My truck is pretty slouchy in 4hi, I attribute that to crappy gearing /big tires and driving one more axle. In 4 lo it's awesome.
If I could drive 40 mph steady I would not be in 4wd, there shouldn't be a reason. You can always pull the t-case lever down when you need it. I use 4wd like a compression brake so I don't slide.

But if your rings are toast and you have no power (only diesels like to burn oil) it would certainly be a contibuting factor

 

I'd like to just test the catalytic converter theory and hack the cat right off. I know it's not the most ethical thing to do, but staring down the barrel of the holidays I don't have a whole lot of options $ wise to spend $150 on a cat and $350 on a shop to install it. Under this truck there is not a whole lot of playing room for hacking it off, however. I'm not sure wtf to do here. I certainly don't want to cause any more harm to whats left of the engine.

 

Sawzall will knock it off pretty easy.

 

couldn't you just drill a hole in the cat for now? i remember my neighbor doing that when his cat clog.

 

Pull the front o2 and see if it runs better, that will relieve pressure if there is any. And a cracked head on these motors doesn't always leak or lose coolant. They love to blow between cylinders.

 

well that would explain where the oil is going then...

 

Dad's v10 QCLB was a hoot to drive in the snow! Went anywhere, sideways or not. What's keeping you from droppin in another 360?

 

Last winter I drove my dad's 99 360 2500 4x4 QC/LB w/ 33's through the storm of the century (Im talkin drift on the highway higher than the floor boards) and that thing did awesome, I felt invincible lol!

 

The fact that it would be another 360...

Thinking about looking for a deal on a 12 valve first-gen Cummins to swap in, but haven't gotten brave enough.

 

That'd be pretty sweet! Could be done pretty cheap too, especially with a manual behind it. Then no computer controlled anything.