V6 vs V8

All this actually does add lots of low end torque considering the displacement. It is an almost completely flat torque curve. Granted a 5.9 will probably make more low end torque then a 3.6 but those 6-8 speed granny's you were talking about mean you can either add more low gears or give a much lower overall gear in the axle. Chevy I think is doing the best of all this year adding direct injection to their already good 5.3 and 6.2. On the higher octain E85, the 5.3 will make 380hp@5600 and 416 ft-lbs@4100. Not to shabby for the basic truck small block.