Looking at purchasing a 1988 or newer - Suggestions

[70cst]

Hi Guys & Gals ...

I am mostly on the 67-72 forum as I have a 70cst.

I am considering the purchase another truck (4x4) as a second driver ...

Are there certain models or years that is more desirable or better built?

Trim packages? Motor?

I am not familiar with these years of trucks but I like the looks of these years.

Thanks in advance.

[OutlawDrifter]

Lots of different things to consider I suppose.

88-94 is the "older" interior.

95-98(99) is the "newer" interior.

94+ is the newer grill and third brake light.

1995 had a lot of 1 year only items, AC controls, PWM transmissions, only year of newer interior and TBI engines.

1996 was the only year of Vortec engines and no passenger side airbag.

98+ had a better black box computer.

Rusted fuel lines/brake lines on frame beside saddle tank, leaky injector spiders on the vortec 5.0/5.7 engines, leaky injectors on the 454's, inside door handles, etc.

They all have their issues, but the GMT400 is my favorite platform. Relatively easy to work on and tons of parts support. I recently just bought another to DD, a 1999 GMC K2500 Suburban with 88k on the clock and a Vortec 454 to boot.

I prefer the newer interiors of the 95+, but also have nostalgia for the older stuff...one of my daughters drives a RCSB '91 C1500 Sport (305/5 speed).

[Jeepwm69]

If it were me, I'd look for a 96-98. I prefer the newer interior, and the 95 has one weird one year only components that are only going to get harder to find over time.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Lots of different things to consider I suppose.

88-94 is the "older" interior.

95-98(99) is the "newer" interior.

94+ is the newer grill and third brake light.

1995 had a lot of 1 year only items, AC controls, PWM transmissions, only year of newer interior and TBI engines.

1996 was the only year of Vortec engines and no passenger side airbag.

98+ had a better black box computer.

Rusted fuel lines/brake lines on frame beside saddle tank, leaky injector spiders on the vortec 5.0/5.7 engines, leaky injectors on the 454's, inside door handles, etc.

They all have their issues, but the GMT400 is my favorite platform. Relatively easy to work on and tons of parts support. I recently just bought another to DD, a 1999 GMC K2500 Suburban with 88k on the clock and a Vortec 454 to boot.

I prefer the newer interiors of the 95+, but also have nostalgia for the older stuff...one of my daughters drives a RCSB '91 C1500 Sport (305/5 speed).

Thanks

[70cst]

Originally Posted by Jeepwm69

If it were me, I'd look for a 96-98. I prefer the newer interior, and the 95 has one weird one year only components that are only going to get harder to find over time.

Thanks

[Mr_Rich]

If you own a '70 I'd suggest staying in the '90-'94 range. The engine electronics are still fairly simple and easy to maintain compared to your '70. The interior would have nicer seats than my molded upholstery in my '89. I'm partial to a 350 engine since my original 305 had a cracked block and caused me problems in the first 30K miles of ownership. Repair parts have finally got to the point where it can be challenging to get good quality parts after thirty years in my opinion.

[Pampas56]

I'd actually narrow it down to 92-94.

The TBI 5.7 700R4/4L60 is a good simple running gear. 91 was the last year of the Moon face gauge clusters (never liked the look, and not all had the tach). Also the last year of the speedo calibration module in the cluster as opposed to standalone. Makes changing tire size MUCH easier after 92. Not sure when the 4L60 became 4L60E, but would prefer the former

I prefer the OBS trucks to anything newer AND older. Enough options to make it reasonably plush, simple to work on, doesn"t look too dated, and in my opinion the last of the GM hard working trucks.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by Pampas56

I'd actually narrow it down to 92-94.

The TBI 5.7 700R4/4L60 is a good simple running gear. 91 was the last year of the Moon face gauge clusters (never liked the look, and not all had the tach). Also the last year of the speedo calibration module in the cluster as opposed to standalone. Makes changing tire size MUCH easier after 92. Not sure when the 4L60 became 4L60E, but would prefer the former

I prefer the OBS trucks to anything newer AND older. Enough options to make it reasonably plush, simple to work on, doesn"t look too dated, and in my opinion the last of the GM hard working trucks.

Thanks

[1976gmc20]

If you get a 4wd then you probably want to put on a cable control or something for the front axle disconnect, because those thermal actuators are problematic. I just shimmed my "ranch truck" so it turns all the time.

Also if you're looking at a 1500 especially, it's probably going to need some front end work like ball joints, CV axles, and pitman/idler.

[special-K]

The trucks in this era I have owned have been very reliable. Two have been '95s and nothing about the one year only aspect has ever mattered. The only issue I've had with 4wd engagement has been waiting a little bit for it to engage. I always intended to do the cable conversion, but if it ain't broke...

Style wise I'd say '94 is my favorite. I do like the earlier grille, but the chrome likes to peel loose. I like the GMC grille best for being mostly painted body color, only chrome surrounds the radiator area. Very big truck as well as sleek looking. I like '94 over the newer style because the early interiors are so much nicer, dash, door panels, and the cloth high-back buckets are so comfortable. Also prefer the non-airbag steering wheel.

Engine wise it would be nice to have a Vortec. But I would rather have a TBI truck, like the '94, and put Vortec heads on with export G-series intake for TBI. TBI is dead reliable and plum simple, with an actual distributor. That new Vortec technology seems problematic with no big power advantage

I found a K2500 I wish I could buy. It's a '98 with '94 style buckets and console. I can deal with the rest of the interior being less desirable to me. But I was going to say, if I bought a truck I didn't want to toy with I'd probably just buy the newest I could find.

I think '92 is the "coolest" year. Reason being they had better gauges, better interior color (not 2-tone), the 6.5TD came out, the new Blazer/Jimmy 2drs and 4drs, Suburbans, as well as 3500HDs came out, and GMCs lost the tacky aluminum tailgate band.

[1976gmc20]

The only issue I've had with 4wd engagement has been waiting a little bit for it to engage. I always intended to do the cable conversion, but if it ain't broke...

Mine was broke, which meant I got the pickup cheap My research indicated that at best they often didn't work right in very cold weather or deep snow - just the conditions that you really really need your 4wd to work. Also, they disengage when you turn off the key which means that you don't have all four wheels locked to the engine/transmission when parked on a steep slippery hill.

[mingoman]

I grew up with square bodies, still love the way they look and drive, but the GMT400 trucks are pretty much my favorite to drive and they look awesome to boot!
The only new trucks I've ever bought, a 92 and a 93. I drove the 93 as my daily driver for 25 years.
The most annoying problem to me is the occasional brake line rusting out. Dash will crack too.
I do like the 96-99 interior better. You're going to like whichever one you buy I'm sure!😎

[1976gmc20]

Today I started up the 89 K1500 and drove five miles down the road to check the mailbox at the fire hall, and keep the battery charged up. It still needs a lot of stuff (which at this point may or may not ever get fixed) but it still drives nice even compared to the 2016 that I just bought. The old Blue Ox is definitely not going to be forsaken

[70cst]

Thanks All

[57taskforce]

I’ve had my 98 K2500 for 9 years and before that my dad had it for 7. He bought it used with 110,000ish on the clock. The lift/tires went on around 115,000. It’s got 204,000 on it now. It’s still all factory drivetrain that’s never been out of the truck. The vortec 454 has always been 12-14 mpg average but it’s been stupid reliable. The only things that have ever been done to it is the front to rear brake line and fuel supply line replaced as well as 2 fuel pumps, a few batteries, and the wiper module in the wiper motor. If it were me I like the 97+ dual airbag dash the best with the LT/SLE trim with leather buckets/console. Also even though there are some issues with injectors and intake gaskets, id rather have the vortec engines. After all these years the AC still blows cold, the factory radio, cassette player and CD player all still work, and it always starts right up. It seems like anymore the hardest thing is finding trucks without the cab corner rust and cracked dashes. Unfortunately mine has a little of both. My truck is hands down the most reliable thing I’ve ever owned over a long period of time. The one thing about the 4x4 actuator is GM updated them in 98 to an electric servo style and it engages right here right now, I’ve never had one bit of trouble with mine. At the end of the day you can’t go wrong with any of the GMT 400’s from 88-2000. Here’s mine.

[flashed]

I have 2 97 trucks , one is a 3/4 ton 4x4 that I bought a couple years back from the original owner with only 60,000 miles , the best truck I have ever owned . It is an extended cab , cloth interior , which I love , dont personally care for leather .

The other truck is a single cab 97 dually in really nice shape , Im going to put low back buckets and console in it when It comes home . I have loaned it to a friend for now . Both my trucks have the 5.7 Vortecs and both run and drive great .

[Pampas56]

Since you currently have a 1970 CST, you will be very familiar and happy with a TBI engine compartment. I owned a 1984 C10 carburated 350 and the engine was a labyrinth of hoses and wires. The 5.7 TBI will look more like your truck's engine. Maybe 3 or 4 hoses and 20 wiring connectors.

Excuse the mess. I am in the middle of an engine swap.

If you wanted to, it would be very easy to dress the engine up nice kind of like most 67-72s get treated.

[70cst]

1996 Chevrolet Silverado 15oo 4x4

Does the 96 models have AWD or just 4x4 ... looks like it has the sifter on the floor?

Thanks

[special-K]

4wd

[demian5]

See if the windshield has been leaking at the top.

[70cst]

I have found a 1996 4x4 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Short Bed Ext Cab.

157.000 miles Zero rust.

Now I need to make a decision.

[48cj2a]

I have a 98 Yukon SLT 4WD bought in 99 with about 9K on the clock. Its been a great Family vehicle and was our primary driver until I returned from a deployment and purchased the Mrs a 2003 Suburban which I had been driving while deployed that year. The Yukon be came my daily driver to present.

I've replaced a water pump, fuel pump, resealed the intake, replaced the compressor, and ran a new fuel line other than normal maintenance items. The brake lines are going to be next as they are getting really crusty.

I'm deployed again and the Mrs was told by the guy I trust for maintenance while away its now developing frame rust thru in the drivers wheel area. We do live in the rust belt with salt so with any vehicle check out the rust and crust thoroughly.

This will become a project donor vehicle in the future since I know the history and it still runs so good.

[jocko]

couple other thoughts on these -
95 is OBD I, initial iteration of OBD, and generally requires a special code reader or optional cables compared to 96 and above, which were OBD II from there forward.
94 was first year for R134 a/c refrig, so a/c servicing is easier to find for 94 and newer.
I've only owned a 92, but I really, really liked it. Unfortunately, someone else wrecked it..
It was very reliable.
My sweet spot is the 94... It's pre-OBD, R134, new grille, older interior. Checks all my boxes. Having said that, the 95+ interiors are actually a lot more comfy, but I like the pre-95 interior for some reason, that's just personal preference. In some of the later years, you can have the t-case shifter on the floor manually or electronic 4x4 selector switch. Having had problems with GMT 800 electronic t-case switches, I kinda prefer the manually shifted type. And, also, there's NOTHING wrong with OBD II, I probably made it sound above like that would be less preferred - which isn't the case, it's a great troubleshooting tool. I guess what I should have said rather than "pre-OBD" is that a 94 is "NOT OBD I", which I do count as a good thing since it's kind of an oddball, short-lived version of OBD.
Good luck!

[Richard]

Have a 94 C1500 I purchased new 150,000+ miles still runs well. Had a seized broken exhaust manifold bolt that I need to fix as it is leaking again. Have changed alternator, water pump, fuel pump, sending unit and injectors. Clearcoat had failed on roof and hood and I had a repaint when rear ended. Was lowered, 6"-8" right after purchase, got tired of that, ran stock height with rear dropped 2" (level) for quite a few years and is now lifted. Tbi, not a huge amount of power but drives fine and easy to maintain. Really like this truck and will probably own till I am gone. Cloth interior with buckets in front. I am looking at a new Katzskin leather interior to make it super nice again. Do not like the square fendered new trucks. Will replace the engine when I have to.

[70cst]

I am looking at this 1 owner 94 136,000