Most base model truck you've seen? 1989 Cheyenne K2500 4x4

[Nick_R_23]

I just picked this truck up a couple of weeks ago for $1200. I didn't think much of it at the time of purchase as it ran (sort of), drove, has working 4x4, and the body was pretty straight, so I didn't really care about options. Bought it mostly sight unseen except for a brief test drive at night.

Now that I've tinkered on the truck for a bit now, I've noticed some interesting things that I've never seen on GMT400's before, even on true W/T models. Namely just how "base model" this truck actually is! I thought it would be neat to document it on here just because of the uniqueness of it.

The truck is a 1989 Chevrolet Cheyenne K2500 4x4 with the L05 5.7L and TH400 transmission. 114,000 miles. There is NO emissions equipment except for the EGR valve, which is EVRV operated. This is the HD model with 8600LB GVWR, and no tow hitch has ever been installed. From the RPO codes, this was a government fleet truck but was a special order (it's a COPO, technically!) to be optioned out this way.









Custom pinstriping work has been done. I don't believe this is from the factory. There is also evidence of a bed topper being installed at one point.

Hood:



Doors:



Bed panel:



Cab pillars:



Tailgate:



Fender flares:



The interior is just as bare. Vinyl seat appears to have been replaced at some point as it is now green instead of gray, but still retains the vinyl as called out in the RPO's.



Gauge cluster with only Fuel and Speedometer:



Heat and Vent controls with Floor and Defrost option only, NO dash vent:



Dash vent blanked on driver side:



Center dash vents have an aftermarket radio piece installed so the cover is currently missing, but as shown there is no ducting:



Passenger dash vent blanked out also:



Basic headliner with no plastic trim:



Basic door panel with no electric options:



Engine bay, not even a hood light!



Driver's side exhaust manifold with no casting hole for an O2 sensor. It is located after the merge in the Y-pipe, near the transmission.



RPO Codes:



Codes as followed:

A01 - WINDOW,TINTED GLASS(ALL WINDOWS)
A52 - SEAT,FRONT BENCH,3-PASSENGER
BZ5 - VEHICLE GM PROD WEEK 14
C6P - GVW RATING 8,600 LBS/3,900 KG
D44 - MIRROR,OUTSIDE,BELOW EYELINE(PAINTED)
E63 - BODY EQUIPMENT,FLEETSIDE PICKUP BOX
FK2 - ARM,TORSION BAR,SPRING ADJUST,LH
FK3 - ARM,TORSION BAR,SPRING ADJUST,RH
F59 - SHAFT,FRONT STABILIZER
F60 - SPRING,HEAVY DUTY,FRONT
GAM - VEHICLE GOVT(G.S.A.)
GMC - PLANT CODE PONTIAC, MI, GM T&B
GQ1 - AXLE,REAR,STANDARD RATIO(MERCHANDISING OPTION)
GT4 - AXLE,REAR,3.73 RATIO
J50 - BRAKE SYSTEM,VACUUM OR HYDRAULIC POWER(WITHOUT DUAL REAR WHEELS)
KC4 - COOLING SYSTEM,ENGINE OIL
K99 - GENERATOR,85 AMPERE
L05 - ENGINE,5.7L,TBI
MX1 - TRANSMISSION,AUTOMATIC(MERCHANDISING OPTION)
M40 - TRANSMISSION,AUTOMATIC 3-SPEED(THM400-475/3L80)
NA4 - EMISSION SYSTEM,ABOVE 8500 LB GVW
NA5 - EMISSION SYSTEM,FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS
NJ8 - TANK,FUEL 129 LITER(34 GAL)
P18 - CARRIER,SPARE TIRE,WITH HOIST
SLL - SALES PROCESSING, SOLD ORDERS
TEJ - DISCOUNT DEALER ALLOWANCE, ADMINISTRATIVE
UK4 - RADIO,AM/FM STEREO,SEEK & SCAN,ETR
U73 - ANTENNA,FIXED
VK3 - LICENSE PLATE,FRONT MOUNTING PACKAGE
V02 - RADIATOR,HEAVY DUTY,INCLUDES HEAVY DUTY TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER
V43 - BUMPER,REAR STEP(PAINTED)
V73 - VEHICLE STATEMENT - US/CANADA
XGK - TIRE FRONT LT245/75R16/E BL R/PE ST OOR
YD3 - AXLE FRONT (BASE EQUIP) FOR SCHEDULING GVW PLATE
YD6 - SPRING,REAR(BASE EQUIPMENT)
YGK - TIRE REAR LT245/75R16/E BL R/PE ST OOR
YK6 - IDENTIFICATION (Special Equipment Option)
ZGK - TIRE SPARE LT245/75R16/E BL R/PE ST OOR(9591214)
ZY1 - COLOR COMBINATION SOLID

1Q8 - VEHICLE INSPECTION. GSA FORM 1398
6GK - SPRING COMPTR SELECT FRT LH
7GK - SPRING COMPTR SELECT FRT RH
8B3 - PERMANENT ANTIFREEZE(ETHELENE GLYCOL)(-34 DEGREES)
8E? - COMPONENT RR LH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (8E?)
8X1 - LABEL- FASTEN SEAT BELTS
82I - INTERIOR TRIM,MEDIUM DARK GRAY
82V - TRIM COMBINATION,VINYL,DARK MEDIUM GRAY
96U - PRIMARY COLOR-EXTERIOR,ULTRA SILVER METALLIC

Enjoy!

[b454rat]

I miss having a truck that simple, and that clean. I had 2 plane jane trucks. First one I got when I was in CO. Went to the dump with a friend, saw it sitting there in a field. It was a K3500, think the only options were 454 and auto. Someone put aftermarket A/C in it, but other than that was similar to urs. Then I had an 88, pretty much same thing, K3500, 454/auto, but no A/C. I don't remember the gauges, but think they did have oil, temp, etc. Got rid of the 89 bout 15 years ago, and the 88 bout 5 or so. I'd love to have ur truck!!! Clean and simple!!!!

[Palf70Step]

I have always loved the Work Truck models. Just enough stuff and no BS extra.

[Nick_R_23]

Originally Posted by b454rat

I miss having a truck that simple, and that clean. I had 2 plane jane trucks. First one I got when I was in CO. Went to the dump with a friend, saw it sitting there in a field. It was a K3500, think the only options were 454 and auto. Someone put aftermarket A/C in it, but other than that was similar to urs. Then I had an 88, pretty much same thing, K3500, 454/auto, but no A/C. I don't remember the gauges, but think they did have oil, temp, etc. Got rid of the 89 bout 15 years ago, and the 88 bout 5 or so. I'd love to have ur truck!!! Clean and simple!!!!

Same here, it’s crazy to see how many standard options even a brand new “work truck” comes with. No wonder new trucks cost so much.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I have always loved the Work Truck models. Just enough stuff and no BS extra.

That’s what’s crazy, this is NOT a W/T model, it’s a Cheyenne! I’ve seen W/T’s have tons of options compared to this one!

[Nick_R_23]

Found this bit of info on it:

MFR MODEL CODE
CK20903

Original Pricing
MSRP
$14,473.88
INVOICE
$12,485.88
DESTINATION CHARGE
$550.00

CURB WEIGHT
4628 lbs

[special-K]

You got a good one. Basic is good. I'd love to find one like that. My Suburban is a gov't base model ('95 K2500)

[sntrym95]

All of the TBI engines have a single O2 sensor behind the cat. The other emissions stuff is on the engine - EGR, evap solenoid, PCV, etc. and so are the electronic components for fueling and shifting - TPS, MAP, etc.

I love the TBI setup and despite some of its drawbacks, it's really easy to troubleshoot and work on. It's the reason I dropped a Vortec 350 crate motor in my Yukon and kept the TBI. It was some work but it runs awesome and still gets better than factory gas mileage and power.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by sntrym95

All of the TBI engines have a single O2 sensor behind the cat. The other emissions stuff is on the engine - EGR, evap solenoid, PCV, etc. and so are the electronic components for fueling and shifting - TPS, MAP, etc.

I love the TBI setup and despite some of its drawbacks, it's really easy to troubleshoot and work on. It's the reason I dropped a Vortec 350 crate motor in my Yukon and kept the TBI. It was some work but it runs awesome and still gets better than factory gas mileage and power.

I need to look under mine ... I don't think there is anything behind the Cat !!! (no muffler or tailpipe, and it's not that loud) Maybe that's why the light comes on out on the highway ???


Basic is good I wish I had a regular cab K20/2500 with a granny-geared manual transmission and nothing else except gauges and AM radio.

[Just call me Sean]

Originally Posted by sntrym95

All of the TBI engines have a single O2 sensor behind the cat.

No, none of the TBI engines have an oxygen sensor after the cat. That is for OBDII. '95 and older is OBDI.

[sntrym95]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

No, none of the TBI engines have an oxygen sensor after the cat. That is for OBDII. '95 and older is OBDI.

Yeah that's what I meant to type, not sure why I said after. You'd think I'd have caught that with as much work as I've done to these things.

[Just call me Sean]

Originally Posted by sntrym95

Yeah that's what I meant to type, not sure why I said after. You'd think I'd have caught that with as much work as I've done to these things.

Yes I get very intimate with my trucks, so to speak. Mine is a bit of a Frankenstein with different year parts and stuff to keep it going. It's a '93 and I'm about to put in a '95 transmission because the '92 transmission in it lost 2nd gear.

[sntrym95]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

Yes I get very intimate with my trucks, so to speak. Mine is a bit of a Frankenstein with different year parts and stuff to keep it going. It's a '93 and I'm about to put in a '95 transmission because the '92 transmission in it lost 2nd gear.

Ditto. My wife calls my Yukon Frankentruck - GM, Jeep, and Ford parts. Plus the TBI on a Vortec. The only thing left stock-ish is the suspension.

[Just call me Sean]

Originally Posted by sntrym95

Ditto. My wife calls my Yukon Frankentruck - GM, Jeep, and Ford parts. Plus the TBI on a Vortec. The only thing left stock-ish is the suspension.

That's funny. I thought I might have been the only one with a piece of a Ford on my GMC.

[sntrym95]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

That's funny. I thought I might have been the only one with a piece of a Ford on my GMC.

I went high class Ford - it's the fan from a Lincoln Mark VIII

[b454rat]

My Yukon is gonna have a high pinion 44 lol. But not really Ford but Dana...

[1976gmc20]

I remember back in the late 1960s and early 1970s when dealers would advertise a brand new pickup for something like $1,595.00.

It would be a short bed stepside, six cylinder and three speed manual, with no radio or gauges - not even a rear bumper.

[Nick_R_23]

Over on the old homestead we’ve still got a 1941 International K1 with the OPTIONAL brake light and rear bumper. Apparently, it’s super rare. Somebody splurged on that one

[Palf70Step]

I have never seen one of these years without AC from factory, except for some special military spec ones. I do like them minimal like the work trucks (or less).

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I have never seen one of these years without AC from factory, except for some special military spec ones. I do like them minimal like the work trucks (or less).

My 1989 Cheyenne K1500 does not have AC

Being a two-tone* extended cab, it doesn't seem that basic to me.


* well, more than that now

[Second Series]

That is a nice truck, but that gauge cluster is something else. It might have a different pcb for the cluster, both my '88 and '90 have the fuel gauge on the right. the meter plugs into the pcb, so I don't think that could be the same pcb. My '88 Sierra is bare-bones too, it did not come with A/C. There is a steel stamped bracket on the front of the engine. The '90 did come with A/C and has a couple cast aluminum brackets, and an A/C delete from when the A/C was decommissioned...

[Palf70Step]

Yeah I would imagine you folks up north in Montana and all, probably would see non AC vehicles. Down here a stripper will have AC for sure.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Yeah I would imagine you folks up north in Montana and all, probably would see non AC vehicles. Down here a stripper will have AC for sure.

According to the sticker it came from a dealer in Saratoga WY.

That's pretty high up in the mountains so same difference. We never had AC in Colorado. First truck I ever bought with AC was the 1991 Suburban that we bought in 2001

[1971 GMC SHORTY]

I Had A California 1965 No radio No Heater Single Speed Wiper's 6 Banger 3 Speed, Straight Plane Jane

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by 1971 GMC SHORTY

I Had A California 1965 No radio No Heater Single Speed Wiper's 6 Banger 3 Speed, Straight Plane Jane

Single speed wiper was all they had back then. The wiper switch on my 65 failed so I bought a toggle switch to replace it. A guy at work asked me then how do you make the washer work, and I just rolled my eyes at him

My short stepside had a four speed and a heater and overload springs, so it wasn't totally base. I traded some big poles and firewood for it. I wish I had never sold that pickup

[Russell Ashley]

speaking of minimal extras, My first old truck was a 47 Ford. It didn't have the optional right side tail light or the optional passenger side windshield wiper. Trucks were meant strictly for work back then.