As the title states, I'm looking at a 97 Tahoe here locally. The truck is 2 door, 4x4, and has 75k on it. I'm unfamiliar with the engines and whatnot in trucks. I've owned a couple of LS1's but never a Vortec V8. What kind of life expectancy can be had out of them? Is the gas mileage as bad as it's listed online (12-15 city) The owner is asking 8k OBO, and I'd like to know a fair amount to offer.

I'm wanting to buy the truck for a DD, and to get me out to some ATV spots on the weekends. I look forward to some input. Thanks in advance. Here's a pic of the truck.

 

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The old Vortec 350 long block can last for 250k miles. OBS Vortec trucks do have their share of problems though:
- Injector poppets clogging
- Intake manifold gasket failure
- Torque converter regulator valve failure
- Windshield wiper motor control board failure
- Spongy brakes and excessive front bias
- Door hinge pin wear causing doors to sag
- Water pumps last 50k
- Alternators last 75k

There are fixes for everything, even the brakes.

Don't expect very good mileage out of it. My brother has a 98 2-Door 4x4 Tahoe, stock with 33's, and gets 16 at the very best.

If you are looking to do performance modifications to it there is now a tuning package available from TunerCATS. All the bolt-on stuff available for Gen-III engines is and has been available for the Gen-1e Vortecs, EXCEPT for intake manifolds. The stock injection is the only thing limiting big horsepower. Even though there is no packaged replacement for that there are solutions. The stock heads flow well but are limited by their springs and guides to very low lift. This has to be addresses if changing the cam. Edelbrock and GM make performance heads in aluminum and GM also has performance iron heads available that flow better and support more lift. There are a lot more head bolts in a classic SBC than in a Gen-III - they don't blow head gaskets like Gen-III engines do. You'll miss the distributorless ignition of the new motors but the old SBC has more potential anyway.

2-Door Tahoes and Yukons are hard to find in good condition. If that's what you want I'd say you found a nice one with only 75k on it.

 

I had a 97 Suburban for 88K miles. Had more problems with it than I have had with the Silvy with 112K miles. Needed new brake pads every 10K miles or so, was on the 2nd alternator, 2nd a/c compressor, 3rd fuel pump, 2nd torque converter. Had to change out front upper and lower ball joints and bushings, tie rods, idler and pitman arm, etc etc. That was all with a 3" suspension lift. Valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket were replaced. Also had to replace the driver's hinge pin. Truck had 3.73's and was 4wd. I got about 12 mpg city and one time got 13.5 on the hwy. I don't miss it.

 

wow, one of my buddies 96 vortec gets almost 20 mpg hwy and 16 city if he keeps his foot out....