 the trucks came out then in 2003 was a refresh interior and nose. Also did a refresh I believe in 2005 on the Silverado's.

Posted by: Brian | Feb 18, 2009 10:49:14 AM

if you want drive and pull a small trailer you by a ford..nomater they said is the best to pull because what ford said ...in real life you by a gm truck or chevy,,.you always look good on the red light in a ford, but whent she chance green ..big chance you look stupid ,if you have a gm truck becide you...so this is your choice you look good at a stop or look good a the green light..

Posted by: miath | Feb 20, 2009 1:57:03 PM

Hey Power Kid, got the info. from TruckTrend. Also remember the 1999 new body style well it went to the year of 2002 and the 2003 to 2005 change the front end, then 2006 the grille was different and the hood and then come along the 2007 with a complete new box in frame,coil over front shock other things. But what I mean is they are redesigning the Body area front and back and probably alittle bit on front susp. All Truck always get alittle makeup each year. I didn't mead a whole change up. Sorry about that.. I agree with you on the looks of the Sierras looks better.

Posted by: Ryan | Feb 21, 2009 9:03:24 PM

The 6.2 with six speed is a fantastic powertrain combination but unfortunately this is not available in a regular cab short bed format. This engine appears in an obvious attempt to win the half ton performance crown, but the plain truth is, a Toyota Tundra or Dodge Ram RCSB would still destroy it in the quarter mile for a much cheaper MSRP, as these companies offer their biggest engines in the lightest base regular cab variants, which can be as much as 1000 lbs lighter.

Come on GM, give us the goods. Leave the quad cabs in the harbor with the rest of the barges...give us a regular cab 6.2

Posted by: DrZog | Mar 1, 2009 4:00:20 PM

You might not NEED supreme gas for this truck's engine, but its recommended for a reason. Will run a lot better and smoother with it than without.

Scott

Posted by: weight loss supplements | Nov 7, 2009 11:55:58 PM

All I want to know is... am I going to go fast with my gmc sierra equiped with the 6.2 if I put a super charger in it!

Posted by: AJ | Sep 26, 2010 3:00:44 PM

I traded for a new 2011 chevy crew with the 6.2 and 6 spd trans yesterday. The engine now is a flexfuel, Which I guess is 10% alcahol and gas. Have now got into the owners manual to see recommended fuel. It seems to be very snappy. Be interested in seeing how they work on a trvl trailer and what size they can accomadate easily

Posted by: Curtis Edgar | Oct 30, 2010 4:24:34 PM

Hey guys! I am interested in dropping one of these 6.2l into a street car and adding a GM Perf parts carbbed intake manifold. What will I have to do to get it fired up and running? Since it's not gonna be EFI anymore, what do I do? I have heard about rodders dropping the ls7 into rods and slapping on a carb and getting major HP but I have no idea how it fires and runs. Any info or tips?Thanks

Posted by: mark | Nov 28, 2010 8:59:09 PM

Im getting a 6.2 vortec max installed in my 2010 Regcab shortbed 5.3 6speed truck.. will be posting videos on youtube within the month.

Posted by: Tyler S | Aug 15, 2011 10:08:10 PM

I have 12,500 mi. on my 2011 Silverado 6.2 Texas Edition. I traded a 2007 Ram std cab/short bed with the 5.7 Hemi. The older 245 hp Hemi can't hold a candle to the 6.2 with 6 speed. But at 403 hp in the Silverado, it shouldn't. The truck gets 17.5 mpg straight and level hiway at 70 - 75 mph. Will average 15 to 15.5 with a combo of hiway and town. I just finished a hunting trip from TX to SD. 2300 miles hiway and 500 miles dirt road, offroad/corn field driving. Milage for all 2800 miles 16.4 mpg. Engine runs great on regular 87 octane.

Posted by: Howard | Nov 14, 2011 3:53:18 PM

Finally a decent article with the BEST TRUCK on it. I am tired of seeing all of this ford garbabe on here.

Posted by: the best bob | Nov 14, 2011 4:18:18 PM

LMFAO! You have to dig 2 years back to find a decent story on a GM.

LMFAO!

Posted by: Frank | Nov 14, 2011 4:49:14 PM

I didn't do any digging doofus. Someone else commented on this article earlier today. You can't come with anything intelligent to say only lame one-liners. Go crawl back into your hole.

Posted by: the best bob | Nov 14, 2011 6:44:24 PM