Silverado

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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Feb 2, 2005
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I've been looking for a Silverado ever since I joined Bladeforums. I've put out a couple threads in regards to Silverados over the years. Well, I've narrowed it down to what I'm looking for.

1995-2005, 1998-2002 series preferred
1500 Silverado or Sierra
2WD preferred, I don't really need 4WD and need to save on gas
extended cab preferred, but I'll go with a single cab W/T model
LS/LT trim etc is okay, looking for whatever is cheapest
automatic transmission is preferred, but manual is okay
V8 unless I get a great price on a V6
prefer 100K or less miles

I don't need power anything, just more crap to go wrong. Regular old door locks, seat tracks and window cranks are just fine for me. I really like the access of a 4 door cab, but 3 door or just two door is fine for me. Anything is better than the family loaner I am driving right now, or old Toyota p/u I just ordered a rebuilt carburetor for. Hopefully the carb will be the "bolt on and go" it is advertised as.

So, I've been checking out the classifieds, specifically the local Pennysaver type publications, and Craigslist. Baltimore Craigslist has a lot of Silverados and Sierras. York, PA Craigslist, has a lot also. However, looking at different ads on the York site, I'm seeing more rebuilt engines and transmissions, or just plain replaced engines and transmissions. IMHO, Chevrolet V8's and Toyota 22R's are some of the best motors out there. They are built to last. I drive almost a hundred miles daily round trip to work and back, I need something that is going to last under that daily abuse.

While I'm looking for a Silverado/Sierra (tall and fat can really narrow the search down for a vehicle), what should I look out for? Are there any years I need to keep an eye on? Motors? Transmissions?
 
I just sold a '99 extended cab Z-71 for $2k in Jan.

Just what I have learned from these trucks:

The '99 was a transition year, so it had a lot of problems. Electrical, drive train, etc. You name it and something was wrong with it on mine.

The 5.3L V-8 is reported to get decent mileage. I was getting 10/15 with mine. Not stellar by any stretch of the imagination.

The ABS was weird on mine. It would regularly decide to lock up.

The headlight switch over-heated and caught fire.

I would honestly get at least an '01. I have a neighbor with one who NEVER had any of the trouble I did.
 
dougo83 said:
I just sold a '99 extended cab Z-71 for $2k in Jan.

Just what I have learned from these trucks:

The '99 was a transition year, so it had a lot of problems. Electrical, drive train, etc. You name it and something was wrong with it on mine.

The 5.3L V-8 is reported to get decent mileage. I was getting 10/15 with mine. Not stellar by any stretch of the imagination.

The ABS was weird on mine. It would regularly decide to lock up.

The headlight switch over-heated and caught fire.

I would honestly get at least an '01. I have a neighbor with one who NEVER had any of the trouble I did.
Click to expand...


Thanks man.

dougo83 said:
The '99 was a transition year, so it had a lot of problems. Electrical, drive train, etc. You name it and something was wrong with it on mine.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this too. Looking to isolate a "good" year :foot:.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I've been looking for a Silverado ever since I joined Bladeforums. I've put out a couple threads in regards to Silverados over the years. Well, I've narrowed it down to what I'm looking for.

1995-2005, 1998-2002 series preferred
1500 Silverado or Sierra
2WD preferred, I don't really need 4WD and need to save on gas
extended cab preferred, but I'll go with a single cab W/T model
LS/LT trim etc is okay, looking for whatever is cheapest
automatic transmission is preferred, but manual is okay
V8 unless I get a great price on a V6
prefer 100K or less miles



oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
I don't need power anything, just more crap to go wrong. Regular old door locks, seat tracks and window cranks are just fine for me. I really like the access of a 4 door cab, but 3 door or just two door is fine for me. Anything is better than the family loaner I am driving right now, or old Toyota p/u I just ordered a rebuilt carburetor for. Hopefully the carb will be the "bolt on and go" it is advertised as.

So, I've been checking out the classifieds, specifically the local Pennysaver type publications, and Craigslist. Baltimore Craigslist has a lot of Silverados and Sierras. York, PA Craigslist, has a lot also. However, looking at different ads on the York site, I'm seeing more rebuilt engines and transmissions, or just plain replaced engines and transmissions. IMHO, Chevrolet V8's and Toyota 22R's are some of the best motors out there. They are built to last. I drive almost a hundred miles daily round trip to work and back, I need something that is going to last under that daily abuse.

While I'm looking for a Silverado/Sierra (tall and fat can really narrow the search down for a vehicle), what should I look out for? Are there any years I need to keep an eye on? Motors? Transmissions?
Click to expand...



My 2006 has all the bells & whistles,Bose,p/s p/b electric w indows,heated seats,A/t, b/u alarm,rear T/V, cowcatcher, etc... 3400 miles. 22 Mpg highway-15.5 city. Best danged vehicle I've ever owned. New front-end from recent wreck.

Uncle Alan :cool:
 
I just bought one two weeks ago. A 2007 2500HD Silverado. I would seriously consider a 6.6L Duramax Diesel if you are planning on getting a Chevy truck. Consider something bigger than a half ton as well. I have a 3/4 ton but I am going to get the leaf spring kit installed in a bit so it will be beefed up to a 1 ton. A 2" lift and some beefier Toyo tires are next.
 
I work in an office, but I will be hauling firewood, lumber etc on the weekends (for myself, so not every weekend). I may be pulling a boat in the future, but it will be a small outboard, looking at getting a small fishing boat down the road. I do travel out to the mountains and down the shore, but will only be doing so with the truck itself, won't be towing anything. I travel a lot outside of work also. Gonna stick with just the 1500 V8 5.3 or 5.8. Not doing any snowplowing with it, no offroading etc.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I work in an office, but I will be hauling firewood, lumber etc on the weekends (for myself, so not every weekend). I may be pulling a boat in the future, but it will be a small outboard, looking at getting a small fishing boat down the road. I do travel out to the mountains and down the shore, but will only be doing so with the truck itself, won't be towing anything. I travel a lot outside of work also. Gonna stick with just the 1500 V8 5.3 or 5.8. Not doing any snowplowing with it, no offroading etc.
Click to expand...

True enough, I work on an oil rig so I have to get to some seriously out of the way locals and I have to haul a 380L tidy tank full of diesel in the back and pull a trailer on rig moves. A 1/2 ton will be plenty of truck for your needs. I would really consider a Ford F150 if you are going with a 1/2 ton truck. Chevy and GMC tend to have issues with their front ends.
 
roughneckrob said:
True enough, I work on an oil rig so I have to get to some seriously out of the way locals and I have to haul a 380L tidy tank full of diesel in the back and pull a trailer on rig moves. A 1/2 ton will be plenty of truck for your needs. I would really consider a Ford F150 if you are going with a 1/2 ton truck. Chevy and GMC tend to have issues with their front ends.
Click to expand...

A buddy of mine had an issue with his 2003 Silverado. I just had bad luck with a Chrysler, a Concorde, and my mother had some bad issues with a Ford Bronco II when I was a kid. Her first, last and only new vehicle. I have heard lots of bad things about Dodge and Ford trucks (but that the V8 Dodge Rams were great workhorses). Thanks for the info about the Chevrolet and GMC 1/2 ton trucks. This is the kind of info I'm looking for. :thumbup:
 
I wouldn't recommend picking up the 4.3 (V6) if you plan on towing anything. The 4.3 is a bit of a turd for an S10, and a complete turd in a full sied pickup. With the 4.3 f you do anything other than flat towing at 55mph you can expect it to run in 2nd gear on any sort of hill, which will heat up your tranny a bunch, and heat kills transmissions. And a 5.3 will get about the same milage as a 4.3 so that's basically irrrelevant between the two.

It's best to buy a truck that's "overbuilt" for the task at hand than to buy one that will *barely* scrape by doing any real work. I've always seen the 4.3 in a full sized truck as a low cost option that's only useful for doing very light work. If you plan to carry or tow any amount of weight the extra torque from a 5.3 will be appreciated.

If you can afford a newer model with the 6.0 go for it, they're leaps and bounds better than the old 5.3. Night and day difference when towing.
 
I have an 05 1500, 5.3 liter extended cab, and love it. I tow a small trailer with a lawn mower every other weekend in the summer;and hauled a bigger trailer with fencing on it once; worked like a charm.

Got 56K miles on it, we've taken it everywhere. Plenty of room up front for the wife and I, and the son likes the backseat. Coworker got the F150, he said that backseat in the Silverado is 5 inches deeper.

I got rear-ended by a sentra/corsica sized car. Totaled the car, my bumped was turned down a n inch or so. (I had more damage than just that, but the truck was drive-able)

I love the 4WD, it's so nice to be able to go after the light turns green or it's my turn at the stop sign.

Best of luck, I recommend the Silverados :thumbup:
 
1996...:thumbup: While not a Silverado, my '96 Tahoe is pretty much the same animal, just not a pickup. Bought mine new, and it still runs great. Very minimal downtime for service, and only once for an overnight repair. :thumbup::thumbup: Previous vehicle was a used K5 Blazer... 2 transmission rebuilds and one complete replacement (all under the extended warranty, thank God!) in just over 4 years. This Tahoe has had (so far) zero tranny probs. 4WD, 5.7L, I forget what its MPG rating is...mebbe close to but under uncle Alan's. Only thing upgraded are the tires. Current milage = 100,000+ miles.
I ride my vehicles pretty hard; this one seems to love it.

Best danged vehicle I've ever owned. :D

Gotta be be the year. ;):thumbup:
 
I have a 2004 1500 LS w/ towing package. It is an awesome truck this probably the 5th vic I have owned in 15 years and it the first one I have paid off. Definitely shoot for the 5.3 the 4.8 is definitely underpowered. It sounds crazy but your gas mileage will kind of depend on where you live. I got 13/17 before I put dual exhaust, now its more like 17/20. My next truck will no doubt be another silverado. Good luck finding someone getting rid of it, most people who buy this truck literally drive it until the wheels fall off. The four door extended cab is nice, but I think the 2005 the rear doors fold flat. This is nice when your in parking space. I plan on making some more upgrades to mine. Probably a rhino liner and cold air induction. But who knows, all depends on where uncle Sam sends me next.
 
The 4.3 V6 doesn't get better gas milage than the V8. I think the 5.3 actually gets better milage. I think the full size chevys are nice. I had a 2003 crew cab S10 4x4 and lots of problems. I traded it in at a big loss because I couldn't stand the problems anymore.
 
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